Got a Ticket

[Marilyn]

Originally Posted by Ponyup

Where do I go to request to take defensive driving & have the ticket dimissed. I'm all for that. You can take it over the internet now. Do I go to the BMW or do I have to call the court house & meet with a judge?

Don't know how it works where you are, but here we have to contact the judge's office and they will get the forms ready for you to pickup. You have to fill out a form requesting permission to take defensive driving, and stating that you have not done so within the past 12 months for a ticket dismissal. Pay your fines and the fee for processing of the form. Send off to Austin for a copy of your driving record. Then you take defensive driving and take or send the DD completion certificate with the copy of your driving record and proof of insurance to the judge's office before your deadline (usually you have 60 days). In Texas there are websites that offer the defensive driving, and for procrastinators, you can pay an extra fee and they will rush your certificate and if you haven't gotten your copy of your driving record, and your deadline is almost here, they will, for a fee, rush your driving record from Austin. You can also drive there and pick it up yourself the same day if you need to, but this is a large state, and if you are not close to Austin, that would be a pain.

Here in Texas, once this is completed and processed by the judge, the ticket won't show on your driving record but defensive driving will, but not the reason you took defensive driving, and there are some folks that take it for an insurance discount, so just because it's on there is not an indication that you got a ticket.

Hope this helps!! and will work where you are.

[DianaB]

Personally, I wouldn't worry about 6 points if you're allowed 18 especially in a two year period. If you get another ticket then just slow down until the two years are up. It's no big deal! Just shrug it off!

[Tiramisu]

Funny, I had almost forgotten that I got pulled over last Sunday afternoon. A couple of the g-kids were with me when I got the call that my Mom had gone into a coma. I took them home and was SPEEDING back home to get on the road to Louisiana. A deputy constable was going the opposite direction and turned around with his lights on. I honestly thought the limit was 45mph, but he said I was going 48 in a 30. I was already crying and told him what was going on and that I hadn't had any kind of ticket in 19 years. When he saw my car packed, he told me that he was sorry and to please "try to slow down and be safe".

Of course, if he had followed me, he could have pulled me over again right up the road. I keep it about 5 miles over, but can let the hammer down when I'm by myself.

[Ponyup]

Originally Posted by DianaB

Personally, I wouldn't worry about 6 points if you're allowed 18 especially in a two year period. If you get another ticket then just slow down until the two years are up. It's no big deal! Just shrug it off!

Thanks Diana, this makes me feel a little better. My friend michelle said even if I take Defensive driving my insurance will probably go up. I have to call today & find out how much my ticket was. I'm a little nervous. I've been being really careful & staying on roads I know & following the speed limit. If hubby is with me; I've been making him drive. I miss driving, but I know I'm not capable of slowing myself down.