Concerned, Am I Too Worried About Traffic Ticket!

Hi M.. I hadn't had a driving ticket in years and I got one a few months ago. I ended up going to traffic school so it wouldn't go on my record. One of the people in the class was there for going 1 mile over the speed limit. The instructor laughed, but said it was a legitimate ticket. You can get a ticket for 1 mile over!

It stinks, but I would choose the option to go to driving school. You can either attend a class or do it online now. I was dreading going to the class, but it wasn't that bad.
Good Luck,
T.

I have never heard of a person using an attourney for a speeding ticket. You were speeding right? You got a ticket right? Then pay it. It doesn't matter how many miles over you were going, you broke the law and are in the wrong here. I don't think someone should clog up the court system and waste the judge's valuable time to argue a speeding ticket, when they were clearly speeding. Pay the ticket and let it be a lesson to you to not be in such a rush. Do the traffic school option (you can do it online nowadays) if you want to save your insurance rates from going up. The fact that you think the officer was wrong for doing his job is what really bothers me here. Everybody speeds now and then, most times people probably get away with it. But when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, its not someone else's fault for catching you.

I definitely would not spend the money on an attorney for a speeding ticket, especially one for 5 mph over the speed limit, unless you have money to burn.
While it may seem silly to you, 5 mph over the speed limit is speeding, so I think the best you can hope for is that either the officer doesn't show up in court or, if he does, you simply plead guilty and request court supervision (meaning that if you don't have another ticket within a certain period of time, your insurance company won't find out about this ticket). The last time I requested court supervision was about 12 years ago, in Cook County, and I believe it the supervision period lasted 6 months, although I think it may be longer now.
If things like this really stress you out, don't drive over the speed limit. When you're caught, you're caught - there's really not much you can do aside from owning up to it any paying a fine.

If the speed limit was 35 and you were going 40, as annoying as it may be, legally you were breaking the law and can be held accountable for your actions. The officer was just doing his or her job.

When an officer decides to be flexible and either not pull over or issue a warning, consider it a generosity. Breaking the law is breaking the law - you just happened to get caught and when people get caught breaking the law they should take responsibility for their actions and face the appropriate consequences.

You were driving over the speed limit. It doesn't matter if it was only 5 mph over or 25. It sucks that you were pulled over, but that is the law. You really want to spend money on an attorney vs. paying the ticket? That makes no sense. My father is a cop... there's no rule about being only 5 over...

I don't know - but I can tell you from (long time ago) experience that telling the judge the officer is wrong with no evidence other than what you remember is an automatic loss for you! Might as well save your time and pay the ticket.

honestly, this sounds like an advertisement for your atty.

Hi M.,
Yeah that stinks. If it were me I would go to court. There's always a chance you'll get a nice judge and he'll dismiss it with a warning (because you were only over 5 mph) or the officer might not show up and it'll get dimissed. The worst thing that could happen is you plead guilty pay the fine and get supervision, you have to pay for that also I believe but it's worth it because it's only for 3 months and it doesn't go on your record. The officer probably caught you on the radar so there's no sense of arguing he was wrong. I wouldn't bother with an attorney this is not that serious of a ticket and it would be an unnecessary extra cost. So just toughen yourself up and go to court yourself, who cares about the other people there. The judges look at everyone that way.
Good Luck! Bernie

Edit: If this is in Joliet, double check the supervision option because I've only had tickets in Cook County.

I've heard that if you agree to go to Traffic school (which can now be done via the internet), the ticket will not go on your record. However, if you've had a traffic "conviction" in the past year, it might not work. I'd get more information about this if you can.

Well, is it a really expensive ticket? If it's only $10 or $20 I would just pay it and remember next time that there's a speed trap there! It IS nitpicky, but you were technically speeding. The only way this might be an issue is if you have a LOT of tickets or are often stopped for speeding, but it doesn't sound like you do.

If you go to traffic court for this ticket it is not going to be a big deal. Nothing to be scared of and DEFINITELY not something you need to pay a lawyer for! Sweetie, the traffic court judge has to deal with so many violations that are so much more serious than this!

It's very likely that the cop will not show up. Cops can't go to court for every little ticket they write. If the cop is not there, it is much more likely the judge will just give you a warning and throw it out.

Either way, just be polite. Don't try and lie- apologize to the judge for going 5 miles over and tell him you weren't paying close enough attention and you admit that, but that the fine seems like an awful lot for just 5 miles over. Most likely, again, the judge will just give you a warning. just be polite - you have nothing to worry about!

Hi!
Whenever one goes to court, for whatever the reason, it is advisable to bring an attorney with. It especially helps if you are nervous. Attorneys know how to handle the situation and what language to use to argue your points, etc. It sounds like you have an attorney that you like!
Good luck!

Hi M.,
You will be okay! There will be alot of people there just like you. I don't want to mention how many tickets I have gotten, however,if you feel you need an attorney, get one. Especially, if it will save you money!!

Peace!