ugh, traffic tickets

tmeyer621

So about 15 months ago, I started a job 47 miles from home. I guess my mind has a tendacy to wonder because a couple months ago, I got a speeding ticket. I was totally at fault and I went to court and plead guilty to get on court supervision. Tonight on the way home from work, I got a ticket for running a red light. The LIGHT WAS YELLOW all the way through. The cop was at the traffic light running perpendicular to me and she says her light was green so mine must have been red. Mine was YELLOW and I didn't have time to stop. So, now my court supervision will be revoked and two violations will go on my record. In my state, on the third violation, I will get my license supended. I have had a squeky clean record up until now. I am terrified of losing my license, but I can't afford to pay court costs, etc if I lose in court. So, is it worth fighting?. Anyone have any experience with this?

J&K10910

Wait, you were put on court supervision for a SPEEDING TICKET?  How freakin fast were you going?

tmeyer621

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:c6698e50-c58e-4eae-8203-5104bae7047f">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]Wait, you were put on court supervision for a SPEEDING TICKET?  How freakin fast were you going?
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]

Not that fast, but I had the option of going on court supervision so it wouldn't go on my record. I just didn't want to have a ticket on my record, but now I might have two :-(

J&K10910

I would just pay it, and then start paying more attention when you're driving.

ceh789

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:c6698e50-c58e-4eae-8203-5104bae7047f">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]Wait, you were put on court supervision for a SPEEDING TICKET?  How freakin fast were you going?
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]


Court supervision just means that you plead guilty, pay the fine and  promise to be a good girl for a set period of time (usually a year) then if you don't get another ticket in that time period it disappears from your record and your insurance rates aren't impacted.  I had the same thing happen when I got a ticket a few years back.

OP - if your system is anything like ours, you're screwed.  There is absolutely no chance of them giving you a 3rd chance, sorry :(

tmeyer621

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:06c16de3-9d87-4158-9667-8c98c7c11fcb">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: ugh, traffic tickets : Court supervision just means that you plead guilty, pay the fine and  promise to be a good girl for a set period of time (usually a year) then if you don't get another ticket in that time period it disappears from your record and your insurance rates aren't impacted.  I had the same thing happen when I got a ticket a few years back. OP - if your system is anything like ours, you're screwed.  There is absolutely no chance of them giving you a 3rd chance, sorry :(
Posted by ceh789[/QUOTE]


Thanks, I know if I get a third ticket, there's no chance. It isn't even done by a judge, the computer system will suspend your license. I've done my research tonight, but this was my second ticket and the light never turned red while I was under it. Just wondeing my chances of fighting this one

NcsuPsych

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:fe064d65-73fd-454a-b2fc-71d70782fa63">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: ugh, traffic tickets : Thanks, I know if I get a third ticket, there's no chance. It isn't even done by a judge, the computer system will suspend your license. I've done my research tonight, but this was my second ticket and<strong> the light never turned red while I was under it.</strong> Just wondeing my chances of fighting this one
Posted by tmeyer621[/QUOTE]

I think you're going to have a VERY hard trying to fight that one. Mainly because while you're driving under the light, so in the driving world, you should be looking forward at where you're going and who you're behind, not up at the light to make sure it's still yellow.

If you want to fight it, go ahead, but get a lawyer. This route will cost you more.
I would personally just go pay the fines and let it be since it'll be such a hard fight.

Just a side thought, but you seem to be very concerned about getting  third ticket. I would stop focusing on that and focus on the two you have know. Assuming you drive more carefully, you shouldn't get this third ticket. Focus on the issue you've got at hand now instead of what you could get later.

Good luck!

J&K10910

There is NO way for you to know if the light turned red or not while you were driving through it.  There is a point where you cannot see any of the signals going in your direction when you're still not safely clear of the intersection.

I agree with NCSU.  Stop obsessing about getting a third ticket like it's inevitable, and start using your head and driving a little more carefully so you DON'T get a third ticket.  You're acting like you have no control over it, when in reality, you have all the control. 

I haven't gotten a ticket since I was 16.  I don't think it's because I'm lucky, I think it's because I'm a good driver that pays attention when I drive. 

NcsuPsych

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:c2e01bb8-784c-4d0d-93ef-4306b0dde90c">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: ugh, traffic tickets : To add to what NCSU said, a lot of lights have cameras now.  I wouldn't want to run the risk of arguing I didn't do something when you already have 1 ticket when there might be proof to prove the opposite of what you're saying.
Posted by edielaura[/QUOTE]

Not to mention that the cops dashboard camera could have been rolling which would have caught the color of her light vs your light OP.

crash2729

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:fe064d65-73fd-454a-b2fc-71d70782fa63">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: ugh, traffic tickets : Thanks, I know if I get a third ticket, there's no chance. It isn't even done by a judge, the computer system will suspend your license. I've done my research tonight, but this was my second ticket and the light never turned red while I was under it. <strong>Just wondeing my chances of fighting this one</strong>
Posted by tmeyer621[/QUOTE]
I think your chances are better of not getting a third ticket.

NeedWeddingFavors

What is the worst thing that could happen if you contest the ticket? You have two on your record and you are out the court fee.

Regardless of whether you get this ticket reversed, you CANNOT get a third ticket.

WaffleyGoodness

I feel for you. Yellow lights are tricky because people usually panic as to if they should go or not... if you stop the car behind you may hit you assuming you'd speed up but if you go the light may turn red...

I read an article stating if yellow lights were just one second longer this would reduce the problem...

Sorry I don't help much...

J&K10910

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_ugh-traffic-tickets?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:f88e119c-98bb-462f-814a-a59f58916773Post:7bbb7243-2cf4-41ec-901c-c6c9f05c1fd8">Re: ugh, traffic tickets</a>:
[QUOTE]You should definitelly look into securing a attorney as Ncsu said if you have the time, money and it is that important to you. If you don't, you should definitely contest it anyways as the officer, lawyer, whoever doesn't show like Lucy said. You also should look over the ticket very carefully. <strong>If anything is incorrect on it, which happens occasionally, it should be dismissed automatically. </strong>Not matter what listen to everyone and please pay more attention on the road.
Posted by tiffad[/QUOTE]

I hate that.  I think it's such bull to let people out of a ticket on a technicality.

KelaRenee

I don't know about Illinois, but in Texas if you are in the intersection before the light turns red you didn't run it.  I'd fight it.