My son, 18 years old, just got a ticket for speeding 82 in a 60 zone in Camdenton, MO. It’s his first ticket ever and I’m not sure what his options are. The ticket was issued on 11/08/2024 at 6:21 PM. Anyone know what he should do or what options he has? Not sure if we need a lawyer or if there’s any chance to avoid points on his license or reduce the fine. Appreciate any advice!
Oof, that’s tough. First ticket can be a bit nerve-wracking, but he might be able to take a defensive driving course to avoid points. Did the officer mention anything about that?
Avery said:
Oof, that’s tough. First ticket can be a bit nerve-wracking, but he might be able to take a defensive driving course to avoid points. Did the officer mention anything about that?
No, the officer didn’t mention anything like that. He just gave him the ticket and that was it.
@West
Gotcha. So, from what I know, defensive driving courses are an option for some first-timers. You might want to ask the court if it’s available. Sometimes they’ll allow it to keep the points off his record.
I’d recommend looking up the fines for that area. In some places, if you’re a first-time offender, they might reduce the fine or let you pay it off without points. Has he been to court yet?
Derry said:
I’d recommend looking up the fines for that area. In some places, if you’re a first-time offender, they might reduce the fine or let you pay it off without points. Has he been to court yet?
Not yet, we’re still figuring out the next steps. I’m not sure if he needs to go to court or if there’s another way to handle it.
@West
Ah, got it. Well, you can call the court to ask if a plea bargain or traffic school is an option. Some places are pretty lenient with first-time offenders.
He might want to just pay the fine if he’s not too concerned about the points. If it’s his first ticket, I’d imagine they might cut him some slack. Just make sure he doesn’t let it go unpaid, or it could get worse.
@Terry
Good point. He definitely doesn’t want to ignore it. Thanks for the advice!
Speeding 22 mph over is pretty serious, but since it’s his first ticket, there might be room for negotiation. You could also check online if the state offers any reductions for first-time offenses.
Hadi said:
Speeding 22 mph over is pretty serious, but since it’s his first ticket, there might be room for negotiation. You could also check online if the state offers any reductions for first-time offenses.
I’ll look into that. I didn’t realize there might be room for negotiation. Thanks!
IDK much about the specific rules in Camdenton, but it might be worth hiring a lawyer if you want to fight it. They could help reduce the penalty or maybe even get it dropped if the circumstances are right.
@Phoenix
I was thinking about that too. I’m just not sure if it’s worth the cost. I guess we’ll figure that out soon.
@Phoenix
Yeah, it’s a tough call. But sometimes lawyers can get good results even if the ticket seems clear. You never know!