Driving on the berm

hnandrew · #1 03-03-2005, 03:10 PM

What is the name of your state? Ohio

Right so i got my first ticket, hooray. I'm 19, male, was pulled over by an ohio state trooper, i'm white and I drive a 96 ford aspire as far as demographics go

traffic wasn't moving, and i was really close to where i needed to be, so i took a little trip on the berm to get there. then, a state trooper who apparently was behind me whipped out of her lane and followed me there and pulled me over.

i was polite, i said thank you, i had my stuff ready by the time the trooper was at my window.

this is my first violation ever, it's a $110 fine.

Do any of you all think I have a chance in court to get on the probationary-if-you're-good-for-a-year-you-dont-get-your-insurance-screwed plan or something? I'm just afraid that if the judge goes like, you're an idiot, pay the fine, that i'll have to pay another $100 in court fees. Being a starving college student I haven't got that kind of money.

Should I just pay the fine and the insurance and be done with it, or risk going to court?

Matymat · #2 03-03-2005, 03:20 PM

Bro you have nothing to worry about. I dont mean to make light of situation but you should not worry about a thing. Pay the ticket do not go to court, you will have to pay court fees like you said, and the judge will think your wasting his time (as you have admitted your guilt). Chances are for something like this your insurance wont change, if it does it would be very very minamal....

hnandrew · #3 03-03-2005, 03:22 PM

hmmm, alright. better save up my lunch money for the insurance hike then

thanks

Matymat · #4 03-03-2005, 04:02 PM

You will be alright...heck if you were in Fairfax VA (from my observations in traffic court) they give you a fine and add on about 10 dollars per car you pass....I saw some people that passed 2 cars other that passed like 25 cars....same point allocation, different fine....
Your in College, eat lunch...dont drink...it is said college students spend over 5 billion on drinks each year and the average student spends more on beer then on text books and school supplies...Just remember its just as easy to hook up with a drunk girl when your sober lol

#5 03-03-2005, 05:12 PM

Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

Dress professionally in clean clothes.

Do not wear message shirts.

Don't chew gum, smoke, or eat.

Bathe and wash your hair.

Go to court beforehand some day before you actually have to go to watch how things go.

Speak politely and deferentially. If you argue or dispute something, do it professionally and without emotion.

Ask the court clerk who you talk to about a diversion (meaning you want to plead to a different, lesser charge), if applicable in your situation.

Here are five stories that criminal court judges hear the most (and I suggest you do not use them or variations of them):

1. I’ve been saved! (This is not religion specific; folks from all kinds of religious backgrounds use this one.)

2. My girlfriend/mother/sister/daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job in [name a state five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this.

5. You’ve got the wrong guy. (A variation of this one is the phantom defendant story: “It wasn’t me driving, it was a hitchhiker I picked up. He wrecked the car, drug me behind the wheel then took off.”)

[url]http://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687[/url]

Other people may give you other advice; stand by.

hnandrew · #6 03-04-2005, 08:36 PM

paid it

if i make a 3.0 this semester the good student discount'll be enough to cancel out the hike.. if this gave me points at all, i know with speeding in ohio, you have to be going pretty fast or they dont bother giving points.