Insurance and NJ No-Point Ticket option

safedriver_usa

I got a ticket & I have plead not guilty. This forum has helped me to get an insight into the whole process ...Thnx a lot.

Qbrozen or anyone who is already gone through this process - One question -
When do we come to know if the Police Officer who gave us the ticket is present in the court or not?
I mean at the time of plea of bargain (if you get to negotiate with public prosecutor) is the Police Officer present?

Any ideas .....

qbrozen

i've heard so many stories, I'm not sure what the truth is. There used to be a rumor that, if the cop didn't show up, you got off scott free. That's not true. I've also heard that cop's have designated days in court and the date on your ticket is his/her designated day, so they will be there. I've also heard that, if you wish to "confront your accuser," they will simply reschedule you for when the cop is available.

runemaster

Please help. I have NJ manufacturers insurance and i got 2 points summons for careless driving in Linden. Will my insurance go up if i plead guilty and pay?

runemaster

Hi! Please help me. I dont know if this shows up as a new post, but I got a summons in linden new Jersey for careless driving (2 points). I have New jersey manufacturers insurance and i need to know if this will increase my insurance due to surcharges.Any help really appreciated.

runemaster

Hi! Please help me. I dont know if this shows up as a new post, but I got a summons in linden new Jersey for careless driving (2 points). I have New jersey manufacturers insurance and i need to know if this will increase my insurance due to surcharges.Any help really appreciated.

qbrozen

The answer to all 3 of your posts is no, your insurance will not go up for 2 points.

NJ Manufacturers only reacts when you get 2 tickets or 4 points, whichever comes first.

blueanxiety

Hello - I have read all the posts in this forum and I might add that I have received a lot of insight. I just recently got a speeding ticket in Fair Lawn, doing 37 in a 25 mph zone (two points). My DL history includes getting a previous speeding ticket doing 78 in a 55 mph 2.5 years ago, which I talked down to two points (which the points are gone now on my license). I'm going to plea not guilty for this ticket in Fair Lawn, but I don't have a real defense for pleading not guilty. I just want to be able to talk to the prosecutor and ask for the driving in an unsafe manner option. My question is if he turns me down, what do I do next? Just plea guilty to my speeding and pay it, receiving 2 points? I don't think there would be any other option besides the unsafe driving to get that down to 0 points. Thanks.

tidester

I don't have a real defense for pleading not guilty. I just want to be able to talk to the prosecutor and ask for the driving in an unsafe manner option.

I don't know the answer to your question but, if it's an open and shut case, what incentive is there for the prosecutor to bargain?

tidester, host

fanshawe23

The incentive for the prosecutor to bargain even in an open and shut case is to not waste more of the court's time with a trial.

Another incentive: since many speed traps are just money grabs anyway, they get more of your money by making you pay the $250 surcharge for the Unsafe Driving option.

qbrozen

you don't need a reason for pleading not guilty. Frankly, they don't care. Its pretty much just as you are thinking, go in and see if the prosecutor will take a higher fine for no points. As fanshawe said, that's all they are after anyway.

what do I do next? Just plea guilty to my speeding and pay it, receiving 2 points?

Well, really, there is no "next." The prosecutor will offer up whatever it is he wants to offer up and you accept it. I guess there is always the option of saying no and going to trial. I'm sure someone has done that at some point.

Anyway, here is your big problem. The 2 points from 2.5 years ago is off your license, but not your insurance. You've got another 6 months before that comes off. Is your insurance paid up for the next 6 months? If so, not a problem. If not, you could be in for a rude awakening come renewal time and you are showing a total of 4 points on your insurance.

bindab

I recently received a ticket for failure to exit on an exit only lane ($85 and 2 pts) as I was trying to merge onto 208 South near Franklin Lakes, NJ. As in many places in northern NJ, an entrance ramp turns into an exit ramp and I crossed the solid white line by about 3 feet (That means my right side wheels crossed the solid white line but the drivers side wheels did not). If I would have merged 5 ft sooner there would be no violation. The cause of this was that a number of drivers did not wish to let me merge and also I could have been more aggressive in merging. I was shocked a Statie pulled me over for this (it seems very petty). On a typical day I probably see about 10 similar transgressions where drivers fail to merge quickly enough along Route 17 in Paramus or 208 near Hawthorne. I have State Farm Insurance and receive a safe driver discount of $400 per year. This is my first traffic violation in 30 years of driving. I am concern/bothered by the impact on my safe driving record (and future insurance bills). I also don't think the penalty fits the crime (but probably most people who get traffic violations feel this way). If I go to court, do any of the facts matter or does this just become a money grab by the state where they will offer to reduce points in exchange for more money.

