quick ticket question

[*GhostRide37]

ok, when you get a speeding ticket what exactly happens to your insurance if anything? how much more are you charged afterwards. and what if you appeal the ticket and it gets revoked...is it like it never happened or are you still screwed on your insurance?

[Woodsy]

ok, when you get a speeding ticket what exactly happens to your insurance if anything? how much more are you charged afterwards. and what if you appeal the ticket and it gets revoked...is it like it never happened or are you still screwed on your insurance?

you get a surcharge on your insurance depending on the type of ticket. can end up costing you a couple of grand over the next couple years. if you fight it and get it overturned it is like it never happened. allways fight the ticket you will be surprised at the resluts! worst case senario you are back where you started and you have lost nothing. Charges i have fought and won:

speeding
driving on expired registration
driving on a suspended licence
driving while intoxicated
marked lanes violation
noise violation
leaving the scene of an accident
failure to stop
failure to yeild
improper passing

some i was innocent some i was guilty. long story short if i didn't go to court i would be virtually unisurable. just go to court and see what happens.

[slammp]

I agree with Redvtr1000. Always fight the ticket. You can get them reduced or even thrown out. Under the new Massachusetts insurance coverage you will receive two surcharge points for a speeding ticket or minor accident. 4 points for a major accident. They stay on your record for 6 years, so you will pay a higher rate for the next 6 years.

Definitely worth the appeals process.

[*GhostRide37]

so if they are appealed then you dont get any insurance points against you?

[Woodsy]

so if they are appealed then you dont get any insurance points against you?

if you get them overturned they don't count. appealing them just means you are going to fight it.

[tsanto]

Quick Overview of the process:

1. You got pulled over and issued a ticket for speeding

2. You can send in the fine and admit you were speeding, which will go on your record as a speeding violation and a surcharge will be applied to your insurance policy.

3. You can check appeal, mail the ticket and wait for a court date. When you go to court, you will go infront of a court magistrate and an officer from the department you were pulled over from.

4. You and the officer will present your case to the magistrate and you will either be held responsible or not by the magistrate.

5. If held responsible, you can appeal and go infront of a judge with your case and explain why you're not responsible.

6. If the officer that pulled you over does not show up for the appeal in court, your ticket is automatically dropped. There would be no record of you speeding and no surcharge.

7. If the judge/magistrate likes your story, enough to find you not responsible, there will be no fine to pay, no record of you speeding and no surcharge on your insurance.

*You will have to pay a fee (I think it's 20) if you appeal the magistrate and go infront of a judge.

[Woodsy]

Quick Overview of the process:

1. You got pulled over and issued a ticket for speeding

that is a really quick overview. think you might have missed something

[tsanto]

that is a really quick overview. think you might have missed something

Fixed it. I hit submit repley somehow before i finished

[SSearchVT]

At the very least if you appeal the ticket it gives you a delay before any points or surcharges can get posted. I've had to do that in the past to let a ticket clear off my record so I didn't get a suspension...

[keeena]

7. If the judge/magistrate likes your story, enough to find you not responsible, there will be no fine to pay, no record of you speeding and no surcharge on your insurance.

A friend of mine (officer for Northboro) said that the incident does stay on your record and shows as Not Responsible.

[Woodsy]

A friend of mine (officer for Northboro) said that the incident does stay on your record and shows as Not Responsible.

this is true. you would have to have them exponge it from your record. even if you are not guilty there is still public record saying you were charged. same with every crime.

[slammp]

Dont forget the mandatory $50 appeals fee. The ticket explains it and if you forget to include it they will condsider your appeal null and void. Its worth the money - just send it.

[Slyder]

Also, maybe not true in mass...but up here in VT and probably NH...insurance companies don't always check up on you when the policies renew. I've had 3 speeding tickets. 2001, 2003, 2005 (none in 2007, broke my streak )

How much did my insurance go up each year after those 3 tickets? $0.00

Infact, it went DOWN some.

[*GhostRide37]

hmm interesting. im asking because i was pulled over the other night(in a car) at 2am doing 85 in a 60 (i felt like i was going so f'in slow too). he gave a a $100 ticket and said he wrote i was doing 70 in a 60 instead of 85, then he asked if i had been pulled over or ticketed before and i said no. then he almost apologetically said i should try to appeal it and maybe it would go away. i think he felt bad that he ticketed me when he realized i never been ticketed before....

[noxin]

Also, maybe not true in mass...but up here in VT and probably NH...insurance companies don't always check up on you when the policies renew. I've had 3 speeding tickets. 2001, 2003, 2005 (none in 2007, broke my streak )

How much did my insurance go up each year after those 3 tickets? $0.00

Infact, it went DOWN some.

Every year, and for every policy, I get a copy of my driving record with my renewal. It may just be my agency/ins. company, but they haven't missed one yet.

GhostRide,
Appeal it, fall on your sword in front of the magistrate, explain that you've never had a speeding ticket before and fully expect not to get another one... ever

[Omahastylin16]

always appeal a ticket, its worth the effort you put in

[TimD]

As of last year (ins has been updated this year so the points cost might have changed)

You pay 15% per "point" and all normal/basic tickets are 2 points.

Basically everything is a moving violation, noise tickets, light out, expired inspection its all the same. Still 2 points on your record.

When you appeal its all or nothing, ether your not responsible or you are. The fine can be reduced but thats still 2 points, and the reduction in fine is generally insignificant compared to the overall cost of the ticket.

[Woodsy]

Dont forget the mandatory $50 appeals fee. The ticket explains it and if you forget to include it they will condsider your appeal null and void. Its worth the money - just send it.

i have never had to pay a fee to fight a ticket

[Woodsy]

Also, maybe not true in mass...but up here in VT and probably NH...insurance companies don't always check up on you when the policies renew. I've had 3 speeding tickets. 2001, 2003, 2005 (none in 2007, broke my streak )

How much did my insurance go up each year after those 3 tickets? $0.00

Infact, it went DOWN some.

i wouldn't count on this in any state

[tsanto]

i have never had to pay a fee to fight a ticket

When you appeal the magistrate you have to pay a fee. When you send in the ticket and check appeal there is no fee. It's only when you fight the magistrate and go to court you pay. If you dont you dont get a second appeal.

As for the insurance, in MA if you get no points on your record for three years your points automatically go to zero. I have one more year to go. Hence your premium goes down.