HX_Guy

As I said yesterday...I got a ticket for going 95 MPH in a 75 MPH over the weekend. Here in Arizona, anything over 85 MPH is Criminal Speed and a Class 3 Misdemeanor. Over 91 MPH and you get a hefty $460.00 fine.

My court date is on September 21st. From what I've read online, my best bet is to try and strike up a plea bargain for a lesser charger and plead guilty to the lesser charge.

Does anyone have first hand experience with this? Any stories

EGainer

i got a 92 in a 70 last weekend, sucks, just like yours

Turbosport

if you postpone it, there's a chance the cop won't show, in which case they'd have to dismiss the charges...not a guaruntee, but it's something to try....

HX_Guy

I've heard of that tactic for civic traffic.

I've personally gotten out of two traffic tickets in the past by pleading "not guilty" then going to trial. On on occasion, at the trial...the cop said he lost the citation notes. On the second instance, the cop could not show. Both were dismissed.

I want to go to trial for this one, but I'm not really counting on the cop not showing. I'm hoping I can get some sort of plea bargain where it will be dropped to a civic traffic offense and fine (20 over as a civic traffic ticket is a fine of $160.00 vs $460.00 for criminal)

paul_858

Get a lawyer.

Turbosport

personally, i've been lucky and haven't had to deal with either a civic or criminal speeding charge...i'd just thought i'd pass along an idea i'd heard that can help...wish i could be of better assistance, but i'd say your best bet right now is to retain counsel.

ILMA_Revo_Stage_2+

if you have a clean driving record (past tickets erased) that will help too.

siberian

got pinched for 96mph in a 65mph zone. I hired a lawyer and he got them to reduce the ticket to say I was only going 75mph. It wasn't cheap. By the time it was all said and done, I think it cost close to $500 in lawyers fees and court fines. It still went on my record, but 10 over doesn't look nearly as bad as 31 over. Insurance didn't go up as a result.

HX_Guy

I know that for a Class 3 Misdemeanor, you can spend up to 30 days in jail.

I don't know if the judge can make the punishment more severe or if the cop would have had to taken me to jail on the spot.

I'm almost considering not even contesting it and just paying it to avoid any possibility of jail time.

palewhitemale

it sucked, but they let me out when my paperwork had been processed and it ended up that I was only 'detained' and not arrested.

ended up just being a huge fine.