Connecticut Stop Sign Infraction

[lucyscap]

My 18 year old son received a ticket tonight for $124 for going through a stop sign. It was dark,raining and he was on a cloverleaf type of intersection that he was unfamiliar with. He said he never even saw the stop sign. He's had his license for 6 mos. and his driving record is clean. Option is to pay fine or plead not guilty and get a court date. Concerned about points on license and insurance premium increase. Any ideas, options, advice as to which direction to go here? Can this be mitigated?
Thanks from a Mom....What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[I_Got_Banned]

It was dark,raining and he was on a cloverleaf type of intersection that he was unfamiliar with. He said he never even saw the stop sign.

Unfortunately, I highly doubt that any of those reasons will present a valid reason to be found not guilty. In fact, "dark and raining" should prompt any driver, even a more experienced one to be a bit more attentive and cautious...

He's had his license for 6 mos. and his driving record is clean.

With all due respect, Ma'am... How many infractions/violations should he be allowed in 6 months of driving?

Option is to pay fine or plead not guilty and get a court date. Concerned about points on license...

It doesn't look like he has the option of going to traffic school to either reduce or remove the points associated with a violation in Connecticut. If he pleads not guilty, and considering the fact that he has a pretty weak defense if any, he's running the risk of having court costs added to the fine amount. Tough choice but it looks like paying the fine will be the least costly... Although...

Concerned about ... insurance premium increase.

Considering the fact that he just got his license, my guess is that a moving violation might have some impact upon the premium rates he will pay if he's on his own policy or on your rates if he's on your policy.
How soon will it show any effect, if any? & how much of an impact?
It varies from insurer to the other and from one policy to the next... Too many variables to consider... Your agent might be able to offer a better answer than what you will get here.

There might be other options... hopefully you will get more responses.

 

[LSCAP]

Yes. Check with your agent about how it effects your rate. (and please don’t say you have one of those two crummy outfits that advertise a lot and don’t have agents)
I’m not an agent. And my agent has been a lot of help.
Driver’s Ed might be able to tell you about teenage laws that take the license away.
(I can’t think of anyone I’d trust to really know about the laws on teenage drivers.)

Usually you can go to court, ask the DA for a break, and if you can’t get a better deal than guilty of a moving violation, you can ask for a postponement and get a lawyer.
(The local municipality wants money. So sometimes the DA will offer less, and they still get court costs.)
If he will lose his license, or because of the increase in your insurance, I’d suggest a local attorney who can promise better results than a moving violation. Some town like to keep the local lawyers working. (I think that’s better all around)

Larry
To I_Got_ Banned. RE; “Impact” My blasted company must have back dated something. For one month my monthly premium went from $200.00 to $800.00 and BTW that was my (begging) plea to the DA. Like, who can afford it? I can’t.

Ten percent of all accidents involve people (of any age) with less than three years experience. So, we don’t teach the kids well enough and just take their license away so they can’t get the experience. (??)