Insurance and NJ No-Point Ticket option

rabbit12

ford, thank you for replying. I am NOW even more confused.I checked the ticket online and it states that the ticket is NOT payable but I must show up in Court.But when I called the court(and that is a task for itself, they almost NEVER bother to answer the phone) she told me that I just can send in $85 and I DON'T need to show up! Huh? These Jersey court system is getting me dizzy

praveen310

All 4 points were dropped and was reduced to unsafe driving. I did hire an attorney.

fordfool

The trooper cut you some slack. Rather than write you a 4-point speeding ticket ($200), you were cited for "D/R TP Sign" (disregarding a turnpike sign, 2-points and $85).

Search back to Message #490 for a situation similar to yours.

qbrozen

Good for you. A clean license is a happy license.

Unsafe is zero? I thought it was 2.

Jove808

Hi I just got a 95 in a 65 in I195.
What can I do? Is it possible to reduce this ticket?
I have a perfectely clean record. One proble - I have NJM for insurance.

Michael

qbrozen

30 over, huh?
And on a stretch of road I travel everyday. Glad I left work late.

NJM isn't a problem. Its a good thing. They will forgive one ticket. However, if you do anything else wrong in the next 3 years, you can kiss them goodbye. They will drop you at your next renewal.

However.... not sure about 30 over. Maybe just 1 of those will be enough to get you booted. I would go to court and hope for the best.

fezo

I would agree on that. Actually wrote you for teh whole thing, huh? That's a shame.

Yeah, I've got NJM, too. Fortunately since I've had them I've not had a moving violation - certainly not one that stuck.

Jove808

I know it was a dumb move - i Travel that road everyday too. Ussually I drive about 75 though. This time no one was in front of me for a while so I did the dumb thing sped up.

Do you thing they will reduce it 1 MPH at least to get me down to a 4 pt ticket?

Happy Thanksgiving!

qbrozen

OH, I'm sure they'd at least give you a speed reduction. You'll be fine as long as, like I said, you are a good boy the next 3 years.

vbatra

Hi,

I got a Careless driving tkt on 287, it is a 2 pointer.

I got another tkt for driving at 42 in 35 mile zone 4 pointer.

Pleaded not guilty on both. I have a clean record prior to this. I saw in the forum that someone converted there Careless Driving to Obstruction of Traffic i.e. a zero pointer.

My question is if I can get the 4 pointer converted to a 2 pointer and take a course for unsafe drivers, will it help me in reducing my balance 2 points to zero and also reduce my insurance rates.

Please advice if my strategy is correct. I have a court date tommorow.

Thanks

qbrozen

42 in 35 mile zone 4 pointer

7 over is not a 4-pointer. Did you mean 52? Or 25? meaning 17 over the limit?

My question is if I can get the 4 pointer converted to a 2 pointer and take a course for unsafe drivers, will it help me in reducing my balance 2 points to zero and also reduce my insurance rates.

You aren't going to lower your insurance rates with 2 tickets. But I think your strategy for winding up with 0 points is sound.

fezo

Yeah, 42 in a 35 is 2 points. Of course no good cop will write for that little but hey....

I agree on the strategy for 0 points - always a worthy goal.

Mizzy60

Firstly, thank you everyone on this forum for sharing your experiences and advice in this matter. Helped me a lot. So with that I wanted to share my court experience in pleading down to the "no point" option with a 4 point speeding ticket (55 on a 40). I went to court and stood on line to meet with the prosecutor. The officer called me in and I sat with the prosecutor. He asked me for my name and he looked up my information. 15 miles over the speed limit, a 4 point offense, ok. The prosecutor called in the officer who issued the ticket. He asked the officer if he will contest to a plea down to a no point charge. The officer replied he will not contest. In the officer's presence, the prosecutor gave me 3 options; right to a trial, plea down to a 2 point charge or plea down to a 0 point charge but will have to pay a large fee. I took the no point plea. The prosecutor than informed me that the judge will have the final say to approve the new plea, but felt the judge will probably approve it since it is my first offense. I sat in court and waited to be called. Defendants with lawyers went first. Finally when called, I stood in front of the judge. The judge confirmed that I am pleading guilty to a new charge. The judge then approved the new plea. I went out of court, paid the new charge (439 total) and walked out with no points on my DL. :shades:

fezo

Very good. That's it in a nutshell.

Once, my first time, I caught a cop with an attitude but even he eventually signed off on it.

