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-   -   Speeding ticket by a state trooper (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/speeding-ticket-state-trooper-915641/)

BigBoss1984 Aug 3rd 2018 1:34 am

Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Hey guys

I got my Green Card through an approved AOS that was approved on June 26.

Last night we were driving to Massachusetts from Pennsylvania, and I got stopped by a Massachusetts state trooper and given a speeding ticket of $160. Planning to pay it as soon as the citation becomes available to pay online.

Will this impact ROC or citizenship down the road?

Rete Aug 3rd 2018 1:44 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Nope. Hubby had two infractions on his license. People debate whether to even declare it on the N-400. We did as it was no harm, no foul.

BigBoss1984 Aug 3rd 2018 1:52 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Yeah I was thinking if they deny based on traffic infractions they’d be at a rate of about 90%!

tom169 Aug 3rd 2018 1:59 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
You may find it beneficial to have a traffic attorney look at it and possibly get rid of it for you.

TheKingOfHearts Aug 3rd 2018 2:33 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
From what I've read; unless you have a DUI or 5+ tickets then there is little risk of impact.

Rete Aug 3rd 2018 3:00 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
If you were clocked on radar, it would be difficult to fight. But I can tell you that the day I was driving home from Vermont after my first meeting with my now husband, I got a speeding ticket in a sleepy little Vermont town. I paid the fine and it never appeared on my New York Driver's record. You can always attend court and see about having the speed lowered for a smaller fine but to have it discharged without incurring any infraction would be most difficult. It won't affect your chances for removal of conditions and/or your naturalization. It will, however, up your auto insurance. See about attending classes, which I know are available in PA, that will take the points off your license.

civilservant Aug 3rd 2018 3:48 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
I have two, and am currently applying to natz. I'm not worried.

rpjs Aug 3rd 2018 4:22 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Might be worth researching if it's worth trying to plead it down with the relevant DA's office. My wife got ticketed for speeding in upstate NY and was able to plea it down to a parking violation. Apparently in NYS the state gets speeding fines but the municipalities get the fines for lesser things, so they have an incentive to negotiate. Might be true for your case too.

BigBoss1984 Aug 3rd 2018 7:24 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 

Originally Posted by Rete (Post 12542672)
If you were clocked on radar, it would be difficult to fight. But I can tell you that the day I was driving home from Vermont after my first meeting with my now husband, I got a speeding ticket in a sleepy little Vermont town. I paid the fine and it never appeared on my New York Driver's record. You can always attend court and see about having the speed lowered for a smaller fine but to have it discharged without incurring any infraction would be most difficult. It won't affect your chances for removal of conditions and/or your naturalization. It will, however, up your auto insurance. See about attending classes, which I know are available in PA, that will take the points off your license.

Yeah, I was clocked on the radar, so will just pay it. No point in fighting it I don’t think. To be honest I’m usually good at sticking to the speed limits but we had been driving for seven hours and I just wanted to get to Boston!

tom169 Aug 3rd 2018 2:19 pm

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 

Originally Posted by BigBoss1984 (Post 12542755)


Yeah, I was clocked on the radar, so will just pay it. No point in fighting it I don’t think. To be honest I’m usually good at sticking to the speed limits but we had been driving for seven hours and I just wanted to get to Boston!

Why? There are numerous ways the radar gun can be wrong! You're in America - the land of lawyers.

carcajou Aug 3rd 2018 3:08 pm

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Minor traffic infringements won't impact anything.

They also don't appear on your record. I've gotten a small number and they don't show up.

In many states, if you challenge the ticket and go to court, the officer has to show up too and if he/she doesn't you win and get the fine thrown out. Lots of Americans get out of them this way - though it can be inconvenient because you have to miss a day of work etc. I also don't know if technology advances means this is still the case or if radar data can just be uploaded to the court in lieu of an officer appearing.

As well if you are an out-of-stater, some states like Oregon do court-by-phone. I got a $300 one about 10 years ago there (hilly road, going down, slip of the foot, bang was 20 mph over and a cop hiding behind the bushes). Chose the court option, did it by phone from Seattle and got the fine reduced by about 20%.

scrubbedexpat099 Aug 3rd 2018 3:37 pm

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Where I am you can usually just get a seat belt infraction, pay but no points.

rbackhouse Aug 4th 2018 4:48 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 

Originally Posted by tom169 (Post 12542880)
Why? There are numerous ways the radar gun can be wrong! You're in America - the land of lawyers.

I agree, Also, while it may seem you are just paying the fine the potential increase in your car insurance premiums for the next 3 years could hit you hard in the pocket.

RICH Aug 4th 2018 4:56 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 
Am I alone in obeying speed limits!

rbackhouse Aug 4th 2018 5:04 am

Re: Speeding ticket by a state trooper
 

Originally Posted by RICH (Post 12543143)
Am I alone in obeying speed limits!

Are you saying you never ever go over by even 1mph over (pretty impossible IMO) or that you have a threshold of say 3/5/10 mph over ?


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