Thank you,

David

qbrozen

If I go to court, do any of the facts matter or does this just become a money grab by the state where they will offer to reduce points in exchange for more money.

No and probably.

I was shocked a Statie pulled me over for this (it seems very petty). On a typical day I probably see about 10 similar transgressions where drivers fail to merge quickly enough along Route 17 in Paramus or 208 near Hawthorne.

I'd leave this part of your story out when in court, if I were you.

As stated above, the facts (or opinions) don't really matter. The prosecutor probably won't even ask you for an explanation of any sort.

linny

I just got my first ticket the other day. This was in NJ. I live in NJ. I didn't realize it but I was doing 82 in a 65 mph zone. I have never had a ticket in my life. Not even a parking ticket. I have had my license for almost 32 years. I already set up the court date but what happens next? It is a 4 point ticket. Should I bring my driving record with me? I read that somewhere. I can't afford a lawyer and the surcharge. Will I be able to get rid of all of the points? Thanks for any advice.

blueanxiety

Well, really, there is no "next." The prosecutor will offer up whatever it is he wants to offer up and you accept it. I guess there is always the option of saying no and going to trial. I'm sure someone has done that at some point.

Thank you for the response. I actually did call to arrange a court date and the lady I was speaking to on the other line told me of three choices. Pay the ticket and accept the points (which will go off in a year), pay the ticket take a driving course, or go to court and pay $439 for no points, if I have a clean record. I asked her what does she mean by a "clean record" and that would be no current points on my license. So I'll be going to court, assuming that the $439 is the unsafe driving manner or something similar to that.

The 2 points from 2.5 years ago is off your license, but not your insurance. You've got another 6 months before that comes off. Is your insurance paid up for the next 6 months?

No insurance is not paid up for another 6 months yet, so I will have to go to court and make sure that I receive no points for this ticket so I don't get a double whammy.

thanks again for the response

linny

I just have no idea what to say to the prosecuter when I get there. I have never even been in a court room before except when I got called for jury duty. Do I just say how I have a clean record and ask for him to drop the points? Do you think he will drop all 4? Thanks

tidester

Have you thought about hiring a lawyer?

tidester, host

linny

Yes, I can't afford lawyer and surcharges.

qbrozen

As I've stated here before, you may not get to say anything:
qbrozen, "Insurance and NJ No-Point Ticket option" #39, 12 Apr 2005 6:43 am

Will he drop all 4? That will most likely depend on his mood and whether he likes the color shirt you are wearing.

jean1206

I live in nj, and 4 months ago i took a probationary driver program due to 2 violations i got in a short period of timem as now i got no points, but yesterday i got a ticket for careless driving that puts my job on risk , i am on 1 year probation, that means that if i commit any violation within the first 6 months i ll get suspension for 90 days( i work as a driver ), so i got to questions., what can i do to reduce the violation , if the ticket is reduce to a non-point ticket do i still get the suspension and how many plea bargains are you allowed to take, I already took it once in my second violation, thanks to anyone who can respond...

skyrider12

I just received 4pts speeding ticket around New Brunswick area, have clean records. I was wondering if anyone had any experence on going to court and got 4pts off with more fines such as unsafe driving. My court date is coming soon and I would appreciate if you guys can share the experience on this.

13luvs52

Hi. I would appreciate any advice with the situation I'm about to describe. A week ago 2 tickets were mailed to my house under my father's name because that's who the car is registered to but he was not the driver at the time. The one ticket is for doubleparking and the other is for failure to comply with the direction of an officer. We had to sit down and think about it for a bit to realize that it was my boyfriend who was driving that day and yes he did double park, but there was no officer present at the time so how did the second ticket come about? We are very confused and shocked that the tickets were even mailed in the first place and why they weren't issued to him directly. The tickets are under my father's name and that's another thing I'm concerned about since he wasn't driving. My boyfriend said that there wasn't a cop around and I believe him because he's not someone to walk away from an officer. The 2 tickets say court appearance is required. Does anyone have any insight on this matter?? The court date is in late August. I would appreciate a response as soon as possible. Thank you for your help.

tidester

one ticket is for doubleparking and the other is for failure to comply

The tickets should specify the time and location of the alleged offenses. Are they the same on both tickets?

tidester, host

blueanxiety

I posted a few weeks ago, and my last post was to mention that I did call court to plea not guilty. Now, several weeks later, I just looked in my mail today and I saw that I got a legal notice saying that I did not pay my fine and/or I failed to show up for my court date. The thing is that I did call to plea not guilty several weeks ago, but I never received a court date.