My favorite (this is of two experiences - probably both in the 90s) was this court where the Parkway sent them a ton of speeding tickets. Court was during the day when they mixed all sorts of criminal offenses in with the traffic tickets. Real eye opener. At one point the prosecutor announces he wants to see everyone trying to plead down a traffic ticket and we all go back with him. He tells us to state our case in less than 30 seconds. He says he's been at this for 20 years and doesn't like to waste time. I say "69 in a 55. Plead to obstructing traffic." He says 'if the officer signs off you got it."

The judge calls my name. "Mr. Fezo, have you been coerced in any way to plead to this charge?" "No, your honor, I'm guilty as hell." "You just saved yourself two points."

Turned out the cop wasn't even in the court at the time. The prosecutor called him up! I suppose I could have plead not guilty but I'm sure they would have just rescheduled.

72lbs

I was doing 42 in a 25 in nj and will go to court to try to plead down to no point if possible and pay the surcharge. i have been driving 46 years and this is my first ticket (i was able to get a warning before). My question is...what's the best method..Guilty or not guilty?

qbrozen

You have to plead not guilty. That is the only way you get to talk to the prosecutor and request a different ticket/violation.

If you plead guilty, you'll never get to open your mouth, the judge will call you up and tell you what to pay. end of story.

So, again, you MUST plead NOT GUILTY. Trust me, I've already made this mistake myself.

Mizzy60

You must plead Not Guilty to talk to the prosecutor to plead down your ticket.

72lbs

Thanks guys I will plead not guilty..thanks for your help

fezo

Best of luck! I'd have chimed in but these folks had it covered....

Took me a lot less time for that first ticket - I'd been driving 7 years at the time and didn't learn about this stuff until way later....

napidorio

You see, the no point ticket is just a way for the court to make more money, they will charge you and extra $250 for that option, the officer knows that and the judge knows it as well, there will be no arguments from them, on the other hand it does not help you with insurance, because insurance looks at the surchargable incidents in addition to points, when renewing your premium the no point will affect you just as much as the 2 point, therefore you are only saving your self from 2 point in your license which may not matter anyway, if you are a safe driver they will go away in 2 years, if you need those 2 point so they do not suspend your license then yes take it but otherwise I do not think is worth it for $250.

jenniferkim01

Hi, I hope someone can help me out. So what happened was I basically got a speeding ticket in NYC. The speeding zone was 40mph but I got caught doing a 60mph. So I did 20 over. The thing is I'm a NJ resident. And the police officer said that the points don't carry over to NJ. Is this true? Does it matter if I have points in NY? will that like affect my insurance because I have points in NY? Does it matter whether I go to court and talk to the prosecutor or just pay it off. Is there a difference? Because either way, I have to pay. What should I do. Can someone please help me?

oh i forgot. i got a speeding ticket before. that was my first and only ticket.

qbrozen

no, doesn't transfer.
mail your payment and forget about it.

ktsmith1

Hello everyone. First, question: are there points for a ticket for accidentally driving with no headlights on at night but the dim lights were? or can I just pay it and be on my way?
Secondly, I received a ticket for "Failure to Yield"(39:4-144, 2 points, $85) at an intersection. Honestly i think it was debatable. I was at a red light which quickly turned green and i let a few cars go in my opposite direction, then i saw a gap and an opportunity to make a left. I was signaling, made the left slowly to be sure, but i guess the other car wasn't slowing down and it seemed like i didn't yield to him and cut it close. Cop said i failed to yield to the other vehicle. Happened right at the end of the month yesterday.

Court date is next month. I've read people have knocked down points for speeding and such, but is this different? I'm over 21 and recently got my license for the purpose of focusing on being a safe driver and not a speed demon. Driving my brother's car.

I just really need help on what I should do. Any actions i should take before the court date or just plead not guilty next month and strike a deal with the prosecutor hopefully? any information would help, I'm really dreading this. Not a good way to start out.

fezo

I don't see the light violation on the points schedule here so you may be in luck there. The other one is tough. If they will plead it down by all means take it. Otherwise you are in a situation where the judge has to decide whether you or the police officer is right on whether it was a safe turn. You'd lose that one every time.

Man, the points system is an odd thing. I see driving on the sidewalk is only two points...

amanda14

Hi

I got a speeding ticket on Rt1 in New Jersy. I was following the traffic, and when I was pulled over, I was driving about 70 mph. The officer gave me a ticket with 78mph in a 55mph zone. Anyway, he wrote "speeding" in the description, but "39:4-81" in the Statute No. The statute no is for failure to observe signal. There is no traffic signal on the part the high way. Can I require the case be dismissed based on the wrong statute code in NJ?

