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Caught Speeding - What's the Best Path Forward

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  • 02-26-2013, 12:19 PM
    bdepet
    Caught Speeding - What's the Best Path Forward
    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Washington, County: Snohomish, District: South

    I received a speeding ticket Feb 18, 2013 for 74 in a 60. I'm trying to decide if it's worth contesting and have a few questions. The main reason for contesting is to avoid any increase in my insurance rates.

    1. I understand my insurance *may* go up if the insurance company decides to check. Currently, I have all available insurance discounts (safe driver, no accidents, no tickets, low commute miles, over 40). I can't really find anything specific as to how much a single ticket may increase my rates. Is there any good information about how much my insurance may increase with a single speeding ticket and an otherwise clean record? Most of what I've found is rather uncertain, vague and often doom and gloom.

    2. The infraction says I need to respond in 15 days... I assume I can personally take the signed infraction down to the court rather then mailing it? Or does it have to be mailed?

    3. If I check the "Contested Hearing" box then later decide it's not worth the hassle, can I simply pay the fine as long as it's before the hearing date or do I have to show up in court on the date of my hearing?

    4. If I decide to contest and gather discovery information is there anything (in this forum or otherwise on the web) that spells out exactly what I need to request and how? Preferably some kind of fill-in-the-blanks form letter with instructions how to proceed? I did find at least one link in this forum but the link was dead. Any up-to-date links for this info?

    5. The last speeding ticket I received was almost 6 years ago (Apr 2007) and I had it deferred. Is the deferred finding process a strict 7 years or does the court have some leeway? Assuming there is some leeway, what's the odds of getting a 2nd deferred finding after "almost" 6 years in the Snohomish County District Court South?

    6. I'm willing to pay the fine if there's some way to avoid it going on my record for insurance purposes. Other then the deferred finding process, what other options do I have?
  • 02-26-2013, 02:48 PM
    blewis
    Re: Caught Speeding - What's the Best Path Forward
    Read through this thread. You'll find the latest link to the discovery request at post #41, but I highly advise reading ALL of the thread. There is no "quick and dirty" when it comes to fighting tickets. If you want to win, you'll have to invest some time and effort.

    Most courts will give you a little leeway on deferrals. As long as your last deferral was more than 6 years and 12 months ago, you shouldn't have any problems.

    As far as your insurance company, I'd say, if the information you've provided is accurate, there's only a minor chance they'll even pull your record during the next three years (that's how long infractions stay on your record). For example, I spoke to my agent the other day and she told me that the last time they requested my DOL record was 1993 -- twenty years ago. It costs them $10 per request, so they concentrate on "young" drivers and those with a lot of tickets already. Please understand that this is just my opinion based upon my own experience -- I make no guarantees.

    Barry
  • 02-26-2013, 07:47 PM
    bdepet
    Re: Caught Speeding - What's the Best Path Forward
    Thanks very much... that thread was very helpful.
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