Speeding Ticket!

[LeSabreUltra]

What a crappy day. Anyway...

So today I did another step towards getting my LeSabre ready for a trip. I got my tires installed at Sam's Club locally a while ago so I get free lifetime rotating and balancing, which I cashed in today. Well immediately after finishing, I went on the interstate to test it out, see how smooth it was. Well now my car shakes like hell. So I was pretty pissed.

I'm doing 80 with the cruise on which is pretty much keeping up with the flow of traffic. All of a sudden I top a hill and there's a HUGE speed trap with state troopers lined up down the road and flashing lights everywhere. They're pulling over people left and right.

Naturally, out pops one and here are the flashing lights. Well, crap. Usually I'm pretty good about talking my way out of tickets cause I'm pretty easy going and don't act all nervous and crap. I just tell the truth and don't bother them with a lot of BS. Seems to work well, but not today. Guess they were out for their quota.

So I get a ticket for 82 in a 70. My first thought is wtf? I KNOW I pegged the cruise on 80, and my tires are appropriately sized. So either my speedometer or his laser zapper is wrong. I know 2 mph isn't much, but it's still inaccurate...

So anyway I'll probably just end up paying the stupid thing. I don't really feel like going to court (it's not even in the county I live in) since regardless of whether it was 82 or 80, I was still speeding and would still get the same point value and fine. What I was wondering if any of you guys could tell me, is...

Will my insurance rates go up significantly, or at all? I had one ticket three years and 2-3 months ago, so it may already be removed from my record. Even if it's not, it was in Georgia and only 10 over (65 in a 55) and according to GA law no points are added to the license for such a ticket. So I'm HOPING that this will be credited as my first ticket ever. My insurance rates didn't go up for the GA ticket.

Looking up a little bit more, "a normal traffic conviction remains on a driver record for 3 years; however as we mentioned earlier it loses its point count for suspension purposes after two years." This is for Alabama. Looks like speeding from 1-25 mph over the limit is 2 points, maximum fine for first violation is $100. Thank goodness he didn't get me going 4 mph faster, anything over 86 mph is more points and a higher fine, and I bet my insurance would for sure go up.

So maybe this will be treated as if it were my first ticket? I hope?

My insurance doesn't renew until January 2010 so the one other ticket I have should for sure be well past the three year mark by then.

I'm hoping that maybe I can work out these vibration issues too. I can't see how they could screw up a simple tire balance.
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[01bonneSC]

Do you have to tell your insurance company?

[LeSabreUltra]

Do you have to tell your insurance company?

I don't think so, I didn't tell them about the last ticket. Only way they'll find out is if they decide to check my driving record when the policy renews. Which they may, or may not, I dunno how they do that.

I have Auto-Owners Insurance by the way.
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[00Beast]

It probably will affect insurance. They check your record, you don't tell them anything more than you have to. I know in MN a 65 in a 55 doesn't affect insurance, but any other speeding violation will.

[GoldenBullet]

It probably will affect insurance. They check your record, you don't tell them anything more than you have to. I know in MN a 65 in a 55 doesn't affect insurance, but any other speeding violation will.

65 in a 55 WILL affect your insurance in MN, depending on your insurance company.

[petraman]

I've gotten three tickets on my record, and the only direction my policy has gone is down... From 150 to 108 in 2 years...

[repinS]

Probably more a function of age more than the tickets, Peter.

[petraman]

I was 17 when I got my first one and, as I said, never went up... So it probably goes by company (I have State Farm, fyi)

[LeSabreUltra]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I do have an at-fault accident which happened three and a half years ago, so it's unlikely that I have a "good driver's discount" that could be removed because of this ticket. No other cars involved in that accident, or any tickets given, but the car I was driving at the time was totaled.

I am 22 years old. I used to pay $150 a month insurance back when I just had the Buick, but since both my cars are in my parent's names for insurance reasons (I paid for both though) when I got my truck, they managed to play around with my insurance (who was the primary driver and all that) and I got my rates cut to $100 a month for two cars. Pretty cool deal if you ask me. My rates have stayed that way since May 2007. My accident and last ticket were in July/August of 2006.

