How can I negotiate my speeding ticket with the DA?

Question

A few weeks ago I got a speeding ticket from a rude Sheriff's Deputy. He was professional enough but didn't really give me an opportunity to speak about anything. I was clocked doing 70mph in a 55mph zone. He gave me a citation which would add four points to my license and incur a fine of $188.

I mailed a not guilty plea into the court and was assigned a date for a pretrial hearing and a trial. The pretrial hearing is eight days from now. Today, I got a letter from the DA who offered to drop my ticket to three points and take $10 off the fine. I find this offer practically insulting. I have had a clean driving record for over 13 years with only one other moving violation when I was 16 years old (I'm 29 now).

What is the best way to ask him for what I want? Preferably I would get them to drop the ticket in light of my sterling criminal and driving record. Barring that, I'd be ok with paying the fine and incurring no points (therefore no increase in insurance premiums). How should I ask for this? Should I mail in a counter-offer or should I appear in court and plead my case directly? I'd really like to avoid going to court if possible and taking a day off work, but I will if I have to.

q S · Accepted Answer

Remember, you are dealing with a lawyer. Lawyers love to talk and argue. A negotiation starts with an offer and then a counter offer. If you can't be firm and convincing, you'll have no chance at all. The DA is so busy, they don't have time to look up everyone's driving record. So a driver with 99 tickets and a driver with 0 tickets get the same offer.

Also, they won't have time to read your mail either. These guys are really overworked and underpaid.

Show up in court with a dark suit and tie. Hide your tattoos and remove your facial piercings. The DA is also real conservative so consider a short hair cut (if you're a guy).

Next show some confidence, bring a print out of your driving record (probably a few dollars at DMV) and then propose your counter-offer. This will probably be followed up with his counter offer. Don't be rude but be firm. Tell him the deputy was rude (he probably already knows him).

It's not like the DA gets a commission of your fine or points. He doesn't care he just needs to move cases along and he can't afford to waste time with a full court hearing (it's not a trial for speeding).

Anonymous · Answer

That insulting offer isn't all that insulting at all! Especially for 15 over the speed limit.You got to remember that your fine for something like speeding is something like $20.00. It's the court cost, fees, victims help fund ect... that makes the ticket $100 and something dollars. Many of those fees the DA doesn't have direct control over because they are required by law to be add as court cost and only a judge can drop them. If you don't like what the DA offered you, your only other opinion is that you take your chances to protest it in court only to loose and having to pay the extra fine and getting 4 points instead of 3 points. Most DA offices in larger counties won't make an appointment out side of court to handle a speeding ticket, its small potatoes compared to what else they are working on.

Vinegar Taster · Answer

Are you serious ? TAKE THE OFFER AND MOVE ON !!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe they can pay you instead ?
Rolling Stones : You can't always get what you want...

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How can I negotiate my speeding ticket with the DA?

3 Answers