How much is this gonna cost me?

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 09:52 PM

Well guys it finally happened my first ticket in my TA. I am prior military so I hadn't gotten my car registered yet. He said I was street racing. And got me for my blue LED (that wasn't even on while driving). Here is what the charges are:

(VC23109 A) Speed Contest
(VC4000 A) Unregistered
(VC 24003) Unlawful Lights

My ticket says I was going 35 the speed limit was 35, buy yet he still says I was in a "Speed Contest", because we were parallell to one another, anyway should I fight this or should I just pay the fine. Just a side note he didn't impound my car. How much do you think the ticket will cost me, and should I fight it with a lawyer or not? ~Chris

**JoshieDoom** · 05-22-2009, 09:55 PM

Lawyer

**Hi-Po** · 05-22-2009, 09:59 PM

no speeding ticket obviously. Maybe a unlawful act of acceration. Whatever h=they call it. sounds like you stand a chance at etting out of that.

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by JoshieDoom

Lawyer

But will the lawyer cost me less then what the tickets actually will?

**JoshieDoom** · 05-22-2009, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by clg82

But will the lawyer cost me less then what the tickets actually will?

Dont know jack about california laws. But at least talk to one or a cop that you can trust

**KahanaReef** · 05-22-2009, 10:04 PM

I'm thinking CA is wanting all the money it can get at this point. Tickets may not be that easy to get out of these days...

**Hi-Po** · 05-22-2009, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

I'm thinking CA is wanting all the money it can get at this point. Tickets may not be that easy to get out of these days...

So then, you suggest....

Not getting them?

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by JoshieDoom

Dont know jack about california laws. But at least talk to one or a cop that you can trust

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

I'm thinking CA is wanting all the money it can get at this point. Tickets may not be that easy to get out of these days...

Originally Posted by Hi-Po

So then, you suggest....

Not getting them?

I understand about CAli's economy, and I know I shouldn't have gotten one, but should I get a lawyer or will a lawyer cost me more in the long run?

**KahanaReef** · 05-22-2009, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Hi-Po

So then, you suggest....

Not getting them?

Yes... that is my suggestion

I'd also suggest you see how many points it is and how much it will affect your insurance. Then decide if a lawyer is worth it or not.

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by KahanaReef

Yes... that is my suggestion

I'd also suggest you see how many points it is and how much it will affect your insurance. Then decide if a lawyer is worth it or not.

I've never been in this situation before, so does it cost anything just to talk to a lawyer?

**1TA LS1** · 05-22-2009, 10:38 PM

Sorry to hear about the ticket Chris. First option, best way to get out is writing the "trial by declaration". It should be on the back of the ticket and/or when you get the ticket in the mail. You tell your side and the officer tells his and the judge decides. All done through the mail. The cop has 30 days to respond. 9/10 the cop never responds. Cops don't like to write. Second, see if you can go to traffic school and pay the fine. Because your insurance will go up. A traffic ticket lawyer will get you out of the ticket 99% of the time, but you're going to spend $1000 & up.

Isn't unregistered and unlawful lights "fix it" tickets? Call the city where you got the ticket. They might be able to explain some options. Usually clerks are pretty helpful.

Was the cop a jerk when he was giving you the ticket? Why/where do you have the blue LED?

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by 1TA LS1

Sorry to hear about the ticket Chris. First option, best way to get out is writing the "trial by declaration". It should be on the back of the ticket and/or when you get the ticket in the mail. You tell your side and the officer tells his and the judge decides. All done through the mail. The cop has 30 days to respond. 9/10 the cop never responds. Cops don't like to write. Second, see if you can go to traffic school and pay the fine. Because your insurance will go up. A traffic ticket lawyer will get you out of the ticket 99% of the time, but you're going to spend $1000 & up.

Isn't unregistered and unlawful lights "fix it" tickets? Call the city where you got the ticket. They might be able to explain some options. Usually clerks are pretty helpful.

Was the cop a jerk when he was giving you the ticket? Why/where do you have the blue LED?

