# $181 for a speeding ticket?! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 4, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717 "2004-06-04T22:32:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/1 "2004-06-04T22:32:04Z")
I got nailed today for speeding (80 in a 65) and was shocked that the ticket was $181. The last time I got pulled over for speeding the ticket was $56 (45 in a 25) in 1989. I regularly do 77-80 on this stretch of road. I drive it to school daily and this time I got caught. I know I was speeding and paid by CC right there. So what is the fine for a speeding ticket where you live, if you or someone you know has been ticketed lately? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/2 "2004-06-04T22:42:43Z")
Well, unless there is no way to make your court date without losing a ton of money at work, your first mistake was paying the ticket. **Always** go to court for tickets. Just by appearing, your chances of getting a reduced fine go up 1000%. I’ve always found that pleading “Guilty with an explanation” is the best way to go, even if the explanation is “I am an idiot.” The judge will usually look favorably on someone who doesn’t balme someone else for his mistake, and give you a lower fine. You can also negotiate driving school and such, to keep the points from affecting your insurance. Never pay first…always go to court. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/3 "2004-06-04T22:47:27Z")
Really? I never knew that. Too late, plus I have class that morning and I’d really rather not miss class. Not to mention I’d rather avoid the hassle of court - to me that is worth paying a few bucks - not that I’m made of money or anything. I think the fine is a little unreasonable. I figured I’d get pulled over sooner or later, but since I travel fast on that road daily I (wrongly) assumed I was safe doing 80. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/4 "2004-06-05T00:09:47Z")
Yes, it’s $181.00 here; I just got one last week. I already paid it online and requested traffic school, which was $39.00. That does not include the enrollment fee. I was doing 55 in a 35 zone but didn’t realize it because in my car, 35mph feels like crawling. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/5 "2004-06-05T00:13:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Well, unless there is no way to make your court date without losing a ton of money at work, your first mistake was paying the ticket. **Always** go to court for tickets. Just by appearing, your chances of getting a reduced fine go up 1000%. I’ve always found that pleading “Guilty with an explanation” is the best way to go, even if the explanation is “I am an idiot.” The judge will usually look favorably on someone who doesn’t balme someone else for his mistake, and give you a lower fine. You can also negotiate driving school and such, to keep the points from affecting your insurance. > > Never pay first…always go to court. 😃 Nice. Several thousand dollars of tax (you think judges are cheap?), for you to slightly reduce the fine on something you don’t deny anyway. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/6 "2004-06-05T00:40:52Z")
Are you under the impression that they convene a special court, just for a traffic ticket? :dubious: They run you through the court like cattle. Every case takes the judge 5 minutes, tops. He is on salary, as are the baliffs and court recorders. If we weren’t there pleading our cases, they would still be paid. So yeah, you bet your ass I go to court. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/7 "2004-06-05T00:59:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > They run you through the court like cattle. Every case takes the judge 5 minutes, tops. He is on salary, as are the baliffs and court recorders. If we weren’t there pleading our cases, they would still be paid. OK, so ‘thousands’ was over the top. But hundreds, certainly - just count the number of court officials, security, janitors, electric bills, _everything_, for five mintues, and there’s the cost of your reduced ticket. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/8 "2004-06-05T01:25:53Z")
Yep. I’m glad to know that my tax dollars are going to such a noble cause. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/9 "2004-06-05T01:35:51Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > OK, so ‘thousands’ was over the top. But hundreds, certainly - just count the number of court officials, security, janitors, electric bills, _everything_, for five mintues, and there’s the cost of your reduced ticket. This is the most ludicrous complaint I’ve read in a long time. a) The court officials, security, etc. are going to be there with or without **silenus** b) Because he pays taxes anyway, so that there are traffic courts c) Which every citizen has a right to attend d) And is held on certain days, where they pull in dozens to hundreds of “offenders” at a time e) And is organized so as to move people through the system quickly. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/10 "2004-06-05T01:37:39Z")
