I need help...got my first speeding ticket! (San Diego, Lancaster: insurance, home)

[Sambazon]

I was driving on hwy-101 along North County in San Diego, and the speed limit is 35. A cop, feeling like a big boy on his bike, flashes his lights at me and pulls me over. At first I had no idea why because when I glanced at my speedometer, I was somewhere along the 30's for sure, but he claims that he caught me going 53 on the highway. I'm supposed to show up to court in about two months from now.

I've never gotten pulled over or had any previous violations, and because I'm retarded, I haven't a clue on what else I should do. Do I just show up in court, plead guilty/not guilty, pay the fee, and do traffic school online?

And regardless of whether or not I plead guilty, will I have to have someone accompany me to represent me or something? I'm hoping I can hide this one from my parents, but by the looks of it, I doubt it.

[sheri257]

My husband works with CHP all over SoCal and ... he says San Diego as well as Lancaster are probably the worst when it comes to tickets.

However, at least Lancaster lets you do traffic school online ...

But, as far as I know ... San Diego is the only city that doesn't let you do it.

My husband got a ticket there and online traffic school ... which helps keep the ticket off the books so to speak ... was NOT an option.

[Huckleberry3911948]

Originally Posted by Sambazon

I was driving on hwy-101 along North County in San Diego, and the speed limit is 35. A cop, feeling like a big boy on his bike, flashes his lights at me and pulls me over. At first I had no idea why because when I glanced at my speedometer, I was somewhere along the 30's for sure, but he claims that he caught me going 53 on the highway. I'm supposed to show up to court in about two months from now.

I've never gotten pulled over or had any previous violations, and because I'm
retarded, I haven't a clue on what else I should do. Do I just show up in court, plead guilty/not guilty, pay the fee, and do traffic school online?

And regardless of whether or not I plead guilty, will I have to have someone accompany me to represent me or something? I'm hoping I can hide this one from my parents, but by the looks of it, I doubt it.

no brainer
get on internet look up mr ticket san diego.
for 99 bucks he will do it all.
most dont pay. some pay a reduced. good stuff.
i am a believer.
stephen s
san diego ca

[kcm]

Tell your Mom and Dad ... they'll get over it ! And so will you... It may be the first, but it won't be the last. Your parents will help you through this (yeh, they will be up set at first) but go in with the attitude that you have really learned a lesson here and you know you have to pay more attention to your speed and your driving. It's amazine how it creeps up on you... I once got stopped for doing 92 on the expressway... I was following and trying to keep up with my husband, he got stopped too... We deserved it ! Learn something from it and move past it... but most of all tell your parents and what ever the punishment you have to take, take it you'll find out this is only a small thing and wouldn't it be nice to not worry "If they find out, it will really be bad if I don't tell them." You can stop worrying then. It's not the worse thing that can happen.

[Sambazon]

When I show up to court, am I supposed to have someone accompany me to represent me or something?

[Ocuri]

Originally Posted by Sambazon

When I show up to court, am I supposed to have someone accompany me to represent me or something?

Not if you don't want to...

But if you plan on paying the ticket, then there's no reason to show up for court, just opt to pay the ticket.

[Sambazon]

Originally Posted by Ocuri

Not if you don't want to...

But if you plan on paying the ticket, then there's no reason to show up for court, just opt to pay the ticket.

Since I was just pulled over today, all I have right now is the yellow copy of the ticket. In a red outlined box, right above my signature, it says in small print, "without admitting guilt, I promise to appear at the date, time and place indicated below."

Does this already mean that my appearance to court is mandatory? Or should the letter that I'm expecting in the mail tell me possible other options?

[OutOfSoCal]

you'll get a courtesy notice from the courts that will allow you to send in payment and be done with it.
It may have changed when I was a minor I had to appear with a parent or legal guardian to pay the fine.

I would suggest you go to traffic school to keepm it of your record adn parents insurance. The rates will go up when they renew and if they ask why, you will be found out. if mom gets the mail you will also need to look out for the notice.

[notmeofficer]

1)go to traffic school

2) we get paid to "feel like big boys on our bikes"

3) Out of the 1000 to 10000 cars we see in a day you got singled out.. congratulations... you drew attention to yourself

4) Pay attention to your driving.. it is what you should be focusing on when you do the task

[Charles]

I was doing something like 75 coming home from Mammoth in Palmdale or something...I forgot.. The speed limit was something like 65 or whatever...and they zap me.

So the wise guy traffic school instructor tries to make me look like an idiot with by saying "Do you know you only save eight minutes driving illegally like that....blah blah blah" (I didn't do the math but you get the point..)
So I say to him, "Ya but I get one speeding ticket every six years and I drive 140,000 miles so by driving ten mph over the limit that means I save 78 hours in six years" (again, I'm just throwing out numbers) "so if I do traffic school for four hours every six years that means it is a net savings of 74 hours of my time"

He gives me the "Shut up, you punk" look.