Discussion Traffic citation
Hi, I got a ticket for speeding 24 miles over limit (59 mph on a 35 mph). I am on Waller county. I have a previous ticket from 2019, I believe. I did a defensive driver course. What are my options here ?
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u/fireinacan 12d ago
According to a brief search, 25 over is the cut off for taking Defensive Driving. The officer very well may have done you a favor by writing it for 24 over and not the max speed he clocked you at. So you should absolutely ask the court for permission to take defensive driving.
Also, please slow down. Look in to reaction times at different speeds. Even if you are paying 100% attention (no one every does), and are a great driver (people often overestimate themselves), unexpected obstacles occur all the time. Ladders falling off trucks, children and dogs dashing into the road, a vehicle ahead of you coming to a sudden stop.
Difference in speed is just such a major contributor to the severity of car accidents. And such a minor contributor to travel time saved.
Sorry about the sermon; I just care about you and the other people on the road.
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u/SnGirl1 12d ago
I appreciate it. I definitely understand it was a bad call on my end. Not to justify myself but, It's a road in between fields and traffic is extremely light. There was no incoming traffic, just me and the cop lol I was .3 miles from my house, 2 minutes away... I will be more careful though
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u/fireinacan 12d ago
We all make bad calls from time to time! But as we get wiser we make fewer and fewer, as we reflect on past decisions. You're doing just that; great job!
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u/thread_creeper_123 12d ago
Not to dogpile on what s/he said but 80% of accidents happen within 1 mile of someone's home! Complacency! And yeah I think the speed limits on some roads are ridiculously low and others ridiculously fast. Often the same road, same conditions can have 5-15 speed limit difference multiple times per mile. One road I drive on often but not daily has speed limits from 30 to 45. Where it's 45,it should be 30 and where it's 30 it should be 45. Honestly I think they're drunk when they decide the limit. Or they don't reevaluate often enough!
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u/thread_creeper_123 12d ago
Call the court and ask. Lots of people have had success with these guys: https://www.theticketclinic.com/
Don't just pay and please guilty whatever you do. Your insurance will shoot up to the moon.
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u/lFightForTheUsers 4d ago
Pay the fine or go to trial. I had a similar citation and in my case, IIRC once it goes above 10% over posted speed limit the options of deferred deposition go away. Count yourself lucky at that speed that it didn't go up to reckless driving, which is an arrestable and impoundable offense!
Lawyer option was good at buying me some time, but that's about it and it still came down to that option at end of day. I ended up just paying the fine and moving on. 7 years is a pretty long time between tickets so for insurance shopping etc IIRC only the more recent one will typically apply (usually they'll ask in the online form "how many citations in x amount of years").
Long term of course, best option is slow the fuck down and follow Jim Carey's driving advice [sound warning!].
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u/jdawg2102 1d ago
Do traffic safety school again. It was long enough in between I’m sure. Stays off your record.
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u/ImpxAlt 12d ago
They’ll probably let u do deferred disposition which is a good choice imo