22349(A) and a Red Light Violation Within a Span of 4 Months

My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of California.

I am a poor college student and is quite inexperienced in these violations. I would no doubt take the traffic school option for the speed ticket, but I already did it for my red light turn ticket. I really don't want a point on my record and don't want the insurance to jump sky high. I already paid off my red light violation, but I haven't for my speeding ticket (due on June 8th.) I am going to my local court on Monday to set up a court date so I have more time to plan.

Here are some details for my speeding ticket:
I was going 82 in a 65 zone down a four lane interstate highway (880 South) on a Sunday morning (8AM.)

I've been doing some light research, and I can do trial by declaration or extend the court date and pray that the CHP officer doesn't appear.

What should I do? I really want to wait 18 months so I can do traffic school again, but that doesn't seem like it would work. Maybe I can pay the traffic fee in installments? 322 dollars is books and food for college.

Thanks! I am once again extremely inexperience and need some advice on what to do.

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

Here are some details for my speeding ticket:
I was going 82 in a 65 zone down a four lane interstate highway (880 South) on a Sunday morning (8AM.)

---

None of that helps you in the way of any chance at suggesting you're not guilty... Seems legit...

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

I've been doing some light research, and I can do trial by declaration or extend the court date and pray that the CHP officer doesn't appear.

---

That can happen although it is much less likely to happen these days especially with the CHP. All officers are expected to show in court as part of their job description as it is one of their responsibilities.

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

What should I do? I really want to wait 18 months so I can do traffic school again, but that doesn't seem like it would work. Maybe I can pay the traffic fee in installments? 322 dollars is books and food for college.

---

Traffic school eligibility is determined by violation date not by how long you extend your court date...

You might have the option to request a 2nd violator traffic school. It differs slightly from the normal traffic school that we know in that it is a 12 hour course, it cannot be done online or by home study... instead, it must be taken in a class room setting.

Similar to the 8 hour traffic school, this one also cancels out any violation points so none will be added to your record however, the violation will still appear on your driving record with the DMV as a no points violation.

Unlike the 8 hour traffic school where you can request that online, over the phone or at the clerk's window, you have to request the 12 hr program from the Judge. And Judges have a lot more discretion as to whom and for what reason they offer the 2nd violator school. But you can always try. Considering the fact that you just paid for other violation, there is a pretty good chance the Judge might see that info but again, it does not hurt to try.

You can, by the way, ask the Clerk to set you up on an installment plan but that will cost you as additional $30 (I believe).

Lastly, you might be wondering what affects if any the 12 hr traffic school will have on your insurance... Personally, I cannot answer that question for you; only your insurance company can do the definitively.

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

need some advice on what to do.

---

Knowing you're a "poor starving student", drive more carefully and abide by the laws... But you're smart enough to know that without anyone telling it to you! ;)

Thanks! I was getting pretty worried here.

When I request a court date, the date will be extended to another time? Does that mean I have to pay the bail amount when I ask for it?

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

Thanks! I was getting pretty worried here.

When I request a court date, the date will be extended to another time? Does that mean I have to pay the bail amount when I ask for it?

---

Don't know what you mean by requesting a court date?

If you mean "plead not guilty" and request a trial date then yes, typically, the Judge will order you to post bail in the amount of the fine before a trial date is set.

If, on the other hand, you are only requesting an extension, then no... That's a free ride until you enter a plea.

Quote:

---

Quoting That Guy

---

Don't know what you mean by requesting a court date?

If you mean "plead not guilty" and request a trial date then yes, typically, the Judge will order you to post bail in the amount of the fine before a trial date is set.

If, on the other hand, you are only requesting an extension, then no... That's a free ride until you enter a plea.

---

Oh that's exactly what I meant, a court extension.

On the letter that was given to me, I can extend the court date once, and I already did that with the online service. Hopefully they won't notice that I already extended when I go to the courthouse on Monday.

Once again thanks for clarifying up the confusion.

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

Oh that's exactly what I meant, a court extension.

On the letter that was given to me, I can extend the court date once, and I already did that with the online service. Hopefully they won't notice that I already extended when I go to the courthouse on Monday.

Once again thanks for clarifying up the confusion.

---

They will notice... :(

You can however ask for a second extension. Some courts will offer it through the clerk, others require that you see the judge... Give it a shot, the worst they can do is say "no".

Sorry for bringing this thread up again, but I feel that this is relevant.

So the judge lowered the price to 80 dollars instead of 300, but as a poor college student who only works 3 hours a week. This is still kind of killer. Since the judge was letting people do community service, do you think after attending another walk in court, I can possible ask the judge for community service to pay off the remainder of the fee?

Doing community service which is 10 dollars per hour is better pay than my minamum wage job.

Oh and my pay date is August 14th

Quote:

---

Quoting lostguy7

---

Sorry for bringing this thread up again, but I feel that this is relevant.

So the judge lowered the price to 80 dollars instead of 300, but as a poor college student who only works 3 hours a week. This is still kind of killer. Since the judge was letting people do community service, do you think after attending another walk in court, I can possible ask the judge for community service to pay off the remainder of the fee?

Doing community service which is 10 dollars per hour is better pay than my minamum wage job.

---

Community service is not always an option with every court. You should have asked the judge for community service when you were in court. But I guess you can go back to court and ask to see the judge again.

Also keep in mind that there is an administrative fee to do community service. I think its around $50 or so... So while you can possibly be ordered to do 8 hours of community service for the $80 that you owe (at the rate you stated), you'd still be required to pay the $50. Whether that works for you, I don't know...

Alright thanks, I guess it's much easier to just pay off the 80 dollars instead of going through all that trouble to knock off 30 dollars.