For 15 over the limit? Yeah, that seems a bit high but not entirely out of line. You’re just lucky it was 15 over and not 16–that would have gotten you a higher fine and most likely more points on your license, which would lead to a much larger increase in your insurance. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/11 "2004-06-05T01:56:16Z")
> [@SolGrundy](#): > > This is the most ludicrous complaint I’ve read in a long time. > > a) The court officials, security, etc. are going to be there with or without **silenus** > b) Because he pays taxes anyway, so that there are traffic courts > c) Which every citizen has a right to attend > d) And is held on certain days, where they pull in dozens to hundreds of “offenders” at a time > e) And is organized so as to move people through the system quickly. Sounds like a great system - everybody pays their taxes, so they can all employ a whole load of people to reduce their fines they deserved anyway. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/12 "2004-06-05T02:02:09Z")
“Innocent until proven guilty (or convicted in the court of Public Opinion, or outed on Jerry Springer)” never caught on in the UK, did it? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/13 "2004-06-05T02:11:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > “Innocent until proven guilty (or convicted in the court of Public Opinion, or outed on Jerry Springer)” never caught on in the UK, did it? Errrrrrrrrrrrrr yeah, but “innocent until I can claim I’m a bit less guilty than the ticket said I was and pay a bit less and waste everyone’s time in the process” didn’t. For Christ’s sake, if you earned the ticket, then pay it. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/14 "2004-06-05T02:18:44Z")
\ How is this wasting anybody’s time except mine? The court personnel have to be there anyway. I could pay a ton more taxes each year than I do, but I take advantage of the legal methods of reducing my tax burden. The Supreme Court noted that no man is obligated to maximize his tax burden. It is therefore my right as a tax-paying citizen to take advantage of any legal recourse to lessen my penalties under the law. Do you offer up every penny to the taxman, or do you look for deductions? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/15 "2004-06-05T02:22:05Z")
So if the court was empty a day a week due to nobody doing silly things like asking for a reduction on a valid speeding ticket, you think they’d still sit there, doing nothing, and it wouldn’t be sorted out damn fast so money wasn’t wasted? And since when was a speeding ticket part of the tax burden? ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/16 "2004-06-05T03:08:13Z")
You think that’s bad, how about this recent news item from NJ: Apparently they’re lowering the fines for not having your license, proof of registration, or insurance cards on you when you’re stopped. The fine was $176. For EACH document. The fines were so high the cops actually weren’t giving them out. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/17 "2004-06-05T03:20:44Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > For 15 over the limit? Yeah, that seems a bit high but not entirely out of line. You’re just lucky it was 15 over and not 16–that would have gotten you a higher fine and most likely more points on your license, which would lead to a much larger increase in your insurance. In NC the state can take your license for 15 over. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/18 "2004-06-05T03:44:09Z")
**silenus** , where in SoCal does “guilty but I’ve got a good a story” help you one bit? No offence, but the judges I know hate that crap. They stop listening at “guilty but…” And the more of their time you waste, the worse it turns out. And to the OP- you paid on scene with a credit card?!? I didn’t know people could do that. Around here, that would be attempted bribery of a police officer… ---
**Author:** ![StephenG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@StephenG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StephenG)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/19 "2004-06-05T03:48:16Z")
To return to the polled question… In MA, the fine is $50 for the first ten miles over, and $10 for every mile after that. (Or it was a few years ago.) In NY, the fine is $135 - $145. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2004, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717/20 "2004-06-05T04:47:24Z")
If it makes you feel any better, I got a $300 speeding ticket. It was a bright, sunny morning. No traffic, nice freeway, fresh tune up on the bike. I was doing 110 and calculating how long it would take me to get to Bakersfield. Where the _hell_ did that red light come from? I _knew_ I was going to jail. The cop said, “You were doing 85.” I said, “Okay.” Hey, I knew I was speeding, and I was grateful I didn’t get copped for the speed I was really doing. 85 in a 55 zone. 300 simoleons. Then I was doing 120 up the 5 in the Porsche. I saw the cop getting into his car on the other side of the freeway, so I slowed down to 65. Ten minutes. Nothing in my rearview. My speed crept up to 85. I came to the exit I thought I was supposed to take and looked instinctively in my rearview. There was the cop. “Blink!” The light came on. 85 in a 65, $150. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/181-for-a-speeding-ticket/248717.md?page=2)