Any advice for traffic court for DS-17?

[Anonymous]

I would just pay the fine and dock the points. I have a moral problem with contesting something that my son has actually, incontrovertibly done. There are no excuses. And I speed regularly. If I was fined, I'd pay the fine.

[Anonymous]

At 17 he may not have a choice but to go to court....for a stern lecture from the judge. My advice to you is make the process as painful as possible for your DS. Make him take a safe driver course. Otherwise this may be the first of many tickets and court dates and insurance increases.

[Anonymous]

My experience in VA is that I’d pay this one by mail (no court). Save the lawyer — you’ll need her later for something more serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would just pay the fine and dock the points. I have a moral problem with contesting something that my son has actually, incontrovertibly done. There are no excuses. And I speed regularly. If I was fined, I'd pay the fine.

+1

You need to teach your son to accept responsibility, OP, not try to dodge out of it. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At 17 he may not have a choice but to go to court....for a stern lecture from the judge. My advice to you is make the process as painful as possible for your DS. Make him take a safe driver course. Otherwise this may be the first of many tickets and court dates and insurance increases.

Yes, read the ticket for sure. DD was stopped for speeding and police checked the box that court appearance was required. (Judge then basically chided DH & I telling us the only way she’ll get better at driving is if she drives more).

[Anonymous]

Your kid needs some natural consequences like having to pay the ticket and having to take the bus to school for a couple weeks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS got a speeding ticket (41 in a 30) The officer recommended he go to court instead of paying the fine so there will be no points. Any idea what DS should expect? Will he need to speak about the incident or provide any background info (grades/extra curriculars/volunteering)? We're in MD if that matters.

If the officer recommended then go to court.

You might get lucky and he won't show up. If he does, then your son will learn a good lesson that will help him keep the foot off the pedal!

[Anonymous]

Have him make public records requests with the police department for copies of both sides of the ticket, the calibration records for the radar gun, the training records for the cop on the use of the radar gun, and the FCC license for the department to operate police radar. (This assumes that the ticket was issued due to a radar reading, of course.)

Check the ticket carefully for errors. Raise those issues in court, as well as any issues noted with the above records. Do not admit to speeding. Note, too, that police radar requires about 1/4 mile of straight road in order to get an accurate reading--if the cop was standing just around a curve or something, that may not have been sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have him make public records requests with the police department for copies of both sides of the ticket, the calibration records for the radar gun, the training records for the cop on the use of the radar gun, and the FCC license for the department to operate police radar. (This assumes that the ticket was issued due to a radar reading, of course.)

Check the ticket carefully for errors. Raise those issues in court, as well as any issues noted with the above records. Do not admit to speeding. Note, too, that police radar requires about 1/4 mile of straight road in order to get an accurate reading--if the cop was standing just around a curve or something, that may not have been sufficient.

You need a lawyer to properly argue this in court. I've seen people try to object to evidence in traffic court and it usually doesn't go well unless they know what they're doing

[Anonymous]

I would make him pay the fine and take the points OP. He was speeding.

Actually, we don't know that he was speeding, and police radar is notoriously imprecise, especially if not operated correctly. OP's son has the right to defend himself in court, and he should use that right. It's a good civics lesson, if nothing else.

[Anonymous]

Former 17 year old here (now a lot older). DS should go in remorseful, and the judge will likely offer that if he takes and completes a defensive driving course, it will be wiped from his record. That's why the officer recommended it -- he knows that will happen.

Don't go in trying to fight the ticket. The judge is going to offer an "out" because of his age.

Added bonus: the course is mostly teenagers so he may find a prom date there.

[Anonymous]

If you go to court and lose, court fees will be assessed, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have him make public records requests with the police department for copies of both sides of the ticket, the calibration records for the radar gun, the training records for the cop on the use of the radar gun, and the FCC license for the department to operate police radar. (This assumes that the ticket was issued due to a radar reading, of course.)

Check the ticket carefully for errors. Raise those issues in court, as well as any issues noted with the above records. Do not admit to speeding. Note, too, that police radar requires about 1/4 mile of straight road in order to get an accurate reading--if the cop was standing just around a curve or something, that may not have been sufficient.

I’d save the lawyer & scorched earth tactics for something worth fighting. A simple speeding ticket is not that IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former 17 year old here (now a lot older). DS should go in remorseful, and the judge will likely offer that if he takes and completes a defensive driving course, it will be wiped from his record. That's why the officer recommended it -- he knows that will happen.

Don't go in trying to fight the ticket. The judge is going to offer an "out" because of his age.

Added bonus: the course is mostly teenagers so he may find a prom date there.

This is helpful, thank you. Not looking to “fight” the ticket. The police officer told him to go to court so he is going to court. I just don’t know if they will expect him to speak at all or just stand there and take a good yelling. He is extremely nervous and doesn’t want to do/say anything wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former 17 year old here (now a lot older). DS should go in remorseful, and the judge will likely offer that if he takes and completes a defensive driving course, it will be wiped from his record. That's why the officer recommended it -- he knows that will happen.

Don't go in trying to fight the ticket. The judge is going to offer an "out" because of his age.

Added bonus: the course is mostly teenagers so he may find a prom date there.

This is helpful, thank you. Not looking to “fight” the ticket. The police officer told him to go to court so he is going to court. I just don’t know if they will expect him to speak at all or just stand there and take a good yelling. He is extremely nervous and doesn’t want to do/say anything wrong.

He might need to speak the judge might ask him why he was driving “unsafe speed”