Hi,
shortly after January of this year I was pulled-over for speeding. I was on my way To ATL airport when this happened (out-of-state).
Many bad dreams later, I am finally facing the crumpled up wad of paper in my wallet and in an effort to find someway to keep the insurance out of the loop, I did some looking.
Nothing too profound, but when I called the county the ticket was involved with I got from woman in a confiding tone some information about “Nolo Contendere”.
After researching this topic online, I find it’s really nothing so “hidden” in the world of law, only everything I looking up seems to pertain to more serious crimes than my moving violation.
My question is “What can pleading this to a court with my money sent to them do for me accept admit my guilt just the same as if I had plead guilty?” I would be happy to accept partial blame for this, but not 3 years of insurance surcharges… I can’t afford this and have even considered giving up my car…
IANAL - but I found myself, about a year ago, researching how to also avoid the insurance blow from a Georgia speeding ticket.
The “no contest” plea, might, in that jurisdiction, allow them to take your money but withhold judgement, so that nothing goes on your license. I would suggest that you might do better to actually speak to someone from the traffic court to make sure this is true. Maybe something along the lines of, “I’ve never had a ticket before, but since I’m from out of state, I can’t make the court date. Could I enter a ‘no contest’ plea and keep my insurance from being affected?”
One site I read recommended the following, which it would be interesting to try: find out the judge’s favorite charity. Offer to pay the amount of the fine to this charity in lieu of paying an actual fine if he’ll withhold judgement. This way a charity, not the often crooked Georgia traffic system, gets the money, you get a tax deduction (bonus!) and maybe do some good, but don’t end up with the speeding conviction hanging over your insurance rates.
In Georgia (where you got the ticket, I’m guessing), moving violations can add “points” to your license. Accumulate enough “points” and your license gets suspended.
However, you get one free pass every five years. You are allowed to plead nolo contendere to a moving violation once every five years (providing the judge in your case allows it), and it won’t add points to your license. Here’s the relevant statute.
I’m not sure how insurance companies fix their rates, but it may also be the case that they treat a plea of *nolo contendere * (which is not technically a conviction) differently from a guilty plea or a conviction.
I also don’t know whether your home state of South Carolina uses a point system similar to Georgia’s.
It’s says here in your statutes link Spoke that it still goes onto DMV records(even though it’s listed as 0 points). I guess this will no matter what I, end with the ones i fear the most huh? :rolleyes: … I just get the impression that my insurance is going to take one look at my driving record, make some calls and have themselves a Friday evening office party with the extra $500+ they’ll be getting from just one more of their policy holders. … insurance companies along with so many others never promised they’d play fair. …
In case Anyone else was wondering, I’ve learned I have 4 options: 1a) Plead guilt in person and hope the fine will be reduced, because I came such a long way to watch my fate dawdle before me. 1b)Send in the fine money and let them do whatever they want… umm, “no” 2) Plead “Nolo Contendere”/no contest as to not admit my guilt but be cahrged as though I were in regards to paying the fine and possible record documentation. 3) Take an online driving school program for close to $40 bucks and receive a certificate which must show up at court in person or previous to your trial. And 4) Fight it!.. there’s a fellow online peddling a book called “case dismissed” that guarantees within a small margin, that you can use his material to find fault with their evidence… now before everyone starts writing back how much crap he is full of, consider the fact that I don’t care and I probably will be gainfully employed again dashing any chances I have of driving to Georgia to fight my ticket anyway. Besides, I was speeding; i’ll just have a radar detector with me next time :D… heyyy, it doesn’t mean I’ll be speeding… I’m just tired of be a “victim” and directly the state’s new pockets to plunder for all those smooth roads that tempt us to test the engines in rental cars anyway :rollseyes:
Lest we not forget that this is GQ, not the Pit. Regardless, your second “I’m the victim here” reply wasn’t there when I replied, and there’s nothing hypocritical about my statement-- if I get pulled, I don’t look for opportunities to weasel out of a ticket that I rightfully deserved.
But, if that’s the route you’re going to take, my advice would be to appear in court and argue the ticket. At least by appearing, you have the minute chance that the officer won’t show up or that the judge will lessen your fine/throw it out completely in exchange for completing a driving class.
Mr. Legend got a rather hefty Georgia speeding ticket a few years ago. He considered just not paying it, since we weren’t likely to be back for at least three or four years, but decided that would be unwise. We sent off a payment, and there was never any impact on our insurance rates in New Mexico (which, admittedly, is probably one of the more lax states when it comes to traffic enforcement).
Not too long ago England was still getting used the idea of cameras everywhere, the idea of being watched everywhere they went, kinda like that horrible House reality TV show that was on (at almost the same time )here.
Those that the news reporters stopped all said the same thing, as if they all rehearsed at some point “if you’ve got nothing to hide, then you’ve got no problem” …
there is a problem however, everyone has something to hide… anyway it was their story and they were sticking to it… and so are you caphis… “don’t speed, and you won’t get a ticket” mmhm, we’re all angels on the road so no problem… :dubious:
Well consider yourself a “legend” for more than one reason.
I’m on of those straight-laced types that wants to be bad, but the minute they cross the line WHAM! the whole house hits 'em.
Take this ticket for instance, I was staring at this same highway for hours, the posted speed was 70mph. Everyone knows 10 or less mph is “tolerable” for Highway patrol. Straight highway, sunshine and NObody around . I pressed the gas down to see what my first-time rental car could do… I wasn’t impressed, so I decided to let back off the gas and return to my “safe” speed … I didn’t get more than 2 miles less off my speedometer before I crested a subtle slope in the highway and was head on towards a waiting median-bound patrol “sniper”… no more than 2 minutes at the wrong speed … not so much a legend here… heh :rolleyes: …but who knows maybe I can make my own luck with this, with enough research
Look, that’s not at all what I said. My point is, if you’re going to break the law, you should be prepared to accept the possible consequences. I never said I was perfect, but you won’t find me asking for ways out of something I’m guilty of.
This is your thinking, but this thread is relevant to only those that are looking for a way to lessen the severity of the charges brought against then. I never said I wouldn’t be penalized, but I’m guessing you believe if you were cited you deserve 3 years of punishment for your offense?.. and that lawyers are only for those that feel they need to “weasel” their way out of charges brought against them?
So I’m happy you’re such a stand-up person… now if everyone else played the game the same way you, our shining example does then there would be no reason for me to ever post for help on information about Nolo Contendere and it’s specifics.
Look, you asked a question, I gave you both a lecture and a good answer. When I got a speeding ticket, I went to court, and as it was my first offense, the judge offered me the trade-off of dropping it if I completed driving school. A friend had the same happen to him.
All other things considered, if you can take the online driving school option and avoid this showing on your insurance, then that’s definitely the best way to go.
In Crisp County, the place where I got my whopping ticket, $278, they don’t have this option. They don’t even tell you what the fine is until you call them. I assumed it was so they could check how much money they needed for their budget that day. AFAIK it didn’t show on my record at all, and this was since a year ago. I can double check this, but it costs me $12 to check a driving record. (I have to for my business sometimes)
Cliffy probably has more experience than I on these issues, but arguably the payment to a judge’s favorite charity is providing an indirect benefit to the judge himself - especially if he sits on the charity’s board. But even if he doesn’t, the fact is that you’re coughing up money that you otherwise wouldn’t with the purpose of altering the judge’s decision, and that’s generally Not a Good Idea.
In fact, I’m recalling that there have been some coporate scandals in which the substance of the charges was that directors were encouraging “donations” to their pet causes. Didn’t go over very well.
… insurance companies along with so many others never promised they’d play fair. …