I called the borough maybe a week after I called to plea not guilty, expecting a court date already but the lady told me that it takes about 4-6 weeks to arrange a court date. But here I am getting a notice saying that I never made it to court or even paid my ticket. They're adding $10 to my original penalty for speeding over 12 mph (which will make it $105).

What do I do - if I call to plea not guilty again I don't want to go through this a second time. Do they have proof that I called a first time?

vbree8

Hi-

Of course I live in New Jersey and last nite I got pulled over by such a nice cop that claims i was in a 40 doing 55 when I was in a 50 I know the road and the township and know not to spped there! Anywayz he gave me a ticket which is a 4 pointer.

I am 26 with a clean record I plan on going to court but I am unemployed due to my last place of work closing down and I don't have the money for a lawyer. I have never had a speeding ticket before and as i said my record is clean.

I am also with NJM for insurance how will this effect my insurance? Is it true they forgive your 1st ticket? What if any surcharges will I get? From what I can read online its after 6pts you get surcharges? I do understand that at most I may only get it dropped to a 2 pointer by going to court so if I do a defensive driving course will that take care of the other 2 points?

I ill never go though manchester again for as long as I live this is such BS and I am so mad over this!

Anywayz I just need to deal now with what is on my hands so any help would greatful.

Thanks
Vicky :mad:

budguy

Hi All:

Couple of days ago, I got a ticket for careless driving. I was reversing my car in parking lot of apartment in Plainsboro, which I went to see for rent in future and unfortunately hit the parked car on the other side of lot. Both car bumpers damaged. It was sunny afternoon (Sun directly on head and all parking spaces were full so I started reversing my car and once I reached to space where I can stop, I accidently hit gas pedal instead of breaks. Parked car has more damage than mine.I waited for 20 minutes no body showed up then I called the police and cop after reviewing the scene called the other guy who lives in apartment through management. He became more sympathetic to him and I can understand why not afterall its my mistake and that guy suffered the damage.
Anyway, after everything was recorded, cop gave me a ticket for careless driving and ask me to appear within a court date of 4 days. I couldn't even get the police report since its was a weekend.Yesterday when I received the report I saw the way he described the accident scene seems incorrect. He didn't even care to ask me how many cars were parked at the time of accident and where exactly I was parked before reversing back.His report is incorrect and biased in order to help the other guy.
Now what should be my way to approach this matter in court. Should I not accept prosecuter's plea bargain deal and go for trial? Or the court can dismiss it after I appear and explain the scene. Next, what kind of trial New Jersey Municipal Court's has for 'Careless Driving'? Is it jury trial or court trial, in case these kind of cases go for trial. Please suggest me. THANKS

qbrozen

the ticket should specify on it where the offense occured. If this area indeed is a 50 mph zone, then its easily provable in court.

You will be OK as far as NJM is concerned ... for now. As long as you can avoid any other offenses or any accidents for the next 3 years, they won't charge any extra.

qbrozen

Nope. no trial. just a judge.

I'm really surprised he gave you a ticket after YOU called the cops to turn yourself in. That's just wrong, IMHO. I would go and plead not guilty, then explain the situation to the prosecutor. I mean, with no witnesses, isn't this like you giving yourself the ticket???

Tell them you'd like to face your accuser. LOL.

cem1

I received a speeding ticket in NJ, but have a NY license. I got pulled over for doing 64 in a 35 mph zone. I intend to plead not guilty and appear in court. Should I hire an attorney or talk to the prosecutor? How will the points affect my NY license and will it effect my insurance with Geico in NY? I plan on getting a new car very soon, do I need to tell Geico I received the ticket? Even if I appear and (hopefully) reduced to 0 points (I guess pending these surcharges I've been reading about? Thanks for your help in advance.

qbrozen

you have to check the laws in your state, but someone else told me that tickets in NJ don't carry over to your NY license. And, if they aren't on your license, then your insurance company never need know about them.

If you find this all to be true (just check with your DMV), then I would not waste your time in court and just send the check. Odds are very good that you will not pay less money by showing up in court, so if the points won't affect you, then you have no reason to go to court.

cem1

Thanks for the reply. I've been told the points will NOT be transferred to NY, which is good news. And Geico told me earlier, when I explained my story as a "hypothetical", my insurance will not be affected since I have such a clean record. Also said it depends on the severity i.e., DWI. The ticket itself can increase your insurance, once again depending on the circumstances, even though you have no points. Took his name, just in case! Therefore, definitely no reason to hire an attorney, although I will appear in court, maybe get it lessened (crossing my fingers) if possible...just in case something with Geico changes.

qbrozen

well, the thing is, how will geico ever find out about the ticket? the NJ police certainly don't send them a copy. The only way insurance knows about tickets is when they pull your driving record from your state's DMV when renewal time comes along. So if the ticket does not show up on your NY license, then the insurance company will never know about it.

