got a 100+ mph speeding ticket. now what?

i was ticketed by a chp this morning in so. orange county. says i was doing 100+ on the off ramp looks like a mandatory court appearance. what can i do to mitigate my fines to something less than reckless? Help!...please

For starters, hire yourself a good attorney, preferably one who works in the same jurisdiction where the case will be heard. Ideally, one who plays golf with the judge!

Get a good attorney, you're looking at very serious fine plus a minimum 30 day suspenion; and an unhappy Insurance Company.

But what did he write you up for???

100+

What does your previous drving record look like? If you've got a history of past speeding tickets, look out. If you havent had one in like in a few years, hope the judge is in a good mood and will allow you to take traffic school. Its unlikely but it does happen. My friend has an Mitsubishi Evo and got nailed for 100+. The judge happened to be in a good mood that day and threw the case out and gave him traffic school. Otherwise, dress professionally and hire a lawyer who speciallizes in traffic violations. Oh and get details, as many as you can about the conditions that day, road markers, anything you can to BS your way out of it.

You'd be lucky if you get off with merely a fine and suspended license. Here in Virginia those speeds will land you in jail in addition to a fine and suspended license. One of my co-workers got caught going 125 mph and was fined $1,000 and setenced to 60 days in county jail with work release (he had to take the bus to and from work, was not allowed to leave the office even for lunch and had to be back in jail by 7 PM with lights out 9 PM). I don't mean to scare you but just wanted to make it clear that this is a really serious situation. Hire the best traffic attorney you can afford -- the good ones have good relationships with the prosecutors and will have a better chance of pleading down your case. I would usually recommend you have your speedometer calibrated but I doubt a judge would believe that it was over 50 mph off calibration. One last piece of advice... I'd go sign up for driver improvement school now, even before you go to court. It's a small gesture to let the judge know you're being proactive and mending your evil speeding ways. Very best of luck to you, .: programmatore :.

Move to Canada, quickly. 100mph even in a 70 zone - you're screwed. Spend at least a grand on the best attorney you can find, and pray that you get a lenient judge. Did you have radar in the car? Did the ticket show MR or R? (moving radar or standing)

did the cop add reckless driving onto the ticket? or just exceeding the limit in some states, over a certain speed, or a certain speed over the posted limit defaults to reckless driving, which usually equals jail, or suspension

I got a ticket in Utah doing 102 MPH and it only cost me $300. Just a ticket written and I was on my way.

I got a ticket doing 97 in a 65 off an off ramp as my first ticket in my 996. It was a $360 fine, and some points on my license. I was slowing down from 120-130 so I could exit, so I couldnt compain. Though, the light at the end of the ramp was green and I almost just floored it and took off. That resulted in a little hike in insurance of a couple of hundred $$$$$. If he didnt' get you for reckless driving, then just pay the ticket and move on!

this is what's on my ticket: "22348 (B) vc speed in excess of 100 mph." approx speed 107 in a 65. since it's my first offense it looks like a $500 fine and possible suspension for 30-days. fwiw, it happened at 3:30 am on a near-emtpy 10-lane freeway. i believe he paced me and was not using laser/radar.

He paced you at 100+????? That alone might get you off . . . Please, just go get a good attorney . . . You would be amazed at what a professional can do when you pick the right one. It is their job to know all of the ins and outs, and he or she will be far more valuable than anything any of us can tell you on this board.

Hi Fahren, I got pegged on I-280 at 120 mph in PA, CA. The CHiP was sitting on the side of the road up hill and around a bend in the road. He actually was writing up the details from a previous stop and heard me fly by before he came after me (darn fabspeed!). Some important points: As soon as I saw him behind me, I stopped, kept my hands clearly in the open, had a valid license/registration, lots of "Yes sir/No sir"'s. I got a ticket for the exact same violation you have, except replace 120mph your approx speed. Mandatory court appearance, I was there, alone no laywer and no cop showed. I asked the judge if I could plead guilty to 99mph, which is only one point (I had a point problem at the time...). He said No but I could plead not guilty and re-appear. At the time I had a serious point problem and a two point ticket would mean I wouldn't be able to drive my wife to the hospital when she went into labor (6 months pregnant at the time) - talk about whoop-a$$, tell your wife you can't drive her to the hospital because you have tickets... Anyway, I took the not guilty course and came another day. I arrived early. I met the cop outside the court room and, first apologised to him for making him show up at court then, yes literally begged him to consider "amending" the ticket. I think explaining my personal situation helped a lot. Anyway, to make an already long story longer, I asked the judge for an ammendment, the judge asked the cop if it was okay, and after some puffed chest finger pointing chastizing, I got off with 70 in a 65 zone, $235 fine, one point (less than if I had violated the car pool lane). I wouldn't say this would work for everyone/anyone but I was cornered and had to do what I had to do. BTW, three ticket-less years gone by and my son doesn't know how close he came to being born at home. ;-) Good luck!

that sucks man..i mean..up here in the land of the free, if the cop doesn't show, charges are dropped.. a friend got off two tickets, both of which were for 200kph in a 100kph area because the cop never showed... needless to say he smartened up after that scare..

