Scan Gauge to get out of a ticket?

[etlsport]

One thing to note - "settling" for a reduced fine is usually bull****. The cost of a ticket is rarely in the fine - it is in the long term effects on your insurance rates - which can easily cost you thousands over the course of a couple of years. In *most* cases you would be better off paying a higher fine up front in exchange for keeping the affair off your driving records.

how can you keep it off my driving record by paying a higher fine?

[VehiGAZ]

My two cents...

First thing to do is to research the county/state to see what you need to get a reduced fine and/or infraction. Some courts bend over for you if you bring a lawyer, others will make you a reduced-fine deal just for showing up and not looking like a gangster (e.g., MO and CT, respectively). Go to court (with the lawyer, if necessary) and be prepared to pay fines in excess of the ticket for a reduced, non-moving violation. As suggested, you will save thousands in the end paying $250 for an illegal parking infraction rather than $100 for a speeding ticket plus an extra $1000 a year in insurance for the next 5 years.

Your scan gage data will most likely not be of any use as evidence, since it is not recognized by the court as a legitimate speed-data-collection instrument, although it is worth noting to the prosecutor that you have this additional instrumentation and a working speedometer, and they both showed your speed as "at least 10 mph lower" than what the cop wrote up. It'll open the door just enough for him to think the case against you may be a little bogus.

Incidentally, some states (notably CT - not sure which others) will sometimes offer a "charitable contribution" option if your speed was not excessive and you have a decent driving record. This is the Holy Grail of getting-out-of-a-ticket as far as I'm concerned: You get a ticket that would run you $150. The prosecutor offers you a reduced fine of $75, but it's still a speeding infraction (i.e., moving violation - with points). You let him know that it's not so much the fine you want to reduce as the infraction, then he offers to let you make a charitable contribution in the amount of $150 in exchange for reducing the charge to illegal parking (i.e., non-moving, AND NO POINTS). You say, "DEAL! Thank you very much!!" The bailiff right outsidde the court room collects for United Way, you write him a check, get off the moving violation, then write the $150 off as a deduction on your taxes! Talk about win-win!!

Full disclosure: this advice is from someone who has gotten well over 40 (and maybe over 50 at this point) speeding tix in his 21-year driving career, and still pays normal insurance rates.

[WyrreJ]

how can you keep it off my driving record by paying a higher fine?

I didn't say you could - but when people "plea-bargain" speeding tickets they always seem to go for a reduced fine which is peanuts. If the prosecutor and/or judge is willing to bargain, you might as well go in asking for something that is worth real $$ in your pocket, not penny-ante crap.

I would make the argument that it does not serve the state's interest for the insurance companies to milk you when some portion of that money could go into the state's coffers instead. Of course that argument also implies that the whole system is corrupt including the court's role in it all and if you get a smart judge in a bad mood, he might realize you are making that implication and decide to make you pay for speaking the truth.

[etlsport]

i appreciate all of the advice, has anyone else gotten caught going this fast before? (94/55) and what happened? i tend to be kind of a worrier, and i am losing A LOT of sleep over this so just knowing what to expect will hopefully help some... right now im half expecting officers to bang on my door tonight and lock me up or something (not really...but close enough).... e-mail me if you would rather not let everyone else know about your tickets. thanks

-eric

[MZ-N10]

i got caught doing 96 on a 65 zone goin to school. the officer was nice and let me off cause i told him i was late for a final.

i would write a "trail by written decleration" (sp). not sure if u have it in ur state but in CA, u can always just contest to it by letter. IF u lose u can always request a new trial (trial de novo) and show up to court, this gives u 2 chances of winning. and if worst comes to worst, u can beg for traffic school.

[kpaske]

I think 39 MPH OVER the speed limit is going to be frowned upon in just about any jurisdiction, so any doubt that you can cast on the accuracy of the measurement will help you. In some states, anything over 20 above is considered reckless driving (e.g. WV).

