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+--- Thread: Reckless driving tech? (/showthread.php?tid=3351)
- JohnC - 01-17-2006
HAULN-SS Wrote:Just from personal experience doing 29 over....the cop WILL NOT tell the judge anything about your case and how you cooperated and had full control..blah blah blah, even if they tell you they will do so when you're on the side of the road. The best bet is to sign up for a DIP class before court, plead guilty, and say to the judge "here's what i've done to help get rid of my reckless ways" and present the DIP certificate/receipt/whatever. Wouldnt even screw around with getting a lawyer, because the 60$ for DIP class will go a lot further than whatever you pay the lawyer. You'll get back a couple demerit points at the least, and possibly get the actual ticket reduced, or given the option to be "on vehicular probation" for a year. This sounds like a tempting idea, however, even failing to signal properly or non-moving violations count towards this probation, at which time you face even stiffer penalties.
Thanks for the comments.
- HAULN-SS - 01-17-2006
also, it was a little ambiguous...actually take the DIP class before court
- JohnC - 04-27-2006
I went to court today, and the outcome was much better than I expected.
The lawyer pulled the officer and the prosecutor aside, basically got them to commit to just a fine - no license suspension or jail. They stuck to that, and then the lawyer convinced the judge to drop ~10 mph off the charge based on my previously spotless record. The reckless driving stays, but it was much less severe than the original charge. I paid a $200 fine plus $66 in court costs, kept my license, and stayed out of jail.
So, life is good 8) Now I just have to stay out of trouble for awhile...
- Mike - 04-27-2006
welcome to the club
congrats on the "positive" outcome. fwiw, my insurance only raised $1.13/mo once they got news of my ticket.
- Sijray21 - 04-27-2006
Considering that your married and over 25 i think your insurance will be minimally affected.
Congrats on the reduced charges! Looks like the lawyer definitely paid off!
- BLINGMW - 04-27-2006
8)
- white_2kgt - 04-27-2006
how much was the lawyer?
- HAULN-SS - 04-27-2006
ditto...that was my question
- Feersty - 04-27-2006
Nice John. You celebrating tonight with some RB&V?
- CaptainHenreh - 04-27-2006
Congratulations, John!
- Mike - 04-27-2006
Feersty Wrote:Nice John. You celebrating tonight with some RB&V?
that is chan.
- JohnC - 04-27-2006
white_2kgt Wrote:how much was the lawyer?
$400. It was definitely money well spent.
- JohnC - 04-27-2006
Feersty Wrote:Nice John. You celebrating tonight with some RB&V?
Hrm.. That actually sounds damn tasty at the moment. I'll probably just kick back with some Yuengling and my newly purchased copy of Tourist Trophy.
- white_2kgt - 04-27-2006
JohnC Wrote:white_2kgt Wrote:how much was the lawyer?
$400. It was definitely money well spent.
any $$$ would be to stay the fuck out of jail, that's not as bad as I was expecting.
- Feersty - 04-27-2006
$666, that's odd.
- Evan - 04-27-2006
maybe i need to re-read the thread, but was jail really a possibility and if so, why?
- WRXtranceformed - 04-27-2006
I would not be surprised if you do see a decent increase in your insurance. Reckless driving stays on your insurance record a long ass time, regardless of how far into the reckless range you were.
Regardless, congrats on the no jail time! See, we told you a lawyer was definitely a good idea =D
- JohnC - 04-27-2006
Evan Wrote:maybe i need to re-read the thread, but was jail really a possibility and if so, why?
Based on that particular judge's previous cases, it *was* a possibility, because I was doing 30 mph *over* the limit. Basically, it was my prior record (ie - none) that kept things under control - I'd bet that in most of the cases that I reviewed on the web, the defendants had prior convictions of some sort (although that info isn't available).
At any rate, the law does provide for up to 1 year in jail and a $2500 fine for reckless driving.
- JohnC - 04-27-2006
Feersty Wrote:$666, that's odd.
Whats funny is that my taxes for last year were $1666. Can't escape the mark of the beast, I guess...
- Kaan - 04-27-2006
I'll let you guys know what happens with my reckless ticket. I payed $500 for my lawyer, $100 to get the speedo "fixed" and i just have one speeding ticket on my record that was going to disapear this August. 75 in a 55 btw... i'm looking to get it down in speed and throw out the reckless part and just get another speeding ticket.
such is life... i wont be so lazy and i'll replace speedo cables when they break next time.