The Blue LED is on the front of my rear view mirror, and is NOT functional while the car is on or driving, only when off and parked. I'm probably going to remove it anyways, it is from an aftermarket alarm. It says that unregistered is a "fix it ticket" but not the light one. What if the cop does right a statement and I am found Guilty? Will my fine be reduced or no.........? The cop was kind of a dick head at first, but then started to calm down after he knew I was calm. then this dip shit highway patrol car pulls up and said I thought you were about to run. He said because I didn't pull over directly to the right, and pulled left into a parking lot, that I could have been running........after the highway prick left, I explained to the officer that I wasn't trying to run and that I just pulled over to where it was safe for both of us. And he understood.........

**1TA LS1** · 05-22-2009, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by clg82

I've never been in this situation before, so does it cost anything just to talk to a lawyer?

Cost nothing to talk to a lawyer, but you're not going to get anything but a sales pitch. If you go the option of the lawyer, which I don't think you need, hand over a check, a copy of the ticket, and your done. Case closed.

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by 1TA LS1

Cost nothing to talk to a lawyer, but you're not going to get anything but a sales pitch. If you go the option of the lawyer, which I don't think you need, hand over a check, a copy of the ticket, and your done. Case closed.

A check? How much is that going to cost me?

**clg82** · 05-22-2009, 10:56 PM

Another thing the ticket says in my favor I believe is, "Speed Approx: 35" Max speed: 35 safe speed: 35, I didn't even go over the speed limit and he still said I was in a "speed contest"

**1TA LS1** · 05-22-2009, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by clg82

The Blue LED is on the front of my rear view mirror, and is NOT functional while the car is on or driving, only when off and parked. I'm probably going to remove it anyways, it is from an aftermarket alarm. It says that unregistered is a "fix it ticket" but not the light one. What if the cop does right a statement and I am found Guilty? Will my fine be reduced or no.........? The cop was kind of a dick head at first, but then started to calm down after he knew I was calm. then this dip shit highway patrol car pulls up and said I thought you were about to run. He said because I didn't pull over directly to the right, and pulled left into a parking lot, that I could have been running........after the highway prick left, I explained to the officer that I wasn't trying to run and that I just pulled over to where it was safe for both of us. And he understood.........

Sounds like they had nothing better to do. Traffic cops, meter maids. They're all the same to me. 1. Get the registration fixed. 2. Contest the LED and the speed contest. If you lose the trial by declaration, nothing changes. The ticket just sticks. You are never found "guilty". You just made a traffic mistake. You pay the fine and got to traffic school. If the cop was cool, they should have let you off. If you're not going over the speed limit, how the hell is that racing?!?!

**JoshieDoom** · 05-23-2009, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by 1TA LS1

Sounds like they had nothing better to do. Traffic cops, meter maids. They're all the same to me. 1. Get the registration fixed. 2. Contest the LED and the speed contest. If you lose the trial by declaration, nothing changes. The ticket just sticks. You are never found "guilty". You just made a traffic mistake. You pay the fine and got to traffic school. If the cop was cool, they should have let you off. If you're not going over the speed limit, how the hell is that racing?!?!

A jackrabbit start to the speed limit is defined as racing

When you beside someone. Most of the time if im beside other "raceable" vehicles cruising I set the cruise a couple of MPH below the limit.

**rideon1200** · 05-23-2009, 03:16 AM

OK, how long have you been out of the military. Couple of days, weeks, months? If it was a couple of days, go to court. Weeks or months, they got you. The lights, are they unlawful to have on your vehicle? How did he see them? Might be able to get away with that if you just got back in town. Tell them they are used for shows. The speeding. 35 in a 35 beside another car is racing. I would be all over that. That is stupid, if you leave a light and a mustang is beside you are you supposed to pull over. what is a racable car, now I have to check what car I leave a light with. What happens if I am the speed limit and another car speeds up to me. California makes me glad I was southern born. OK I just read it again. Put on a suit and go to court and plead innocent. You were not racing or speeding, 35 is 35. The lights were not on and the police over reacted. Dont let these tickets follow you for 6 years because a cop is pissed because you have a hot chic crawling on your car.

**m1a2d3** · 05-23-2009, 03:50 AM

fight it in connecticut they normally offer a plea something much less just to keep the courts rolling. also tell them if i was racing id be going alot faster than 35mph with 325 plus horsepower.