Speeding ticket question

Here in SC, when I showed up for my little wrecky-poo they told us all before court started that if we gave up and paid at that moment our fines would be halved, but if you fought it and lost court costs would be quite extensive - I think you would have been paying 150% of your original ticket or something. I stayed because mine was a wreck, not a moving violation, and I was pretty sure she wouldn’t show (no damage to either car), but if I’d had a ticket I’d definately have taken the reduction.

IANAL.

Having said that, I must say that one of the consistent stories I hear is that people show up, plead Not Guilty and request a jury trial. The case will be dismissed because the court system is so backed up that they would rather pitch the case than go to the trouble.

I’m not sure that is the best way to go. I’d rather burn off the ticket by doing a Defensive Driving course.

Always go, if you can spare the time. I’ve had three things happen to me, at various times, because I showed up that would not have occurred if I mailed in a guilty plea:

  1. Officer didn’t show up, dismissed.
  2. Sherriff’s dept allowed me to plead guilty to a lesser offense, fine, no points
  3. Officer recited his statement of my offense, judge decided he didn’t prove his case (he must have omitted some vital piece of info, not that I know what it was), dismissed. I didn’t have to say a word.

Other times I’d been found guilty. But you might as well try. You never know what could break in your favor.