Rocka

I got nailed for doing 87 in a 60 but the cop was really nice and reduced it to 10 over and a $40 fine with no points. He pointed out to me that my ticket is marked as reduced and if I decide to take it to court, he would bring up the original offence against me. I have read through many threads and posts with people debating whether or not they should fight this sort of ticket. However, no one has ever said if they had ever successfully fought off such a ticket. So my question is, has anyone ever taken this kind of ticket to court and actually won? Also, what happens if I decide to challenge the ticket and I lose? Do I just end up paying the original fine of $40 on the ticket?

gldwngr

If you challenge the ticket and lose, the JP can convict you on the original 27 kmph over the limit, and you would then end up paying the whole freight, demerit points and $, on the original 27 km over the limit. It's happening more and more these days.

You said it - "the cop was really nice", reducing the ticket to a measely $40 and no points ticket. Take your lumps along with the big break that cop gave you, or get greedy and get the hooves taken to you in court.

Jboy2

I would say just pay it..Cuz that was nice of him to lower it..My cuz got a ticket for speeding and the man lower it and he just payed it cuz it was pretty low....I would say just pay it..

Rocka

Someone told me the worst case scenario if you lose in court is that you'll end up paying the fine written on the ticket and probably some court fees. I just don't see how they can charge you with something other than what is written on the ticket. Wouldn't that make the cop and the justice system corrupt it they charge you with something else? Also, would a traffic ticket fighter be able to get me off the hook completely?

Rocka

BTW, if I plead guilty it would be my second minor ticket within 3 years so getting off completely is what I'm aiming for in order to avoid an insurance hike. I just wanted to see what my odds are.

gldwngr

Look sunshine, take a good look at your ticket. Look at the charge. Look the charge up in the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. The charge is one of speeding, not speeding x km in a y zone, just speeding.

Look some more at your ticket and see the litle box with the handwritten "R" in it. That is the indicator that the cop has issued the ticket for a reduced speed and not what was actually clocked.

Now look some more, only this time look at the set fine out of ocurt settlement box. This is exactly what it is - an "out-of-court" settlement.

If you decide to go to court, it all goes back to square one. Your original speed, which will be in the cop's notes, will be entered into evidence. The circumstances of your being pulled over gets entered. You being informed that the ticket issued is reduced from the actual speed will be read into evidence.

It's all quite legal, nothing corrupt about it. You'll still be convicted for speeding, only now the fine and demerit points can be issued according to your original speed.

You can go hire aticket fighet if you want, but let's be realistic. You're going to risk several hundred dollars in fees to fight a $40 ticket with no guarantee of success in getting off completely?

Never mind - you're being greedy now. Hire the most expensive ticket fighter you can. Then come back in a few months and whine about the outcome.

Odds are slim to slimmer.

Even the ticket fighters consider "success" to mean getting a conviction for a lessor speed with fewer demerit points and lower fine. How much lower do youi think you can go compared to what you've already been given as a gift?

You want advice? Slow down.

Rocka

I was just going with the flow of traffic but he decided to nab me only so speed is not the issue here. If I did slow down the other drivers would be swerving around changing lanes to get pass me, which would be even more dangerous. Newayz, I was just wondering if I decided to test my luck and go to court hoping that the officer does not show up but on the trial date I see him there. At that point can I pay my original fine and avoid hitting the stands or is that voided because I decided to fight it?

gldwngr

Nope.

brianb

I ussually fight all tickets (even $40 ones) i get just because I dont want them on my driving record and affecting my insurance. So i suggest you fight the ticket if you have the money to spare.

If I were you I would use a ticket fighter to do it (do not use ex copper they suck). Personally I use I guy (Redline legal services) out in scarbourough who has beat every ticket i have given him so far. But, Goldwngr is right, if you lose your going to be worse off than before cuz they could convict you on the original speed.

Rocka

Has he ever gotten you out of a 10 over ticket that was already reduced? If so, can you please PM me his contact info, Thanks.

