Speeding ticket in the US......

[Highroller]

Well was nailed for speeding in Buffalo the other evening,going 57 in a 40 so the cop said.I know I was over 40 but would dispute the 57,anyway I understand that is 4 points ,not sure of the dollar amount.Does anyone know if there point system effects ares and are insurance rates.
Maybe its worth going to the court and trying to get it lowered.
Any opinions anyone...Thks............

 

[thompo69]

From MTO:

"Drivers convicted of a driving related offence in the State of New York, the State of Michigan or any Canadian province or territory, will have home jurisdictional penalties such as demerit points and/or suspensions applied to their Ontario driver record as if the offence occurred in Ontario."

 

[papasmerf]

tickets in Buffalo are seldom pleaded down but in the surrounding area they are. Ths means you get school and a fine. Often with no points. Always worth going to court and trying.

 

[hot rod]

although points contribute to and worsen the insurance hit, remember that these days, insurance companies look at ALL tickets whether points are involved or not. Any ticket (even those without points) can still make a major impact on your rates.

 

[MuffinMuncher]

Basically you're screwed. You can hire (by phone) a local lawyer to represent you in court to plead it down. I dont think you even need to appear.

The fine will be hefty (guessing $100+ in addition to court costs = $200), and then throw another $150 on for the lawyer.

My insurance company has NEVER checked or updated my current driving record as long as I keep paying my premium. I've had 3-4 speeding tickets in the past 2 years, some in state, some out of state, and nothing.

 

[Aardvark154]

FWIW I notice that in comparison with other jurisdictions New York has an
aggressive speed enforcement policy on I-290 and on I-90 (the main line of the Thruway). Speeds that you can "get away with" on other expressways will get you stopped in New York.

 

[Mia.Colpa]

although points contribute to and worsen the insurance hit, remember that these days, insurance companies look at ALL tickets whether points are involved or not. Any ticket (even those without points) can still make a major impact on your rates.

Exactly!

I don't know what your objective is Highroller, but if it's to reduce the ticket so your rates won't go up, won't work. My insurance agent told me whether your going 15 km or 40 km with point off, they will still look at it as a speeding ticket and it will affect your rates the same. However, my company said they allow me at least 1 speeding ticket every two years on record with no impact on my rates. If this is your only ticket now, don't worry.

 

[Highroller]

Thks for the replys and opinions...............

 

[goodtime]

Basically you're screwed. You can hire (by phone) a local lawyer to represent you in court to plead it down. I dont think you even need to appear.

The fine will be hefty (guessing $100+ in addition to court costs = $200), and then throw another $150 on for the lawyer.

My insurance company has NEVER checked or updated my current driving record as long as I keep paying my premium. I've had 3-4 speeding tickets in the past 2 years, some in state, some out of state, and nothing.

I fight all my U.S. tickets. Managed to get off so far. Usually lost in system after few reschedules or plead down but no follow-up from N.Y. Att office. My record remains clean.

 

[CapitalGuy]

I am Banned

........from driving in North Dakota. The shame. A $14 fine for going 14 mph over the speed limit (the equivalent of doing 120 km/hr in a 100 zone), on a 4-lane highway in the middle of the night (ie. no traffic besides me on the road).

I simply never paid it, partly on principle (good grief, is there nothing better for a cop to do in the middle of the night, than give a guy a $14 fine), partly because I knew I'd never be back through ND, and partly because of the thrill of breaking the law (in a completely lame way).

Got the warnings and eventually the notice that my drivers licence is suspended in ND. I have lived with that shame for over a decade now. Pray for me.

 

[Aardvark154]

I got stopped near Watertown, NY about 4 years ago doing just under 80 mph in a 65 zone and never paid the ticket. I have been across there many times since and never had a problem at U.S Customs or with the state patrol. My insurance company never found out and I never told them. When I go over there, I just drive the speed limit.

Possible bad news. Many U.S. states have computerized (in state) warrant lists and most issue bench warrants for failure to appear in court on traffic charges, however, I'm not certain if New York does either.

For purpose of illustration let's say you got the ticket in Vermont rather than New York. Ten years after you "never paid the ticket", you enter the U.S. (nothing shows up on the computer at the border port since the warrant is not for an extraditable offense) as you drive down the road in Vermont for whatever reason the police stop you. When the trooper or officer "runs your drivers license" surprise there is a warrant for your arrest for failure to appear on the decade old speeding charge.

It's somewhat like the line in the Terminator movie "it absolutely will not stop, ever" warrants will not go way unless you do something to resolve the issue.

 

[skypilot]

If you are close enough to where you got the ticket, plead not guilty and go to court. I have been there several times. You will be put in line with dozens of others to see a state attorney who will agree to change the charge or lower the speed. Then its a matter of seconds before the judge. This is always done if a state trooper ticketed you. If you plead guilty and pay the ticket, the state gets the fine. If you plead not guilty then take a lower plea, the municipality gets the fine.
New York does issue bench warrants for traffic offenses. At the border these will not show up at the computer in the booth, but if you get sent in for a closer look they will check local warrants. What happens then is you will be turned over to one of the local Police Depts who will take you in to a magistrate who will give you the option of paying the fine in cash or sitting in jail for a few hours then paying the fine by credit card.

 

[lighthouse boy]

I was in New Zealand the first two wks of December. I got a letter from New Zealand today. I open it up and it's a speeding ticket (from one of those photo cameras). 63 km in a 50 km zone. I went ahead and paid it online ($80 in NZ$ which is like $55 in US funds). I doubt that ticket information will make it to the Texas Dept of Transportation.

 

[goodtime]

I got stopped near Watertown, NY about 4 years ago doing just under 80 mph in a 65 zone and never paid the ticket. I have been across there many times since and never had a problem at U.S Customs or with the state patrol. My insurance company never found out and I never told them. When I go over there, I just drive the speed limit.

Caught the local LE as he was coming onto I-81. Ticket was eventually dropped.