Bad Speeding Ticket

Ok...so I am pretty bummed right now. I got my first speeding ticket yesterday after 5 years of driving, and it is really bad. 94mph in a 65mph zone on a highway in Mississippi.

I have been doing research of the internet trying to figure out a course of action, and I have searched FChat for some ideas as what to do. I haven't been able to get in contact with the Court in Mississippi, so I still don't know how much the ticket is for. I'm guessing $500-600, but I really have no idea, I've never gotten a ticket before.

I had just passed someone...and popped over a hill to see a state trooper going the other direction, I slowed down, but I knew it was too late, he pulled a U and came and got me. I wasn't paying close attention to my speed, but I was trying to pass the guy so I was going fast...

Is it worth fighting this ticket? I don't want to mess with a lawyer, so if I did decide to fight it, I would go there myself.

Any other suggestions?

Arrrrggghhh...

Thanks.

 

It's going to be a little tough to fight w/o a lawyer. Goodluck though.

 

It's not worth fighting it by yourself if you don't have experience. Either pay it, or get a good lawyer. Did he get you with radar (should say on the ticket), or was it a visual estimation of speed?

For future referece, don't overtake over blind crests...some idiot coming the other way could be overtaking on a double yellow...he'd be in your lane, and your closing speed would be around 160mph. You wouldn't have an empty slot to your right to escape to, and, if he doesn't have an escape route because he's next to a tanker trailer, it could get messy.

 

You like flying, you said?

 

A good lawyer should be able to fight it for less than the ticket. I'd find one! Good luck.

 

I assume he got me with radar, I didn't ask. Well I know one thing, I won't be speeding for along time...

 

Being inexperienced and facing the possiblity of quite a few points on your license, you should be extra cautious to safeguard your driving privilege. But in the long run, it's not speeding as much as inappropriate speed for the conditions that you should watch out for.

 

I had a similar ticket. 94 in a 55. Get a lawyer.

 

Yes, fight with a good attorney. Your excellent driving record will work in your favor. Good luck.

 

From many years of experience and too many occurrences I strongly recommend focusing your research on finding a lawyer who is successful in dealing with traffic the particular Mississippi traffic court involved. It will be much better to put your money in the pocket of a good lawyer and hopefully have a clean driving record than funding the local government that issued the citation. You can’t guarantee there won’t be more citations in your future and these things can pile up with dire consequences if you let them.

 

You should absolutely fight it...! Fight it to the death...!!!

FIGHT IT TO THE DEATH...!!!

i cannot stress that enough...! Fight every ticket you ever get...!

If the cop was in motion, it's doubtful he was using radar, so your ticket was probably a result of a visual estimation of speed... How many lanes each way...? What was in between the two highways...? Just some grass...? Any trees...? Was the sun out...? Where was the sun...? Were there any other cars in your vinicity when this occurred...?

Faisal is right; if you're inexperienced at fighting tickets, a lawyer is your best bet... As he also mentioned, your excellent driving record will definitely work to your benefit (if your lawyer is worth his weight)...

Whatever you decide to do - lawyer, no lawyer, divine intervention, prayer, ouija board - make sure you fight the ticket...! DO NOT PLEAD GUILTY...!

i cannot stress that enough...

DO NO PLEAD GUILTY...!!!

 

How about just paying the thing? You were breaking the limit, you said so yourself.

I've always used the options available to me (defensive driving, deferred adjudication, etc), but I've never said I wasn't speeding if I felt I was caught fairly.

No judgement intended, just an opinion because you asked for them.

 

The system is designed to work against you, every time... There's no way out... The system makes mistakes ALL the time, but NEVER in favor of the little guy... The system will take him and ruin him for years... This will blemish his driving record and sky-rocket his insurance, not to mention make his wallet thinner... If it was such a horrible thing to TRY to get away with it, they wouldn't make it possible... "Just paying it" shouldn't be an option... The system will drag him down if he lets it...

 

Get Nolo Press's book, how to beat your ticket. Read it, then get a lawyer, ask him what the plan is. If you don't agree, get another lawyer.

Art

 

I see you are in New Orleans. A friend of mine uses atty Paul Massa (sp?) down there for his traffic stuff. Look him up, he may be able to give you the name of a guy in the particular area of Mississippi.

The guy I used went and moved or I would send you to him.

 

At that level you may in fact loose your lisence.

Here in NC anything and I meen ANYTHING over 76 is grounds for 3 month revocation whether you pay it or not.

Get a lawyer and get one fast!

 

Thanks for the replies guys, still haven't heard back from the Court, so not sure how much it will be for. I am hoping they offer some type of defensive driving course and taking that course will reduce the speed/fine.

Tillman, thanks for your opinion, no problem.

 

When you were issued the ticket was anything said about reporting it back to Louisiana? It has been my experience when out of state that the ticketing officer would state that prompt payment of the fine would avoid notification to my home state (and therefore no points against my license) and not paying on time would result in them making the notification.

Anybody have experience with the state of Mississippi on this issue? It’s one of the states I have managed to NOT get a ticket in so I don’t have any firsthand knowledge.

Seems to me this is a significant item in formulating a plan of action.

Good Luck.
400iGuy

P.S. Next year ask Santa for a Valentine One although it might not have saved you with this time because of going over a hill. But you would have been able to answer the question 'was he using radar?'.

 

How much did you say to the cop? That will be critical in court. If you said, "I know I was driving at that speed", you are probably a dead duck.

 

If you can find the 'right' lawyer the cop may not show up to testify.

400iGuy

 

You might be able to have it moved to a venue that is closer to you. Then the cop will surely not show up, though he may send in written testimony. But that should be easier to challenge/refute. Worth a shot...? Ask your lawyer if this is possible.

 

Finally got in touch with the Court today...$164 for the ticket, I think I will try and figure out how many points it will add to my license, and if its not a lot just pay it and move on.

I guess I was expecting a ticket price from the New Orleans area...I will keep you all updated, thanks for the input.

 

Man, thats cheap. That's be at least $350 here in TX. Maybe more like $5-600.

Do states report to each other w/ regard to minor violations, like speeding tickets?

 

Many states are members of the Compact State agreement. If your state is on the list, it will exchange information with every other state on the list.

However, out of state violations typically result in only 2 points, even if the offense would have carried more points in-state.

You can Google Compact States online.

 

If it makes you feel better, some guy got nailed for doing 145 in a 65 up here, on New Year's Day morning.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/racine/jan05/289790.asp