Speeding ticket - pay it or lawyer up?

[Flashpoint]

Pay it, then never think of it again.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by Fire

Wow $338 is insanely high for only going 121 in a 100 zone. Speeding ticket fines are getting way too high. I wouldn't pay it if you live in the US.

Yeah, it's definitely high and they don't try to hide that fact:

https://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/PuttingBrakesSpeed.pdf

[kermitology]

Ugh.

That fine list makes me mad. We drove from Kenora to Calgary last weekend and my wife got a ticket in Manitoba just outside Brandon. 123 in a 100 zone. But they do this sneaky thing where they randomly drop the speed limit from 110 to 100 for a couple of kilometres. Neither of us happened to notice, my wife was passing someone and trying to get back into the right lane when she got tagged. $351 fine.

There’s no reason for it to have been 100. There’s nothing out there!

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

I was going 121 km/h in 100 km/h zone. Ticket is $338 which seems a little high. It's my first ticket from an actual officer at the window of the car. I normally don't speed.

Oh look, the old 21 km/h over ticket, cops will frame anything from 16 - 20 over as 21 over because that's usually the next line for fine and points, Absolutely plead not guilty. nothing to lose, everything to gain. before it goes to the judge tell the prosecutor you'll plead guilty to 10 over as long as there's no points, pay a small fine and go get a beer. 9 out of 10 prosecutors will take this deal as they still get a "conviction win" on their record.

P.S. If you loose, tell the judge a $338.00 fine for going 21 over in a 100 is the most ######ed thing you ever saw and you'll be appealing to the supreme court.

Manitoba = no good

[DownhillGoat]

Isn't all this talk of demerits pointless if he has a US driver's license?

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by DownhillGoat

Isn't all this talk of demerits pointless if he has a US driver's license?

Not necessarily, some states and provinces have reciprocal agreements to report tickets to get payments and report demerit points.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus

Not necessarily, some states and provinces have reciprocal agreements to report tickets to get payments and report demerit points.

AFAIK, the only province that does with California is Quebec.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

Yeah, it's definitely high and they don't try to hide that fact:

https://www.mpi.mb.ca/en/PDFs/PuttingBrakesSpeed.pdf

I never realized Manitoba was that unreasonable.

[PaperBagger'14]

Alberta makes it a mandatory court appearance at 50km/h above the limit, surprised to see in peopletoba its 100km/h.

[Ducay]

I "bucked up" and didn't fight one and just paid it. Do not recommend. Impact on insurance alone (like $150 more a year) pays for hiring someone like PONITTS or whoever local there would be worth it. Even if all they do is get it lowered or the demerits removed.

My ticket was on the TransCanada and so my court date was in Cochrane and I figured I was doing the right thing. Big mistake.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

If you do go back to Manitoba, do not let them take you alive.

The mosquitos?

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Ducay

I "bucked up" and didn't fight one and just paid it. Do not recommend. Impact on insurance alone (like $150 more a year) pays for hiring someone like PONITTS or whoever local there would be worth it. Even if all they do is get it lowered or the demerits removed.

My ticket was on the TransCanada and so my court date was in Cochrane and I figured I was doing the right thing. Big mistake.

My buddy use to own an insurance company and said they have the pay to access your records so don’t unless they have a reason too. Said it only impacted your rates if you tell them or if they had a reason to check .

I’ve gotten many a ticket over the past 10 years and insurance never moved. Are you sure it didn’t just increase due to other factors?

Can anyone in industry confirm ?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

My buddy use to own an insurance company and said they have the pay to access your records so don’t unless they have a reason too. Said it only impacted your rates if you tell them or if they had a reason to check .

I’ve gotten many a ticket over the past 10 years and insurance never moved. Are you sure it didn’t just increase due to other factors?

You are likely correct as they only ran my driver's extract because I was setting up a new policy for a new vehicle. Whether or not they also run it periodically I can't say.

Either way, still better off hiring someone to get the demerits/fines reduced.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Whether or not they also run it periodically I can't say.

Either way, still better off hiring someone to get the demerits/fines reduced.

They will run it periodically. But Jason14 is correct, it costs them money to run it in Alberta, so they generally only do every few years, or if they continually find tickets. Which is why some insurance companies remind you to contact them if you get a ticket.

As far as your insurance going up, it will with or without the demerits, as the ticket still shows up on your abstract, insurance will base it on having the infraction alone. If fighting one, unless you already have a ton of demerits, you're better off removing the fine instead of the demerits, IMO.

[calgarygringo]

In the biz and yes they are supposed to run everybody. Right now there is a huge clampdown on bad drivers so they are on a blitz and it is going to get worse just stay tuned as lots more changes coming down the pipe.

Originally Posted by Jason14h

My buddy use to own an insurance company and said they have the pay to access your records so don’t unless they have a reason too. Said it only impacted your rates if you tell them or if they had a reason to check .

I’ve gotten many a ticket over the past 10 years and insurance never moved. Are you sure it didn’t just increase due to other factors?

Can anyone in industry confirm ?

[dustygoon]

Thanks for all the tips. The cop acted like a jerk including to my kids in back seat who said “hi”. So underneath all this, I want to push back. Kermitology’s story is identical to mine. I’ve never heard of cops nailing you after you pass someone if you are slowing down (I needed to slow down faster).