Posted: 12/22/2006 9:10:39 AM EDT
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Was cited for 15 mph over on I-540 the other day. I didn't think I was going that fast, but everyone was moving pretty quickly, so my point of reference was distorted. Can anyone suggest a lawyer who handles such cases in Raleigh? Anyone know how far back your record is reviewed by the court? I believe I have had 2 other tickets in the last 20 years, but I can't recall when--need to order a copy of my drivers record. Any help would be appreciated 
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| Just wait a week and you will get letters from 20 different firms wanting to represent you. You should be able to get it reduced to improper equipment. You just have to decide how you want to spend your money. Pay the lawyer or pay the ticket and the insurance company. |
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Call John O'Hale (goes by Jack) in Smithfield and ask for a reference for Raleigh. He is the best there is in Johnston county. 919-934-6021 www.nowlaw.com/default.aspx?section=attorneys&id=2 I have used him twice in the last 20+ years, I have nothing on my license... |
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540 is like the autobahn. When I need to test a car out that needs some room to run, I go to 540. This is just a bad time for that right now. A Valentine One will be cheaper than the ticket and insurance, or lawyer and court cost any way you look at it. I wish you the best for getting it taken care of, but remember an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. |
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2 options: 1) go to court and get it reduced to 9 over the limit. Pay the fine and court costs, about $130 or so and move on with your life. If you have no other tickets on your record for the past 3 years insurance companies can't raise your rates on that ticket 2) go to court and get it reduced, if not don't sweat it, ask for a Prayer for Judgement, insurance won't raise your rates either If you hire a lawyer they'll most likely just ask the judge for a Prayer for Judgement For fun you can see your court date, name, offense in the Criminal court schedule CROOKS and search for your citation number here www1.aoc.state.nc.us/www/calendars/CitationQuery.html |
Just a little food for thought before you get into this: An attorney will do you a world of good if you kill someone but he can't get a better deal for you than you can yourself if you go talk to the Asst. DA before you walk in court. Trust me you will get a chance to talk to him proir to your 1st appearance. When you talk to him tell him you want to get it reduced and he will work with you 99% of the time. The 1% is reserved for the kid that shows up thugged out and keeps yelling "That this is a bunch a Boo-sh#* that he got a ticket kause da kopz wuz profilin me". You will see this happen while your there so just relax and enjoy the show while your there. Also I don't recommend using a PJC (Prayer for Judgement) on something silly like a speeding ticket. Save it for when and if you need it. Not saying you'll get in any real trouble in the future but better safe than sorry. Also as a side note. The speedo being off is not a good idea. Most courts won't even care and their relpy will be that you are responsible for any maintainence on your vehicle and the fact still remains that you were speeding. Push the issue too hard and they can charge you for failing to maintain your speedo also. Yes there is a law aginst that and yes folks get charged with it. Edit-Language-u352 |
To add to the above, Wake County has a Disposition Court, usually room 1A. It's meant to clear out as many cases as possible. Point is to get as many people as possible to plead guilty, no contest, whatever, maybe so they'll accept the reduced charge or PFJ. If you plead not guilty or "not responsible", they'll continue the case and at the second court date is where the LEO shows up and you can present evidence like odometers and such |
This is the best advice I've seen so far here. Call your DA's office either in the morning or sometime in the afternoon after 3:00 PM. Be polite and explain what happened and you were wondering if there's anything that you can do the get it reduced to a simple improper equipment charge. As long as your record is clean (I'm not sure how far back they look, maybe 3 years?), they'll probably work with you for something like $20.00 +original fine and court fee. I'm going through this very thing right now with my son who got a 15 over. He's 18 and on my insurance. The way I understand it though, if you get another infraction before this exits your record, you get a doublewhammy on your insurance @ license points with the next one. It's worth a try, they'd rather keep a simple case like this out of the courtroom anyhow. Probably won't have to wait and appear at court this way as well! 
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Big_Cheese--how has you attempt gone? I pulled my driving record last week, and my only blemish was a speeding ticket 11 years ago, so I hope that is clean enough. Anyone have an idea of who to ask for at the Wake DA office? |
My son's ticket was reduced to an improper equipment charge. It cost him $160.00, instead of the original $140.00 fine and court costs. I don't know if it was because of Christmas season, his clean record, or what, but they didn't even require him to take any "safe driver" course. It will not affect our insurance, but the deal is that if he gets another in the near future (not sure of the duration) not only does the new ticket affect his insurance and driver points on his license, but the previous speeding charge will go against his insurance and driver points as well, so he's gotta be CAREFUL!!! You can probably do this over the phone with the assistant D.A. as we did. Whatever you decide, DON'T pay off the ticket at the magistrates office. I've been told that it's still somehow better to appear in court and plead "no contest" than to admit guilt. At least where it concerns your insurance rate. Good Luck! |