Just got my CDL, then got a speeding ticket in my car. Should I go to court?

A good lawyer should be able to drop it down to a littering ticket or failure to show proof of registration or insurance. do not listen to any one else that says you're screwed because you're not. you're just going to put a nice dent into you're wallet. It is not considered reckless driving unless the officer gave you a ticket that says reckless driving. I got a speeding ticket in my jeep a few months ago for 47 in a 25 i didn't see the sign and every one else was still passing me so didnt think much of it. but any ways my lawyer dropped it down to failure to have proof of registration and nothing went on my driving record. so needless to say you are not screwed. it cost me 250 for the whole thing including lawyer fees and fines. you just gotta find ya a good lawyer and ask him what he can drop it down to.

 

OucH!

Maybe even tarnished it.
Now it depends on how well you can polish 'er back to a mirror finish.
With some sincere effort you might be able to buff-out the blemish all together.

If you're not sure how traffic court works, and you're not working yet, --- if you have the time, my advice would be to utilize this opportunity to get some experience, hands on. Do NOT just pay the fine! Contest the citation, even if that would make an attorney necessary. I don't know what your investment in time and money is at this point, but I'd imagine it's enough to justify attorney fees. Chalk that up to protecting your investment.

You didn't mention where you live or where you received the speedin' citation.
Some courts are more lenient that others, --- but in our current economy status,
one thing just about all of them have in common is a need to generate income.
Dollars.
It's likely your court is most concerned with collecting a few from you.
With a possible reckless driving charge, and speeding already established, their safety vision is probably clouded by dollar signs. If so, it's possible for an agreement to be made to pay in excess of whatever the cap is on the current charges, for a reduction from a moving violation to something that won't raise red flags in the Big truck truckin' industry.

There was a speed-trap town in Oklahoma that offered a deal for an additional fifty dollars, ---
the speeding citation they'd just written, wouldn't be written in any record book(s).
As though it never happened. Popular with out of state/area tourists and Big truck truck drivers.

If I were you, I'd personally call or visit your court and run your situation by whomever there is qualified to answer accurately. Acting as your own attorney, so to speak, to determine your options. With that information, if necessary, ask more questions, --- here or where ever --- weigh the results and all things considered, make your decision(s) as to course of action then.
Again, depending on where you reside and received the citation, it may be a case that will go away if you throw enough money at it.

Another important point to remember not to forget ---->

And that means ANYthing you drive on the highways.
Personal vehicle, rental U-Haul, --- that all reflects on your CDL-A.
Also note the normal BAC of 0.08 for those without a CDL-A is half that ANY time --- 0.04, for those who hold a CDL-A and want to keep it. (Not to insinuate that you're in need of any warning in that regard)

But speeding? ------->

There's some more food for thought.

On a more positive note ----->

Y'all never know 'till y'all try.

If you decide an attorney is in your best interest,
consider this advice ----->

Feelin' any better now?

On a more blunt note, but something to give
serious thought ----->

How the Big truck truckin' industry views that violation is a fact.

I agree to a point.
Whereas it's likely that SOMEthing will appear on a report, it may not necessarily be the original charge(s). If an agreement to change the record to something less serious, like maybe failing to come to a complete stop, or failing to signal a turn, perhaps, --- who'd ever know the rest of the story?

I agree with that. :smt045
Please, keep us informed.

 

Call drivers legal plan. Easily the best money ive spent. I had a "failure to obey traffic control device" in GA that was reduced to "to fast for conditions" and wasn't even reported outside the local agency.

 

And you can get hired still. I had a 15 over in a personal vehicle and USX hired me straight from school.

 

To the guys saying this guy is screwed, stop trying to scare him. Even with the speeding ticket he can still find a job. May be more of a challenge that not having one but its a speeding ticket not reckless driving. Reckless driving would be more like going 60 in a 30. To the op, don't worry to much just do what some of these guys are saying and plea not guilty and I'm 99.9% sure the ticket will be reduced...

 

Court or lawyer

 

I just got my first speeding ticket in over 20 years tonight. 65 in a 55 coming over the grapevine in Cali. Everything I've read so far is that the trucker lawyers are worth the money I'd the speeding is over 15 mph which would be considered reckless? Otherwise since its my it shouldn't be that much and since i i work for an owner operator, it isn't that bad. Comments?

 

If you're able to appear in court and plead not guilty you'll get another court date where they'll reduce the charge of record and you'll pay the fine for the original charge. If you're unable to appear in court both times, get an attorney or service to handle it for you at additional cost.

 

A lawyer would be worth the money since it's a CDL. 15 over, you can still get a trucking job, just maybe not with the company you prefer in the beginning.

 

"Reckless" is 15mph over the posted speed.

anj8488, you are correct and I stand corrected! I just called USX and they claim that if that is they only thing on your record that it would be acceptable for an inexperienced driver to get hired on.

So to the original poster of this thread, CALL US XPRESS!!!