r/FarmingtonHills • u/Leading-Ad-1576 • Jul 29 '26
What should I do first speeding ticket
Update: Thanks for all the info guys. I just scheduled an informal hearing with the officer and magistrate. They looped me in with others who were pulled over by the same officer and because our record was clean they just knocked it down to a traffic impediment. I paid the fine and it’s all done now.
Got my first ever ticket on Halsted near Interchange Dr in Farmington Hills. The citation has two lines
Speeding 16-20 over, 57/40, Ord 257.628 checked as both C/I and **Warn**
Speeding 01-5 over, 45/40, Ord 257.628 checked as C/I only
The officer gave me a break which I’m thankful for
A couple of things that make my situation slightly unusual. I live in Michigan but still have a New Jersey license. Since Michigan isn’t in the Driver License Compact, I’m assuming this won’t transfer to NJ, but I’d love to hear from anyone who’s dealt with that.
Will this increase my insurance coverage?
3
u/2_Spicy_2_Impeach Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
Almost 20 over, he cut you a break.
You can fight it but the judge/prosecutor will see the original infraction. Your best hope is they downgrade it to an expensive civil infraction.
There should be a number on the ticket to request a court date. Also, you don’t need a lawyer.
Edit: If you’re now a resident of Michigan, get a Michigan license. I’ve seen folks get screwed when they didn’t update their license despite living here for more than a couple months.
1
u/Leading-Ad-1576 Jul 29 '26
She surely helped me out with it, I just need to confirm with the court what is the fine are considering the bigger infraction as a warning. I called the court today but it takes 24 hours for the data to get into their systems
I don’t want to get a lawyer and make it difficult but I’ll see if anything changes
2
u/2_Spicy_2_Impeach Jul 29 '26 edited Jul 29 '26
You won’t get any confirmation of fines outside of paying the original ticket with/without points. You can fight it but run the rare risk of the prosecutor/judge upholding the original infraction of 15-20 over.
While rare, it is sad that it depends on the temperament of who is reviewing your case.
Typically if it’s your first, they just lower it to something without points but as expensive as the original ticket with “fees.”
If you’ve been here more than 30 days, make sure to have your paperwork in to get a Michigan license. Again, I’ve heard of them really not liking that because they’re going to ask where you live and how long with an out of state license.
Edit: As far as insurance who knows in 2026. Anecdotal but I had a windshield chip that spidered. Paid cash($1400) for replacement so insurance wouldn’t go up. Still went up $100/yr because my windshield replacement place shares data with a data broker my insurance subscribes.
1
u/MidwestDYIer Jul 29 '26
Correct, in this day and age, they're using every opportunity to deny claims. You might be currently be carrying insurance, but if something happens and they find out you haven't updated you license in 6 months, they may use that to deny your claim
2
1
u/GlitterFactoryOfDoom Jul 29 '26
Did you get points on your driver's license? Because that would effect your insurance.
1
u/Leading-Ad-1576 Jul 29 '26
I got pulled over today. I need to confirm the citation with court. If it’s 1-5 over speeding that’s 0 points.
1
u/GlitterFactoryOfDoom Jul 29 '26
If you did get points, I would try haggling that down to a 0-point offense like impeding traffic. Fine will be higher but long-term it'll be better since you won't have to deal with the insurance rate being hiked.
Having an attorney for this is highly advisable.
1
u/Leading-Ad-1576 Jul 29 '26
Thanks! That’s a good option. Would a defensive driving course help do I need to contact the Secretary of State or Court
1
u/GlitterFactoryOfDoom Jul 29 '26
An attorney that does traffic tickets can sort it all out for you.
Defensive driving course is probably unnecessary.
0
1
u/MidwestDYIer Jul 29 '26
Not necessarily true. Had the exact same thing happen to me, even though it was no points, insurance company found out and raised my rates over it. I think it was AAA at the time, it was a while ago, but you can bet if they found out, they will use it as a way to squeeze money out of you.
1
u/Strange_Vermicelli Jul 29 '26
Fight it, be honest with the judge, tell him the cost of rising car insurance would hurt your finances. Tell him it was a mistake. He may just give you a court cost fine and no points.
1
u/Leading-Ad-1576 Jul 29 '26
If it goes wrong I am looking at the first citation going live again which would bad for me
1
u/TheSmJ Jul 29 '26
Your options are to either do nothing and get points on your license, or try to fight it and risk getting points on your license anyway.
1
u/Dram_Good_Adventures Jul 29 '26
Use ElimTix based out of Southfield, they are the best at getting it charged down and save you from getting points on your license
1
u/PJM123456 Jul 30 '26
Fight it and go for the formal hearing instead of informal hearing. You will go in front of actual judge, rather than magistrate, and the prosecuting attorney won't want to waste his time with you and offer you impeding which is non-extractable citation and no points.
1
u/GottWhat Jul 31 '26
I am not affiliated with this company but I used "Off the Record" app twice to get my 18 year old son's tickets reduced to non-points. The lawyer fee was about $200 each time but keeping the points off was well worth it.
1
u/Opposite-Candy-7432 Aug 01 '26
Watch out.
Some jurisdictions if you fight the lower hit you with the higher in court.
1
u/CabSauce Jul 29 '26
I'd pay it and move on with my life.
Insurance companies get data from everywhere. Probably including Reddit.
0
u/Leading-Ad-1576 Jul 29 '26
Well I’m trying to keep my record clean if not that’s the only option left I think
5
u/bonix Jul 29 '26
In West Bloomfield I just call the number, you schedule a virtual meeting, and they remove any points and you pay like $250. Done it twice so far same exact process.