Would you challenge 2 speeding tickets (camera) in DC, that are 3 minutes apart?

[Anonymous]

It took several DC tickets to get it into our family's thick heads that DC is strict with speed limits, stop signs, red lights, etc. As they should be! We'd gotten sloppy, living in Montgomery County, where speeding, or squeaking by on a very red orange light is all in a day's work. Now I realize that I'm a better driver in MD, just because I've learned to be careful in DC. All good!

Instead of contesting these, I'd try to emulate careful DC driving everywhere you drive, and try to persuade your son of the same.

[Anonymous]

Have your son handle it.

I live somewhere urban where legal speeds are high and there are lots of speed traps and gotcha campaigns.

In my experience, you only get valuable breaks if you hire a ticket contesting attorney. It's another kind of racket. Having their buddy show up is more palatable than another Karen complaining about random gotcha campaigns.

A polite justification might save you 50%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It took several DC tickets to get it into our family's thick heads that DC is strict with speed limits, stop signs, red lights, etc. As they should be! We'd gotten sloppy, living in Montgomery County, where speeding, or squeaking by on a very red orange light is all in a day's work. Now I realize that I'm a better driver in MD, just because I've learned to be careful in DC. All good!

Instead of contesting these, I'd try to emulate careful DC driving everywhere you drive, and try to persuade your son of the same.

OP here. Agreed. The speed cameras in DC have prompted us all to slow down. Outside of DC, I see a lot of speeding and reckless driving, which is tolerated elsewhere because there aren't as many cameras as in DC.

For those commenters scolding us to slow down, I would like to reiterate that the DC cameras are very strict. I am a cautious and careful driver, and still have received speeding tickets.

[Anonymous]

Are you saying you weren’t speeding?

[Anonymous]

I received a camera ticket in a different jurisdiction for going 11 mph over the speed limit. I was very surprised because not only did I not drive 10+ mph over the speed limit ever, but this was for an area where I knew there were speed cameras and I was always especially mindful of my speed. I knew there was no way I had driven that fast, but I just went ahead and paid the ticket because, really, how do you dispute it? Later, I saw a report on the local news that lots of drivers were complaining that the cameras weren’t calibrated correctly and were recording faster speeds than cars were actually driving. That news report was how I learned that you had to exceed the speed limit by at least 11 mph in that jurisdiction to receive a ticket. Suddenly I understood how I got a ticket for precisely 11 mph over. If both of your son’s tickets were for the exact minimum speed it takes to get a ticket, I’d be very suspicious, but I don’t know that you can fight them. Just gotta pay them and drive slower.

[Anonymous]

What’s to challenge? The times of the photos and the distance between the cameras will likely just prove that your kid was speeding. Pay up and slow down.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your son is a dog shıt driver and I hope he slows down before he kills someone. Just like all those troubled youth of dc who’s grandma insists “oh he’s such a good kid, he’d never shoot anyone”.

3 minutes apart at 35 miles an hour is like 1.5-1.75 miles apart if he maintained a consistent speed. If he didn’t maintain a consistent speed he had ample opportunity to obey the speed limit.

I hope he doesn’t get an exception. Teaches him and you the wrong life lessons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
We received 2 letters in the mail today.

Both were for speeding tickets on the same day, but only 3 minutes apart. Each ticket was for $100, for a total of $200.

Both were for going 11-15 MPH over the speed limit late in the evening. (Going 36 MPH in a 25 MPH zone.)

(These were from my college-age son. He is a good driver and a responsible person.)

I'll ask him to pay. But does it seem aggressive of DC to issue 2 fines within 3 minutes of each other?

I wouldn't pay any tickets that arrive in the mail from a camera.

Since you cannot confront your accuser in court, they are not legitimate or legal. Trash them.

[Anonymous]

I never pay DC tickets. Just throw them out. Nothing will happen

[Anonymous]

Your time is cheap. I would pay and make him pay me back.
Contesting can take forever. If you get third ticket while contesting, they'll tow your car. Go argue all you want. What a away to complicate life. Through money at it, and don't do it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never pay DC tickets. Just throw them out. Nothing will happen

This is bad advice if you (and your car) live in D.C.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like your son is a dog shıt driver and I hope he slows down before he kills someone. Just like all those troubled youth of dc who’s grandma insists “oh he’s such a good kid, he’d never shoot anyone”.

3 minutes apart at 35 miles an hour is like 1.5-1.75 miles apart if he maintained a consistent speed. If he didn’t maintain a consistent speed he had ample opportunity to obey the speed limit.

I hope he doesn’t get an exception. Teaches him and you the wrong life lessons.

Thanks! This is what I was looking for. If it was logical that he hit two in a row while whipping through lights or if it's just one that is malfunctioning/duplicating.

[Anonymous]

Your kid pays the ticket, loses driving for a month, at least, and kid pays increase in car insurance. He was speeding. Documented twice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like your son is a dog shıt driver and I hope he slows down before he kills someone. Just like all those troubled youth of dc who’s grandma insists “oh he’s such a good kid, he’d never shoot anyone”.

3 minutes apart at 35 miles an hour is like 1.5-1.75 miles apart if he maintained a consistent speed. If he didn’t maintain a consistent speed he had ample opportunity to obey the speed limit.

I hope he doesn’t get an exception. Teaches him and you the wrong life lessons.

Thanks! This is what I was looking for. If it was logical that he hit two in a row while whipping through lights or if it's just one that is malfunctioning/duplicating.

Yes, he was speeding and got caught by two separate cameras. The location of the camera is on the ticket. You can see what he did.

Have him pay the tickets and any increase in your insurance that may result and tell him to stop speeding.

[Anonymous]

In some jurisdictions if you challenge a speed camera ticket in court and lose it can be converted into a moving violation which adds points to your license. Not sure what the rules are in DC but please check before sending your kid to challenge the ticket.