I got a speeding ticket after getting caught doing 69 in a 50 zone last year. The cop wrote it for only 59 though, to cut me a break. I still went to court (two hours away from home) and got it reduced to unsafe. While that was the first moving violation that I had ever received, the prosecutor and the judge both commented on the amount of times that I had been pulled over in the past, and were surprised that I hadn't gotten more tickets.

It may be worth going to court to fight - none of us can tell you for sure if the prosecutor or judge will be lenient on you. In my case, the prosecutor knew how fast I was really going, and also knew about several of the times I had been pulled over in the past, regardless of the fact that I wasn't issued any tickets.

- Justin

*ahem*

yeah, even though cops are specifially told to schedule their tickets for their court days, most are unavailable. this is even if you call the clerk and tell them you're pleading "not-guilty"...

ok guys i forgot about a couple accidents i was in..lol ..first off when i was 17, in my camaro was making a left turn and someone t-boned me - this was when i got the careless driving ticket that was dropped to unsafe (cop in my town that doesnt like me, and wanted to screw me over)..second one was some lady backed into my camaro in a parking lot about half a year later (i wasnt even in the car, so i doubt that would have any effect).. third one was over a year ago, i was driving my dads buick and the person in front of me slammed on their brakes to make a left without a signal on so to avoid the rear end i went to cut over to the right lane and the car just broke loose because it was raining, jumped a curb and hit into 2 telephone poles (totaled the buick, didnt touch anyone elses car, and didnt have to pay for the poles either)

also, with my first ticket i had a lawyer and he got it dropped down to unsafe, but it cost me an assload of cash.. 500 bucks for the lawyer plus the 500 or so for the unsafe ticket..i dont have a grand to throw around (just bought the rims, adapters, and a headliner kit for the bird)..well i mean i do, but id only have like 500 bucks to my name after that.. the cop didnt check the box that says i have to appear for court, so does that mean i could just mail them their 88 bucks or whatever and be done? id rather not have to wake up at 7am to drive over an hour to court, try to fight the ticket, pay the thirty whatever bucks for court costs, then drive an hour back home..

A cop cant do anything if the prosecutor pleads you down unless the prosecutor says he can. When I got dropped two levels from a reckless to an unsafe the prosecutor announced infront of the court that the issueing officer had 30days to appeal the decision because of how severly it have been pleaded down. Seeing as how the cop WASNT in court and my ticket was issued off of an I-Witness complaint (I still say that was total bs they could give that to me) noone ever appealed, despite the fact I was a total dick to the cop when he gave me the ticket in school.

an OFFICER can not appeal a prosecutors decision, that would be double jepordy

yes. i said that because you really don't want the judge prying into the details. you could get whacked off at the knees and end up paying much more than a G in fines:

afterwards, it goes without saying, you have to be an angel behind the wheel. no more speeding, no more careless driving, and NO accidents for at least 3 years. do the wise thing: pay the ticket and keep your nose clean.