Got my first speeding-ticket need help

Hire a lawyer; I use John Gioffredi in Dallas and he may have a referral for Arlington (214) 739-4515

 

A. I dont think Texas has a point system. Does Arlington?
B. Yes.
C. Yes
D. You have to pay a DD court fee + the cost of the course.

Also try getting an lawyer and check is deferred Ajudication (sp) is an option...

 

As someone who's been in your situation:

Taking DD online will get it off your record with no points.
If you take DD, you don't pay the ticket. As I recall you just pay the DD course price. There may or may not be court fees for processing, I can't recall, but if there are you pay those too, but you don't end up paying for the ticket.

As I recall when I had mine, on the ticket (maybe on the back) it lists three options: pay the ticket (in court or whatever), take defensive driving, or request deferred adjudication. I believe it gives you a website with more information on this.

You can also (it doesn't I don't think mention this) attempt to fight it in court, but I recommend against this, because they'll just tell you to take DD unless you've already done so, then they'll just try to give you deferred adjudication unless you've already done so, and if you've done both of those and gotten another ticket they probably won't be incredibly sympathetic and actually dismiss it.

At any rate, defensive driving is better than deferred adjudication--just just pay for it, take it, and it's off your record. You can't take it more than once in a year to get excepted from a ticket, though.

Deferred adjudication works like this: they agree to defer the ticket if you don't get another ticket (any moving violation, not just speeding--I've never had a speeding ticket. These same rules apply for most moving violations in Texas) for a certain period, usually three or six months. The violation is taken off of your ticket immediately, and it stays off, unless you get a ticket in the time period specified--then the ticket you first got goes back on your record in addition to the second ticket. For deferred adjudication, you pay court processing fees plus whatever the judge decides--in my case, the ticket + court processing fees. The prosecutor wanted a second defensive driving course, which apparently is standard for deferred adjudication, but the judge either wasn't paying attention/forgot/took pity on me and didn't put that on the deferred adjudication paper I got.

The third option is just paying the ticket. This goes on your record (with points) and is bad news for insurance if you're 19 and drive a 400+ horsepower car. I don't know if you are, but I've found this to be a problem myself. I'd recommend against just paying the ticket. DD is the best option in my opinion.

At any rate, the ticket should have a website on the back describing what you can do. I recommend checking that first.

 

Interesting first post you have.

Did you read the information that came with the ticket or the information on the ticket itself? It might even give you a website which tells you of your options. Even if you go to defensive driving, you are giving up and just giving revenue into a business. Lawyer up, or defensive driving. Eitherway, you are still looking at a few hundred, or on the cheap, maybe fifty.

 

In Arlington/ Tarrant Co., you can go to Jim Lollar. You will pretty much need to pay the full price of the ticket. Through Lollar for $40, he'll pretty much just go to court for you and try to get you deferred disposition to keep it off your record. If you're under 25, you HAVE to take defensive driving to keep it off your record + $10 for your driving record. You can go to the court house yourself and request deferred disposition. If you haven't received any traffic citations the prior year, you should be good to go. Just definitely plan on paying that $178. I hope that helps. Anyone, feel free to let me know if I'm wrong anywhere. =)

 

Sato! Konnichiwa!

 

I got a ticket for 45 in a 30. It was my first ticket in many years (maybe 15 or so). It was over $200. I took it to a lawyer and gave him $75. He said he'd call me if he needed me, but not to worry about it if it took 9 months to a year. "Just stay out of trouble 'til then," he advised. About 4 or 5 months later I get a letter from him with a court document included saying the case was dropped. All over, no points, no problem. And $75 is a lot cheaper than $200+. As I understand, he uses a number of delays and venue changes to make it hard for the "witness" to stay up with the case. But I'm not sure that's how he does it. "Ticket Lawyers" are everywhere around here. Some even have signs and prices all over their cars and vans. A friend of mine with less structured driving habits than mine, has dozens of tickets "in process" all the time and always gets off. There must be loopholes in the law that they use. I don't know.

 

Jim, it works indeed. However, the witness you speak of, the officer him or herself, is not always required to show up. They passed this in Houston years ago, unsure about Arlington or the D/FW area.

 

Last month I was stopped for doing 80 in a 60 mph zone on 360 Capital of Texas Highway on my way to the Ferrari Club Breakfast. The Deputy Sheriff was on a motorcycle and he showed me the radar/lazer gun that had my speed flashing in red led lights. I was so glad that I had slowed down to 80 when he clocked me. When he told me that I was doing 80 in a 60 I think I may have mumbled "whew, that was lucky" or something like that. Anyway, the combination of having a super nice officer and us being in Austin and my nice demeanor, I was able to get by with just a warning and no ticket.

He used a handheld PDA to scan my inspection sticker in my windor and had me digitally sign the PDA. No paperwork was generated but I'm sure it's on my record as a warning for a while. I don't have any tickets or wrecks on my record at this time. I had a ticket several years ago for doing 70 in a 70 just as it was getting dusk. Evidently, you have to slow to 60 in a 70 as soon as the sun sets. I took the Defensive Driving course at the Capital City Commedy Club and got that one removed from my record. I think there was a 2 drink minimum at the commedy club and we had pizza delivered. The best part of the whole event was that my insurance went down after I got the discount for taking the course. Gotta love Texas!

 

I'd recommend attending a "Wide Awake" defensive driving course. I've attended their classes way more times than I would like to admit. www.drivewideawake.com I think it's $30 and you get free pizza. They have classes all around the Austin area.

 

Do whatever it takes to keep this off your record.
If you plan on more it may pay to enroll in a legal plan like Hyatt or Prepaid Legal.

 

As noted, keep it off your record.

In Austin the Lawyer deal can work if it is an Austin PD ticket...don't know of any Williamson or Travis county lawyers taking care of tickets around here and it is pretty costly. I think close to $200 last time I had one dismissed (not all that long ago unfortunately).

You will have to call the court anyway so when you call just ask if you can get a deferral. Sometimes they say yes right off the bat. Usually the "processing fee" is pretty damn close to the ticket cost these days...at least in and around Austin, but it beats having your insurance go up for the next 3-5 years!

First ask for a deferral.
Second take Defensive driving...you should take it anyway...each time I take it I do actually learn something new, but these days it is not usually more than ONE thing.
Third, lawyer up...I prefer to save that one for a second ticket or when I am over a barrel, but it sounds like it might be pretty cheap up in the D/FW area so might make more sense up there.

Good luck,
James