Help! big speeding ticket

I was driving along on the highway, going about the speed as everybody else was, at least I think I was. Then I see a cop and some guy pulled over ahead, so Im like "im glad im not him", then I look behind me and see a cop with sirens on. I guess I was going 72 in a 50. SInce im 16, my parents are gonna kill me and my insurance will go up. Anybody know if in MN theres anything to do to lessen the ticket, like going to court or anything? Please give me any info you know becuase I am in so much ****.

[michael]

There are some helpful hints here http://www.trafficticketsgone.com/ also how is your record before the ticket? you could use your good record to get you out. Beg,beg,beg...say yes sir no sir, your honor, whichever the case may be. and don't do it again.

Going to court didn't help me when I got nailed in the middle of nowhere up on I94 on my way to Detroit Lakes a couple of years ago. Wrote me up for 86 in a 70 zone- he asked me how fast I was going- I told him I knew how fast but I wasn't going to tell him. Considering there wasn't another car around in a half mile in any direction on a nice day, I guess I was lucky for only getting it written up at 86 (considering it was probably closer to triple digits), but I was peeved I wasn't playing closer attention. It was the first one in about 15 to 20 years.

The judge didn't give a cr*p about my driving record, my defensive driving courses as a firetruck 'driver', or the lack of traffic, or anything. Pay the $86.00 and take your lumps on the insurance and be more careful next time.

If you keep it at '69' or less on the metro highways, (even though they're post at 55-60) they'll USUALLY let you alone. (Or else some other idiot will stick out like a sore thumb.) I generally want to be the 'second' fastest guy out there. Let someone else take the lumps.

Thank god I'm up on I35 where it's posted at 70- the traffic is normally going 79-85. <grin>

If you were paying closer attention, there was probably a guy on the bridge with a laser gun aimed at you. There have been a lot of 'saturation' efforts lately on the metro freeways.

-Mark

[RojoRocket]

Does your state have "traffic school" you can attend? In ours you can enroll(and pay $$ for it) get a certificate(and pay $$ for it) and pay your fine, but avoid the insurance points every 2 years I believe. As a habitual speeder with good eyes, caught only occasionally (Don't know if Randy ever caught me?!)I've taken advantage of it in those rare occasions to save the BIG $$$. You ought to look into the rules in your home-state.

This is by far the easiest car I've owned in 37 years of driving to find myself 20 over the limit, and I've had to adjust my awareness wa-a-a-a-ay up!

Glenn

Thanks alot for the info, im looking into all the suggestions you guys are giving me. Parents are not taking it too well, "WHAT 22 over, ive only had one ticket in my life and it was for 6 over, im surprised you didnt get wreckless driving as well". Any info on court or anything else is helpfull. Wish me luck- thanks

[Bwana]

My lawyer has gotten me out of more tickets then I care to comment about. He only charged $200 per court visit...but that beats not having a license any day!

*puts on flame suit for the # of tickets*

WELL...your in kinda a tuff bind.....since your 16 and under a PROVISIONAL lic....it is until age 18....its up to to the judge...you might qualify for traffic school...but prob not..my suggestion..now this comming from somone who has been busted more than a few times (5 speeding, 2 driving on suspended's 4 driving without a vaild lic, and a hit and run...i'm almost an expert) and that was all done in a 94 Escort -lol- (my old car) well..my suggestion take your parents with you to court (you have too) wear nice clothes None of the gangster loose ****...be respectfull and be breif and answer the judge's questions with "yes sir or ma'm" and if asked explain what happened....be prepared you might loose our lic for a few months...if you coutrous..and respectfull you might get a lesser fine..if you tell the judge you have a job...and your parents are going to have you "work off the ticket" and the judge may reduce it to an affordable level for you (expect something in the $100-125 area) unless you have priors...and dude...SLOW down...and don't do it again till your over 18..oh and just fyi if your speed in 15mph or less over th speed limit...you get away with it 9 times outta 10...but yours is over...so prepare for the worst.... goodluck JR (jr as in nascar Dale Jr ..since ya like to fast like him -lol-

[mile-hi-bri]

All the above advise is EXCELLENT. Be POLITE. Take your parents and get a radar/lazer detector. They are worth every dime and then some.
I do a zillion miles a year and 'don't leave home without it"! I've done traffic schools, gotten deferred prosecutions, pleaded w/the D.A., etc. It all works!!
Get used to this scenario now. You just might experience this many times as you get 'experienced' driving. Let alone driving such a splendid auto!!!!
Good luck!
mile-hi-bri

yeah i've only had my SVX for 2 weeks 4 times i have exceeded 100 -lol- (better eyes nowa days...developled a 6th sense....WHAT AGREAT handling car ..if need be put your SVX in storage to keep you outta trouble... (LAST RESORT)

[mudfoot76]

Originally posted by mile-hi-bri
All the above advise is EXCELLENT. Be POLITE.

I'd say that above all else, be polite. I was clocked at 89 in a 55 on a local 2-lane highway. I saw the unmarked sherrif too late. He immediately lit up, but was sitting on the other side of the road and had to wait for that lane to clear before giving pursuit. I knew I was busted, so I just pulled over at the first safe location (about 1/4 mile down the road) and waited. The sherrif _thanked_ me "for being honest", and then just gave me a warning

[Mr. Pockets]

Mt first ticket (when i was 16) was for an illegal u-turn on the freeway. I thought my mom would be pissed, but she was too busy laughing.

'I've never known anybody who tried that!!!'

[RSVX]

I got off with a warning in a 45 mph zone doing maybe 75ish... and the cop even pulled into oncoming traffic to catch me, I figured for sure I was going to jail.

But the moral is, I was polite, I didnt make him chase me for 5 miles etc... but I did get the "If you ever speed in my town again" speech...

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by mark10t
I generally want to be the 'second' fastest guy out there. -Mark

That don't always work, either. I was "second" fastest on the way to work one day. The trooper was headed East as a Ford Taurus and I were headed West. Me, being the "trailing" driver, after he turned around, got to "take the lumps." The Taurus kept on his merry way, fat and happy.

I'm sure the trooper was expecting to let me go with a warning, when I said, "I wasn't paying attention. I was letting the car in front of me set the pace." But, instead, I decided to "take my lumps" and told him I was late for work. He reduced it from a 74 in a 55 to 65 in a 55. I went to traffic school and saved 10 bucks (would've cost me a 130. I paid 120 for school) and points (which, I found out while I was in traffic school, that 10 over doesn't accrue points ).

[Aredubjay]

Originally posted by mile-hi-bri
Take your parents and get a radar/lazer detector. mile-hi-bri

Every ticket I've gotten in the SVX happened after the Radar Detector screamed "you're screwed!"

The titanium in the SVX windshield severely shortens the range of alert. Best thing to do is use the detector as a "wake up call" when you're driving around. When you get the false alerts, check your speed and make sure you're not going more than ten over (which they'll usually let pass, unless you're in a school zone).

[ensteele]

I use my detector the same way. Only to wake me up from time to time.