Contesting Traffic Ticket question

[wildflowergardener]

Hi - Hopefully this is an ok to post this. I got a ticket this morning. I am very careful and this is the first ticket I've ever gotten in my life (I'm 37). I was turning left - I know I turned left after the light had turned yellow but I thought I still had plenty of time. The cars got held up in front of me and I was still in the intersection for a few seconds after the light turned red - I got out as quickly as I could. Shortly after I was pulled over - he says they have it on camera but I can contest it. I admit that what happened happened, I just wondered if I contest it if I have a chance - since I've never had a ticket before - and I got caught out there and it was not red when I went out. Sometimes it just happens when the light turns after you are out there and you get stuck behind someone. I guess from now on I'll never enter an intersection on a yellow light. There is a red light camera there but an officer did pull me over.

I am in St. Louis County, MO (It was maplewood)

Does this affect my insurance - do you think?

[taterguy]

1. Go to court and call the cop a fucking pig

Just wanted to be the first of many to post really stupid advice in this thread

[LeftyMom]

2. Was the ticket for running a red light or blocking an intersection?

If you entered on a yellow it shouldn't be the former, but it sounds like the latter would be true.

[MissMillie]

4. that would indeed make a big difference

I think that, technically speaking, you're not supposed to enter into an intersection if there's any chance you'll block it.

[mikeytherat]

3. See if you can plead No Contest and go to a "driving school."

For about $50 you sit through a rather useless 8-hour "class," and get a certificate at the end of it. You then pay a small admin fee (also about $50), and the ticket is erased from your record.

mikey_the_rat

[wildflowergardener]

6. Driving School?

How would that normally work? Would you think I would ask that on the court date, or is it better to call the city I got stopped in, in advance and check if that is an option?

Meg

[mikeytherat]

19. They are generally called "Driver Safety" or "Driver Improvement" courses.

Call the city in advance and see if it is an option for you.

mikey_the_rat

[meegbear]

8. Do they show the cool crash film where everybody in class pukes up?

That'd be worth getting a ticket for.

[mikeytherat]

18. They show several. It really is an utter waste of time, save for the ticket dismissal.

Imagine being 10, and spending a day with mom telling you how bad you messed up, and providing visual aids to make the point. Now imagine the same situation, except you're 40.

The twist of lime to the story is, the "certificate" you get for "completing" the course has been filled out in advance.

mikey_the_rat

[wildflowergardener]

5. Ticket

The offense on the ticket is violated electric signal.

Meg

[elleng]

22. which you did NOT do, as yellow is

Proceed with Caution, which you DID do.

[LynneSin]

7. In Delaware, if you get a camera ticket there are no points

but if you contest it and find you guilty they may give you points.

[crimsonblue]

9. Don't worry

This will not affect your insurance rates. You have a perfect driving record and something as miniscule as this won't affect it. You probably won't win on contesting it. Judges like to give leeway to cops for these sort of infractions.

[eyesroll]

10. Here in my neck of the woods,

you'd show up at your court date, talk to the prosecutor, and they'd cut you a break for showing up.

For a first-time running-a-red (if it gets ticketed as, say, failure to obey a traffic sign or signal, three points), they'd probably bust it down to a zero-point violation of some sort (I don't have my book in front of me), assuming you were polite to the cop. If you'd had a previous violation or were rude, they might reduce it to a two-point violation. (I've interned as a municipal prosecutor and will be doing some more of that when I graduate.)

I'm not your insurance agent, so I can't say for certain whether it would affect your insurance--it probably wouldn't affect mine.

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. Should be asking an Attorney

There are attorney's who specialise in traffic court. They can give you much more sound advice than what you will receive on an internet board.

[wildflowergardener]

12. Attorney

I wondered about this, but I also have no idea how I would go about finding a reputable one. There is a site called www.tickethelp.com - I wonder if that is legitimate. The fee is $87. I wonder if I'd end up paying more by consulting an attorney - though if it means points on my driver's license perhaps it would be wise.

Meg

[SoxFan]

13. You probably don't need an attorney

And I say that as an attorney myself. Most of the lawyers who specialize in traffic offenses work for clients who are actual or borderline habitual offenders and are at risk of having their license suspended.

Since you have a clean record, and this is a relatively rinky-dink offense, i wouldn't waste $100+ on a lawyer.

Call the prosecutor and ask to discuss the ticket. You may be able to have it "placed on file", ie, held in suspended animation for a year, and dropped if you don't pick up another ticket. Since you've been driving safely for 20 years, you are a perfect candidate for something like this.

Allright, that will be $10.25 at a pro-rated $150 per hour...

[Bossy Monkey]

14. Call (or email) your car insurance company for advice

specifically as to whether your rates would go up if you just paid the ticket. In my experience, if you take it to court, they cut or eliminate the points and cut the fine slightly, especially as you have a clean driving record. But my experience is in the Carolinas, so I don't know how helpful it is.

