Hypothetically speaking, if you were driving on Cumberland Rd. (Cobb County) last Thursday afternoon and had been pulled over at a speed trap doing 68 in a 35, and the cop gave you a court date on Jan. 15th, what would you do? a. Go to court, plea guilty, take your medicine b. Hire a ticket lawyer to try and get it reduced And any other option/info that you know of. This is my first time dealing with this and I'm not really sure how expensive either option could be, etc. Anyone used a ticket lawyer before?
If you got a ticket for reckless hire a lawyer. You need to make sure your license is not suspended and or get it reduced to speedign. It ain't cheap either way. You also want to make sure you can avoid points so your insurance doesn't go through the roof which it probably already is with an Sti. Good Luck
There are a few people here who have had good luck with a ticket lawyer...try PMing 420 as I think he used Milo's old lawyer. Also try PMing miloman if you don't get a response from 420.
Hypothetically did you or the hypothetical person get a reckless or speeding or both? If just a speeding ticket use a tire calculator and go to court and say you wanna keep you record clean and had the wrong tires. If reckless get a lawyer you and the solicitor cannot work that out.
If you plan on just paying the fine, you shouldn't actually have to go to court, you should be able to pay it over the phone. I got hit going 85 in a 55 on 85N about a year and a half ago, and was given a court date. I actually went to the court, but they had a line about a mile long outside the building. There were officers all around directing people, and they came to where I was in line and said to be prepared to be here till around 4PM. This was at 9:30. I wasn't having it, so I decided to just call and pay the fine over the phone and be done with it. I did not use a ticket lawyer. wrxin8or must have me confused with someone else.
PAYING A TRAFFIC FINE? You may use your citation number or driver's license number. * Not all citations can be paid online . Some may require a mandatory court appearance such as; *DUI *Reckless driving *Accidents *Excessive speeds (over 34 MPH) *under age 21 *Suspended license *Tag or insurance Reckless conviction = 4 points on your record. Points are accumulated for: Reckless Driving 4 points Unlawful passing school bus 6 points Improper passing on hill or curve 4 points Speeding: 15 mph but less than 19 mph 2 points 19 mph but less than 24 mph 3 points 24 mph but less than 34 mph 4 points 34 mph or more 6 points Disobedience of any traffic-control device or traffic officer 3 points Possessing an open container of an alcoholic beverage while driving 2 points Failure to adequately secure a load 2 points All other moving violations 3 points Child restraint - 1st offense 1 point Child restraint - 2nd and subsequent offense 2 points Aggressive driving (A conviction of aggressive driving by a person under 21 years of age will result in a suspension of the driver's license.) 6 points HOV lane violation - 4th and subsequent offense. 1 point Mandatory Suspension The Department shall suspend a license for a conviction of any of the following offenses in Georgia or any other state: Homicide by vehicle. A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle is used. Using a motor vehicle in fleeing or attempting to elude an officer. Fraudulent or fictitious use of, or application for a license. Hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident. Racing. If you refuse to take a chemical test for intoxication, then your license will be suspended for 12 months. Operating a motor vehicle with a revoked, canceled, or suspended registration in violation of Code Section 40-6-15. Conviction for driving without insurance is a 60/90-day suspension. If convicted for driving while license is suspended, revoked or canceled, your driver's license will be further suspended for six months. If you fail to appear in court or respond to a citation, your license may be suspended indefinitely. Your driver's license will be suspended if you are convicted of possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, sale or transfer of a controlled substance or marijuana. The Department is authorized to suspend your license if its records or other evidence shows that you have accumulated 15 points within 24 months under the point system, including violations committed out of state. If this is your first ticket and you were charged with reckless driving, you may get off with a lawyer. Hire a lawyer it's not worth getting convicted. Good Luck
If you got a reckless driving ticket hire a lawyer. It is a major ticket and you need to hire a lawyer. They can suspend your license so hire a lawyer. The fine is outrageous so try and get it reduced by hiring a lawyer. LAWYER LAWYER LAWYER Anyways, I got a Reckless Driving ticket 11 years ago and they suspended my license for 6 months and charged me nearly $1000 in fines. I was 17 and I still kick myself for not hiring a lawyer. If it is speeding just pony up the dough and keep your nose clean. Expect about $600-$700 after the fine and court fees. Also plead NOLO to avoid points.