Hi DeAd-EyE, I think too many people were getting off (at least here in the BA) when an officer wouldn't show up so they now only require the officer's presence if you plead not-guilty. So, there's never an officer at the first court appearance you'll make! Then, the court schedules you for an appearance on the one or two days a month the officer is required to be at the court house. The good news is that you are 100% guaranteed to have your day in court facing your accuser. If that's what you want... ;-)

Get a good lawyer. Since its your first ticket, you shouldnt be worried with the jail sentences. But be ready for a hefty fine, restricted license, and some points on your driving record. Just hope that the cop doesn't show up for the court date.

Get a GOOD lawyer, I didn't know how to, hired this guy, who never returned my calls (got my money the first day I went there), sends his partner for pre-trial and he didn't know what the hell was going on, actually tells me that it's like sending a cardiologist for an eye surgery, now I hear the worse case scenario is a mandatory 30 day suspension with work previlages, and points. Seeing this dude's work ethics, that's what I think I'll end up with. So, if you know how to, get a good lawyer.

Call this guy pronto !! Sherman Ellison Sherman Oaks, CA [phone removed] Don't wait a minute longer. Then go back to the site of the alledged offense and take a camera with you and a notebook to record any thoughts and observations. Document all the events leading up to the bust and what you observed prior to, during and after it, including as close as possible the officer's words and your response. Photograph the site and the approach to it, and where he stopped you. Turn around and photograph what he would have seen if and when he first observed you and what he saw after he lit up his lights. No matter how trivial it seems. Where were you when he first saw you. What lane. In what lane was he. What were the physical conditions of the road and surroundings. Write it all down. Save your pennies and give up expensive lunches. You are only accused not guilty.

Local a local Attorney (hopefully he or she knows the circut judge) pay the fee and fine, hopefully you will get a small ticket - once I got pulled over for doing 135+ on the New Jersey Turnpike - I hired a local Attorney, In New Jersey there is also a point system which increase your insurance payment and a hefty fine - short story, the local atty got me down to 85+ and no points.

107 in a 65 is bad news. I'm not a prude but those speeds belong on a track where 100 is the minimum speed not 42 over the max. Whether you agree or not right now, when you are in court with your 'traffic attorney,' you will be able to crack walnuts with your a$$ cheeks while you wait for the verdict.... BTW, just wait until you see what a traffic attorney looks like ... they dont feature them on L & Order or the Practice ... Good luck

Where were you, at the Y? What off ramp, and what direction? At what point did you start speeding? I'm interested in as much detail as you can shell out. Also, what court are you assigned to? Laguna Nigel or Harbor?

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s. bound I-5, i was ticketed at avery pkwy (2-miles from my house, as chance would have it ). re-read the citation, looks like he paced me from oso to crown valley. i have to appear at laguna niguel. i learned from an attorney that the dist. DA there doesn't like to negotiate--whatever that means.

Unfortunately, it is very bad news that the DA doesn't like to negotiate. Typically, that is one of the easiest ways to get out of a ticket. If the DA exercises his or her discretion not to prosecute, or to prosecute for a lesser defense, you are better off than waiting until you actually proceed to a hearing.

GO TO THE TRACK!!! It is cheaper, more fun and faster.

I find it interesting that we all seem to know the rules of the road, and speed limits of the roads we travel, but whine and cry when caught violating, then spend big money supporting laywers to weasel our way out of our predicament. GO TO THE TRACK!!! It will temper your right foot

yeah MJones, i find that funny as well. i've gotten my share of tickets over the years, and ususally just write it off to scoring like this: me-a million. them-1. i will however, fight things if the officer doesn't do things correctly. there are rules for a reason. if i get caught breaking the rules - fine. i'll take my lumps - AS LONG AS THEY FOLLOW THE RULES ON THEIR END. the 'system' works both ways.

mjones, pls excuse my whining if that's how i came off. i've tracked cars in different clubs for the last 10-yrs and hardly need encouragment in that direction. based on the number of views this thread has gotten, i think anyone who can admit they've driven their p-car over 100 mph on public roads should take interest, cos they could be next. i'll let you all know the outcome when this blows over. thanks!

I second Washington951. Well said. Get real. So long as there is no sound basis for asserting that the behavior is threatening, forget it. These machines are DESIGNED and TESTED to perform at these speeds, are driven regularly and safely at them, and an arbitrary speed limit imposed for no other reason but to raise revenue and increase accidents is ridiculous. You could drown in a bathtub; gonna stop bathing? Speed, in and of itself is not dangerous unless it is not controlled. Gonna stop flying jets because prop planes are slower and jets have greater likelihood of greater impact if they crash due to their higher speed? The arguement that after 75 mph, ANY car is unsafe is proven incorrect every minute of every day by Smokeys all over this emotionally founded land of ours as they work their way in and out of traffic weaving back and forth all the while, in lesser machines than these. Lets all take this speed limit business to heart and petition Porsche to place a governor on the Carrerra GT that would limit it to 75 mph. Crap! Forget that! Lets all get real and petition the gubmint to institute more rigorous licensing requirements and training. No one is advocating driving 150 mph through congested city streets; but there are conditions on the streets when it is relatively safe, just as it is relatively safe on a track. And accidents will happen under both conditions. If you want assurance that you are absolutely safe, stay in the womb and pray your mother doesn't trip and fall. Arbitrarily set limits are creating more accidents and suffering and making money for the gubmint and insurance companies. Proof of that exists.