[gmoney]

16. bad idea

don't tip them off that you got the ticket... do what you can to make it go away, but don't go telling them. Of course they'll raise your rate if you tell them.

[gmoney]

15. Show up, explain that it was an honest mistake, ask for leniency...

Explain that you thought it would be safer to complete the turn than to remain in the intersection or try to "back up" behind the line. If found guilty, ask about school.

Also, my mom used to be in insurance years ago and she told that since it costs insurance companies a fair amount to pull your traffic records, they only do spot checks on random people for traffic tickets. The state does not notify the insurance company. (Granted, it's been 20 years since she was in the biz, so things may have changed.) Still, I'd say odds are that your insurer won't even check since you've not filed any claims and you're not a 17-year-old Camaro driver. Just make sure you pay your premiums on time and and try to stay under THEIR radar. You'll probably even get a discount when you turn 40.

I'd also wager that if you're with a "full service" insurer like Nationwide or Allstate or something, they'll avoid jacking your rates over something this trivial so they don't lose you to a discounter.

Hell, I've had TWO accidents this year, with BOTH cars totaled and I think the only reason my rate went up (just a little) is because my new car is newer and nicer than my wrecked cars. I think if there'd been injuries in either accident, then I'd see my rates go way up, but I've been with this same agency for nearly 30 years, so it's cheaper to keep me, evidently.

[wildflowergardener]

17. Thanks

Thanks to everyone who replied. I think I'm just going to go to court explain what happened politely and hope that they either drop the ticket or allow me to do the traffic school. My father, who has the same insurance company said he got a ticket for running a red light (and he actually did run it) and his insurance didn't go up. If they do have the video they'll be able to clearly see I was almost all the way through the intersection when the light turned red. I don't know if it will do any good or not but if I have the time I figure it's worth a try.

I am curious to know if my 2 Obama stickers had anything to do with the ticket - I guess I'll never know.

Meg

[elleng]

23. Do go, yes,

but do NOT admit you made a mistake: You Did Not, from what I can tell. If necessary, tell them you'd like them and you to see their 'evidence' on camera, 'Because, your Honor, I'm certain that I proceeded into the intersection on Yellow, NOT on Red.'

Good Luck! We'll be thinking of you!

[peace frog]

20. Speaking of "driving school"

see if you can do it online rather than having to attend the boring-ass class. Cuts through the BS lickety-split and you're done.

[elleng]

21. No violation, as far as I can tell;

you proceeded when light was yellow, and circumstances led to 'red' and you. They have on camera that you proceeded on yellow.

SO, plead Not Guilty of any violation.

That's MY advice!

[wildflowergardener]

24. Thanks

I waffle between wanting to go fight it and just paying it so I don't have to worry about it any more. I'm kind of shy about public speaking - very shy about talking to people I don't know. Still I want to fight it because it just seems wrong to get a ticket for something like this when I try so hard to be careful. It's not till Jan 12 so I have awhile to think about what to do.

I've had one accident (my fault) in my life - a stupid thing where I accidentally backed into my co-workers parked car and damaged the hood. I have also been hit by another person from behind who had no insurance and so I ended up having to pay my deductible for that and couldn't afford to get the car fixed - I think of all the people who are doing much worse things than just turning left on a yellow light it just makes me so mad to get a ticket for something like this - esp when I am trying to get out of a little debt and just had to pay property taxes and car insurance so money is tight. If it had been red I would have understood and had no problem with it - of course I would not have run a red light so it wouldn't have happened. The problem is I really don't know how to avoid a situation like this in the future except for not turning left at that intersection anymore to get to work - I'm going another way now. I can slam on my breaks every time a light changes to yellow but that probably would get me hit from behind. The one time I got hit from behind I was yielding waiting to turn right, waiting for oncoming traffic and an impatient person tried to go around me in the yield lane where there was not nearly enough room to pass me.

Meg

[elleng]

25. I understand your hesitation about public speaking,

but if you come off as a polite, nice person, the court will be kind to you.

It IS WRONG to get a ticket for something like this: What you did is NOT a violation of the law (as I understand it;) certainly not anywhere I'm familiar with. The reason for YELLOW LIGHTS is to enable drivers to have time to proceed slowly and safely BEFORE A RED LIGHT. You DID that, and should not have been charged. Since you were, you should NOT be found guilty. The cop either misread the camera or the law.

You can tell the court that you're thinking that " I can slam on my breaks every time a light changes to yellow but that probably would get me hit from behind," which is another thing Yellow is intended to prevent!

SO, go up and say, 'Not Guilty, Your Honor. I proceeded carefully to turn left on Yellow; traffic kept me from completing the turn until Red appeared. I DID NOT DISOBEY THE RED. Thank you, Sir/Ma'am.'

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