SlickS2k

Basically, from your guys' experience, if you challenge a ticket and lose, can you still get traffic school? I'm just trying to figure out if I should try and fight the ticket or just do the school option, i'm worried that If I fight it, I can't do traffic school...thanks!

wanabe

dont know for sure, but i think so...
i just fought a ticket by affidavit and beat it. was an easy way to handle the ticket, and would suggest trying it if they offer it in your area. you still should get the answer to your question from someone who knows for sure.

MarkS2K

I think it depends on the judge. A lot of times, you can ask the judge for traffic school if you lose and some of them will let you go to traffic school. My friend fought a ticket and he lost, but the judge let him go to traffic school. I don't think all judges are like that though.

scottrnelson

I went to court on a radar ticket a few years ago with a list of things that might get me off. After the police officer gave his testimony, every one of my arguments was shot down, so I plead guilty with an explanation. I explained that I was trying to get by a gravel truck that was bouncing gravel onto my car and got radarred just as I was pulling around him. The judge reduced the fine and allowed me to go to traffic school.

The judge might not be as lenient if you're 100% guilty with no special circumstances.

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S2K Fan

When you contest, you give up the right to traffic school, but it's been my experience, that most judges will allow traffic school.

Schatten

S2k fan is correct. once you contest it, he cannot allow you to go to defensive driving - you give up that right. it is part of the gamble you take when you contest it.

this does not depend on the judge either. this is pretty much how the law works in the state of texas. once you contest, he cannot even go back and say, 'well since you said that, we'll just let it slide with defensive driving' HOWEVER! with some court systems - they will have a pre-lim trial, in which you can discuss bargains with the prosecuting attourney. they will ask if you want to take defensive driving or deffered adjud. in which you cannot get a ticket for the said amount of time, which might be 90 or 180 days. then...at that point, that's where you go to the point of no return and say 'no, I came here for a trial because I wasn't speeding and I do not think its right to pay for something that I did not do'. (that is, if that's your reason)

S2K Fan

I've been to court many times, back in the days. In Cal, you can get lucky and hope the cop doesn't show up, prove you were innocent and win, or just out right loose. The judges in SoCal, I assume same in NorCal have some power where if you plea for traffic school can grant it to you. They can also refuse it. It depends on them.

Schatten

if you want an idea on what to expect, or how to contest it - by hopefully not using my story, read up on my case from last night: http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...?threadid=15456

Thanks!

lvs2k

In order to take defensive driving, I had to plead no contest on my ticket. If you're pretty sure you will be found guilty if you contest, it's probably best to plead no contest.