CA speeding ticket question

8_is_enough · 01-07-2011, 12:29 PM

Hi folks, looking for some help with a speeding ticket. I haven't gotten one in 16 years so I'm a little out of the loop these days

On 11/10, I got ticketed for doing 54mph in a 35mph zone, on a local road in Santa Clara County. The ticket says I'm required to go to traffic court on 1/11 (upcoming Tuesday).

I then received a notice in the mail on 12/8, with the following options, and requiring a response by 2/5.
a) Pay your ticket/bail forfeiture ($240)
b) Request court appearance ($240). It says my appearance is optional, with a choice of an Arraignment OR Court Trial.
c) Traffic school ($279)

My questions are:
- The ticket says my appearance in court on 1/11 is required, but the notice says my appearance is optional, and I don't have to respond until 2/5. Does that mean I don't have to show up on 1/11 anymore?

- If I opt for an arraignment to hear my charges/enter a plea, do I have a better chance of a lower fine, especially if I sign up for traffic school? Do I still need to post the $240 bail?

Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated!
- Rich

laidback · 01-07-2011, 03:31 PM

Do not wait ...Do option C, if you haven't done any traffic school in the past 18 months...

8_is_enough · 01-07-2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laidback

Do not wait ...Do option C, if you haven't done any traffic school in the past 18 months...

Yeah I'm inclined to do option C. I guess that will also negate a court appearance. thanks!

ducman · 01-08-2011, 04:46 AM

C for no points but you have to waste 4hrs (?). I remember doing traffic school online and I spent the 4 hrs trying to hack the timer on their site to speed things up. It was server side so I end up just writing a small program to beep at me when they require user input while I was playing the xbox.

Though if you go to traffic court, if the cop doesn't show up, no fine or points. If the cop show up, you can always reassure the judge that "it won't happen again", etc. They mostly make you pay the fine but won't give you any points. This really depends if you want to waste some time going there (and time is money, they say).

Paddy · 01-08-2011, 07:03 PM

Easiest hack is to save each HTML page then when the question screen comes up, just go back to the saved page and search for the answer. 1hr tops.

trism3 · 01-11-2011, 10:20 PM

Trial by written declaration, works well without appearing in court

bmwmthree · 01-18-2011, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducman

C for no points but you have to waste 4hrs (?). I remember doing traffic school online and I spent the 4 hrs trying to hack the timer on their site to speed things up. It was server side so I end up just writing a small program to beep at me when they require user input while I was playing the xbox.

Silvertige · 01-20-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trism3

Trial by written declaration, works well without appearing in court

+1 on that. www.ticketassassin.com

8_is_enough · 01-20-2011, 03:16 PM

thanks again guys. lot of good info.

01-07-2011, 12:29 PM	#1
8_is_enough Captain 197 Rep 985 Posts Drives: 07 GT3, 18 Macan GTS, 22 X540i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (10)	CA speeding ticket question Hi folks, looking for some help with a speeding ticket. I haven't gotten one in 16 years so I'm a little out of the loop these days On 11/10, I got ticketed for doing 54mph in a 35mph zone, on a local road in Santa Clara County. The ticket says I'm required to go to traffic court on 1/11 (upcoming Tuesday). I then received a notice in the mail on 12/8, with the following options, and requiring a response by 2/5. a) Pay your ticket/bail forfeiture ($240) b) Request court appearance ($240). It says my appearance is optional, with a choice of an Arraignment OR Court Trial. c) Traffic school ($279) My questions are: - The ticket says my appearance in court on 1/11 is required, but the notice says my appearance is optional, and I don't have to respond until 2/5. Does that mean I don't have to show up on 1/11 anymore? - If I opt for an arraignment to hear my charges/enter a plea, do I have a better chance of a lower fine, especially if I sign up for traffic school? Do I still need to post the $240 bail? Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated! - Rich
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01-07-2011, 03:31 PM	#2
laidback Lieutenant Colonel 134 Rep 1,709 Posts Drives: M's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Do not wait ...Do option C, if you haven't done any traffic school in the past 18 months... __________________ Live as if you will die tomorrow, but learn as if you will live forever." M.G
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01-08-2011, 04:46 AM	#4
ducman Second Lieutenant 13 Rep 254 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: OC iTrader: (5)	C for no points but you have to waste 4hrs (?). I remember doing traffic school online and I spent the 4 hrs trying to hack the timer on their site to speed things up. It was server side so I end up just writing a small program to beep at me when they require user input while I was playing the xbox. Though if you go to traffic court, if the cop doesn't show up, no fine or points. If the cop show up, you can always reassure the judge that "it won't happen again", etc. They mostly make you pay the fine but won't give you any points. This really depends if you want to waste some time going there (and time is money, they say).
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01-08-2011, 07:03 PM	#5
Paddy Captain 73 Rep 664 Posts Drives: 18' M2, AW Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	Easiest hack is to save each HTML page then when the question screen comes up, just go back to the saved page and search for the answer. 1hr tops. __________________
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01-11-2011, 10:20 PM	#6
trism3 Private 1 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2011 e92 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: ssf, ca iTrader: (0)	Trial by written declaration, works well without appearing in court
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01-20-2011, 03:16 PM	#9
8_is_enough Captain 197 Rep 985 Posts Drives: 07 GT3, 18 Macan GTS, 22 X540i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Danville, CA iTrader: (10)	thanks again guys. lot of good info.
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