Atlanta Speeding Ticket-32mph over (how much, lawyer, legal)

[jemebff123]

Legal advice needed! So I got a bad speeding ticket about a month ago. It was on Freedom Parkway at 8:50am on a Friday and the cop said he clocked me going 67 in a 35. 32 over the speed limit. Now, I'm the first to admit that I don't always go the speed limit-but I go 15 over MAX and I NEVER speed to the excessive tune of 32 over. The cop was literally sitting in a chair and he simply waved me over. I honestly thought it was a check point and didn't even look at my odometer. I didn't have to slam on my breaks or anything.

I failed to ask to see the radar gun when he clocked me (wasn't even aware I could do that) and I'm a little unsure of how I should proceed. How does it work to be charged with speeding (guilty) at 32 mph over (not guilty)? I do have the option of pleading no-lo and the last speeding ticket I got was 8 years ago. The only other ticket I got about a year ago was for an expired tag.

I don't know if I should a) get a lawyer or b) forget fighting it and focus on reducing the fine/points on my record-because I know I was speeding and by going back and forth about by how much could risk annoying the judge.

Because of the severity of the charge, I am required to go in front of the judge (Thursday at 3pm). A bunch of my friends stated that the whole room will get offered a "deal" if they're over 18, haven't had a ticket in 3+ years, etc. in exchange for not going in front of the judge, but when I called earlier the lady said the only person who can tell me my fine IS the judge. So I'm guessing that won't be an option for me?

Also, I've heard you can call the solicitors office and try to bargain by taking a defensive driving course, community service, etc. However, when I called I was put on hold for 20 mins and then was told that everything I say to them is "more information they can use against me".

And, for the record, I was speeding. It is not right to speed. I am 100% prepared to pay the fine for speeding. What I'm not prepared to do is pay a fine for going 32 mph over when I don't believe I was going that fast.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share! :-)

[arjay57]

Holy cow! 67 on an intown street is off the chain.

[P47P47]

I once got a ticket for doing 66 in a 35 zone.

My attorney told me to "Tell the truth and act penitent."

I did, and got a 4-point/$250 fine, reduced to 1 point and $40.

[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

Yahoo!

check out this article

[jemebff123]

Originally Posted by P47P47

I once got a ticket for doing 66 in a 35 zone.

My attorney told me to "Tell the truth and act penitent."

I did, and got a 4-point/$250 fine, reduced to 1 point and $40.

Was that in Atlanta? Because I'm pretty sure my fine would be closer to $1000 or so.

[atlantagreg30127]

Originally Posted by jemebff123

Legal advice needed!

No one here can (or should) dispense legal advice on traffic/ticket matters. Please consult your local yellow pages as there are literally dozens of attorneys in each area that specialize specifically in traffic citation issues (many will give a free consultation).

[cqholt]

Bottom line= don't speed.