Speeding ticket

[masa]

Hey I need some advice from you guys.
I rode 84/Empire grade/HWY9/Skyline today, and on the way to home, I was on 280/south near Page Mill road, I was going fast, makin loud sound, I guess, then I passed a cop car. I find them in mirror after I passed them so they gave me a ticket! WTF!!!

This is the first time I got ticket in this country,(hehehe, happened many time in Japan...) and the "Notice to appear" says "22349(a) spped greater than 65mph". It noted I was @85. So, I was over 20mph.
It seems like I have to go court, but does anybody have an idea what option I have?
What most people end up with this?

Thanks!

 

[JnglstTICAL]

Go down to the traffic court, on ruff dr, in san jose, go to the clerks, there will prob be a long line, and set up a court date. Once you hate the date, show up in court, in which, you will admit guilt to your ticket, and the judge will in most cases reduce your fine, usually up to 40-50% (I avg about 2 tickets a year :cry )...being that this is your first ticket in this country, they will also offer you traffic SCHOOL, which you can also take online, once you pay for that, and complete it, the point for the speeding violation will be wiped off of your record, FYI, you can only take traffic school once every 18 mos..

 

[GetaGripGreg]

Two main options:

1) Pay the ticket and go to traffic school to prevent a point from going on your license.

2) Go to court to contest the ticket and potentially get it dismissed or reduced. You risk losing the traffic school option this way though.

Several BARFers promote fighting every ticket, just to fight the system. It's a noble cause, but it's not for everyone. I personally hate going anywhere near a courthouse.

Best of luck. :thumbup

 

[GXXRDRVR]

They should be sending you a notice to appear in the mail...On the notice, I believe, will tell you wether Santa Clara county will accept a traffic school or not. Or maybe it was whether it would accept an online traffic school...Either way, do the traffic school to keep this off your record. You can fight it if you want, but like GetaGripGreg, I personally hate going anywhere near a courthouse or any kind of law enforcement facility. My experiences with speeding and the law has been limited to Napa and San Mateo Counties.

 

[westie]

Did the cop clock/radar you OR see you ride by? I had a ticket once where the cop was literally in the donut shop and SAW me ride by. In court when I got to question him on seeing me and judging my speed, I threw a pencil across the courtroom and asked,"How fast was that going?"
I won and got a compliment from the judge!

 

[Noid]

2) Go to court to contest the ticket and potentially get it dismissed or reduced. You risk losing the traffic school option this way though.

Best of luck. :thumbup

This is not true, at least in Pleasanton. Just because you contest a ticket you do not loose right to traffic school. I have witnessed people in Pleasanton court getting traffic school upon loosing there case.

 

[vitalyg]

Go down to the traffic court, on ruff dr, in san jose, go to the clerks, there will prob be a long line, and set up a court date. Once you hate the date, show up in court, in which, you will admit guilt to your ticket, and the judge will in most cases reduce your fine, usually up to 40-50% (I avg about 2 tickets a year :cry )...being that this is your first ticket in this country, they will also offer you traffic SCHOOL, which you can also take online, once you pay for that, and complete it, the point for the speeding violation will be wiped off of your record, FYI, you can only take traffic school once every 18 mos..

Exactly what he said :cool

 

[canyonrat]

You passed a cop. You lose. Pay the fine and take traffic school. If you get another ticket in 18 months, then go to court and have it reduced. If the cop put down exceeding posted limit, I think it is $78. I don't know what exceeding 65 will be. I'll guess at around $100 +/-.

Keep your eyes out for da cops. Sorry you got a ticket. It's the price we pay for speed.

Canyonrat2:mad

 

[masa]

Thanks all.

I got on 280 from Sand hill road, up to 80s for a while, pass many cars, stuck on most right lane, then I found cop behind. It seemd like I passed them at some point, but I didn't notice them, damn!
So, I don't know how do they check my speed. I made big brake when I notice them in mirror, so one of the cop said he almost hit me. (It would be funny if he hit)

The ticket says I have to go superior court in Palo Alto on March 31st. (or admit guilty) Cop also mentioned that I will receive something in mail within two weeks. So I will wait this.
As you informed me I think I think I will just pay fine and take school to avoid affect on my insurance.

Question: the ticket I got says "On or before the following date, I promise to appear at the time and place indicated below" March-31-2003. Is this means I can go to Palo Alto superior court anytime when they are opened?

I wanna finish whatever the school and get rid of this stupid thing...

 

[canyonrat]

Pay the ticket on or before the date. If you pay by ATM Card or Credit Card they will charge a $17-25 handling fee. So pay by check.

Canyonrat2

 

[masa]

Thanks. Now I get it...

a $17-25 handling fee. So pay by check.

Wow, $25 for handling, what a great business are they! Even ticketmaster doesn't take that much!