Should I fight my speeding ticket?

Question

Need some legal advice here...

I am a resident of New Jersey, but was given a ticket for speeding this weekend while driving through Pennsylvania. I was told that I was going 88 in a 65mph zone (which to be honest was probably accurate), but the cop said he was letting me off easy b/c he technically could have taken away my license and given me a $300 fine since it was in a construction zone (I guess b/c there were some traffic cones on the side of the road or something). So I ended up with a $171.50 ticket.

How does this work..... If I want to fight the ticket, would I have to go to a court in Pennsylvania? Because I really don't think I can afford to do that since its so far away from my home in NJ. And what would be my chances of actually getting a dismissal/the charges lowered?

Any help would be really appreciated.. this is my first ticket ever and it sucks =(

Answer 1

if you personally show up to fight it, they will reduce your ticket price if you admit you were speeding.

Answer 2

There is a legal term called 'venue' which means the case must be heard in the same jurisdiction as the violation. That means you need to return to PA.

If you do take the case to trial, the judge is going to see you already got a break, and it is quite unlikely he will give you another. Worst case, he can amend the ticket to reflect the original violation. Unless you plan on proving you were not speeding, I don't see where contesting the ticket would be an advantage.

Answer 3

No,

you got off very easy, $171.50 is minimal damages.

Answer 4

Yes, you would have to go to court in PA.

Why would you fight it when you admit that you are guilty and have already gotten a break that you didn't deserve?

You're already getting off way too easy!

A more responsible cop wouldn't have given you such a break.

For 10 or 15 over, maybe but never for 23 over.

"my first ticket ever and it sucks =("

I guess you should have thought of that before you decided to drive like a reckless jackass and endanger everybody else on or near the road!

Answer 5

yeah