Long story short, I'm from Louisiana and was going up to visit some friends in the Atlanta/Covington area and got a ticket in Union City.

Most likely I was doing 85 as he said (won't go into the crying game about how I was just keeping up with traffic, end of the month quotas, waaa waa waa).

I'd like to plea bargain or see if I can get the ticket reduced or something but the ticket office said that any sort of contest requires me to be up there or have representation. I certainly can't drive another 8 hours to get there to see what can happen.

Fine will be about $250 and ticket says I was doing 85 in a 65 (when the cop approached me he said it was a 70 mph area, and I honestly think that once he saw that my tags and license were from out of state I was bilked another 5 mph).

Anyone have some good contacts?

Well I know for sure there arent any 65mph areas in Union City.

it's 65mph from hwy 74 exit all the way up to I-285 what are you talkin about no 65?

BELOW the exit for hwy 74 about a mile south of it it jumps up to 70 (Not that I pay much attention them, after all it's a 'suggested' speed limit. heheh) Right Mark? :evil2

I didnt realize it was 65 there, I will pay closer attention when I cruise at 90.

I didnt realize it was 65 there, I will pay closer attention when I cruise at 90.


Just have your V1 set to sensitive and bump your speed up 50mph and you should be fine....(If not you had fun!)

:redspot

Call the Clerk of the Court for Union City (not sure what county that is). When he or she answers tell them you are calling about a recent ticket, you're from out of town, don't know what the process is. Let them talk, then ask if they think the Judge would accept a plea of no lo contendre (sp?) since you'd prefer your insurance rating and points not to be affected. Wait for an answer. Like the other guy wrote, you may have to appear but might be worth it to keep the points off your license and your insurance reasonable.

Good luck!

Sometimes the court will reduce the charge (85 in a 75 rather than 85 in 65) in favor of a higher fine. Worked for me in Worth Co. (Poulan, GA) about a month ago.

A no lo plea has nothing to do with his insurance rates from not going up. The no lo plea will give him 0 points on his license for that ticket but the ticket will still get reported showing 0 points for the violation. Insurance company could careless if you got a speeding ticket for 0 points. They will still see the ticket for XX speeding over the limit and raise the rates.

I think the number on the ticket is for the clerk of courts, correct? If so, my wife called them from her State Police office in Louisiana (she's a civilian employee of the state) and asked about what she could do. "We do not allow phone calls or correspondence regarding tickets. You will need to report for your court date if you have anything that needs to be addressed."

Can we speak to the judge?
"We do not allow phone calls or correspondence regarding tickets. You will need to report for your court date if you have anything that needs to be addressed."

How about a letter?
"We do not allow phone calls or correspondence regarding tickets. You will need to report for your court date if you have anything that needs to be addressed."

Can we speak with the prosecuting attorney or anyone?
"We do not allow phone calls or correspondence regarding tickets. You will need to report for your court date if you have anything that needs to be addressed."


I also called my insurance provider USAA and asked about rates going up. They said that they adjust rates according to how many points the state assigns to the infraction.

7 Let them talk, then ask if they think the Judge would accept a plea of no lo contendre (sp?) since you'd prefer your insurance rating and points not to be affected.

I didn't think you could plea no-lo for a speeding ticket? :dunno

Dude...hate to say it your screwed. Pay your fine move on. Oh and not sure how you got off so cheap but 23 over cost me almost 500.00 back last year. If you decide to show up the judge there (female) doesn't give a shit. She point blank told us all plead guilty, not-guilty or No-Lo she doesn't want to hear any excuses. She further went to state:

If you plead Guilty you'll pay full fine, plus a court fee and be on your way the soonest.
If you plead Nolo AND you haven't had a ticket in awhile then you'd pay 1/2 of the fine and no points and be on your way. If you had recent tickets or many tickets, wreckless driving, speeds over 30mph then she would not accept your plea of nolo and you'd need to decide guilty or not guilty.
IF you plead not guilty...you'll be here till almost closing time as we'll take your pleas last and arrange a court date for you in downtown atlanta at the fulton courthouse.

they then rollcalled and as you said your name you gave your plea.....

So...that's it dude....the good ol innocent till guilty, now pay up we need more toys system.

I disagree with some of these folks. Find an attorney in the area who does traffic citations and hire him. He probably knows the judge and/or the officer and can work out a plea deal. The thing to remember is that, for the most part, jurisdictions only care about the money. I have hired local attorneys twice in the past two years and I got two 90+ tickets reduced to equipment violations. I had to pay a hefty fine both times, but they became non-moving violations and I have no points and they won't show up on my insurance. I have to add that both times I paid amost double what the speeding fine would have been (plus attorneys fees). But if you do the math, it works out to your advantage.

And I'm not just suggesting this because I'm an attorney, because I couldn't care less what other attorneys collect in fees.

I didn't think you could plea no-lo for a speeding ticket? :dunno

You can plead Nolo to a speeding ticket. I think there is a limit on how fast you were going though.




I also called my insurance provider USAA and asked about rates going up. They said that they adjust rates according to how many points the state assigns to the infraction.

It's at the discretion of your insurance company then. You are lucky then.



What is a “NoLo” plea?

“NoLo” means “No Contest”. This plea means you are not pleading “Guilty” or “Not Guilty”. You are allowed to enter a “NoLo” plea once every 5 years in the state of Georgia. The charge will be sent in to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety, but you will not receive any points on your driver’s license.


If I plead “NoLo”, will it affect my insurance?

We do not report anything to your insurance company. Your insurance company has the right to review your driver’s history and will see that you were issued a citation. The “NoLo” plea does not keep the citation off of your record; it just keeps the points off of your license. It’s up to your insurance company as to how it affects your policy.

http://www.duluthpd.com/ol/court/court_faq.htm#3

Is there a way to keep the citation off of my driving record?

Only a ticket that is dismissed in court by the Judge will not go on your record.
For speeding offenses, you can come to court and request a “Speed Reduction”. This is granted by the Judge and it involves the Judge reducing your alleged speed to 14mph over the posted speed limit. A speeding offense that is 14mph (or less) over the speed limit does not get reported to the Department of Motor Vehicle Safety and therefore does not go on your record. Speed reductions are granted at the discretion of the Judge.

http://www.duluthpd.com/ol/court/court_faq.htm#4

I don't think NoLo works like most of us think it does. Well especially if you have Progressive Insurance. I got an 80 in a 55, first ticket I had had in years, many years. So I went to court, they gave us the same line about NoLo and I went for it, When it comes time to renew insurance mine went up $600 a year with no other claims or tickets. I call Progressive and they verify no points on my license but it shows the ticket so THEY award the points.
It's time now for that ticket to drop so I'll be shopping for other insurance soon..

I don't think NoLo works like most of us think it does. Well especially if you have Progressive Insurance. I got an 80 in a 55, first ticket I had had in years, many years. So I went to court, they gave us the same line about NoLo and I went for it, When it comes time to renew insurance mine went up $600 a year with no other claims or tickets. I call Progressive and they verify no points on my license but it shows the ticket so THEY award the points.
It's time now for that ticket to drop so I'll be shopping for other insurance soon..

I posted above about No Lo and it is at the discretion on the insurance company, if they are gonna jack up the rates. I had Progressive also years ago and they raised mine as well when I took a defensive driving class to get the points reduced and did a No Lo plea. They didn't care.

Didn't read the whole thing you posted.