Speeding Ticket! Please Help

I was pulled over on Rt. 64 right outside of Newport News, VA. I was on a business trip driving a company car. I live in MD; it was about a three to four hour ride when I got pulled over. Traffic was thick and moving fast. I was exceeding the speed limit at 77 in a 60 by laser/radar. I was clearly speeding and take full responsibility. I am concerned about the points on my license; I believe it is a 2 point violation that transfers state to state. I need to have 0 points on my license for my job, as I drive a work van for my company. The court date is March 19, 2009. Is it possible to get the points removed? Should I even show up for the court date or just pay the fines and take the points?

What you are asking is not really a legal question per se, but a judgment call.

If you need to have no points on your license then you have no choice but to go to court and contest it. If you DON'T go to court and just pay the fine, you will lose your job, right?

No one can tell you if it is possible to have the points removed---it all depends on a lot of things--the judge, if the cop shows up to court, etc.

If your job is at stake, it is certianly worth a try and the fact you made an effort to appear may bode well in your favor.

Well, Grace... who has never been ticketed... go find something you know how to do.

Just about every state has a driver improvement program. Call the county circuit clerk in that state where you were ticketed and ask if they have a driver training/ improvement program where you can take a course... even in your home location but submit to them so you can have your record cleared. Get all the particulars. They will have to mail you the information and you will have to pay the fine, but generally it is just an administrative task... NOT A COURTROOM show issue.

They will add BOTH tickets if you get ticketed again in that state.

OBTW. Speeding is usually 3 points.

Perhaps it would be advantageous for you to READ the posting.

HE didn't ask how to have the points REMOVED. HE asked if he could avoid them, or should he pay the fine.

Get his record cleared?? HE hasn't been to court yet to be FOUND guilty. Why does he need his record cleared? He doesn't HAVE one yet. You are answering a fictional question he NEVER asked.

AND you are telling him he has to pay a fine. Huh? If he goes to court and can prove the case against him is not beyond a reasonable doubt, he has to pay NO fine.

I have never robbed, murdered, or shoplifted. That doesn't mean I don't know what happens when you do.

And, you are disseminating incorrect information.

In Virginia, it is a 4 point violation but since the poster lives in Maryland he is bound by their law, (2 points) even if the ticket was in VA. Of course, don't take my word for it. Look it up.
I was ticketed for speeding in Virginia, 40 in a 25 zone?

In Virginia going 15 mph over the speed limit can be considered reckless driving and is a 4 point violation that would stay on a VA driving record for 5 years. In Maryland a speeding ticket for going in excess of 10 mph over the posted speed is 2 points. Just so you can see the difference in what the different states points systems are.
Maryland and Virginia are members of a Drivers License Compact (DLC) which allows violations to be transferred back to your home state's DMV, so in your case to the MD Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). According to the Maryland Driver's Handbook convictions reported from other DLC member states are treated in the same manner as if the offenses occurred in Maryland.

It has been said that under Maryland traffic statutes, points are not ordinarily transferable for out of state citations unless it is serious offense, but you will need to verify this by contacting the MVA. While points may not be assessed to your MD driving record, the MD handbook does confirm that moving violations from other states will be recorded on your Maryland Driving Record.

If points are assigned, they will remain on your driving record for two years; however the violation itself remains on the driving record. If you have more questions you should try contacting the MD MVA. If you find them not to be of help the MD Driver's handbook or the website for district courts can be helpful. The MSD district court's traffic website is www.courts.state.md.us/distrtict/selfhelp/traffic.html.


And, what you meant as a slur is actually a compliment.

You are correct. When I get behind the wheel of the beautiful sports vehicles that I lovingly maintain, I do so with the utmost respect, and am in awe of their performance and their incredible power. Mock me for being a careful conscientious driver that sees to the wellbeing of those who travel with me, as well as other drivers on the road? Ummm, 'kay. If it makes ya feel better. (head tilt!??)

The way I drive keeps people ALIVE. And it also lets me afford some of the hottest and fastest performance cars in the upstate.

Mock away, foolish one. And, if you took the time to research your answers before firing away at me, you might actually benefit the posters who are here to find help.

He stands about a 99% chance of being convicted if he goes to court. This way he ends up with no points and it is all an administrative issue, he doesn't even have to go to court.

This is a normal process that each state has set up to avoid having so many drivers unable to drive legally. Any driver can go to the circuit court clerk and ask for the driver improvement program. The judge COULD say no, but it is unlikely until the speed is well above 80mph.

The point of getting into this program is that you must pay the fine for the violation you were ticketed for and then you must pay for the class and send them your "graduation" papers.... but you might at least be able to get the class in your home state.

Then what you get is NO points.

Not to worry, my little hate mongering friend.

I did your research for you.

The class to which you refer is called DIP. *drivers improvement program*.

Unfortunately, DIP is NOT an option in lieu of points --not sure where you got the idea "school = no points". SCHOOL can equal LESS points in some jurisdictions, but not in THIS one. In NO jurisdictions does SCHOOL = NO POINTS, only a possible REMOVAL of points AFTER the defendant pleads GUILTY.

AND here if the real kick in the --well, yanno......... the POINTS STILL STAY on their record (in the posters state, anyway).

Don't take my word for it--of course. Read on:

Maryland does not permit you to go to a traffic school (or attend a class focused on defensive-driving techniques) and have points (or a traffic violation) taken off your license.Maryland Traffic Schools Online Guide - Find MD Internet Traffic Ticket School Info - DMV.ORG


Driver Improvement Program - Widmyer Driving School
Does taking the DIP remove points from my Maryland driving record?

