You can probably talk to an attorney and see what he says about the situation for free. However, I wouldn't count on the "honor student card" getting you very far in the legal system.
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Speeding
- Thread starter sahni130
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You can probably talk to an attorney and see what he says about the situation for free. However, I wouldn't count on the "honor student card" getting you very far in the legal system.
I believe that's correct - speeding is a traffic offense, while reckless driving is a criminal one.
Let's be real - if you're in court for ANY reason, whether you're a defendant, witness, or whatever, the very thought of being something OTHER than courteous and polite has left me scratching my head. Are you actually entertaining the idea of copping an attitude with somebody in court?
As for the "honor student card," I'm afraid that once you leave campus nobody really cares.
I don't know if I would call this reckless driving (don't know the Ga. law), maybe careless driving in the eyes of the law. Reckless usually (I say this lightly) requires more than just speeding.
Either way, if you think it is worth it to Lawyer up, i.e. offset the price of the ticket/fine compared to just paying the fine by all means. It doesn't sound like it was a misdemeanor, but still an infraction only. An expensive one at that. Good luck.
Either way, if you think it is worth it to Lawyer up, i.e. offset the price of the ticket/fine compared to just paying the fine by all means. It doesn't sound like it was a misdemeanor, but still an infraction only. An expensive one at that. Good luck.
i believe the same laws of physics apply the world over.
The point is that the punishment statutes the OP is subject to are utterly piss weak. He should lose his licence for at least 12 months, be fined in the thousands, have his car confiscated and crushed and threatened with jail time if he reoffends anytime in the future.
But that is me. I have a real hard-on for Laura Norder on the roads.
There hardly ever is a good reason for speeding. Sounds to me like you speed enough to have been caught twice. If you're an honor student then it sounds as though you're young and your track record is poor. Am I right?
But you were driving so fast that the chances of you actually being able to control that car when you are faced with an obstruction are slim and none.
You're not going to get all positive advice, the world isn't all hugs and positive reinforcement for poor behavior.
Sure, play the honor student card. Tell them how you are clearly intelligent enough to succeed in school but you fail when it comes to driving safely.
You deserve the fines and insurance hike. Jail time is ridiculous, imo.
It doesn't appear to be a case where you are learning from it, based on history. Hopefully you do learn now before you kill or do any harm to someone else on the road.
In your situation you should speak to your parents if you still live at home and then speak to an attorney. My guess, based on limited reading online, is that you will face a hefty fine and your insurance it going to skyrocket. I'm not a lawyer nor a judge, so it is hard to say what the judge will do. To me, fines and insurance hikes are hardly enough for someone who doesn't seem to get it.
Do you have an out of state license?
I've gotten tickets for going 150 in a 55 zone before, but as I was from out of state, all I had to do was pay a $250 fine and didn't get any points.
I had no excuse either. I simply pulled myself over when I blew past a trooper.
I've gotten tickets for going 150 in a 55 zone before, but as I was from out of state, all I had to do was pay a $250 fine and didn't get any points.
I had no excuse either. I simply pulled myself over when I blew past a trooper.
Here's a thought. Immediately plead guilty, and then offer to voluntarily surrender your licence for a year, telling the judge that you have scared yourself and that you have concluded that you are not yet ready to drive. Then further offer that you will not apply to get your license back until you have successfully completed a driving school course.
Plus, of course, you will pay whatever fines or do whatever community service the judge so orders.
You may just surprise the court enough they go easy on you.
Of course, if the judge was going to seize your license and order you to go to school anyways, this is a moot point. I doubt the honour student card pulls any weight.
Be thankful you weren't in another jurisdiction. Where I live the cop could have impounded your vehicle right then and there for 30 days for the 2nd offence. This costs you about $700 to get the vehicle back, plus then they start tacking on the fines and insurance points. You'd be over $1000 easy before you start paying way more for insurance.
Luck. And slow down, eh.
Plus, of course, you will pay whatever fines or do whatever community service the judge so orders.
You may just surprise the court enough they go easy on you.
Of course, if the judge was going to seize your license and order you to go to school anyways, this is a moot point. I doubt the honour student card pulls any weight.
Be thankful you weren't in another jurisdiction. Where I live the cop could have impounded your vehicle right then and there for 30 days for the 2nd offence. This costs you about $700 to get the vehicle back, plus then they start tacking on the fines and insurance points. You'd be over $1000 easy before you start paying way more for insurance.
Luck. And slow down, eh.
I would suggest consulting with an attorney as well. You may be required to report the ticket to the insurance company. It could be a 10-15 minute conversation, but would probably be worth the money.
At the risk of sounding defensiveo), at least in Mass, an 8 lane divided highway has a 55 mph speed limit. I'm not defending my own behavior, but going 90+ on a road was intended for 75+mph when it was built, is not hard to do if you are in a car built to go fast.
Remember ( or if you're too young to remember) highways had 75 mph limits until the gas crisis in the 70s, and the speed limit was dropped from 75 to 55...on roads built for speed.
One other factor...speed differential is the issue in creating a dangerous situation. If others are going 55, 75 creates danger. If others are going 75, going 55 creates a dangerous situation.
OK...I know I'm sort of defending a behavior of which others rightly criticize. I'm not recommending going 90+...and if you get busted, you pay your dues. I've been busted for speeding more than once (!), and I never argue...I pay my fine, and in Mass you then pay a surcharge on your insurance for 6 years.
All in all...it's a bad idea!
It is really weird to see that 55 limit on some of the long straight roads in the middle of nowhere, can see how a lot of people would go over on those.
Kid gets pulled over for ...doing 93 in a 55 zone in Georgia.
Officer approaches the car, then says, "Son, ah been waitin' fer you all day."
