Quote:
Originally Posted by RickRay
I got caught on I-87 in Champlain NY just before crossing the CDN border(500 FT) doing 70 in a 55. First speeding ticket in more than 15 years or so...  No luck for me....I have to sign it and mail it in and then I get the Fine by mail.
Do you think if I went to court it would be better off  |
Quote:
Originally Posted by RickRay
|
UPDATE - I already got a response...what do you think:
Your
ticket is very typical of the one's given out on that part of I-87. The
speed limit does go down from 65 mph to 55 mph in several places and the
state police know exactly where to position themselves to take advantage.
At any rate, the part of the ticket that refers to responding in "48 hours"
is really meaningless. The date you or your attorney need to respond by is
the date at the bottom of the ticket. The ticket is a "4 point" offense in
NYS (11 points in any 18 month period will result in a suspension of your
privilege to drive in NYS, 3 speeding tickets or 2 workzone speeding tickets
in 18 months will result in a revocation of your revocation of your
privilege to drive in NYS). I am assuming the ticket does not say
"workzone" (if it does there is a doubling of fine if you are convicted).
If you were to simply plead guilty as charged it would result in a
substantial fine (probably $250-350). On top of that is whatever damage to
your auto insurance it may cause. Lastly, because NYS and Quebec have a
"driver's license compact" agreement any conviction for speeding in NYS will
be reported to Quebec Ministry of Transportation. As a result, Quebec will
treat a NYS conviction as though it happened in Quebec. In your case this
would mean that "demerit points" would be recorded on your Quebec driving
record.
However, that said with a good driving record there is an excellent chance
that this ticket can be reduced to something that won't have a significant
effect on your insurance. It is possible we can get it reduced to something
that isn't even a moving violation and won't carry any points in either NYS
or Quebec. Worst case it gets reduced to a minor offense that won't carry
any "demerit points" being assigned by Quebec.
Of course, you do have a right to a trial. However, traffic trials are
notoriously one sided due to the fact that the judges (no jury trials for
traffic tickets in NYS) know the officers, usually by their first names, and
believe that the police have not motivation to lie, while the Defendants do.
That may not be very fair, but it is a reality.
If you hire an attorney you do not need to appear in court, the attorney can
appear for you. If you retain my firm we handle all the paperwork,
including notifying the court we represent you, enter a plea of not guilty
on your behalf and provide you with an affidavit that allows me to appear on
your behalf in court. Once the court establishes a "conference date" we
negotiate with the prosecutor (in Clinton County NYS police tickets are
prosecuted by the District Attorney's Office) to obtain the best possible
"plea bargain" that saves you as much money as possible and eliminates or
reduces any damage that might occur to your insurance and Quebec driving
record.
My fee is $365 (US) and covers all services necessary to reach an
advantageous plea bargain. It does not include any fines the court may
impose on a reduced charge.