CT speeding ticket

[milo]

Quick question, since I have to respond by telephone tomorrow:

I got a ticket for going 15 over the limit in my brother's car, near New London. $240 for 15 over!! Insane. Anyway, I'm not working for the next month, so I figure I can just plead not guilty, get a court date, and go up there (from NY) in hopes that the ADA will offer me a plea to a lesser violation and a lower fine. That's what happens here in NY, because the ADA doesn't want to drag the cop into court to prove his case. So my question is, does it work the same way in CT? If I bother to ride up there am I likely to get a reduced fine? Or should I suck it up and pay by mail?

I know it's a good excuse to go for a longish ride, but I'll be riding anyway (finally got my bike + wileyco & flange + Kat shock + SV mirrors in one place, they'll be installed by the end of the week); point is, will it be worth it to sit in court a few hours?

[vfrocket]

Just pay the ticket. Usually if you go to court for a traffic violation, you will still end up paying the fine, plus court costs...

[davipu]

yeah, a speeding ticket, unless it's going to put you over the limit for points isn't anything to worry about.

[RVertigo]

In WA, you can mitigate the ticket and get the fine reduced...  AND you can set up a deal where the ticket won't go on your record if you can avoid getting another ticket for a year...  If you get another ticket, then both go on your record at the maximum fine.

When I went in for my last ticket, I declined 'cause I figured I'd get another one in a year...  I didn't.   :dunno:

[themaffeo]

I would only risk it if your court date is close to a major holiday (odds are better the officer will be on vacation).

Speeding tickets are really hard to contest - i was thinking about contesting mine but the law here in CA is very black and white.  I forget the clause, but at the outset of the speeding section of the code, it says basically "Overriding everthing else you are about to read, it is never ok to go over the posted speed limit. Period."  IANAL but I believe it even overrides the "flow of traffic" law.

[milo]

I don't care about points or insurance, since NY doesn't reciprocate with CT; but it's an awful lot of money for what was really reasonable driving. I'm just looking to shave $50 or $100 off the fine if possible. Happens all the time in NY.

But given these responses, I'll lean toward paying it if I don't hear from someone with CT-specific info soon.

[tkm433]

I don't care about points or insurance, since NY doesn't reciprocate with CT; but it's an awful lot of money for what was really reasonable driving. I'm just looking to shave $50 or $100 off the fine if possible. Happens all the time in NY.

But given these responses, I'll lean toward paying it if I don't hear from someone with CT-specific info soon.

Your insurance company can find out if you got a ticket since it will be in a national data base.  I would rather give my STATE the money in the way of a one time fine instead of having to pay higer rates for the next couple of years>

Every time I have gone to court they managed to lower the fine or the points or both and that saved me money in the long run.