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Denisemang
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 982 total posts
Name:
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Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Hi,
I received a dreaded speeding ticket last night. I had just witnessed an accident and I was still reeling from what I saw. I saw the car in front of me get sideswiped. Anyway, I had just witnessed the accident on N. Ocean Ave in Patchogue. I got onto Sunrise and BANG. Right there, I got pulled over. I accelerated and didn't realize I got up to 81 and a cop was right on me. He was waiting there, with his gun.. Anyway, I am sick to my stomach now. I have always had a great driving record and just got the 5 year good driver with Geico. From the research I have done, it looks like a 6 pointer. :((( Which means I have to pay $300 alone over three years to DMV (Driver Responsibility Fee). Plus I am dying that my insurance is going to go up. What should i do. I am def. going to court to plea NOT GUILTY due to the accident I just saw. But, should I get a lawyer???
Please can anyone give me advice? Also, I hear that Suffolk County doesn't do plea bargains... Please help me figure out what to do.
Thanks,
Denise
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Posted 1/29/07 8:53 AM  |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Well, just seeing an accident won't get you out of the ticket (i'm not saying it's right, just saying I've spend more than my fair share of time in court and no matter what excuse you have, if they clocked you and you cannot dispute the mph you won't get out of it). I've tried to fight in Suffolk and they have never lowered it...Your best chance is going and hoping the cop doesn't show up (he gets 2 or 3 chances, so you have to keep going back to court, and each time you are there at least a couple hours).
I've had geico and gotten a couple tickets and the rates have never gone up. Sign up to take the defensive driving course and it takes off I believe 3 points. Good luck! Been there...Several times... 
Message edited 1/29/2007 9:00:11 AM.
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| Posted 1/29/07 8:56 AM |
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Denisemang
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 982 total posts
Name:
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Thank you so much.
I already have taken the DDC. I take it every three years.
Do you recommend my getting a lawyer?
So, your insurance has not gone up? How long has it been. That is such great news. i don't care about the fines, that is my main concern..
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| Posted 1/29/07 8:59 AM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Posted by Denisemang
Thank you so much.
I already have taken the DDC. I take it every three years.
Do you recommend my getting a lawyer?
So, your insurance has not gone up? How long has it been. That is such great news. i don't care about the fines, that is my main concern..
The cops try all the usual questions like asking the cops when the speed thing was last adjusted, etc., but usually they cannot do any magic if everything was done correctly. It seems like most of the judges in Suffolk just don't budge. I haven't gotten a ticket in several years (knock on wood), but it didn't raise the insurance at the time. Even if you took the DDC to lower insurance, retake again now and it will lower points.
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:02 AM |
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gpsyeyes
She's my world!!!
Member since 8/06 1184 total posts
Name:
Karen
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
I work with a former Asst. DA in Suffolk & when I got a similar speeding ticket he told me that there isn't much you can do. The courts in Hauppage, do not reduce or adjust tickets in any way. He told me the best I could do is play the "waiting game" to see if the cop shows. He said the first time, if you see the cop there, be ready until they call you and then say you just realized you're not prepared & want to consult a lawyer & they'll adjourn it. If the cop isn't there, they'll adjourn it. You can do this twice but if they cop is there each time, you have to deal with it the third time and you most likely will have to pay the fine & take the points.
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:07 AM |
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Lucky09
2017!
Member since 1/06 7536 total posts
Name:
DW
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
I got a speeding ticket for a "no turn on red" once in suffolk (before DH was a police officer  ) and the cop never showed up to court (3 times)! So it ended up getting dismissed.
I hope something similar happens for you!!!!!
Do you know anyone who is a cop who could possibly go with you to the hearing?
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:13 AM |
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
I took the DDC also, take it every few years. However, I just went to court on Monday night for a speeding ticket I got in July and they were merciless. They said your DDC is useless if you took it BEFORE your ticket so now I have to take it again to get the benefit.
Instead of 60 in a 45, they reduced it only to a 50 with 3 points on my license  I had a great driving record. I was only doing 60 to avoid being killed by the maniacs on the service road in the morning.
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:14 AM |
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Denisemang
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 982 total posts
Name:
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Patticakes, was this Suffolk County?
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:23 AM |
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nov04libride
big brother <3
Member since 5/05 14672 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Posted by Denisemang
Patticakes, was this Suffolk County?
I was going to ask the same thing--I know they are more lenient in Nassau.
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:28 AM |
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Emily
Kasey & Me! Lurves it!
Member since 7/06 8703 total posts
Name:
STBHC
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
If you were the witness and left the scene...umm..that won't help your case. It might make it worse for you. I would plea guilty and make DH write a check.
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:41 AM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Posted by nov04libride
Posted by Denisemang
Patticakes, was this Suffolk County?
I was going to ask the same thing--I know they are more lenient in Nassau.
Nassau they let you make a deal- I got my 6 pt knocked down to 2
but I know for a fact alot of insurance companies are trying to save money by NOT rerunning current customers- so your insurance might not go up
mine actually went down 10% since I got my ticket
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:52 AM |
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Posted by Denisemang
Patticakes, was this Suffolk County?
No, it was actually Nassau. But they weren't even remotely interested in hearing my story. I wish you luck!
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| Posted 1/29/07 9:56 AM |
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DaniJude
You're My Home <3
Member since 11/06 14815 total posts
Name:
Danielle
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
I'm sorry to say I don't think there is much you can do. Whether you just witnessed an accident or not you were still speeding and in the Law's eyes it is against the law and the ticket will stand. The only advice I can give is to take a Defensive Driving class-- that will bring down your Insurance if it goes up which is good.
I guess just be more careful in the future. It is only one ticket out of all those years you have been driving-- and to get the five year good record is a great thing... So hopefully it won't hurt you too much.
PS, I got a ticket a long time ago (I had my license for like six months) and I never called my Insurance Company to tell them- I was 17 and clueless, I had no idea one thing had to do with the other lol  Anywho, they never knew about it! Fast forward to 2.5 years later and I called my insurance company for SOMETHING and they asked a bunch of questions- one of them "have you gotten a ticket in the last three years?" So I'm not going to lie lol I was like yeah- and I told them for what and they were like "oh, in the future please report these to us right away" I was like sure no problem- and my insurance never went up?  Weird! So maybe that will happen to you?? 
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| Posted 1/29/07 10:27 AM |
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BikerGrl
Merry Christmas!
Member since 5/05 2875 total posts
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It's not the destination....it's the journey!
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Re: Speeding Ticket - Please help...
Fear not....your insurance will probably NOT go up with Geico.
I recieved a ticket for doing 80 in a 55 on Sunrise (clocked in Brightwaters). The judge DID assess the HIGHEST fine he could and he cop did show up.
I tried to explain my way out ( I was rushing to work on a Sunday morning because the was a family at the funeral home waiting to be seen).
And he actually said BECAUSE I should have know better, that's why the highest fine ....he knew I worked inthe area & should have been more concious he said.
I also had to pay that DMV fee ( I paid in one shot on line when I got the bill).
I know it s*c*ks to have to pay all this $, but luckily you you no other proir tickets & Geico should not be affected!!
Also, take a driver safety class & you'll reduce your 6 points right away!!
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| Posted 1/29/07 11:08 AM |
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