Tony Diaz: I accidently deleted your email. Please call me or email me again and I will respond more carefully this time.

postmortem: had my day in court. got two points, forty hours community service and a $387 fine. the judge didn't want to hear what i had to say. the officer was stammering half the time and made a poor case (imo). he paced me off his speedo and the judge bought it. i'm over it...

did you have a "good" attorney and did it make a difference?

fahren wrote: "the judge didn't want to hear what i had to say. " Do you mean that you actually showed up to court to contend a 100mph ticket without an attorney

40 hours of community service... that sucks! It'll take a LONG time to get that done but I guess the judge figured that it would prevent you from driving fast at least on weekends when you'll be doing community service. BTW, sorry to hear about your run in with the fuzz.

Thank you, Nicoff. I am of the belief that certain judges will beat you up if they can. I know one who is an ex-cop. What a &#$@%*!@#! hole !! Particularly in California where (most)citations are reduced to infractions, and thus no jury trial is allowed and no court recorder is taking notes. It comes down to "he said, she said..." and guess who is believed?! Abuses of the laws are common even with the statutes in your hand and cited for refreshing the judge's memory. I have had judges when applicable penal code sections are cited claim that those sections don't apply in traffic court. Then the voice goes off in my head: "Appeal, appeal, appeal and he's dead." "Who are you?" is the attitude in those courtrooms. As one attorney put it to me yesterday, they will F*** with you, but they won't F*** with me !! And they won't. And, a good attorney will lay the groundwork for an appeal and set traps from which the court cannot escape. Winning on appeal is more powerful and a blemish on the "judge's" record. I place it in parenthesis because they are in fact "commissioners" and pro tems who want a good kill record. Of course you may set the same traps, but you have a better chance of settling it right there and not needing the traps if an attorney does it. So the bottom line in some cases is this: pay the money to the insurance companies (BAD ) and the court (worse), or pay an attorney, or familiarize yourself with the laws. But be careful, the process will sicken and anger you beyond your beliefs. You think you are a normal mature cynic now? Give that naive belief up, because it is worse than you can imagine around here.

It's all about the best attorney you can find.. when i lived in northern california i had a supra twin turbo that got me in trouble more than a few times... my attorney just happened to be good friends with the DA... we had an agreement, that for every violation, I paid $1,500 and it never happened, for every misdm. violation, $2500 and it never happened.. (aka dropped) of course this eventually led to my wreckless crashing of the vehicle with someone i really cared about... luckily we walked away.. the car was a loss though... due to getting away with everything... and being able to, i drove around quite wrecklessly.... sometimes speed limits are good and punishment is good, keeps your mind realistic to the fact that you can't buy yourself out of death or the guilt of doing the same to the people driving with you or next to you on the road...

I am not of the opinion that we need authority figures lurking over our heads with whips and sticks to keep us responsible. I outgrew that many years ago. And I am not convinced that their definition of responsibility and safety is synonymous with the truth.

40 hours of community service isn't too bad, I've been there, 5 days of work. They also give you 3 months to complete those 5 days in, which is fairly easy to accomplish, even with a hectic schedule. I have also seen the benefit of having a good attorney, and will never go to court without one. A good attorney is someone who knows the DA/Commisioners. It comes down to who they know, not what they know. Using a "good" attorney, I was able to bring a driving on suspended license/expired registration/speed in excess of 100MPH/reckless driving charge down to a minor infraction with a $900 fine and 40 hours community service. ; )

That's why we have an appeal process to place that emotion in check. Sometimes I catch myself being thankful for being in this country and having the layers of protection that we do, even when it seems they are not practically available to many of us. Yea USA !!!

A good attorney? Try this attorney: http://www.traffic-ticket-attorney.com/ Check out his kill list.

I had experinced a problem like this in the past - 121 mph in a 55 at 5 AM going to the airport (Newark NJ) - I hired a local circut atty and got off with a $280.00 Fine and 2 Points. Good Luck, It's really all about how you know in that space.

Your speedometer was inaccurate. Get a repair order that says it was inaccurate and fixed and by the time this is done with the car should be gone anyway. Your lawyer should be able to off.

I was wondering if the round number 100mph is what gets them excited. In Canada, do they use km/h? In countries that they do, do they get excited at 200km/h, allowing you to go 120mph before they throw the book at you?

In Canada (or at least Toronto) you normally don't get stopped unless you're going at least 120 km/h (on a highway with a speed limit of 100 km/h). Exceeding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h - 3 points Exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h - 4 points Exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more - 6 points If you get six demerit points, you will be sent a warning letter. At nine points, you may have to go to an interview to discuss your record and give reasons why your licence should not be suspended. At 15 or more points, your licence will be suspended for 30 days from the date you surrender it to the Ministry of Transportation for the first suspension.