Speeding ticket - Should I go to court? (insurance, lawyer)

[scoates2]

I'm a Maryland resident and just got pulled over in Loudon County VA for going 78 in a 55 mph zone. The officer was nice (I was lost and late and he took sympathy) and only charged me with speeding rather than reckless driving. I really need to try and keep points off of my record, but I'm worried that if I go to court the judge will charge me with reckless anyway. Is that possible? Should I go to court or just pay the fine? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[marcnelsonjr]

Originally Posted by scoates2

I'm a Maryland resident and just got pulled over in Loudon County VA for going 78 in a 55 mph zone. The officer was nice (I was lost and late and he took sympathy) and only charged me with speeding rather than reckless driving. I really need to try and keep points off of my record, but I'm worried that if I go to court the judge will charge me with reckless anyway. Is that possible? Should I go to court or just pay the fine? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

What's your record like? If you don't have any points, you'll probably get a PBJ and only have to pay court costs and a fine.

There's also the chance that the officer won't show and you'll get off entirely. That's what happened when I went to court for my last ticket (in Anne Arundel County).

[mom2boys37]

I would show up in court or pay it. All the mva systems are linked now and you don't want it showing up when you go to renew your license and you see a suspension for a no show on a Virginia ticket. Remember Virginia is a common wealth state.

[liliblu]

I would go to court. The best case senario would be that the officer fails to show. But if he does, the judge may still reduce the amount of your fine. A friend of mine with a heavy foot, has had two tickets reduced by at least half. But that was in Maryland.

[AlicynD]

Go to court. MD, VA, and DC have a partnership and even if you are "convicted" in VA it will be up to MD to decide whether or not they will transfer points. You are very lucky you did not get charged with reckless driving or you would definitely need a lawyer.

[macroy]

I don't think a judge can "escalate" your speeding back to a "reckless driving" after the officer has already put the charge on there (but I'm no lawyer either). If that is your only concern, then I'd say goto court. I've never heard anyone not get something out of going to court (unless they acted like a moron)... either a reduced fine, reduced points, or everything and just have to pay a court fee.

[fjennell]

If you have no points at all on your record and it is completely clean, go to court and see if they will dismiss it with a fine only or driving school. IF you have ANY points at all - they will not dismiss it, they may reduce the price of the fine, but that's it. And even if they don't give you points on your license, your insurance will still see that you got a ticket and raise your insurance - they don't base it off of points but off of tickets so if you already have points you may as well mail the money in - going to court really won't do anything but save you a little money but then you miss a day sitting in court.

[koofie]

Originally Posted by fjennell

If you have no points at all on your record and it is completely clean, go to court and see if they will dismiss it with a fine only or driving school. IF you have ANY points at all - they will not dismiss it, they may reduce the price of the fine, but that's it. And even if they don't give you points on your license, your insurance will still see that you got a ticket and raise your insurance - they don't base it off of points but off of tickets so if you already have points you may as well mail the money in - going to court really won't do anything but save you a little money but then you miss a day sitting in court.

No so much true in all areas - I have a spotless record and got a speeding ticket in MoCo - no PBJ here! I was like 9 mph over the limit and took a day off work thinking it would get me a PBJ

[newleaseonlife]

Always go to court and plead your case.

[endersshadow]

Originally Posted by newleaseonlife

Always go to court and plead your case.

I disagree that you should always plead your case. When I went to court for a speeding ticket (my cop didn't show thankfully), the people who plead guilty got the points and fine reduced. Those who plead innocent got the full penalty if found guilty. Though, one person (of the five or six) did get off with her excuse. I forgot what it was but darn I wish I remembered it.