Speeding Ticket in USA

[banana]

Hello all, hope everyone had a great long weekend, I sure did, until the very last moment.......

so I spend my long weekend driving to NYC, but on my way back to Toronto last nite, i got pulled over by a cop and gave me a speeding ticket going at 70 on a 55 zone. The ticket is a bit different than the one we have here in that there's no fine amount. The cop told me to contact the court office directly and they'll let me know how much I'm fined for.

My question is, should I pay for this ticket? My friend told me he never paid, since his car was a rental.

Secondly, will my insurance company find out about this ticket? I can't really afford to have my insurance to go up anymore....

 

[mcdoste]

I got tagged with 71 in a 55 zone last year just outside of Albany. I contacted the courthouse listed on the ticket and they agreed to change it to "incorrect use of 4 way flashers" so there were no demerit points and no record for insurance. The fine was the same they said but they do that so Canadians will pay the fine more quickly they said. Give them a call.

 

[rogue_77]

A few years back as I was driving back from Indiana, I got caught speeding. The highway state trooper said that because i was from Canada, i had to pay the ticket immediately so he took my drivers license and made me follow him to the court house to pay the fine before i got it back. I didn't end up with any points or anything and my insurance wasn't affected.

 

[tool_man05]

Got one too in Ohio, called the court house got the amount, sent a money order and it was done. Nothing happened here.

 

[Mac_Eng1985]

Yes, you should pay the ticket.

I received a ticket in NYS a year ago- 65 mph in a 55. I sent the explanation off as required, and they issued a fine, which I promptly paid. Failure to do so will likely result in an outstanding warrant and WILL come up the next time you try and enter the USA.

MOST US states (I'm told) are cracking down on speeders as it is the easiest/ most effective way of raising money. NYS is pretty much bankrupt, and they are going after this "road tax" with increased vengeance. Also- expect the "Administration Fee" or whatever they call it to be larger than the actual fine infraction!

Oh, and one other thing... insurance companies WILL have a record of you ticket, at least mine did! My car insurance didn't go up, (its the only ticket I've had in 5 years), but my house insurance did, and I tried to get them to lower my car insurance in order to offset this- but they "couldn't" because I had a traffic infraction in the last year...

Bottom line, don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

Sorry....

 

[HetroGuy]

The highway state trooper said that because i was from Canada, i had to pay the ticket immediately so he took my drivers license and made me follow him to the court house to pay the fine before i got it back.

It happened to me in the middle of nowhere Tennessee. I wasn't speeding but the cop gave me a ticket, collected my license and told me to to go to a court in some small town to pay it off. The cops name was Buford and I felt like I was in an old movie. Bastards would only take cash but gave me a receipt which I had to take back to the cop and show to get my license. His comments about my Ontario license plates confirmed why I was pulled over. It was a safe bet I wasn't going to stick around a few days for my court date.

 

[Mister K]

It happened to me in the middle of nowhere Tennessee. I wasn't speeding but the cop gave me a ticket, collected my license and told me to to go to a court in some small town to pay it off. The cops name was Buford and I felt like I was in an old movie. Bastards would only take cash but gave me a receipt which I had to take back to the cop and show to get my license. His comments about my Ontario license plates confirmed why I was pulled over. It was a safe bet I wasn't going to stick around a few days for my court date.

These days with all the law enforcement/customs/homeland security interactivity you are just as well to pay the fine, or go to court if you can. There have been a number of incidents in the last few years where individuals who just ignored the ticket found themselves arrested months later crossing the border because the jurisdiction where the ticket was issued put out an arrest warrant for non-payment of the fine. One guy got the ticket in Ohio, was arrested in NY, held pending extradition, then transported to Cleveland where it cost him a bundle to resolve.

As far as the points are concerned, there are a number of American states which have reciprocity with Ontario, and report ticket results to the Ministry of Transportation.

There is a lot of really good information at this link: TicketCombat.com

 

[OddSox]

If you don't pay it you might never hear from them again. Until the next time you're driving in NYS and get stopped - then you're there for 30 days or whatever they might feel is appropriate...

 

[K Douglas]

I guess it differs by state. I got clocked going 97 mph in a 75 zone (Utah or Montana I can't remember). The cop said he wasn't going to issue me a ticket because they'd have no way of collecting on it. But he did give a warning and said he recorded my license plate in the system and if we were pulled over again by a state trooper the car was going to be impounded for 48 hours and I'd have to pay top dollar to get it back. It worked, I set the cruise at 80 mph the rest of the way.

NY state has an agreement with Ontario for sure. My advice would be to pay the ticket.

 

[zardoz]

It seems it's evolving cash scheme, they want you to speed so they can do the cash grab but you don't lose points so you will not be afraid to drive and visit there again

Then don't speed you fucking idiot! I never even go 10 km over on highway, I always go about 95 - 100 in 100 km on 401 in my bimmer, and those fuckers in honda civic and dodge minivans just zip by me left and right. Come on people why do yo have to go 120 on 100 zone all the time. what's the rush?

 

[Aardvark154]

MOST US states (I'm told) are cracking down on speeders as it is the easiest/ most effective way of raising money. NYS is pretty much bankrupt, and they are going after this "road tax" with increased vengeance. Also- expect the "Administration Fee" or whatever they call it to be larger than the actual fine infraction!

All true, but the New York State Police have been infamous for years on the Interstate Highways, this is nothing new for them.

 

[Aardvark154]

I got tagged with 71 in a 55 zone last year just outside of Albany. I contacted the courthouse listed on the ticket and they agreed to change it to "incorrect use of 4 way flashers" so there were no demerit points and no record for insurance. The fine was the same they said but they do that so Canadians will pay the fine more quickly they said. Give them a call.

Wise advice.

Defiantly pay the fine, otherwise they will almost certainly put out a bench warrant for you, which like the Terminator "absolutely will not stop, ever" unless you make arrangements and pay it (which might require a physical appearance in court) or are arrested, I'm aware of people who were arrested over a decade later on such warrants.

 

[Moraff]

Then don't speed you fucking idiot! I never even go 10 km over on highway, I always go about 95 - 100 in 100 km on 401 in my bimmer, and those fuckers in honda civic and dodge minivans just zip by me left and right. Come on people why do yo have to go 120 on 100 zone all the time. what's the rush?

I get what you're saying, but if they're zipping by you on the right, you're in the wrong lane. Unless of course you meant they were taking to the shoulder to go around you.

 

[Bif_Butkiss]

A few years back as I was driving back from Indiana, I got caught speeding. The highway state trooper said that because i was from Canada, i had to pay the ticket immediately so he took my drivers license and made me follow him to the court house to pay the fine before i got it back. I didn't end up with any points or anything and my insurance wasn't affected.

I remember hearing about this. Some state troopers were even carrying credit card machines in their cars and demanded that Canadian driver's pay on the spot whatever fine they decided to levy on you.

 

[Moraff]

I remember hearing about this. Some state troopers were even carrying credit card machines in their cars and demanded that Canadian driver's pay on the spot whatever fine they decided to levy on you.

Back in the 90s when a bunch of us drove down to FL for spring break we were advised not to speed in one southern state (can't recall which one now) because during spring break they kept their courts staffed 24/7 so that speeders could be brought right in, tried, fined and settled.

 

[elwoodinontario]

Everyone should know that CAA members are covered. CAA will post bond up to $50,000 for any infraction non-drug related for members.