Cascade Crew

91camaro_rs · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:47 am Post subject: ticket advice...

so i got a negligent driving ticket tonight and i was wondering if you guys got some advice (other than to slow down) for me to help get out of this ticket

i went by a cop going 56 in a 35, i was going the opposite direction as him, and he pulled me over 45 minutes later in a totally different part of town and wrote me a ticket. neg driving to the 2nd degree....

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:24 am Post subject:

Talk to the prosecutor and see if you can get the charge reduced in exchange for agreeing to pay the fine in full. Long term the charge will be much worse to you then the loss of money.

If you try to get out of everything altogether you will either succeed or fail entirely. If you compromise then you will certainly win in some way. Take the sure path.

aaron_sK · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:50 am Post subject:

Gotta disagree with Jon here.

A negligent driving charge on your record, especially at your age, means your insurance will go through the roof, or be canceled outright. You can get the charge reduced, but still not be able to drive for years due to the insurance bill.

Get a lawyer and try to have it dismissed. A good lawyer can pick apart the cop's ticket easily. Especially since (as you describe it) the guy dinked around and gave you the ticket at a later time.

If that doesn't work, then take the deferred, and keep your nose clean.

If you try and plead guilty and take a reduced, you are guaranteeing yourself five to seven years of outrageous insurance bills.

*Edit: Also, a quick lesson here: if a cop sees you do something illegal, and you get away, get the car off the road. Get it into a garage at a buddies house; anything you can do to get it out of sight. Drive another car for a day or two. Don't just go bombing around town all night, or you'll get bit.

d00012 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:15 am Post subject:

x2 on the deferred, if you haven't had any previous violations for 7 years you can have it deferred. After a year, the record will be cleaned, BUT if you get another violation, the new violation AND the deferred one will be permenantly on your record. Then 7 years later, you get another violation, you can defer again.

I had two violations at once, failure to yield and no license on person. I got it deferred, insurance stayed the same ($80 at the time, now I have my own and pay $55) and if I'm violation-free for 1 year, they will be removed from the record. I have 1.5 yearsuntil that 7 year mark. Basically, you choose the option to defer, go before the judge, plead guilty, and explain why you did it, then pay the court fees. My ticket went from $220 to a $50 court fee.

91camaro_rs · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:32 am Post subject:

i have had two speeding tickets before and have had a lawyer dismiss both of them does that mean i still have a defferal?

d00012 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 9:55 am Post subject:

That, I'm not so sure about. It's possible you won't be able to, as the violations have to be over 7 years from the date issued, in order to get a deffered adjudication. Technically, the government will ALWAYS know what you have done, regardless if they say it is cleared from the record. You can still try, or even call the courts and ask. If you can get a deferral, do it, you won't need a lawyer, so all you have to pay is court fees.

The best thing to do is just slow down for now on. Take the time to enjoy the surroundings. Dropping your speed 10+ mph only saves you a couple minutes, if that. I hardly ever do anything over 5 above the speed limit, the only time is to pass. Think of everytime you go driving as a cruise, a time to enjoy the road, and pick and choose the best places to have "fun." Learn the roads with the least police traffic, roads away from pedestrians, homes, and schools. Or, take it to the track.

iansane · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:04 am Post subject:

d00012 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:20 am Post subject:

The 45 minute defense might not be a good thing to fall back on. As your car is more recognizable.

IROCDave · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:31 am Post subject:

Dont mess around, get a lawyer. I have a number for a local guy if you need it.
If the ticket goes on your record it will cost you a small fortune over the next 5 years in higher insurance premiums.

TurdGen1989 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:39 am Post subject:

man, that sucks.. i would get a lawyer and just try and fight it!

d00012 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:31 am Post subject:

Fight it and lose, and it's a lot worse. He needs to see if he can actually get a deffered adjudication first. Then go get that lawyer.

91camaro_rs · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:46 am Post subject:

i have been using William White, he has got me out of both of my previous tickets and he charged $350 both times

i can only afford 200-250 right now...

RSFreak · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 12:34 pm Post subject:

I was always told that, in the case of traffic offenses, if the cop lost sight of you, there was no way they could prove that you were the one who committed the offense. Confused

cameron7710 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 1:07 pm Post subject:

i would say fight it if u get a lawyer because 45 minutes is a long time and just because your car sticks out a lot more than most dosnt mean that you were the one driving the car at the time. but if you dont want to fight it i would try the deferred your other tickets wont matter as long as u didnt get one of them deferred, but the only thing is some tickets they wont let you do that so a with neg driving charge they might not let you

91camaro_rs · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject:

ya im not the only red thirdgen in gig harbor either

QwkTrip · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:48 pm Post subject:

.... but you know that the cop was right and you did it. You were ticketed fairly. You might lose some money over this, but don't lose your credibility and good reputation as well.

At the end of the day, all the judge really wants is for people to do the right thing and never be seen in his court room again. Do what you can to minimize the pain of this ticket, but don't lose sight of the purpose for the ticket (change bad behavior) and the appropriate response you should have as an upstanding and honest gentleman.

d00012 · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:33 pm Post subject:

When I was last in court, the people who contested their violations (like yours) lost, and paid the price. And then the ones who pled guilty/no-contest, ended up getting slaps on the wrist.

It really all comes down to what kind of person the judge is. It's like gambling. The judge I had liked honesty, and owning up to your mistakes. Who knows, the judge you get could feel like punishing everyone, regardless if they are innocent or not.

IROCDave · Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject:

Winning isnt about paying a diminished fine. Insurance premiums are what is really at stake. As for as standing up taking your medicine, I agree with it in priniple, but that is not what traffic tickets are about. If you cant tell, I am still pissed off about the ticket I recieved, first one in almost twenty years. Get a lawyer, it will cost less than the ticket and premium increase.

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:13 am Post subject:

91camaro_rs · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:16 am Post subject:

talked to a few of my friends about lawyers and they told me to use Valery Shuman, never heard of her but she has got my friend out of 4 tickets and my other friend out of two and she only charges $250, so thats what the plan is gonna be, hopefully it gets dropped