Kid, breathless, "Well, I got here as quick as I could!"
Officer approaches the car, then says, "Son, ah been waitin' fer you all day."
Kid, breathless, "Well, I got here as quick as I could!"
I'd get a lawyer to see if they could get a plea with the DA to some no moving violation. It might cost more, but save you in the long run. Insurance companies may jack up prices or drop your coverage. The judge might want to throw the book at you though. Though I think Atlanta might have bigger fish to fry rather than speeders.
I've been there and done that, I have gotten several speeding tickets over the years, though I am in my mid thirties now, so I tend to keep it closer to 10 over the limit, I have been know to do about 170 on public roads (farm roads) on my bike back in my 20's and I am thankful I never killed myself or someone else.
I've been there and done that, I have gotten several speeding tickets over the years, though I am in my mid thirties now, so I tend to keep it closer to 10 over the limit, I have been know to do about 170 on public roads (farm roads) on my bike back in my 20's and I am thankful I never killed myself or someone else.
I'm not gonna sit here and make excuses or justify what I did because there's simply no good reason. Believe it or not, it's an eye opener for me.
I spoke to an attorney today and she said that they can possibly have the speed reduced to 14 over the limit and I possibly won't have to pay the super speeder fine. Now, I'm still looking at at least a $500 fine and defensive driving courses. But thankfully, and hopefully, no jail time.
I spoke to an attorney today and she said that they can possibly have the speed reduced to 14 over the limit and I possibly won't have to pay the super speeder fine. Now, I'm still looking at at least a $500 fine and defensive driving courses. But thankfully, and hopefully, no jail time.
Did you let your attorney know about the previous ticket? If so, that would be a good deal IF she can get the prosecutor to agree. Your insurance will still increase, though.
Yes, I did tell the attorney about the precious ticket.
And yes, a bumper sticker would be great.
And yes, a bumper sticker would be great.
As long as it doesn't say ACAB.... That tends to cause problems.
I had one that said "Let babylon burn" (quote from a song). There was a VW Passat that made close contact with my skull for that. Lovely dent it made too. Hurt like a bugger.
EDIT: If I recall correctly, that car didn't last long. If it was the same car I remember (there were only two at the time) I think he smashed it head on during an overtake.
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I like the way you think; very Napoleon Bonaparte. Back in the old, old days it would have been years of turning boulders into pebbles for offenders. Making pebbles out of boulders...with a 5oz hammer. Muhahahahahaaaa...
Who's Laura Norder? A quick google netted a picture of a...er...striking woman(?) in a cop uniform. Didn't do it for me. I don't think she(?) was the Laura Norder you're referring too.
I can only assume it's a play on words sort of name. Like Rob M. Blind, Warren Peace or Biggus Dickus? ("Thwow him to the fwoow!"
) Laura Norder = Law and Order?
Yes, bleed for the best attorney you can manage. The Good Student card will have absolutely no effect this far over the legal limit. Though the cost is painful now, it is your only chance of avoiding atmospheric insurance premiums over the next 4-6 years. Maybe the lawyer can talk them into letting you keep your license.
Here in NC the courts look favorably on folks who don't hassle the trooper and also make the extra effort to defend themselves by hiring an attorney. Show up on time in a nice suit for your court day ie don't just let the attorney appear on your behalf. Your lawyer of course, will know the legal lay of the land for the state and where you'll make your defense.
The main thing is, learn from this and thank God nobody was hurt. We've all done stupid stuff (I once made the trek from Atlanta to Raleigh in 5:20) but after years of bucking the system and paying gargantuan insurance/legal costs, I finally slowed down and wised up. It's just not worth it.
Here in NC the courts look favorably on folks who don't hassle the trooper and also make the extra effort to defend themselves by hiring an attorney. Show up on time in a nice suit for your court day ie don't just let the attorney appear on your behalf. Your lawyer of course, will know the legal lay of the land for the state and where you'll make your defense.
The main thing is, learn from this and thank God nobody was hurt. We've all done stupid stuff (I once made the trek from Atlanta to Raleigh in 5:20) but after years of bucking the system and paying gargantuan insurance/legal costs, I finally slowed down and wised up. It's just not worth it.
It's interesting how that works: "Did I say 40 over the limit? I meant 14." Anyway, it's all part of the legal game and the reason why it's good to hire an attorney in situations like this.
In any case, if what you learn from this experience saves your or someone else's life, it's worth the fine and whatever increase in insurance comes your way.
I hope it goes goes well. Thank you for the tip on going to court with the lawyer, I was going to let them handle it for me but i agree with you, It's best if I'm there as well. I'm thinking about hiring an attorney from Troy Hendrick here in Atlanta. They do a lot of duo and traffic cases here and seem to have a good reputation.They want $50 to handle the entire case. Any suggestions?
$50 sounds low, but at the same time, it's just a speeding ticket.
Ask your attorney if you need to be, or should be, present for *any* of this - then follow their advice.
It's very possible that the attorney will not need - or even want - you around. Hell, it's probably going to be a 30 second phone call with the DA, no way for you to be there for that anyway. At that point, it could be 100% paperwork and no place to show your face.
To be clear, I'm not condoning or defending driving 90+. The OP posted to get advice, not lectures or clicking tongues. He put in the OP that it was an eye-opener for him.
Ask your attorney if you need to be, or should be, present for *any* of this - then follow their advice.
It's very possible that the attorney will not need - or even want - you around. Hell, it's probably going to be a 30 second phone call with the DA, no way for you to be there for that anyway. At that point, it could be 100% paperwork and no place to show your face.
To be clear, I'm not condoning or defending driving 90+. The OP posted to get advice, not lectures or clicking tongues. He put in the OP that it was an eye-opener for him.