Talking to the prosecutor, usualy an assistant DA, is a good start. If thats not possible ask to get the date postponed. You'd be surprised how little a lawyer may cost, esspecially in comparisson to the increased insurance rate. Lawyer I have used a few times has been $150 plus the fine which is usually less than $100. I even had one real bad ticket of 76 in a 35, I think he made a mathematical error subtracting his speed from the radar as he was coming at me cause I will admit to 66MPH. That ticket cost me $500 for a lawyer that took care of everything, non moving no point violation and the $500 covered the reduced fine. That was far better than potentially losing my license. So maybe try calling a lawyer first and ask what his rates are.

Based on the car you drive I highly doubt trying to make yourself out to be a "poor" student will work too well.

In Texas we have attorney's offices that strictly handle traffic violations. You pay them $100.00 and they go to court with you and get the ticket dismissed and/or similar. It's kind of shady to me but works.

Maybe California has similar unless it's "known to the state of California to be hazardous to your health".

It could be worse.You could be this guy in Switzerland.

(fast forward to 1:35)
million dollar speeding ticket

Minor or not it's one point. As I said, the cost isn't the issue, it's the point on my license.

If anything I think the fact that I'm 12 over the speed limit rather than 30 over makes it more sensible to check the laser calibration. Say the laser is off by 10mph due to non-calibration and the angle error, that would put me only 2mph over the limit.

But if I'm going 30 over even if the thing is 15mph off I'm still way the heck over the limit.

I'll look into the lawyers, could be worth it I guess.

On the plus side, I was driving my dad's truck - not my car so claiming poor college student could possibly work.

Seems like right now the best course is trial by declaration and pray he doesn't respond. If he does and I lose, then set a court date, delay delay delay, and then talk to officer then prosecutor to beg for mercy?

Calibration
 

Challenging the callibration of radar or lazer guns, which only have a variance of about 5mph in either direction is pretty much futile. So going that route would only do you good if you were 5mph over the speed limit. Sometimes it works, but most of the time the judge just gets pissed off at the effort and levies the max fine on the violation just for wasting his or her time having to discuss it in their courtroom. You have to remember that this type of issue is what goes on in their courtroom all day long, every single day, every week of their miserable job. They have heard every excuse in the book and the bottom line is slow down and stop getting pulled over.

The best advice here so far is for you to approach the prosicutor prior to the hearing/pleeding and try to get it reduced or at least elliminate the points. This will save him/her time and get them out of the courtroom sooner so they can go home for the day. Anything else is just going to cause you even more trouble.

The advice we used to get as kids was take your lumps and move on with your life, and stop making stupid mistakes. We all come to realize as we age that following the rules of the road is the best route. The rules apply to everyone without exception. The sooner you learn this the easier your life will be.

Personally I disagree with your approach - It was a fair bust...

Just got face the music be polite and you'll get no points - as I said I had 80 in 65 and changing lanes without indicating & a 48 in a 25 both dropped to zero points by just being polite with the prosecutor...

The errors were mine though last thing I would have ever done was drag the cop into court or question the radar etc. You might duck a ticket but trust me your card would be marked for much more grief down the line.

You are basically questioning the integrity of the cop - That would not seem like a smart approach.

So I just walk up to the prosecutor and nicely ask him if we can settle for something that doesn't result in a point on my license?

Yes
 

YES. What have you got to lose at this point. The worst thing they may say is NO, and then you are back to square one. If you get their attention and stay on their good side who knows what may come of it.

Chris and Jerry are right. Don't walk in there challenging the cop and calibrations and nonsense like that. Even if you could prove it (highly doubtful,) you have to remember these guys know and work with all these same cops. You'll come off as some smartass kid questioning all of their integrity. Plus who's to say its not 10mph over, and they should write you a bigger ticket? It happens...

Reminds me of this coworker (african guy) who got busted doing 25 over in Newark, and tried going in there claiming the cop was racist.
We told him not to do it, my other coworker's bro was a Newark cop telling him not to do it, and he did it anyway. Did not go well. lol

As far as lawyers go, depends what its worth to you. There are cheap traffic lawyers, but prolly not too warranted here. They can help talk the DA down. When in my bro was in HS, he ended up getting a 25 pt ticket (you lose it @ 4pts in CO) where a cop eventually ended up splayed on his hood screaming Asshole! Stop! Asshole! Lawyer got it down to 2pts and defective vehicle and he kept his license (and luckily my parents let him keep his head.)

So yes, you are best off just talking to them politely and respectively. Don't make demands, don't be cute, don't cop a bunch of sad stories (they've heard them all), admit you were being an idiot, and hope for some leniency. Basically show you'll take responsibility for your actions and recognize your mistake. If they figure you're someone they will not likely see back there again, they'll cut you some slack.

Thats how it works in Jersey!

If only it was so.

One thing that I learned is that if you get pulled over, when the officer asks for your license, registration, and insurance, hand him an expired proof of insurance card instead of a new card. Most times the officer will come back and write you a ticket for the insurance, and ignore whatever else you were pulled over for, which is nice, since it's cheaper and 0 points. If, the cop decides to write you up for insurance AND your other violation, be ready to hand him your current insurance, and say you handed him the old one by mistake. By law he would have to remove the insurance offense.

Of course, this won't help you now, but since we were on the topic...

Toughts??
 

Never thought of that one. Sounds like it would work on the right officer. So whats the status with your ticket? Anything new to report?