Georgia Speeding Ticket - To Lawyer or Not?

[WeakestLink]

(this might belong in the Southeast discussion)

Just got a ticket in GA. I remember seeing several discussions on how different states do/do not allow attorneys to negotiate on behalf of offenders. The questions are:

Does GA usually reduce points just for showing up at court? (officer already reduced it to a 2 point violation which is the lowest offense...can it even be lowered?)

Is it common in GA to hire an attorney who negotiates the offense? I don't care about the fine but I don't want the points.

Does GA allow driving schools (possibly online) to reduce your points?

FYI...officer "paced" me at 80, ticketed at 70.

TIA.

 

[NSXROX]

No experience in Georgia here, but I'd be surprised if the whole "pacing at 10 mph over the speed limit" would hold up in court at all.

 

[newby]

No experience in Georgia here, but I'd be surprised if the whole "pacing at 10 mph over the speed limit" would hold up in court at all.

We are allowed (in MN) to pace vehicles as evidence for citations. I've paced them in my civilian vehicle and the police car. I don't see why it wouldn't hold up in other states (being some radar units do not give a read out for same direction travel)....

Sounds like he gave you a good break on the ticket. If you go to court he could have the ticket ammended back to the original 80mph speed (just FYI). I've ammended tickets when they've taken the breaks I give them to court (when I've waived the seatbelt ticket or equipment violation and just cited them for speed) It always ends up worse off for them.

I'd call the County attorney's office (or city) and see if they have a school you could go to in order to keep the ticket off your record. Or just pay the fine and see if they'll suspend the ticket from your record as long as you don't get a same or simular violation within the next year (we've made that deal a couple times). See what GA has to offer.

 

[Dave Hardy]

What county or municipality?

 

[NsXMas]

...I'd call the County attorney's office (or city) and see if they have a school you could go to in order to keep the ticket off your record. Or just pay the fine and see if they'll suspend the ticket from your record as long as you don't get a same or simular violation within the next year (we've made that deal a couple times). See what GA has to offer.

Interesting info.

It's nice to get breaks, but I couldn't believe it when last year I got cited on the way home from the gym for a broken tail lamp. The right tail lamp had just gone out and I was unlucky enough to be pulled over half a block from home late at night after working out.

Everything else was in order, and I thought I'd get a warning to get my tail light bulb replaced. I got a fix-it-ticket instead.

I got my Accord tail light fixed the next day, and the bulb cost $1.50 or something. What burns me is that it took me a while to locate another police officer to sign off on my fix. Then it cost $10 to process my ticket!!! :frown: :frown:

Total time and effort wasted from trying to track down an officer far exceeded the fix, and the additional money was just salt on the wound. What a way to punish a citizen for such a minor fix.

 

[newby]

Interesting info.

It's nice to get breaks, but I couldn't believe it when last year I got cited on the way home from the gym for a broken tail lamp. The right tail lamp had just gone out and I was unlucky enough to be pulled over half a block from home late at night after working out.

Everything else was in order, and I thought I'd get a warning to get my tail light bulb replaced. I got a fix-it-ticket instead.

I got my Accord tail light fixed the next day, and the bulb cost $1.50 or something. What burns me is that it took me a while to locate another police officer to sign off on my fix. Then it cost $10 to process my ticket!!! :frown: :frown:

Total time and effort wasted from trying to track down an officer far exceeded the fix, and the additional money was just salt on the wound. What a way to punish a citizen for such a minor fix.

Too bad about that bad experience. It's unfortunate some cops can be a bit too picky. I've never cited someone for an equipment violation as long as they've gotten it fixed within a week or two. Especially a tail light that you usually wouldn't know was out until you get stopped.

I guess the positive side is a citation for the equipment violation could have been 10 times as much as the fix-it ticket cost... :smile:

good luck with the speeding ticket. By the way, what was the speed limit where you were stopped (not 30mph I hope!!)

 

[WeakestLink]

Ticket was in Cobb County.

Cop was pretty nice about writing the ticket. I'm not trying to get out of the fine...just don't want the points. I'm probably not going to contest the ticket. I'd like to know whether or not it is worth hiring an attorney to negotiate the points down.

Thanks again.

 

[newby]

Ticket was in Cobb County.

Cop was pretty nice about writing the ticket. I'm not trying to get out of the fine...just don't want the points. I'm probably not going to contest the ticket. I'd like to know whether or not it is worth hiring an attorney to negotiate the points down.

Thanks again.

maybe you should call an attorney who deals with traffic citations. See what their thoughts are one getting the points reduced. My guess would be they should know GA law (and ways around it) better then the rest of us. Just be cautious for the attorney who's only out for a buck (I know, there aren't many like that :smile: ). He/she may say, "yeah I can help you" then not and stick you will a few hundred dollar fee....

"APPROACH WITH CAUTION!!" I know that's not a lot of help....but my .02

 

[Dave Hardy]

Never been to Cobb county court, so I don't know the particulars. In Dekalb they will plea down 10 mph if you show up but elect to not go before the judge.

Points start at 15 mph over the limit. 14 and less is a fine, but no points.