Q: First ticket in Dupage county at age of 18.
I got a ticket the other night going 80 on a 55. I don't really think I was traveling that fast. I own a radar detector which never went off. I understand the officer was using lidar as stated on the ticket. However, when i questioned what form of radar he was using he was very hesitant to tell me. The officer and other officers were running a speed trap. I can only assume he was the one running the radar and calling out the cars ahead for other officers to pull the people over. But, because all the other officers had people pulled over he came to get me personally. I wrote down everything that occurred and I'm in the process of requesting video and audio of me speeding. I truly believe he is using another persons speed against me. This is my first ticket, I'm a 18 year old male. I don't need to attend court due to this being my first offense. Will this be put on my record if I pay the ticket and will my insurance rise? What happens if I get another citation, suspension of my license?
A:
Yes, it can be put on your record and that will cause your rates to go up in most cases. As for suspension, you will be suspended if you are convicted of two moving violations (note this is different than supervision) for tickets issued within 24 months of each other. If you get another citation, your chance of suspension increases but at this time, you cannot be suspended by this ticket.
As to mailing the ticket in, this is VERY risky. Because you are so young and were going so fast (according to the ticket), the prosecutor is likely to deny you court supervision. This will result in the conviction that can harm your license, be viewed by employers, and raise your insurance rates. A much better option would be to attend court or have a traffic attorney attend court for you and request court supervision.
As for fighting the ticket, you would do well not making such a fuss. Proving you weren't going THAT fast is irrelevant unless you are claiming you were going 55mph. Speeding is speeding. That said, there have been changes to the highway speed zones which may reduce the impact of this ticket on your record.
If you have any questions, let me know!
1 user found this answer helpful
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