Is there a "Frank DeSousa" (a good speeding ticket lawyer) for NJ?

hey I noticed you were in NY and you got the ticket in NJ. Just pay the fine and the points wont transfer over to your NY license.

I got one last may and I just paid the fine and nothing was ever recorded. Before I found out that bit of information I called around for local NJ lawyers they wanted around $600 for my ticket. I just paid my $200+ dollar ticket and called it a day.

 

Sharif's advise isn't bad, but you need to check a couple of things and consider a couple of alternatives first.

1. Does the ticket "require" an appearance? If so, you can't just pay the ticket and forget about it. If you have to appear anyway, plead not guilty, call the court clerk, get a date scheduled down the road a way, and hope the cop doesn't show up. If he's not their, case dismissed.

2. If the ticket was for something other than just speeding (wreckless driving, careless driving) you might want to contest it.

3. You don't say how much over the limit you got tagged for. If it was a lot (more than 15 mph), an appearance may be required. But even if you go without a lawyer, you may be able to talk to the local prosecutor and get the offense reduced, especially if you have a good driving record. It is always better if you can get a "non-moving" violation and just pay a fine than having a speeding or other moving violation on your record. It may not pop up on your NY record for points, but chances are your insurance company will find it.

 

If he slammed you with multiple tickets and court appearance is required, get a good local lawyer, preferrable someone in that county. State Troopers can be real dicks, especially with out of state drivers on the Turnpike and way over the limit. A good local attorney should be able to negotiate it down for you the day of trial. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone down in that neck of the woods.

 

Do not use out of town talent. Do consult with a couple of the larger firms in that area and ask them who: they recommend (often they will say they have a great guy in their own shop, but take that with a grain of salt); represents the local police force in the area- usually there is a lawyer that handles matters for the town, village or county. That's the person to talk to, and possibly, use.
I am a lawyer and have always engaged counsel, even for out of state alleged violations. Six hundred bucks is cheap compared to the long run consequences. Good luck.

 

Just how over the limit were you?

Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I got hit a couple months back for the first time ever. The trooper was actually pretty nice, but still had to be an ass and give me a ticket even though my license was spotless.

 

Best advice.

You need someone who knows the locals, not some big-city Clarence Darrow.

Good luck.