Maybe the question to ask your DMV is if they show out of state tickets on your driving record, even though the points don't count.

cem1

I was wondering the same thing (how will Geico even know)? I guess they depend on honesty, but since I will not offer the information for obvious reasons, I will wait to see if they find out on their own. I won't have any points, but the speeding ticket itself will appear on my record. I'm sure the insurance companies do review driving records, especially during renewal time. Well, in my case, probably again when I purchase a new car. Fortunately, never had to deal with this before, and since I've learned my lesson, hopefully won't need to inquire again.

budguy

Hi All:
I had a date with the court today. I went and plead not guilty when name was called.The officer was not present in court and Judge adjourned the matter for a future date. Is it not necessary that if Officer concerned is not present on summons date, the judge is supposed to dismiss the matter?
I am really surprised why he didn't do it today and set another date which I don't know. Any thoughts/suggestions qbrozen and others.

qbrozen

Well, unfortunately, the whole dismissing the case thing is an old wives' tale (or urban legend ... i don't know the difference. ).

I just don't understand why they wanted him there. In my 2 court appearances, I never saw the officer. Just talked to the prosecutor.

rbirns1

The NY DMV website clearly states that NY does not record moving violations from other states. Exceptions are Quebec and Ontario, or any violation in any state involving alcohol or drugs. If you fail to pay a ticket from another state, that will be reported to NY and your NY license will be suspended. Bottom line, pay the out-of-state ticket and NY will never know. If it's not on your NY record, your insurance company will never know.

safedriver_usa

I had a court date today for jumping the red light (2 points + 84 $). Went to court saw the prosecutor & she brought down the charges to Obsturction to traffic flow (0 points & 50 $) + 33 $ court fees. (never saw or noticed the police officer who gave me the ticket, atleast he was not present in the court room)

Thnx to all the people who contributed their experiences. This forum ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

schibs

I got a ticket yesterday (9/9) for tailgating on route 287 outside of bridgewater, NJ. This is a 5 point offense. It was committed in a 65 mph zone.

Mitigating circumstances:
- The woman whom I pulled up on was doing 50 in the passing lane while on her cell phone and digging through her purse.
- I was not menacingly close, 2 car lengths at 50 mph.

After the traffic cleared from the right lane, I passed her, exceeding the speed limit. I received a written warning for this.

What do you think my chances are in going to the court date and pleading this down to unsafe driving? This carries no points and a similar fine.

My driving record is spotless. I am 23 and graduated with honors from Rutgers University.

tidester

It will be your word against the officer's regarding the separation between you and the car in front unless he/she had some sort of measuring device. The officer will have some kind of argument supporting his/her claim of how far apart you were.

If a measuring device was used your defense must be that it was (a) not correctly calibrated, (b) the officer used it improperly or (c) the officer had not been properly trained. This will take some serious digging up of information on your part.

If no measuring device was used then be prepared with some kind of empirical evidence to support your contention that you were at a safe distance (number of dashed highway lines separating the vehicles at a given instant, timing indicators such as how long it took you to reach the a point where the other driver was when you started your timing, etc.).

Your driving record and academic standing hold no sway in court.

tidester, host

viceguy

Hi all,
I was stopped by a cop in Mount Olive around 2 weeks ago for cutting someone off to pull into a diner after the traffic light turned green. In all defense, I thought i had reasonable amount of time and space to change lanes and pull into the driveway. Although no horns were honked the cop didn't believe that. He asked if I had some alcohol to drink and I told him yes, around 2-3 beers. After passing the sobriety tests he made me do he came back and gave me a ticket for an unsafe lane change which i believe is 2 points and an $85 ticket. My court date is tomorrow and i'm wondering if I should bother going and plead not guilty, try to get the points removed and pay the higher fee and court fee or just pay the $85 and remove the points by taking a defensive driving class.
Any advice on this would help.
Thanks

jag15

My fiance got a speeding ticket from the Delaware River Port Authority Police. He was going allegedly 76mph in a 45mph zone. He got an automatic court date on the ticket he received. My question is 1. Does he hire a lawyer from the list of 20 letters we got requesting to represent him, 2. Does he plead not guilty in court 3. What type of fine and points does 31 mph over the speed limit get you? 4. He is from Pa. does this have any bearing on what he does in court? Thanks

quasiboo

Hello Everyone,

This happened to me yday and it has me v upset as its my first ticket. Basically I was driving a rental car and pulled a U-turn to get into a gas pump. I was planning to pull up behind this car. I already had my foot off the gas as I was taking the U-turn. As I pulled up behind the card, my foot went on the wrong pedal and I bumped the car ahead of me at about 5 mph and it moved ahead by about 3 feet.