No, not in the State of Maryland. Points will remain active on your driving record for 2 years from the date of your violation.

So, as I stated, he should GO to court---argue his case. There is a possibility he may be found not guilty--it does happen. (Not often, but it does happen). The cop may not show up, any number of things can happen AND most importantly, it will show the judge he cared enough to SHOW UP.

AND the worst that can happen is he loses the case and get points on his license. If he DOESN'T go to court, the worst that can happen is, well........the same.

Feel free to research a link for a school that lets you attend INSTEAD of getting points. You won't find one. Some allow you to REDUCE points AFTER you pled guilty, but NONE allow you to go instead of pleading guilty. The point of the class is POINT REMOVAL, not point avoidance. AND, unfortunately for this poster you told him incorrectly. His state does not offer the possibility of even having points REMOVED.

He has nothing to lose by going to court and showing he cared enough to show up.

Perhaps if you focused some of that vehemence into research instead of shoveling it my direction, you may actually be able to provide a remotely accurate answer.

He was speeding in Virginia. So it looks like he will have to take the class in Virginia. The points won't even be transferred to Maryland. Read up on it.

*eyebrow arch*

REALLY? LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Show us where the "points won't even be transferred to Maryland". Not only did I READ up on it, I ALREADY POSTED WHERE THE STATE OF MARYLAND SAYS THAT THEY DO TRANSFER.

You are arguing with my postings without even READING them now?? I feel so---*sniff sniff* HURT (not really!!)

If you had read MY posting, you would have known how incorrect you are ( no surprise there).

QUOTE from my PREVIOUS posting:
Maryland and Virginia are members of a Drivers License Compact (DLC) which allows violations to be transferred back to your home state's DMV, so in your case to the MD Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). According to the Maryland Driver's Handbook convictions reported from other DLC member states are treated in the same manner as if the offenses occurred in Maryland.www.courts.state.md.us/distrtict/selfhelp/traffic.html.

Say that part again? The part about the points NOT transferring? Tell me that part again. I LOVE that part.

SNORT.

Arrogance ONLY works when you are RIGHT.

Shame---at this rate, you will NEVER know how that feels! ROFLMAO!

That is interesting, but the central states also have such a pact, and I have never received any of those points...

Poster should check with the Virginia county's circuit court clerk on this to be sure of whether the points are passed or not. Don't let Grace's ego make this decision to go to court into a sure conviction. All you have to do is ASK.

Pfffttttttttt......... shame on you. Fabricating "experiences" from your own driving shortcomings and offering THAT as substantive 'advice' in juxtaposition to the states own website that says the contrary.

Forty plus states are part of the Driver's License Compact (DLC) that means licensing authorities of the member states share driver license information.

Beyond the DLC there is also the Problem Driver Pointer System (PDPS) that searches the National Driver Register (NDR), a central database of information. All 50 states and DC participate in the NDR.

So your 'understanding' of what happened when YOU received a ticket is, most assuredly, flawed and should not be the basis for this posters decision.

I did not manufacture that information--I RESEARCHED IT from exactly where you are telling him to GO. AND clerk of COURTS do not routinely have every law MEMORIZED.

It has nothing to do with my EGO. Ask a circuit court clerk for information? Rest your decision on what a part time clerk THINKS???There IS no better source of information then the WEB SITE for the jurisdiction in question.

And in any regard, HE STILL HAS TO GO TO COURT. THESE classes are NEVER in lieu of points. In those jurisdictions where classes ARE allowed, and available to REDUCE POINTS, you pled GUILTY first THEN go to class. WHERE did you get the idea he DIDN'T have to go to court, but could take a class INSTEAD?? HE HAS TO GO TO COURT ----if he does not, he is found guilty AUTOMATICALLY. AND in some jurisdictions, he can take the class AFTER he is found guilty, but not in HIS jurisdictions.

The ONLY chance, even if it IS small, that he HAS of getting OUT of the ticket completely with NO points is to GO TO COURT.

I am really shocked you would tell this guy to NOT BOTHER going to court. Eh, don't bother. Grace has an ego.

YOU are very foolish. This isn't about YOUR ego, and it certainly isn't about MINE. YOU are wrong in the information you presented in this thread---not because I SAID so, but because I PROVIDED the information directly from the web site of the jurisdiction in question. Yet you tell the guy STILL don't go to court.

You have no shame.........spouting off answers without a thought of looking them up to see if they are accurate--one wrong statement after another, yada yada. Your final stand is, "Eh, Grace has an ego".

YOU want desperately to be RIGHT. But not enough to take the TIME and make the EFFORT to be right--you are too busy "GRACE" this and "GRACE" that.

I have a RESPONSIBILITY to be RIGHT because someone may make a decision based on the information I provide.

You can bet every word of your fictional rhetoric I MAKE SURE I'm right. AND I don't make it up as I go along--I LOOK IT UP. Being accurate, being right isn't about ego. It's about conscience, realizing people reading this are depending on me to tell them the truth.

So I do. AND I show them where THEY can read it for themselves.

YOU READ proof in front of you and STILL deny it.

To refuse to avail yourself of valid information because I am the one who posted it really is cutting off your nose to spite your face. You aren't hurting me---only yourself.

Stay hungry, stay foolish.