142 isn't that bad, just pay it and go on with your life...

 

You must be bored Someone from Arizona hanging out in the UMW forum

 

That's because Justice favors those with the means (and by "means", understand that to be either money, knowledge, friends/family in right places, and/or fame).

My suggestion is get a lawyer. I have a pretty clean record. Not because I'm some nancy-boy driver, but because each and everytime I've gotten ticketed for a driving offense after college, I've gotten a lawyer to sweep my dirt under the rug.

The only tickets that have stuck on my record in IL are from when I was 16 and 17. The tickets I got while at college in WI are just that....in WI. There's no agreement between the IL DMV and WI DMV to share information.

Get yourself a lawyer....sure it may only be a $200 fine now, but what does that mean for your finances 6 months from now, a year from now, etc.

 

Are you completely sure about that? The ticket I got from Wisconsin about 2 years back stated that they do send over speeding convictions to IL.

I had a wisconsin lawyer get my speeding ticket changed to inattentive driving, so that when they get it sent to IL, it gets thrown out, because IL doesn't have an inattentive driving charge.

It was like a $50 fine, and some supervision, but no clue how long, probably like 3 months. But again only for wisconsin.

 

I'm positive.....otherwise, I'd have a suspended license in IL as I do now in WI .

 

^^^

 

I've got some first hand experience with tickets as well.

You are WRONG about getting SUPERVISION and CONVICTION? If you pass the supervision grace period in Cook or Lake County, the ticket does not stick. Trust me. I have had 8 or nine tickets in the last 15 years and I only have one ticket on record('99)

Just go to court, without a lawer, and plead guilty asking for supervision. They may charge you more for this ticket and make you take the class. In most cases , including <30 mph over, you will get supervision.


Hell, if you the conviction, then pay the damn ticket and move on. You pay to play.

 

Very True

 

Yep!

Always go to court! Always! No matter how guilty you are...
...ask the judge for supervision, or traffic school. DO NOT pay the ticket outright. Don't let it go on your record.

I have never brought a lawyer to court. I DO talk to the judge, and I ALWAYS have gotten away with supervision.

I have also had one where the cop wrote a note to the prosecutor to throw my 105+ down the edens out.
I have won one case against a cop that accused me of tailgating him! He used LOTS of profanity and was very unprofessional. He also lied, telling me this was the first ticket he has ever give

The rest of them were my fault, and I usually am able to get away with it just by knowing how to pull my car over properly, making a conversation with the cop (even though it may be hard, because most of the time, they seem like they are pissed and don't want to talk... which is VERY untrue).
I admit to my mistake after a conversation has started, have a laugh, and go on my way.

I've been pulled over in bartlett a few times. worst one = 75 in a 45 (and I did not have my insurance card) down 59. He let me go... never even really gave me a warning.
I've been pulled over on the highway for doing 90 on the addison onramp to I94. cop asked me how it handled and if I was just testing the gas pedal lol...

BTW = 0 tickets on my record. I should have had my license supspended 4-5 times already. Traffic school twice.


...you don't need a lawyer. Don't waste your money. They don't say anything anyways... just be nice and "to the point"

 

Well really it all depends on your personal situation, your negotiation ability, your time, and luck.

I personally don't mind paying for a lawyer, because it basically guarantees me that I will not get a conviction on my driving record.

If you don't go to court and just pay the ticket, that is just plain laziness and stupidity. But I don't mind paying a lawyer to go to court for me and ensure that I get a light sentence and a few months supervision.

I'm sure most of the time if you have a lenient cook county judge, and you don't have a crazy record you can get off with supervision and a fine without a lawyer. But not everyone can talk their way out of a ticket, either by the cop or the judge. It also helps if your lawyer is chummy with the prosecutor. I've also been in quite a few courtrooms, where the judge will say you will get the conviction and you will pay a fine, and if you get another ticket we will suspend your license. Every judge is different.

My last ticket I at least convinced the cop not to arrest me for reckless driving.(mind you this was after he had me up against the car...) He just as easily could have. But I wasn't going to take any chances that the judge was going to be so lenient.... and I was especially glad after I heard the kind of fines she was giving to the people in front of me....

Had I not brought a lawyer, I would have more or less been tricked into accepting 1 year supervision and $400+ fine along with 8 hr traffic school she gave to nearly ANYONE with a ticket...

In the end its your driving record, your money and time, and your choice as to what you think its worth to preserve a clean slate...

Everyone is going to have their opinions and experiences. But never means that you'll get the same treatment, better or worse...