Question about traffic ticket

[Honda]

Hi guys,

looking for an advice. I was driving through a traffic light turning yellow. Cops stopped me and said I crossed it at red. I didnt !

Anyhow the cop gave a "reduced" ticket with failed to obey highway sign instead of red traffic light. I am fine with paying $30 but I dont want to have -3 points on my records. Should I pay the ticket online or should I go to court? If I go to court and plea guilty, would the judge reduce or remove the point?

What should I do?

***UPDATE***

For anyone interested to know, I went to court today and I was charged for whole fine I have to pay $167 instead of $97 that I should have paid 5 days earlier. I am still not sure wether I will be getting -3 points.

Basically going to court was useless and cost me more. I am glad that I was one of the first to be called. Otherwise, I would have waisted the whole day in court room

[k3silk]

You can take it to court but to be honest if you are passing on a yellow light that is a ticket as well. Its a catch all... But check local and state laws to be sure.

[M3atman]

I didn't know driving thru an intersection when the light is yellow is illegal lol (cuz its not)

If you have the time I'd fight it. To me it is just not worth taking a day off work and sitting at the courthouse all day. IMO its more hassle than its worth. Good luck

[simpleM3]

A "failure to obey a highway sign" won't give you -3 points. I got one a while back and I either got -1 or -2 points for it, but def not -3. Unless you have a clean driving record or can prove that you didn't cross on red, don't waste your time going to court...especially if it was in Fairfax County.

Originally Posted by S65-M3

Hi guys,

looking for an advice. I was driving through a traffic light turning yellow. Cops stopped me and said I crossed it at red. I didnt !

Anyhow the cop gave a "reduced" ticket with failed to obey highway sign instead of red traffic light. I am fine with paying $30 but I dont want to have -3 points on my records. Should I pay the ticket online or should I go to court? If I go to court and plea guilty, would the judge reduce or remove the point?

What should I do?

[Honda]

Originally Posted by simpleM3

A "failure to obey a highway sign" won't give you -3 points. I got one a while back and I either got -1 or -2 points for it, but def not -3. Unless you have a clean driving record or can prove that you didn't cross on red, don't waste your time going to court...especially if it was in Fairfax County.

Originally Posted by M3atman

I didn't know driving thru an intersection when the light is yellow is illegal lol (cuz its not)

If you have the time I'd fight it. To me it is just not worth taking a day off work and sitting at the courthouse all day. IMO its more hassle than its worth. Good luck

Thanks for your responses. The problem is how can I prove I crossed it at yellow? They will take cops word over my word. Even if I had my wife with me in the car, would that make any difference?

[simpleM3]

You answered your own question. Unfortunately it's a losing battle.

Originally Posted by S65-M3

Thanks for your responses. The problem is how can I prove I crossed it at yellow? They will take cops word over my word. Even if I had my wife with me in the car, would that make any difference?

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by simpleM3

You answered your own question. Unfortunately it's a losing battle.

it's always a losing battle in Fairfax county

[Honda]

Originally Posted by simpleM3

You answered your own question. Unfortunately it's a losing battle.

Originally Posted by kmarei

it's always a losing battle in Fairfax county

would they at least drop the points if I show up at court and plea guilty? I have asked couple of my friends at work and they told me the judge made them pay for court fees and they walked out with no points.

[M3atman]

Originally Posted by kmarei

it's always a losing battle in Fairfax county

+1 see my location

[strokeZ]

go for deferred adjudication - still pay the fine but if your record stays clean for 90 days then you will not incur points.

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by strokeZ

go for deferred adjudication - still pay the fine but if your record stays clean for 90 days then you will not incur points.

Not to hijack the OP's thread but just noticed your signature. We also have a '74 Tii w/ 5 spd. Great car!

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by S65-M3

would they at least drop the points if I show up at court and plea guilty? I have asked couple of my friends at work and they told me the judge made them pay for court fees and they walked out with no points.

I've had 3 speedings
2 reckless
1 failure to obey highway sign

Fought almost every single one
Lost every single time
And I know why I lost
No lawyer = no win

Lawyer means he can find ways around the issue
Yes you may have broken the light
But when was the last time it was checked for accuracy etc
They find ways around things, and the judges give them a break because they are part of the same money making scheme

Also known as mafia

[strokeZ]

Originally Posted by kmarei

And I know why I lost
No lawyer = no win

Not true - I recently received a failure to obey highway sign, called the court and asked the judge if I could get deferred adjudication and poof! Maybe I was lucky? Don't know, but was worth the effort.

[Honda]

Originally Posted by strokeZ

Not true - I recently received a failure to obey highway sign, called the court and asked the judge if I could get deferred adjudication and poof! Maybe I was lucky? Don't know, but was worth the effort.

Maybe that's only in TX. Here in Virginia, it is very hard. In-fact I didn't hear anyone getting deferred adjudication.

[simpleM3]

Hilarious, but so true, lol. Some states only really care about getting the money, but VA loves to stick it to you and then twist it to make sure they drain you for all you have. They show no mercy, especially if you don't have a +5 on your driving record. The insurance companies are in on the scheme as well...because of course with points, up goes your already outrageous insurance premium. I'd like to hear the story of an M3 owner who actually successfully appealed a moving violation in Fairfax County court (by success I mean walked out with no points).