I don't doubt that.. I just have gotten "lucky" countless times. I should have been thrown in and jail and had my license taken away from me long ago.
I tried batting my eyes but he didn't go for it. I still remember the cops name because he was such a dick. Most cops I have met are extremely nice and just doing their job but officer Thurgood was just a dick.:fawk:
Wow, three pages overnight, I knew I should have gotten in here after work! Really appreciate all the feedback guys and girls! 1. I did indeed get a reckless driving ticket with a mandatory court date (mid-Jan.). The 'hypothetically' was really a 'what would you do' kinda thing. 2. Hypothetically I will be at the meet tomorrow. Wife's probably a no-go. 3. Lawyer it is. I'll shoot NSVWRX a PM and try to keep everyone posted. 4. This was Cobb County officer T. Fuller and I've seen him working two other speed traps since Thursday :lol: Bastard. 5. Holy Fucking Shit this Blue Subie is a Damn TICKET MAGNET! 5 yrs in an S2000 (light blue) and I never had a cop look twice. Less than a year in the Subie and two speeding tickets. I honestly don't think I drive much faster or more stupid in this car than the S either. I've got a friend in Greenville, SC that's gotten two tickets in her WRX (world Rally Blue of course) and her husbands only tickets have been in her WRX too. Subaru needs to make laser jammers OE!
Yup I also was nailed to a cross in Cobb County and turned into a cash cow........They also like Sedonna Red.
Yep T. Fuller got me 2! Cobb county thrives off the tickets! Take a lawyer but ur gonna pay! I had a lawyer and it was only my word against the officer! Guess who won......
Finally got a conclusion on this. 1. It was just speeding, not reckless. Not sure why the officer kept saying reckless, I guess he was just trying to scare me. 2. Hired Troy Hendricks firm on the forum's tip! That was a very good idea. 3. Attourney first delayed the trial and then went for me at the second date. Wound up with a reduced ticket - $196 and no points if I take a defensive driving course! w00t! I consider that a victory (and I'm celebrating by getting some sways!) The bonus is that attourney told me to take a copy of the defensive driving course certificate to my insurance company and they should give me a 10% discount for the next 3 yrs since I'll still have a clean record. Once again, thanks to you guys for the recommendation, thanks to Neeraj for the info, and thanks to Officer T. Fuller for keeping the wild streets of Cobb County safe!
after you take the defensive driving course, I would wait a couple days/weeks before turning it in. I made the mistake of turning it in immediately and the points were not attached to my license yet....long story short, they are still there. :unamused: soon to be coming off though.
I haven't met Fuller, but Cobb County officer Goodman was the one who pulled his gun on me - I'll try to dig the thread up, but it's the one where I filed the officer harassment suit.
go to court do not pay over the phone B.S. I paid over the phone for my speedint ticket, and month later i get a letter that my license will be suspended for 6 months. And now i dont have a license. FTL. If you go to court, the judge will always reduce ur ticket. If its speeding, he will reduce the speeding by like 10(depends what county)
Yea anything 30+ over they CAN give you reckless for but don't necessarily. I just picked up on this thread otherwise I would have said you probably didn't get the reckless ticket since you didn't get arrested on the spot. I had a 30 over and was threatened with reckless & arrest but ended up just having to drop ~$1500 (including lawyer fees to keep my license) and 60 hours of community service....cleaning fulton county jail cells...don't go 85 on I75/85 no matter how late at night it is :eek3: Oh, and congrats on your fortunate result Hasn't worked for me five times in four different counties...maybe the sixth will be the lucky reduction ticket =P
yeah just going to court assures you of nothing. I am currently on probation in Cobb county (for inability to pay) and hand another pending speeding ticket in Cobb and Cherokee county.
Update: Had the final court date today. Attourney went for me again, took my DD Cert, certified check, paperwork. Chatted the judge up (apparently it was a slow day at Cobb State Court) and got it reduced even further than the original $196. So, all total, after 4 months, speeding 30+ over cost me $111 + $75 DD Class + 450 Attourney fee + $5 Certified Check Fee = $641 I'd say the lawyer was well worth it though just to have them handle it all. Cheers to Mike at Troy Hendrick Firm!