Thanks!

fezo

I'm told that they can amend the ticket right there in court so unfortunately the answer is no on that.

NO harm in trying to plead it down though.

He wrote you for the whole 78? That;s unfortunate. Usually they'll write the magical 69 in a 55 which is the limit of two points.

amanda14

Thanks Fezo for the information. I will definetly go to court to try to plead it down. I just wonder in case they do reduce the point to 2 or 0, does it help with my insurance cost? I insured with ameriprise (via costco), and have had a clean record.

fezo

If they'll take it down to zero it will definitely help keep your insurance from going up. That's really the idea; what makes it worth pleading down.

My best was pleading down from what was written as 69 in a 55 which was really around 75+ and pleading to obstructing traffic. My brother did one better - pleaed 75 in a 55 down to a parking ticket.

fordfool

I am not an attorney, nor have I ever played one on TV. So my advice is worth exactly what you are paying for it.

39:4-81 "Failure to observe traffic signals"... you know, the square sign that reads "SPEED LIMIT 55." In NJ this is a common way of giving the driver a break...a 2 point violation rather than a big 4 pointer.

link title

You still might be able to plead the points away all together, but the prosecutor will see that you already had one break. Hope he's in a good mood. Go for it and good luck.

amanda14

Thanks for all the advices. I just moved to NJ two month ago, and the "buy out" point system is new to me also. I will report back.

markb12

My son recently got a speeding ticket on RTE 18, 84mph in a 65mph zone. How much would it cost me to buy down the points? He also got a ticket for having tinted windows, if he has the tint removed will the court lower or dismiss this ticket?

praveen310

In a similar situation, I ended up paying about $450 in fines plus the attorney fee. I still wonder if I could have saved the attorney fee but did not want to take a chance.

fezo

You've got the idea. I'm fortunate enough to have an attorney in the family. He makes one call and at least the prosecutor knows I'm coming. I say that in the present tense but my last episode was ages ago.

clelih

Hi,
I have never been pulled over, but I recently got a speeding ticket in Wayne.
Officer didn't give me a chance to say anything and just wrote the ticket.
I found out that it is a 4 pt ticket and I am upset because I have a clean record.
I plead not guilty and hope that prosecutor can help me, I don't want any points in my license... Do you think they will really take away all 4 points? about How much will it cost? I don't really know much and any help will be greatly appreciate it!
I have not contacted my insurance company yet, so I am not sure if my rate will go up... Please help, and Thank you in advance!!!

fezo

Starting out with a cop that writes the full 73 instead of the courtesy 69 isn't a good start but you never know in court.

I don't know what the plea ticket are going for now. Anyone?

I almost always will recommend trying to plead it down.

BTW - the first speeding ticket I got was a cop with an attitude. I'd had 7 perfect years and his attitude was "then one ticket won't be so bad."

clelih

Thank you Fezo! I am not sure what to say in court, I really don't want any points in my license I drive for living so, it will probably affect me a lot...
If there are any recommendations please let me know.
I dont really want any points, Is this a crazy idea?
Thank u!

tidester

I drive for living

If you drive for a living then the judge may not be very sympathetic thinking that someone who drives for a living should certainly know better than to drive in excess of 15 mph above the posted speed limit in New Jersey. You'll be lucky if you can plea it down but good luck!

tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper

rs79

what you need to do is just go to court and meet with the mediator or person you see before you are called by the judge (ask if you are not given instructions). And you need to ask to plea 'driving in an unsafe manner' or a no points violation. You will pay a lot more in cash to do so- -but worth it not to have the points. You should be fine, I've been through it 2 times in the past 13 years.

HOWEVER- if this is not your first time pleading this you may have an issue like I do now. Now i heard somewhere that it takes at least 4 years after 'using' this action in order to use it again-- but I"m going through the process now where in 2004 I 'used it', and just recently (court date was in january of this year) paid $600 in cash to have the 12mph over speed limit points reduced to another plea. They said it should be ok, however I just learned a couple of days ago i have 4 points on my license. I went to the courthours tonight actually and asked--- a laywer told me as of recently the DMV wll still slap the points on IF you have used it in the past. And if this is the case, I would need to reopen the case and have it appealed - that it usually goes through the 2nd time. But i have yet to experience this--my first step is to get the DMV report and see what court code the points are associated with.

fezo

Wow. That's a new one to me.

