Failure to Stop or Yield in Old Bridge. Worth Going to Court? (insurance, how much)

[focus282]

I recently got a ticket for Failure to Stop or Yield getting onto Rte 9 in Old Bridge.

I keep getting advice to go to court because the prosecutor may allow me to plea to a different violation that would hold no points, but a larger fine.

Has anyone had this experience? Is this actually a possibility?

If I go to court, and I don't get to speak to a prosecutor, I don't have much of a defense, so I'm just a little worried.

I was just going to suck it up and pay the ticket, but the violation will put 2 points on my license, which I'm nervous will raise my insurance premiums.

So, my question is this:

Is it worth going to court to try to get the points removed (with a higher fine), or, should I just pay the lower fine, and accept the 2 points on my license.

Thanks!

[Seduflow]

in jersey if you have a clean record for a year they take away 3 points. to get the points removed you will have to pay about $520 or so dollars. it may not be worth doing if your insurance premiums will not go up that much. they will almost always allow you to do this because all they care about is money

[Hal Jalikeakick]

i successfully had a 4 point speeding ticket in Old Bridge reduced to 2 pt speeding. i spent half the day in court though. if you don't have any other points on your license, my opinion is that it's probably not worth it to spend the time for a 2 point ticket.

check with your insurance agent, if you have been with your insurance company for a while and these are your first points, your premium may not go up.

[focus282]

Originally Posted by Hal Jalikeakick

check with your insurance agent, if you have been with your insurance company for a while and these are your first points, your premium may not go up.

Yeah, I was thinking about doing that, but, if my insurance company says that my premiums will go up, then I'm screwed even if I go to court, b/c they will have already been alerted of a "violation" - points or no points -- if they're alerted, then your premiums go up.

[Hal Jalikeakick]

Originally Posted by focus282

Yeah, I was thinking about doing that, but, if my insurance company says that my premiums will go up, then I'm screwed even if I go to court, b/c they will have already been alerted of a "violation" - points or no points -- if they're alerted, then your premiums go up.

the insurance company cannot charge you for a violation until it posts on your motor vehicle report. calling your agent to ask a question about points will absolutely not make your premium go up. I work in the insurance industry.

[Seduflow]

plus even if you pay the $500+ amount to get no points, insurance will still see a violation....just with no points.

[joe moving]

I don't think its worth it. Isnt this a 2 pointer?

[jcgriff2]

Originally Posted by focus282

....
I keep getting advice to go to court because the prosecutor may allow me to plea to a different violation that would hold no points, but a larger fine.

Yes... ask to see the prosecutor when you get to court. Depending on your prior driving history, the DA will likely allow you a plead guilty to a lesser offense that carries a fine, but no points.

A larger fine for accepting the plea bargain is not always the case, either.

[captne76]

Originally Posted by jcgriff2

Yes... ask to see the prosecutor when you get to court. Depending on your prior driving history, the DA will likely allow you a plead guilty to a lesser offense that carries a fine, but no points.

A larger fine for accepting the plea bargain is not always the case, either.

99% of the time the only deal they offer is the "unsafe driving" plea which does cost over $400.

Rarely you can luck out on getting something like "obstructing traffic" which is about $75, no points and no record of any violation. You really have to "know someone" or luck out some other way to get that anymore.

Years ago cops and troopers would sometimes offer to write you up for something like not being able to find your insurance card, which was something negotiated before they went back to their car to write a ticket to the "policemen's ball".

[bradykp]

Originally Posted by focus282

I recently got a ticket for Failure to Stop or Yield getting onto Rte 9 in Old Bridge.

I keep getting advice to go to court because the prosecutor may allow me to plea to a different violation that would hold no points, but a larger fine.

Has anyone had this experience? Is this actually a possibility?

If I go to court, and I don't get to speak to a prosecutor, I don't have much of a defense, so I'm just a little worried.

I was just going to suck it up and pay the ticket, but the violation will put 2 points on my license, which I'm nervous will raise my insurance premiums.

So, my question is this:

Is it worth going to court to try to get the points removed (with a higher fine), or, should I just pay the lower fine, and accept the 2 points on my license.

Thanks!

call your insurance company and ask them if they could approximate how much your insurance would increase if you had 2 points. i did that, and found it worth just paying the ticket vs. the increased fine.