Bookm

The moral aspect of fighting a ticket (that has been reduced) has been crushed by the absurd increases in Insurance rates. It is causing good, descent folks to be illegible for jobs in some instances. Ex. I have been trying to hire a guy to our company because he has the skills we've been looking for for years, but have been unable to find (small town). Then we found out our company policy won't let him drive our trucks because he has two lousy speeding tickets! This is HUGE to our company and I doubt we're the only business to be affected.

The fine on the ticket has nothing to do with anything anymore. You have to fight to keep your record clean. The fact is 90% of motorists speed (including 'Winger I'll bet). The difference is Winger will never receive a ticket 'cause he's a cop. I was a passenger in an off-duty officers car a couple years ago. I know the drill. No words are said except, "Have a nice day"... and off we went.

Cops reduce the charge to initiate a "gentlemans" agreement that you won't fight it. If you do, you may leave a bad impression with the judge and suffer the consequences. Nice system, eh!? Tacked on to the fine is a court surcharge. This added charge is meant to pay the court costs of presenting you with a fair trial. By not going to trial, you forfeit this cash to the court, and they didn't even have to do anything to earn it (LMAO).

We have the right to know if the radar gun was properly calibrated. We have the right to know if the radar reading was a secondary confirmation of a visual speed estimate. We have the right to defend ourselves against the "money machine" that men, much smarter than ourselves, have built.

Start charging people with following too close, driving in the wrong lane, failing to use turn signals, etc... and get off the speeders backs. hit the 401 and maybe 1 in 10 is at the speed limit (and probably in the middle lane!). Driving with the flow of traffic IS the safest.

The moral aspect of fighting a ticket (that has been reduced) has been crushed by the absurd increases in Insurance rates. It is causing good, descent folks to be illegible for jobs in some instances. Ex. I have been trying to hire a guy to our company because he has the skills we've been looking for for years, but have been unable to find (small town). Then we found out our company policy won't let him drive our trucks because he has two lousy speeding tickets! This is HUGE to our company and I doubt we're the only business to be affected.

The fine on the ticket has nothing to do with anything anymore. You have to fight to keep your record clean. The fact is 90% of motorists speed (including 'Winger I'll bet). The difference is Winger will never receive a ticket 'cause he's a cop. I was a passenger in an off-duty officers car a couple years ago. I know the drill. The license is pulled from the sleeve in clear view of his badge. No words are said except, "Have a nice day"... and off we went.

Cops reduce the charge to initiate a "gentlemans" agreement that you won't fight it. If you do, you may leave a bad impression with the judge and suffer the consequences. Nice system, eh!? Tacked on to the fine is a court surcharge. This added charge is meant to pay the court costs of presenting you with a fair trial. By not going to trial, you forefeit this cash to the court, and they didn't even have to do anything to earn it (LMAO).

We have the right to know if the radar gun was properly calibrated. We have the right to know if the radar reading was a secondary confirmation of a visual speed estimate. We have the right to defend ourselves against the "money machine" that men, much smarter than ourselves, have built.

Start charging people with following too close, driving in the wrong lane, failing to use turn signals, etc... and get off the speeders backs. hit the 401 and maybe 1 in 10 is at the speed limit (and probably in the middle lane!). Driving with the flow of traffic IS the safest.

nickthespic

my advice would be to just cut your loss and dont try and fight it....The JP could could go back to the original charge. It already says reduced on it so dont bother...

Nebojsa

A friend of mine was doing 140 on the highway got pulled over and the cop reduced his ticket to 130 with like 4 demerit points. He did some research on the internet and found out some info on police radars. I think police radars can catch only three vehicles at a time or something like that. Anyway he went to court, the cop spoke with him about why he would take this to court after he took it easy on him (trying to scare him) but my friend ignored the officer. I can't remember exactly what he told the judge cuz it was a while ago but he ended up winning the case and the ticket was dropped. So there is a chance for you to win, u just gotta know your stuff. Good Luck.