Originally Posted by kmarei

I've had 3 speedings
2 reckless
1 failure to obey highway sign

Fought almost every single one
Lost every single time
And I know why I lost
No lawyer = no win

Lawyer means he can find ways around the issue
Yes you may have broken the light
But when was the last time it was checked for accuracy etc
They find ways around things, and the judges give them a break because they are part of the same money making scheme

Also known as mafia

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by simpleM3

Hilarious, but so true, lol. Some states only really care about getting the money, but VA loves to stick it to you and then twist it to make sure they drain you for all you have. They show no mercy, especially if you don't have a +5 on your driving record. The insurance companies are in on the scheme as well...because of course with points, up goes your already outrageous insurance premium. I'd like to hear the story of an M3 owner who actually successfully appealed a moving violation in Fairfax County court (by success I mean walked out with no points).

Success is when you have a radar detector
That's my next move
Of course I have to wait till my 30 day suspended license phase is over

Sucks not to be able to drive
But it just shows how messed up the system is
Judge said obviously the fines against you aren't working
So I'm suspending your license for 30 days
So I said with the courts permissions, would it be possible to instead take a driver improvement program?
Judge said no
So he's not after making me a better driver
He just wants to screw me

Let's assume I'm a horrible driver with bad judgement
How will 30 days being driven around by friends and my wife improve my judgement?
After 30 days, I'm still the same old bad driver, still making mistakes etc
Idiots

[simpleM3]

LMFAO....WOW!

Originally Posted by kmarei

Success is when you have a radar detector
That's my next move
Of course I have to wait till my 30 day suspended license phase is over

Sucks not to be able to drive
But it just shows how messed up the system is
Judge said obviously the fines against you aren't working
So I'm suspending your license for 30 days
So I said with the courts permissions, would it be possible to instead take a driver improvement program?
Judge said no
So he's not after making me a better driver
He just wants to screw me

Let's assume I'm a horrible driver with bad judgement
How will 30 days being driven around by friends and my wife improve my judgement?
After 30 days, I'm still the same old bad driver, still making mistakes etc
Idiots

[Haywood]

I got pulled over a few months ago for an expired inspection. Was definitely my fault. Because I got my car in MD, I don't get a notification. Cop was actually cool. I go to pay it online and it was $160!!! Why? Because like kmarei, I've had 3 reckless and a suspension and they stick it anyone with a bad history. So, now I'm on double secret probation. Any other violation in the next 6 months and I'm getting driven around by my friends as well!

[ezndo]

If you go to court and the cop doesn't show up, I believe the case will get thrown out. Wanna roll the dice?

[OneSickM]

Originally Posted by kmarei

Success is when you have a radar detector
That's my next move
Of course I have to wait till my 30 day suspended license phase is over

Sucks not to be able to drive
But it just shows how messed up the system is
Judge said obviously the fines against you aren't working
So I'm suspending your license for 30 days
So I said with the courts permissions, would it be possible to instead take a driver improvement program?
Judge said no
So he's not after making me a better driver
He just wants to screw me

Let's assume I'm a horrible driver with bad judgement
How will 30 days being driven around by friends and my wife improve my judgement?
After 30 days, I'm still the same old bad driver, still making mistakes etc
Idiots

Hahaha. I don't know if it is too strict here or cops literally have nothing to do except giving out tickets. I have really never seen such horrible place to drive in as much as here. I have been in TX, NY, CA and WA and nothing like here in VA

I asked all people I know who lived here, every single person got a ticket or two as well as reckless driving on his/her records in VA....WOW

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by Haywood

I got pulled over a few months ago for an expired inspection. Was definitely my fault. Because I got my car in MD, I don't get a notification. Cop was actually cool. I go to pay it online and it was $160!!! Why? Because like kmarei, I've had 3 reckless and a suspension and they stick it anyone with a bad history. So, now I'm on double secret probation. Any other violation in the next 6 months and I'm getting driven around by my friends as well!

First thing the judge did was ask for my record
When he saw the -7 he immediately started writing stuff on the paper
My guess is he had decided on the punishment based on the record alone
Because after asking me to explain what happened, he wasn't even listening
So the bastard who is supposed to enfore the laws, wasn't even abiding by them
I belive its innocent until proven guilty
Not guilty until proven more guilty after we see your driving record

I got his email online
And I was very close to emailing him
And asking him what was the rational behind choosing suspending the license as opposed to trying to help me out and forcing me to take a driver improvement program.
But all my friends said it would piss him off and he could change the decision for the worse.

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by OneSickM

Hahaha. I don't know if it is too strict here or cops literally have nothing to do except giving out tickets. I have really never seen such horrible place to drive in as much as here. I have been in TX, NY, CA and WA and nothing like here in VA

I asked all people I know who lived here, every single person got a ticket or two as well as reckless driving on his/her records in VA....WOW

They basically enforce the laws that generate the most money
Speeding and reckless, I can't even begin to imagine how much money is generated between fines, court costs, and lawyers etc
Just once, I'd love to see an officer pull over someone driving slow in the left lane
99% it's a Prius driver