The two times I did this were within 4 years of each other but a fairly long time ago.

jbg3

I just got a ticket for "failure to keep right".
I turned into the left turn lane too soon - I was on the yellow hash marks before it was a turn lane. Sorry - I think it's a lame excuse of a ticket, but yes, I was wrong.
Does anyone know if it's worth going to traffic court to try to plea into something without points? I'm less concerned about the fine - although I don't even know what it is. But the 2 points will kill me. My record is clean otherwise. Help!

fezo

Wow. That's a tough one. For two points at least you should get your money's worth and drive on the sidewalk. To show how silly the points can get, driving on the sidewalk is only two points but impr5oper passing of an ice cream truck is four point.

Anyway, I'm with you - the points would drive me crazy. I'd go in and try to plead down to something like failure to observe sign which is a no point. Yeah, you pay money up front but I'd love not having the points.

There's no guarantee going in that you'll have a deal but the odds are in your favor. The one negative I see is that the cop sounds like maybe a hard [non-permissible content removed]. I had one of those once. In the end he signed off on it but kicked up the cost.

jbg3

Worst case scenario - if they won't plead it down, do I get hit with extra court fees? Or is it the same as if I paid it out from the start? I hate this - I've never gone through this before and I'm 36.
If I end up with the points, and take one of those defensive driving courses that takes points off, does it still stay on my record? How does that work? It's $50 to take the course online and get 2 points taken off, so dollar value wise, is it the equivalent of a no-point fine that costs $50 more? Or does that make a big difference?

fezo

Unfortunately you're beyond my expertise here. I'm not a lawyer or anything - just someone who discovered this trick.

They will nail you for court costs just for bringing it into court unless you managed to beat it down to a not guilty which isn't likely.

My biggest question would be will your insurance company leave your rates alone if you go and take the course. To me what they'd do to your rates is the big concern.

tvn1

First time stop by cop in last 13 years in NJ, very clean record. got speeding ticket, speed at 78 on 55 mph road in NJ, coming bak from work around 8PM, very co-operative driver, sofar drove 200K miles, never did any mistake. This is 4 point and $200 fine, do I pay or goto court and accept it, and talk to judge, it is my fault. I wanted to show my clean driver record, also very care person, driving opn that road for last Two years (coming back from work), does judge will show mercy and reduce it?.

I have NJM currently, I am worrying what will happen to, if I pay fine without going to court, may be insurance will throwme out and I have to lok for some otehr insurance, please suggest me.

I cannot afford hire lawyer, please suggest me. Thanks in advance.

qbrozen

No need for a lawyer. Just go to court, plead not guilty, and see what the prosecutor will do for you.

mpkrasner

I'm basically in the same situation as you and was wondering what happened with your situation (i.e. what you decided to do and what the outcome was).

Thanks.

cnoir

hi, this thread is awesome, but after searching i haven't been able to find a solution to my problem:

So I'm aware that after 1 yr of good driving (w/ no points issued) the NJ DMV removed up to 3 points from one's license.

Unfortunately, I have three points on my license and got pulled over for 4 pt ticket (46/25) with a court date just 30 days shy of the anniversary date of the last ticket issued. See where I'm going with this?

Is it possible to postpone court date another month and still take advantage of the 3 points that are removed (yearly) since the new ticket issued is pending??

Thanks for any guidance! (I have a heavy right foot)

qbrozen

Maybe, but why?
Where it really counts is your insurance, and it takes 3 years for it to come off there.

sully73

I went 19 years without any traffic violation. 3 moths ago I got a ticket for driving over a painted island which cost me 2 points. I didn't fight it because I was wrong.

Today, I got pulled over for not stopping at a stop sign. I thought I stopped completely, I guess I slightly rolled. It had to be so minimal of a roll. It's ridiculous. Anyway, it's 2 more points. The cop was not nice.

I have NJM Insurance and I was wondering if I go to court to have the points removed will NJM ignore them also or will they still look at me as now having 4 points even if I get the two from today removed? I really don't want to go to court, I just want to pay it and forget about it. If NJM will still know about the violation and consider me now having 4 points, then I don't want to go to court. I went 19 years without getting pulled over, I will just try to be very careful from now on.

Any advice about NJM would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks !

qbrozen

they will only know whatever the outcome of the court date is. As it stands, you still only have 2 points until this current ticket shows up on you record, which won't happen until you plead guilty by paying it or have your day in court.