31Jul/097
my first speeding ticket in a construction zone?
i got one yesterday, and one today. i know i know, i have the worst of luck and was following traffic on the second one. i don't need chastising. what do/can i do? do i go to court, hire a lawyer, pay the fees? what do u suggest?
they were both for 10 miles over the limit. also, what to do w/regards to my insurance?
ust one was in a construction zone... is the fee gonna be doubled or is it the actual fee written?
exactly what i needed, advice from hypocrites... thanks so much for your "insight". and if there were workers there EVER(which there haven't been for a month) then i would have been more cautious.
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
Well I see that a few people have already gotten in the chastising remarks…. Proving whether or not workers were present is a moot point, the Sheriff or State Police were there and that’s really where that argument will end. I agree with the idea of taking your ticket to a judge and having him or her reduce the Court Fees, but not the fine. Also by going to court, you might get lucky and the Officer may not show up which COULD be grounds for dismissal. This probably will be a huge problem with your insurance company as the tickets SOMETIMES carry DOUBLE POINTS!!! IF you have a legitimate case that COULD be argued, I would say hire an attorney.
I can personally attest how hard it is to slow down sometimes as I have had a number of people speed behind me, ride the rear end of my truck and flash their lights at me while going through a construction zone…. to them I say the cemetery is two blocks to the left and eventually, you will find a truck driver that will slam on the brakes…. 3500# car vs. 80000# truck, hmmm who’s going to the hospital on that one?? Smarten up America, drive with courtesy and get to where you are going!!!
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
Pay the ticket and slow down
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
Where I live speeding in areas where workers are present fines are doubled and very hard to get out of. You’ll be money ahead to go ahead and pay up without a lawyer. And your insurance rates will undoubtedly rise, sorry!
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
Construction zone speed limits were put up for a good reason. We hate them, but the workers need to be protected & some work areas can’t handle highway speeds as they are. Depending on your state laws, your fines will be set by the court. Call them 1st thing in the morning to find out what your fine will be & pay it on time. Unless there is a discrepency on your ticket, I wouldn’t fight it in court because many construction zones give you plenty of warning time to slow down. Your insurance company won’t like it & probably raise your rates, since you got 2 tickets in a short time frame. Here’s a piece of advice: Slow down in construction zones & behave yourself for the next 3 yrs or so til the ticket(s) come off your mvr..
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
I’m just happy that you got caught both times. almost impossible to get out of work zone fines even with a good lawyer. pay the fines, loose the lead foot and go on with life
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
Well, obviously if you sign off on both, your insurance company will proably raise your rates and you have the additional "pain" from the initial costs of the fines and court costs.
A couple of tips that could help with the fines:
Fines are generally doubled in construction zones. I friend of mine recently had one of these tickets and it was close to $200. I asked him to let me see the ticket and I noticed that the "fine" was $50 and the rest was court costs, for a total of almost $100. Then they doubled it. I pointed out that the only the fines should be doubled, not the court costs. He went in instead of paying by mail and the traffic court judge agreed and removed the extra $50 in court costs.
Secondly, the reduced speed limits in construction zones are to protect the workers. However, you might be able to make a case that there were no workers on Easter weekend (which may very well have been true.) That may be grounds to limit the fine to the standard rate.
Finally, if you were "picked" out of traffic on the second offense, you could also attempt to make a case that he actually "clocked" the other vehicles and not you. But if he got you with a laser, you may not get far with that one.
If you do intend to "make a case" to avoid getting the points and inevitable insurance increase, you stand a better chance with a lawyer.
One other thing to remember, if it does go to court, and the ticketing officer does not show, you need to make a motion for the judge to dismiss on the grounds that your accuser is not present. From my understanding of the law, he pretty much has to throw it out at that point. (This happens more than they’d like to admit.)
Here are a couple of web sites that may have some addtional information that can help you out.
http://www.expertlaw.com/library/traffic_tickets/speeding_ticket.html
http://www.beatmyspeedingticket.com/
Good Luck.
July 31st, 2009 - 21:49
most likely you will have to go to court and the price on the ticket is the price you have to pay, did you sign it? if you did then that is what you are agreeing to. and yes it is double in contsruction area with our without workers present.but i do know that if the officer doesnt show up to court then they are dismissed, and i doubt that getting a lawyer will work, its probably more money to pay the lawyer than to pay the tickets. and you have to report it to the insurance if you go to court im sure………..
*and i speed all the time. the only advice is: dont get caught*