In my non-expert opinion (most of my experience has been in Maryland... about 12-13 tickets in 17 years of driving) you don't have a strong enough case to take it to trial without a lawyer. If you're pretty articulate and don't intimidate easily you probably have a 50/50 chance, depending on the mood of the prosecutor, judge and jury (if applicable), but you've got to decide whether it's worth the risk of paying the full fine and points should you be found guilty. If it were me, and I was convinced that I was without a doubt doing less than 90, I would most certainly take it to trial. But that's me, and I've been to court enough to know how to present myself and what to expect.

If you don't have a lot of personal experience in the courtroom, you're probably better off hoping for a break or a plea bargain. Go to court; look for the cop; if he's not there, plead innocent and be on your way (there's your break). Otherwise, plead guilty and ask for a reduced charge.

One thing you should be clear on is whether your insurance company uses points to determine your rates. MINE (USAA) DOES NOT. Mine uses your conviction against its own point system, so regardless of whether your DRIVING RECORD has 0 points or 10 points, your rates do not change. Driving record points only come into play when they decide whether to suspend or revoke your driver's license. My insurance rates fluctuate based on number and type of convictions and accidents during a 3 year window. So in my case, I'm more concerned with the conviction (i.e. 0-9 over, 10-19 over, etc.).

[Tone]

You'd probably need to go to a speedo shop and get a certified test done - I've done that several times in the past. As for the ScanGauge accuracy, you must go into setup and specify the parameters such as engine size and most importantly tire size (via percentage from stock) - if you have gone from stock tires to say 31" tall, error is about a +9% difference that you can enter.

I was caught going 109MPH on New Year's day a few year's back and other than the 2 State Troopers approaching the VX with the gun's drawn, it was just a $250 ticket. Glad they only clocked me @ 109....

[rowhard]

I don't know if it works in MD, but in WA, I think if you agree to a defense driving class or something, you can have the ticket reduced. Of course, it needs to be your first ticket. I didn't read all of the threads, maybe someone has also mentioned that.

[rowhard]

Sorry, I meant PA, not MD. Guess I got excited too about MD and how they deal with it.

[HotFlyer]

Were you stopped by local or state law inforcement? How did they clock your speed? What kind of road were you driving on when it happened? What time of day?

The answers to these questions will determine your course of action.

Howard

[etlsport]

i was on I95, not sure when he clocked me but he pulled me over on the exit ramp, local cop i think, used a radar gun around noon

[Locomigo]

Whoa boy, lots of stuff, but not going to bother quoting it.

RE: plea bargaining, I wasnt referring to simply a lower cost fine. Moreso, a points reduction, for example from 6 to 2. Or BETTER yet... moving to a non-moving violation, that has happened on more than one occasion for me.

I used to get popped all the time, then I grew up and stopped driving quite so fast, because you gotta pay to play, and it became prohibitively expensive.
I once was popped for 120 in a 65, mandatory court appearance. This was in CO, we lived in WY at the time, and were nearly late to court (physics final), showed up and the LEO did not. It was dismissed immediately. Fortunate for us, as we had ~$1200 in violations. I was driving, buddies car, so we both had to be there (at least it made sense to us at the time). Senior year.

Another time, I was cruisin 100 in a 65 (again I-25 near Ft Collins), LEO was decent and lowered it to 84 in a 65. Took a chance and went to court. Again, she didnt show up and case was dismissed.

Ones that I just got popped and paid were:
97/45 ($300+)
103/55 ($500 + 2 weeks community service)
107/65 ($500+ + month community service)
Cleaning the shoulders/medians is NOT fun, especially with the county inmates.

My ins rates were not good from 16-24 as the last ticket I got was when I was 21 and the 3 years for it to drop off the record.
In WY, 4 tix in a year and you loose your license. It worked out that I always had 3, ten when it dropped down to two(after a year), I would get the third again.

I finally sensed up and decided it wasnt worth it and stayed clean for 12 years. I did get popped this year for 51/40 (amazing sunrise on the way to work and not paying attention to the speed, alone one on the road).

I did contact the DA and got leniency for my clean record and moved from the 4 pointer to a non-moving violation, with a fine (revenue generation).

Ive been there, I live to drive fast, but learned that it is best saved for the track. Cruise control is your friend.

Talk to the DA and see what you can work out.
Good luck