Nobody was hurt and there wasnt any damage to his car. The license plate on the rental got roughed up a bit. The guy in the car called the state police. He said he needed it as a safety precaution as the car was in park and and the transmission might've been damaged. So the cops came and took down the facts. After about 20 minutes, the cop gave me a careless driving ticket and said a couple of things which went over my head as I was still stressed about having bumped the car.

I got my license about 1 month back and I was wondering what I should do. First question, the guy drove off and the car was fine. Can he come a month later, saying his car transmission is screwed up and ask me to pay? Second, should I fight this ticket or just pay it off? I apologised to the folks in the car like 10 times and they were really nice about everything. The cops seemed ok too so the ticket caught me unaware. Obviously, I feel guilty for having been stupid and now I dont know what to do.

Will this affect my insurance going forward, say even 2 years from now? If I am to fight this ticket, what should I do?

bobst

If you were tailgating a lame-brained person who was talking on a cell phone and going through her purse, then you were wrong. You should keep a safe distance from people like that.

Accept your well-earned 5 points and go in peace and sin no more.

tidester

the cop gave me a careless driving ticket

I don't live in NJ and I do not know the answer to your question but it seems to me that if the citation actually uses the word "careless" then it is much less serious than "wreckless" driving so it may have little, if any, impact on your insurance.

Anyone have experience with this in NJ?

tidester, host

qbrozen

It is a 2-point ticket (and tidester is right, its less offensive than "wreckless" which carries 5 points). It MAY not affect your insurance right this moment (you'd have to check with your insurance company to find out their rules on the matter), but it could affect it if you get another moving violation in the next 3 years.

I think you could go to court with this and have a very good change of them reducing it to an offense with zero points. It will cost you more money now, but possibly save you from paying more later if you happen to get another ticket.

bobst

Heck, if everyone engaged in wreckless driving there would be no need for car insurance.

qbrozen

there's no time for good spelling on the boards, bobst.

navkanch

I got pulled by the cop in Piscataway Nj. My speeding was 43 on 25miles lane. I have been summoned on Oct 26/06. What do I do? Shall I pay the fine along with the charge of removing the point or dispute it. If by paying I remove the point, does the insurance come to know and do they increase the premium. Please reply me, this is my 1st in my 3 years of record

bataillek

Hello. Excellent place going on here and I'd like to get some advice on my situation please. I was pulled over on Rte. 80 in Patterson by the Sheriff recently. I was stuck behind someone in the fast lane not even doing the speed limit, so I went into the center lane then pulled up and went back into the fast lane. I was pulled over for Improper Passing - a 4 point ticket. I haven't received a ticket in 16 years. I have never heard of someone getting pulled over for this. Of course, it was the end of the month.

I've never been to court, but people have been telling me about paying the fee so as to not get points on my insurance. I've read most of the responses here, but I just wanted to get some clarification for my situation. I should plead 'Not Guilty', correct? Then what do I do? Is there a prosecutor outside the courtroom that I talk to next? Can I really get the points taken off? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

qbrozen

I've never heard of getting a ticket for this, either. That's absolutely ridiculous, in my opinion. He should have pulled over the person holding up left lane traffic!

I'd absolutely go to court over this, if for no other reason than pure principle.

Yes, plead not guilty. Yes, you will then go see the prosecutor.

If it were me, I'd fight it tooth and nail. I would not be happy accepting ANY moving violation for passing someone on the right who is obstructing traffic.

And, on a personal note, slapping people with improper passing in cases like this and NOT citing those who are obstructing traffic only encourages more road rage. I would have let the cop know this, as well!

ARRRggh!! ok.... where did i put my pills....

qbrozen

I'm not sure what you mean... but paying the fine without going to court means you GET the points on your license. And, for 18 mph over the limit, this is a 4-point ticket. If you pay and accept the points, your insurance will most definitely know about it.

If you go to court and plead to a no-point violation, then it will not affect your insurance at all.