Just got a ticket, what do I do?

Question

I got my first traffic ticket in 10 yrs. for making an illegal u turn. What are the chances of me talking myself out of fine? Should I even bother to try? From what I understand the sign was recently put up.

Answer 1

Just ask for defensive driving

Answer 2

if you know it was illegal just pay for it

other wise you will end up paying more than you want to with court costs

Answer 3

You can plead not guilty and over something like this, you can win, and the judge will let you off with a warning.  Especially if the sign was new.

Answer 4

Where you located?  

In most cases, you can go to court and plea bargain.  Tell them you'll pay the fine if they reduce the ticket to a Parking Violation ... this way, they get their money and you don't get hit with points and an insurance increase for a moving violation.

If you're in NYC, they don't accept plea bargains.

Answer 5

If there was a sign recently put up, what is your defense? I wasn't paying attention? You made a u-turn where it was posted that u-turns were prohibited. Pay the fine.

Answer 6

If you are guilty, just pay the fine and move on.

Answer 7

just pay the ticket, if you challenge it in court then you may have to pay the court cost as well, so is always cheaper to pay the fine

Answer 8

Just pay it.  By the time you go to the courthouse, sit around with a hundred other people wanting to do the exact same thing, and finally see the judge you could have probably worked long enough to pay for it.