The officer said that I pulled out in front of a car as I was leavin' my school. I never saw the car or where the cop came from, but it doesn't matter since I got a ticket anyway. Any one have any ideas what kinda fine I'll be lookin' at and what I can do to try to keep my insurance from goin' up (I'm 16).

 

Is there not a fine amount on the ticket? If not, I am guessing you have to go to court.

See if there is one of the following in Texas:

1) Traffic school that diverts the fine;
2) Suspension of fine, pay court costs, probated for a year;
3) Some way to amend the ticket to a non-moving violation (parking ticket)...the fine will be up to double;

All of these will still cost as much if not more money initally, but the ticket will not hit your license, and that is obviously important at your age. I am not a Texas attorney, so I am not familiar with the law in that state, but most state have one of the above options or another to prevent first-time offenders from having their insurance increase. The aggravating factor is that you are sixteen, but it is a really insignificant violation, so you may have luck doing something. If nothing else, call your municipal court and ask if they have any programs or means by which the ticket will not hit your insurance. Also, if you do have to go to court, the judge I would think would be easy on you for this type of ticket so long as you plead guilty. When I was 17 in KY, I pled guilty, asked for traffic school to doing 15 mph over, and it was granted.

 

Don't know what the fine is but, see if you qualify for defensive driving or probation. There is probably a phone number on the ticket you can call to see how much it is.

 

Thanks for the ideas. I am supposed to appear in court. I think I'll probably end up taking defensive driving.

 

I'd check about the traffic school. There should be a phone number on the ticket that you can call to see if it qualifies. If you do that then you won't have any insurance increase. If it does hit your insurance, it probably won't be by much.

 

go to court and fight it.

 

Go to court and politely tell your side to the Judge.
Key points are:
Did the other vehicle file a complaint?
Was there any contact between vehicles?
Be nice and tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Judges can usually see through a cop that gives a teen a ticket just because they think they can.

Years ago my tires chirped on an uphill, wet road, up-shift. A cop gave me a ticket for careless driving.
When I went to court he was saying how I fishtailed for 40 feet, swerved into the other lane, etc.
I told the judge exactly what happened. It was up-hill, the road was wet. Yes, the tires chirpeed.
End result? Case dismissed.

Dress nice. Be nice. And tell the truth.

 

Yea I agree, it sounded like one of there "speed traps" or as you will, a "Teen trap."

 

Sounds like a trap to me. Here in Ill. you can go to court, plead guilty, request court supervision, which usually lasts for six months. If you successfully fullfill the requirements (no other tickets or offenses etc,) the ticket never appears on your record. I believe it's a one time deal and you already must have a clean driving record. It's worth paying the fines and court costs because it will save a person immensly on your insurance, hopefully it's an option in your state. I would imagine at your age your already paying outrageous insurance for that 05. Good Luck!

 

Yeah, my uncle wore his 2200 dollar suite and 9/11 tie to fight a ticket awhile back, lol.