F/U to speeding ticket- court question

KSimone619 · May 2011

Has anyone ever brought their traffic ticket to court? What is the process like? What can I expect??

hersheykiss · May 2011

In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

ASmallWonder · May 2011

It depends on why you're taking it to to court. If you truly don't believe you were speeding you can ask when the radar gun was calibrated last. I really don't know how else you challenge whether or not the calculated speed was accurate. If you know you were speeding I guess you can request leniency if it's your first one? Just an FYI, it's not true that the officer who issued you the ticket has to be there or your case is dismissed. A representative from the police has to be there and they always are haha

KSimone619 · May 2011

hersheykiss:
In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

I actually did not get the ticket in Atlanta but a suburb... although I am assuming the process is the same. So--- if the cop ISN'T there, what happens? If he is, then what?

Also- when you said "plead your case" do you mean just say "not guilty"... or do I have to have a story with it?

KSimone619 · May 2011

laura_belle:
KSimone619:

hersheykiss:
In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

I actually did not get the ticket in Atlanta but a suburb... although I am assuming the process is the same. So--- if the cop ISN'T there, what happens? If he is, then what?

Also- when you said "plead your case" do you mean just say "not guilty"... or do I have to have a story with it?

Were you speeding? If so, I would go with guilty. Judges hear BS "I wasn't speeding" stories all day.

Yes I was speeding- however, the road I had just turned onto didn't have a speed limit sign posted between where I turned and the speed trap. Although I know ignorance is not an excuse, it is still my story

hersheykiss · May 2011

KSimone619:

hersheykiss:
In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

I actually did not get the ticket in Atlanta but a suburb... although I am assuming the process is the same. So--- if the cop ISN'T there, what happens? If he is, then what?

Also- when you said "plead your case" do you mean just say "not guilty"... or do I have to have a story with it?

Which County? I know from experience that Cobb and Qwinnett are usually more lenient. You can plead your case that you didn't think you were going that fast, you can apologize and ask for a reduced speed and no points, etc.

KSimone619 · May 2011

hersheykiss:
KSimone619:

hersheykiss:
In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

I actually did not get the ticket in Atlanta but a suburb... although I am assuming the process is the same. So--- if the cop ISN'T there, what happens? If he is, then what?

Also- when you said "plead your case" do you mean just say "not guilty"... or do I have to have a story with it?

Which County? I know from experience that Cobb and Qwinnett are usually more lenient. You can plead your case that you didn't think you were going that fast, you can apologize and ask for a reduced speed and no points, etc.

Fulton, unfortunately. So would I say "guilty, but asking for a reduced fine..."??? I am just clueless! I work in the health profession!

hersheykiss · May 2011

KSimone619:
hersheykiss:
KSimone619:

hersheykiss:
In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

I actually did not get the ticket in Atlanta but a suburb... although I am assuming the process is the same. So--- if the cop ISN'T there, what happens? If he is, then what?

Also- when you said "plead your case" do you mean just say "not guilty"... or do I have to have a story with it?

Which County? I know from experience that Cobb and Qwinnett are usually more lenient. You can plead your case that you didn't think you were going that fast, you can apologize and ask for a reduced speed and no points, etc.

Fulton, unfortunately. So would I say "guilty, but asking for a reduced fine..."??? I am just clueless! I work in the health profession!

I would tell them, that you had just turned onto XXX road and that you had not seen a speed limit sign yet before you were pulled over and that you would like to request a reduced fine and no points on your license. Then let the judge decide. If the officer does not attend the court date, he may just dismiss it all together, but if the cop appears just go with what has been suggested. The worst he can say is no.

jdouglas84 · May 2011

hersheykiss:
In Atlanta, you go to court, they call you up in a general alphabet order. You stand at a podium and plead your case. The judge will listen, and ask if the cop is present. Then will hand out his ruling. Do not take kids, that is a turnoff.

Similar to here in MD. I got a speeding ticket here in MD (16 miles over speed limit on a highway), and apparently the judge I saw in that particular county is really tough. I ended up getting 3 years unsupervised probation, plus going to a driving class which cost me $80, plus I had to pay court fees. If I would have gotten another ticket in that 3 years, I would have had to go back to court and would have gotten 2 points on my license for the original ticket. That was my first ever speeding ticket, and I thought it was pretty harsh considering it was my first and only ticket!

hersheykiss · May 2011

laura_belle:

Fulton Co.? I would pay the ticket and call it a day. Just to avoid the Fulton Co Courthouse. That is just me.

AMEN to that!

seanandcallie · May 2011

If you want to fight it, take a photo of the speed limit sign closest to the intersection from the road you turned off of, then a photo of where the cops were, and then a photo of the first speed limit sign on that road. Have them in order and have a map of the area to show where you were, the speed limit from the road you turned off of, the cops location, and that there was no sign between you and the cop. We had to do this for my husband in DeKalb. Say that you do not contest that you were speeding, but that you were unaware of the speed limit change from the road you were on to that road. Have you proof with you.

KSimone619 · May 2011

hersheykiss:
laura_belle:

Fulton Co.? I would pay the ticket and call it a day. Just to avoid the Fulton Co Courthouse. That is just me.

AMEN to that!

Sounds like Fulton has a bad reputation... I think I might just pay it. It's more of a stress to me to go to the court and sounds like I would have to pay court fees anyway. Plus, 2 points on my license really doesn't mean anything unless I plan to get in more accidents/tickets, right!?

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

If the case is dismissed then you won't get any points and your insurance will not go up.

If you just pay then for sure your insurance will increase.

It's not like arguing ROE vs WADE to the Supreme Court. Just goa nd say not huilty or no contest. DO NOT plead guilty

hersheykiss · May 2011

Not to bring up a bad topic, but wasn't Fulton county courthouse where the judge & police officer were shot about 7 yrs ago and the shooter ran out and had the police on a chase through downtown?

aocain02@yahoo.com · May 2011

You can also challenge based on when the last speed survey was done. You can check with your local city/county on the speed surveys.

KSimone619 · May 2011

hersheykiss:
Not to bring up a bad topic, but wasn't Fulton county courthouse where the judge & police officer were shot about 7 yrs ago and the shooter ran out and had the police on a chase through downtown?

yankeebaby2 · May 2011

ALG29:
You can also challenge based on when the last speed survey was done. You can check with your local city/county on the speed surveys.

:::files away for future use on the next ticket:::

KSimone619 · May 2011

hersheykiss:
Not to bring up a bad topic, but wasn't Fulton county courthouse where the judge & police officer were shot about 7 yrs ago and the shooter ran out and had the police on a chase through downtown?

LOL- possibly, I can't remember... was it for a traffic ticket?

Also- any idea how it affects insurance?

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