The problem with traffic ticket threads is that laws vary so much between the states, what seems like good advice in one state may be the exact thing NOT to do in another.

Georgia clearly has different laws than other states. 9 over IS reported to your insurance company in Florida. It's also 3 points on your license.

From FL DMV:
Unlawful speed - 15 MPH or less over lawful or posted speed 3 Points

Bullitt is absolutly right. We do have it made in some departments though. I have had several dropped/reduced and not on my record. Due to my job pulls my record every year. I have a CDL and there are stricter laws for us. That's why I had to go to court to get them reduce to keep my CDL. But I have been good for awhile now.Two major offenses in three years (kind of harsh) you lose your CDL for 60 days. Major offense for CDL's are running light/ stop sign, 15 over, following to closely, school zone violation, and DUI, which can only be half the legal limit of a normal driver. So that's not much.

I have hired a lawyer for about 10 years now for all my traffic citations. My man has won about 15 cases for me, lost 0. Yes, I drive fast, it's a hobby. Hire a very good lawyer.

Your traffic violations go on something called a Motor Vehicle Report. Most states charge insurance companies a lot of money to view these reports. At least, a lot compared to what you pay for 6 months of auto insurance premium. Thus, companies usually only check these reports at new business. Therefore, unless you decide to switch insurance companies it is unlikely your insurance company will find out.

Also, why don't we demand that our politicians relax the driving laws? We're the voters! They should fear us!

Because it's more popular to pretend like you care about the safety of drivers and child pedestrians. It's not that the driving laws all do a good job of this, but they don't have to. They were written to appear like they do.

Welcome to politics.

That varies a lot by state. In some states the RMV/DMV directly notifies your insurance company, in MA this is more or less instantaneous.

In my area (Philadelphia) usually if you show up for your ticket you can usually work out something with the judge, if you don't have a history of tickets. Multiple occasions I just payed the fine and they waived the points. Just don't be a jerk with "The Man" and they might be cool with you. It's really all dependent on where you live and the nature of the ticket..a 9 over is nothing so its worth a shot to ask.

I always show up to court.

They will ask you to plead innocent or guilty. Do neither. Tell them you want to speak with the prosecuting attorney.

They will shuffle you to the back of the line, as it were, and you will get your chance to speak with the attorney.

At this point, I always politely admit that I was in the wrong, and understand that a fee must be paid, but that I don't have the extra $$ to cover driving-school to keep it off my insurance (in my state, they will dismiss 1 ticket per year via a 1-day course at a driving school where they show you videos of drinking/driving accidents and try to make you feel bad). I tell them I don't have the $50 or $75 or whatever, and that I was able swing the money I needed to pay my ticket, but that was all, and I sure can't afford an insurance price hike--gas alone is killer as it is!

At this point, they will either hard-line you and you get the ticket and the driving school (you qualify for that per my state and TX, for your speed, btw, if that means anything)--or they will confer with the judge.

What has always happened in my case is I get charged $120 for a missing gas-cap or some other such nonsense.

The last ticket I did this with was a 41 in a 25 residential area. Hey, it was a huge 2-lane with noone and no cars on it and the bastard was hiding behind a bush and had his motorcycle out of site. I felt cheated.

Good luck!

ALWAYS GO TO COURT! Court fee's for the arraignment are included in the ticket. Make sure you get your money's worth out of the damn thing!

I have only had ONE ticket ever stick, and it was an 89 in a 60 and the cop had been jockeying a desk for 5 years and was itching to draw some blood. The court did allow me to take the driving-course and keep it off insurance. In LA, tickets are cheap. That costme $160+Driving-school=$200 total.

I got my first ticket in 15 years this fall. 65 in a 55. Cop was a total ****, of course it was in a "work zone" so it was a double fine too. I didn't have time time to fvck with the system so I just paid it.