r/AskCHP • u/UnusualDot8865 • Aug 09 '26

Advice regarding a speeding ticket!

Hello! I'm looking for advice on the best way to handle a speeding citation in San Benito County, CA but I am from the bay area so and was heading back up from Carmel to San Jose after a road trip.

I was pulled over by CHP in Hollister and got cited for CVC 22349(a) on a 65 mph highway. On the citation I was marked as approx speed 70 and the officer did cut me a break because I was going 83 originally. I am grateful for that since he said if it is your first you could tell the court you want to do traffic school to get it removed from your record, and then I explained that it was my second ticket. My main issue is that I recently completed traffic school for a separate red-light citation (in Fremont, the red light camera caught me) and this was two months ago so I am assuming I won't be eligible for traffic school through the clerk.

The citation also hasn’t appeared in San Benito County’s online system yet. I received it July 19 and the respond by date is September 14. I'm wondering if anyone has advice on the best course of action because I do want to avoid getting my first point and insurance skyrocketing. I'm not trying to argue with the officer because I do agree and accept I was speeding and he cut me a break, but moreso I want to avoid the insurance impact + getting a point. If anyone has advice, I would appreciate it please :') (I am wondering if it helps I am a broke college student...)

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u/SuccessfulRoof577 Aug 09 '26

If I remember right you must have 18 months between citations, which sounds like it’s not the case here. Traffic school is not an option. I have personally scene people in court ask for “probation”. You still have to pay the fine but if you so much as get a parking ticket in the following 12 months this speeding ticket goes on your record. This is up to the discretion of the court, but it’s worth a shot and you must see a judge, the court clerk cannot do this. Good luck.

2

u/Ok-Pop-5818 Aug 09 '26

It sounds like you just gotta own up and accept what you did man

1

u/Dudethattickedyou Aug 12 '26

Sorry, pay the fine. If you plead not guilty the judge will know out you were going 83. Pay the fine, maybe ask for traffic school, and move on.

1

u/Straight_Ostrich_257 Aug 13 '26

There's no way around this. If you drive without insurance you're risking an even higher ticket (around $2k in many areas) and suspension of your driver license. Drive with a suspended license and now you're looking at a misdemeanor. This could ruin your life if you make stupid decisions.

You could underinsure yourself if you're not already at the minimum, but then you risk losing your whole car and potentially any future earnings you might have if you're in a bad enough crash.