Reckless Driving in Wisconsin (Luck: insurance, lawyer, live)

[Unofficial]

Hi, I was recently pulled over for reckless driving. A Wisconsin State Patrol pulled me over and gave me a citation. I was polite and respectable, and he had to contact my dad since I am 17 and my truck isn't registered in my name. The officer told my dad that I was the most polite and respectful teenager he has ever pulled over, and it is also my first violation. I'm not saying that I didn't do anything wrong, but I was wondering the best way to go about getting my citation reduced.

1.) What do I plead in order to get it reduced? No contest or not guilty?
2.) After pleading, should I go right to the District Attorney and talk to them about my options of getting it reduced?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[i4tas]

not guilty

[dreamhunter65]

I would say go no contest as honesty may get your fine down and if fight it will most likely end up costing you more. State Patrol was doing his job, he did tell dad about politeness and such and may say same to judge and may let off easier. Always say Honesty is the best policy!

Best thing is learn from mistake, my step son lost his license for 6 months. First ticket speeding reduced to 70 in a 55 when was doing 77 . Paid fine and lost 3 points. He also got a no seat belt ticket and then passed a bus with stop sign out and points doubled. He had fun walking to work as we warned him lose license do not expect us to drive you. When we did was a 5 dollar charge and he worked 1 mile from house.

[Unofficial]

Originally Posted by dreamhunter65

I would say go no contest as honesty may get your fine down and if fight it will most likely end up costing you more. State Patrol was doing his job, he did tell dad about politeness and such and may say same to judge and may let off easier. Always say Honesty is the best policy!

Best thing is learn from mistake, my step son lost his license for 6 months. First ticket speeding reduced to 70 in a 55 when was doing 77 . Paid fine and lost 3 points. He also got a no seat belt ticket and then passed a bus with stop sign out and points doubled. He had fun walking to work as we warned him lose license do not expect us to drive you. When we did was a 5 dollar charge and he worked 1 mile from house.

So after pleading no contest on my court date, do I go to the District Attorney's office to see if they can help me to reduce it? I thought that all I do is sign a paper or something with my plea, not appear before a judge. It's intake court and I'm not required to appear.

[bernitt]

Most certainly you need to get the charge reduced. Pleading no contest will not do that. You must plead not guilty and then work with the DA to reduce the charges. More important than the money fine are the points against your license. Reckless driving is 6 points.

[Unofficial]

Originally Posted by bernitt

Most certainly you need to get the charge reduced. Pleading no contest will not do that. You must plead not guilty and then work with the DA to reduce the charges. More important than the money fine are the points against your license. Reckless driving is 6 points.

I don't have a "case" though. If I plead not guilty, they will reset my court date and I will have to appear before a judge. I just want to see if I can get my charges reduced, not fight the Wisconsin State Patrol to drop the ticket. So by talking to the DA after pleading not guilty, will they take care of everything and I can just pay the reduced (hopefully) fine without having to go to another court date? Sorry if I'm being ignorant, I'm just a little nervous about all this.

[QwertyFarmer]

You will need to plead no contest, when you do this the judge then has the option to allow you to add your opinion of the incident and whether you will do this again. Be very apologetic and sincere. If this is a no appearance required citation, ask if you can submit your response with a very sincere and professional/mature written response to the citation. The DA will not have anything to do with your ticket, so do not waste your or the DA's time. Your option of pleading not guilty will require a future court date in person where the ticketing officer will show up and state his reason for your ticket and justification. You will then be able to disclose your "facts" that show the officer was wrong to ticket you. If you do not have evidence and you are just trying to get your fine reduced then go with the "no contest." Lastly, drive more carefully to save lives and your wallet. Good Luck

[Drover]

DO NOT PLEAD NO CONTEST. It is the legal equivalent of pleading guilty. I would not count on a judge to reduce the sentence on his own; he usually won't do it without the recommendation of the state and, at least around here and I don't have reason to believe Wisconsin is much different, the state is not likely to reduce a reckless driving charge simply by virtue of you volunteering a guilty or no-contest plea without prior negotiation. Reckless driving is not the same as driving 11 over in terms of severity and the state is more likely to seek the full penalty. At the very least I would call the DA's office in the county where you were issued the ticket and ask what it would take to get the charge reduced. I would also suggest getting a traffic lawyer. And if you or your parents think a lawyer would be too expensive, wait 'til see what a reckless driving conviction of a teenager will do to their insurance rates.

[dreamhunter65]

If go to court and officer appears may get charged court cost also if lose. Much of it depends on the judge and his attitude towards younger drivers, also could depend on circumstances leading to this reckless driving. Doing doughnut's, squaking the tires or dangerous lane changes. If can look and get free advice from traffic attorney or see if get a law student to give advice as would ask professor.

Way i look at it is plead not guilty, go to court who is the judge most likely to believe? Then judge could look at it like wasting his time and charge to full extent allowed.

You have every right to be nervous and 90% of us are guilty of doing something wrong on roads at 1 time or another.

[Unofficial]

So would I be best off scheduling a meeting with the DA before my court date to see if they can help me out with a reduction?