Speeding Infraction In Idaho (Boise, Garden City: car insurance, crime, quality of life)

[micrguy]

I guess I could only dodge the bullet for so long, got my first speeding ticket in over 20 years this weekend. My citation said that what I received was an infraction. Do I get points on my license for this and will a first offense impact my car insurance?

When I lived in Arizona, friends of mine in LE told me to always plead not guilty even if you were speeding and you know you are guilty. They told me that a lot of cops will not bother to show up to court for a minor traffic citation and if they do not show up, the ticket gets dropped. Is this the case in Idaho as well? If it makes any difference I got caught in a speed trap in Garden City.

[norcalmom101]

What do you mean by a speed trap? How fast were you going and what was the speed limit? Is there any reason you were exceeding the limit ie passing another vehicle, merging, etc, ie what were the actual conditions? And which agency issued the ticket?

[Jenkins1301]

Speeding tickets are 3 pts on your record and stay on your record for 3 years. I would suggest trying going court. I have twice and once was for a ticket in Garden City, their cops suck. they dont give warnings. Anyways the fine stayed the same and didnt pay court costs. The other was in Valley county and the cop didnt show, they have no choice but to dismiss the charge if the cop doesnt show. Good Luck

[norcalmom101]

I just want to point out that issuing a ticket to a motorist who is exceeding a posted speed limit does not qualify as "sucking" behavior on the part of a law enforcement officer who is paid to enforce the law. Maybe you mean "the laws in Garden City suck."

[boi2socal]

I was and still am very alert and cautious while driving in Garden City. I went to Capital High and they loved getting kids during lunch and after class and also at rush hour.

[norcalmom101]

What I find is that, esp. if you are not very familiar with an area, you should always drive the speed limit as you approach a town and within it's limits.

Another good rule of thumb is to not drive faster than other drivers - and to realize when the other drivers going fast doesn't mean you should.

On the other hand I just made two road trips this week, and used cruise control for both. On both trips it saved me, while I observed others being pulled over.

With out of state plates, I have had none of the problems I hear about from others, including natives. But when I do, it will be my own fault, and because my judgement sucked, not the cop pulling me over.

[idahomama]

I thought for first time infractions in Garden city you could pay a fee and attend a driver safety course and not receive points. My husband did this last year, don't know if things have changed. May be worth a call.

[micrguy]

Thanks for the advice, I'll check into the classes. I was stupid, got frustrated by an old lady driving 10 MPH under the speed limit and sped up to get around her. Unfortunately it was right where the speed limit changes from 45 MPH to 35 MPH and the cop was hiding in the bushes just past the sign. So if I would have passed her 100 yards sooner I would not have any issues.

Don't know what it is about Garden City police, I have been driving for over 25 years and the last time I got pulled over was over 20 years ago. Since moving to Boise 18 months ago I have been pulled over 3 times for things like out of state plates and other really minor infractions that would not have caused cops in Arizona to think twice about what I did.

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by micrguy

Thanks for the advice, I'll check into the classes. I was stupid, got frustrated by an old lady driving 10 MPH under the speed limit and sped up to get around her. Unfortunately it was right where the speed limit changes from 45 MPH to 35 MPH and the cop was hiding in the bushes just past the sign. So if I would have passed her 100 yards sooner I would not have any issues.

Don't know what it is about Garden City police, I have been driving for over 25 years and the last time I got pulled over was over 20 years ago. Since moving to Boise 18 months ago I have been pulled over 3 times for things like out of state plates and other really minor infractions that would not have caused cops in Arizona to think twice about what I did.

I live in a town where the speed goes from 55 (60 is what folks go) to 45, meaning 45, to 35, meaning 35, and 20-25 if you venture off the highway. I go 45 in the 45 and 35 in the 35, and can tell whether the guy behind me knows where he is based on whether they slow down too or ride my a** till they can pass me.

In some places, the posted speed limits really are the speed limits, and you really should abide by them, because you will be pulled over if you don't.

You were not caught in a speed trap.

A speed trap is where the change in lawful speed does not actually allow for you to slow down in time to go the lawful speed, and in some states, don't know about Idaho, speed traps are illegal.

[norcalmom101]

Originally Posted by micrguy

Don't know what it is about Garden City police, I have been driving for over 25 years and the last time I got pulled over was over 20 years ago. Since moving to Boise 18 months ago I have been pulled over 3 times for things like out of state plates and other really minor infractions that would not have caused cops in Arizona to think twice about what I did.

One more thing, because this is really bugging me:

People move to Idaho because of alot of quality of life issues. One of these is lower crime. For example, a cop in SF is apt to drive right by prostitutes, someone smoking a joint, a jaywalker, etc. ad nauseum. The fact that law enforcement here might actually be enforcing "minor infractions" is a testament, in my mind, to the higher quality of life and lower rate of crime that so many move here to find.