Well was vacationing this past week in Florida and while driving home was nabbed for speeding in West Virginia,Got spotted for going 70 in a 55 ,15 mph over,actually was cought just after the speed limit dropped and there was someone beside me going the same speed but I figure cause the canadian plates thats why I got nailed.Fine is $335.00 for 15 mph over unreal,anyone no if this will effect anything on my record if I just don't pay it,can they nail me for anything at the border as I travel to Buffalo regularly,no way I am going down to fight it,or do you think I should just pay it.Any input would be appreciated.........Thks
Speeding ticket in the US......
- Thread starter Highroller
- Start date
Highroller said:Well was vacationing this past week in Florida and while driving home was nabbed for speeding in West Virginia,Got spotted for going 70 in a 55 ,15 mph over,actually was cought just after the speed limit dropped and there was someone beside me going the same speed but I figure cause the canadian plates thats why I got nailed.Fine is $335.00 for 15 mph over unreal,anyone no if this will effect anything on my record if I just don't pay it,can they nail me for anything at the border as I travel to Buffalo regularly,no way I am going down to fight it,or do you think I should just pay it.Any input would be appreciated.........Thks
Let me guess - US 19 through Beckley?
I've had a few through that part of the US and all I can say is PAY IT.
Trust me - the last thing you need is to be driving through there a few years from now and have Billy Bob pull you over. If they find you have an unpaid ticket you're going to spend the night with the people that were in Deliverence.
Any other state and I don't think I would say the same thing but I can tell you from personal experience that when it comes to WV pay the fine and slow down.
A further consideration aside problems entering the U.S., is that if you don't pay the traffic citation, it you're going to have to detour arround West Virginia. Most juristictions issue Bench Warrants for Failure to Appear and/or non-payment of fines. Such arrest warrants are like The Terminator "they never, ever stop." I know of someone who was arrested on a fifteen year old arrest warrant for a fish and game violation for illegal fishing, and they'd avoided that state for all that time expecting that the warrant would eventually "go away."
Absolutely the truth! If you get stopped and have a Bench Warrant expect to spend overnight in jail or if its Friday expect to be there until monday. You can bail out eventually for the cost of the ticket plus court costs, then you go to WVA to go to court (and pay an attorney). Happened to me in Ocala Florida. I will never not pay a ticket again.Aardvark154 said:A further consideration aside problems entering the U.S., is that if you don't pay the traffic citation, it you're going to have to detour arround West Virginia. Most juristictions issue Bench Warrants for Failure to Appear and/or non-payment of fines. Such arrest warrants are like The Terminator "they never, ever stop." I know of someone who was arrested on a fifteen year old arrest warrant for a fish and game violation for illegal fishing, and they'd avoided that state for all that time expecting that the warrant would eventually "go away."
Many states have websites where you can check to see if you have any current warrants.
I would highly recommend paying it. Don't think for a minute that they won't find out about it at homeland security. Homeland security is very aggresive when it comes to accumulating data and the border is one of the best places for them to run a check for warrants. Other than that, the fines will rapidly increase over time, along with interest on unpaid balances. Most states have reciprocity agreements and will check for warrants in surrounding states.
It isn't worth the hassle over a couple hundred bucks.
It isn't worth the hassle over a couple hundred bucks.
take the advice of fellow terbites.. pay the ticket...or it WILL haunt you down the road ..
as we all know the U.S is a true POLICE STATE UNITED...
now matter how small and innocent the crime is or breaking the law is breaking the and eventually you will be convicted and go to jail...
as we all know the U.S is a true POLICE STATE UNITED...
now matter how small and innocent the crime is or breaking the law is breaking the and eventually you will be convicted and go to jail...
Right that's why folks actually manage to be found Not Guilty on traffic offenses.genie888 said:take the advice of fellow terbites.. pay the ticket...or it WILL haunt you down the road ..
as we all know the U.S is a true POLICE STATE UNITED...
now matter how small and innocent the crime is or breaking the law is breaking the and eventually you will be convicted and go to jail...
If you think the U.S. is a police state, I can suggest a number of countries for you to visit, which just might cause you to change your mind or at least agree that on a 1 -10 scale it's a one.
While Ontario has reciprical agreements with all states for licensing purposes it only has reciprical agreements for convictions with New York State and most recently Michigan.
This means that the ticket will not be recorded on your ontario driving record. Therefore it would appear the recommendation to pay the ticket is a good option considering you would avoid potential hassles down the road of having an unpaid ticket and the fact that it will be as if it never happened to your insurance company.
This means that the ticket will not be recorded on your ontario driving record. Therefore it would appear the recommendation to pay the ticket is a good option considering you would avoid potential hassles down the road of having an unpaid ticket and the fact that it will be as if it never happened to your insurance company.
That's where I got mine, on the way back from Myrtle Beach. Paid it.yaya17 said:Let me guess - US 19 through Beckley?
Thks for the advice and replys guys and yes I got it on I-19 just outside Beckly.......I will just pay it and forget about it as most have suggested..
Further thoughts: If you aren't guilty fight the citation. However if you were speeding: 1) in most states the legislature has "put their thumb on the scales - the radar is accepted as prima facia evidence of the speed you where traveling, unless you can prove that the radar was not properly maintained (almost all police agencies take pains to make sure this is properly done) 2) in most states traffic infractions are civil, not criminal violations and therefore the standard of proof is preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) and not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.Highroller said:Got spotted for going 70 in a 55 ,15 mph over,actually was cought just after the speed limit dropped and there was someone beside me going the same speed but I figure cause the canadian plates thats why I got nailed.
PAY IT....now! Many years ago I didn't bother...and it came back to haunt me....at a US customs check at Pearson. I was told while crossing that there was a warrant out on me, all thanks to that speeding ticket. I was ale to resolve the problem, but as you can imagine, that took several years.
US 19 - just what I was thinking.yaya17 said:Let me guess - US 19 through Beckley?
I've had a few through that part of the US and all I can say is PAY IT.
Trust me - the last thing you need is to be driving through there a few years from now and have Billy Bob pull you over. If they find you have an unpaid ticket you're going to spend the night with the people that were in Deliverence.
Any other state and I don't think I would say the same thing but I can tell you from personal experience that when it comes to WV pay the fine and slow down.
They intentionally target "speeders" with senseless changes in the posted speed limit in certain areas in the U.S. to increase local revenue. Road safety has nothing to do with it - they want money and see passing through drivers as cash cows.
Back in the 1970's a friend of mine got one and didn't pay it. They sent him notices and he ignored them. He avoided driving through that state for many years. I think it went away after 7 years because he has been ticketed in other states in the 1990's and no mention was ever made of his unpaid ticket.
That said, post 2001 the U.S. keeps much better track of people. Record keeping is better now, and I would suggest you pay the ticket to avoid future hassles. I pay mine - call it goodwill to help an underdeveloped/distressed WV county lol. Not to just pick on WV, areas of PA are bad for this ticket revenue crap too, especially between Erie and Pittsburgh.
