traveling fast for conditions

[g0_sc00ter]

Connecticut

I received a ticket today about 4:10 AM (dim lighting, some snow (snowed a couple of days back) and light traffic). I was

pulled over by the cop and he said that he recorded 80+ mph at some point (I am not really sure about this as i was not

paying attention to the speedo). However I was driving at 75 when he pulled me over. I was given an infraction (14-218a)

which said too fast for conditions. Now i have some queries..

1) How many points will i get ? Is there anyway i can avoid the points (Some sites say that i wont gain any points for

speeding if i plead guilty. It also says that if i just pay for the ticket, i wont get any points. Is that true ?)

2) This is my first ever ticket. Should i plead not-guilty ? What are my chances and what are the consequences if i am proven

guilty.

3) Under the "race" column in the ticket, the officer marked me "w". Does that mean "white" ? (because im not and does it

have any bearing at all if i contend ?!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a ton in advance.

[sukharev]

I don't live in CT, so cannot be certain about the consequences, but here is my take on it.

Officer gave you a HUGE favor, by not specifying speed excess. You may still take it to court, and negotiate with DA to lower down the fine, or even possibly reduce to a non-moving violation. Plead guilty. Pay fine.

Call your insurance to find out what effect your ticket may have on your points. Find some answers here: [url]http://www.jud.state.ct.us/faq/traffic.html[/url]

Surprizingly, it states: "If you make your payment in full and your case disposes at the Centralized Infractions Bureau, no points will be assessed by the Department of Motor Vehicles against your driver's license, however it will appear on your driving history."

Not sure if insurance would care about points, or violation on your record. Again, call them to find out for sure.

[xylene]

Originally Posted by sukharev

Surprizingly, it states: "If you make your payment in full and your case disposes at the Centralized Infractions Bureau, no points will be assessed by the Department of Motor Vehicles against your driver's license, however it will appear on your driving history."

Not sure if insurance would care about points, or violation on your record. Again, call them to find out for sure.

Insurance companies have their own, often non standard systems, for assigning risk based on violations. Some use a "point" based system to more easily categorize the risk from and definitiuons of offenses from a multitude of jurisdictions. Some insurance companies assess each offense individually.

These insurance calculations are based on the driving history. They are not based on state "point" systems, although state points, along with violations may be used in a calculation of risk. State points are important because they are related to suspension and/or revokation of driving priveledges.

Getting state points can further increase risk (and premiums!)

Not getting state points does NOT mean your risk and premium will not go up. If a violation is recorded on your drivers abstract (history) it is very likely your premiums will go up at renewal, usually irrespective of getting state points or not.

CT's system on state points seems rare. Purely speculating- it seems like a good way (carrot) to get revenue and avoid court costs and police overtime.

[HappyHusband]

Originally Posted by g0_sc00ter

3) Under the "race" column in the ticket, the officer marked me "w". Does that mean "white" ? (because im not and does it have any bearing at all if i contend ?!)

The "W" indicates "whatever" and, right or wrong, it doesn't make any difference.

[xylene]

Originally Posted by HappyHusband

The "W" indicates "whatever" and, right or wrong, it doesn't make any difference.

It doesn't make any difference in the OPs case

The w most likely for white. It is the officers assessment of your race, not what the driver's race 'actually' is. These kind of statistical gathering mechanisms are to satisfy / avoid DOJ investigations of "driving while black".

One error on a ticket- its a clerical mistake or the OP could sincerely be considered white before being pulled over.

Done on many tickets as a pattern of hiding racial motivations- unlikely and still not much of a defense.