We've been working with them through our local agency for a long time, so I'm hoping that will come into play. A few extra dollars a month wouldn't hurt that much, but I would really like to not be paying $150 a month again! Especially since everyone and their grandma does 80 on the interstate around here.
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[LeSabreUltra]

Well, after playing around with Alabama's lovely online traffic court information system (lol) I finally have some solid details on things.

Turns out my fine will be somewhat higher than expected. Less than 25 over the speed limit is a fine of $165 in Macon County, where I got the ticket. Thankfully it wasn't in my home county where the same ticket would have been $207. Dunno why the difference, we're right next to each other.

Apparently I get the option to request defensive driving school, but I must personally appear in court to request it. After which, if I'm approved (should be, first time in a long time that I've gotten a ticket and it wasn't a serious offense) then I register for the class, pay for it, take it, and present the certificate of completion to the judge whereupon they decide what to do with it. I can't get any clear answers on this but I believe the overall objective is to have the ticket dismissed and removed from my record. That's up to the judge though. However, as I have to show up in court to do this I will end up having to pay court costs + the class fee in addition to having to make time out of my day to drive to downtown Tuskegee (which isn't the best or most crime-free place in the world, btw) wait in the courtroom, and appear nervous as hell cause I've never been in court and don't know what to do, lol. The overall cost would be the same or more as the ticket if I were approved and the case dismissed but I may or may not save the extra insurance costs.

It's also possible that I could show up to court and appeal to the judges better side and have my fine/points reduced, but again due to my total lack of courtroom experience I dunno about that option.

So I'm kinda weighing my options. I find all this really irritating because my speeding ticket in Georgia (65 in a 55) only cost $37.50.

:|
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[LeSabre in Buffalo]

I'd take the time off and go to court. I was very unlucky behind the wheel for a few years, some outright stupidity combined with me being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Every time I went to court, and every time it's worked to my advantage. Yeah, I've paid slightly more in fines due to some of the deals, but fewer points went onto my license. So my insurance didn't go up as much, and it will go down sooner.

Remember, it's time/money spent now that will save you more time/money in the future.

[petraman]

Same here... The last time I went to court, I pleaded to the judge that I was just a poor college student and I had absolutely no money to pay it off. He decided to wave the fine if I served 40 hours of community service at Goodwill. I did, and I'll tell you, it was a character builder...

[00Beast]

For my first ticket, all I had to do was call and sign up for the class. I showed up, paid my $75, took the class, got passed, and my ticket was eliminated. It doesn't exist in the system. I got a letter a few weeks later saying the judge nullified it or whatever. I'd do the class, and just be honest. It's not something to be scared of, going to court. Just be polite and honest, and the worst you can get is the full fine and points. I would highly recommend the class, though.

[BonneMe]

Take the class, pay what they ask you.

Stop speeding (enough to get caught).

[LeSabreUltra]

Lol, well BonneMe, usually I'm the a$$hat that religiously does 5 mph and no more over the speed limit, no matter how stupid the limit is...and people ride my butt because of it. The only exception is (or was) on the interstate where I might be persuaded to do 10 over, especially when I really want to get where I am going.

In any event, I think I'm gonna try the driving school option...show up to court and all that.

On the other hand, I went back and got my tires re-balanced...and sure enough they were out of balance. Took it back on the interstate (doing 75 this time) and it's smoothed out a lot. So at least that's taken care of.
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[BonneMe]

I attend the church of 5 over myself!

Except in heavy traffic on I-94 in St Paul where everyone is 10+ over.. which I also drive everyday...

[bonnevillain]

35e going south to school every day, the flow is about 10-15 over in the left lane.. 5-10 over in the right. lol

[mawint]

35e going south to school every day, the flow is about 10-15 over in the left lane.. 5-10 over in the right. lol

Every time I drive that rode it's usually a dead stop. Not cool. That 45 mph zone sucks too. I usually do right around the speed limit there too and everyone whizzes past me at ten over. Cops like to do speed traps there too.

I had a cop friend tell me once the guns are + or - 3 mph. Not enough to lower your speeding ticket but could count for why the speedo told you something different.

[bonnevillain]

The area I drive, the speed limit is 70

[BonneMe]

The fast section of 35E is nice! Come out of st paul and the mendota area, pass 494, drop down two gears, and give her some stick...