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Just got a Speeding Ticket from DC in the mail (1 Viewer)

Insein

Insein

Footballguy
Went to DC two weeks ago for a weekend trip with the family. Just got a ticket in the mail for $400. I was on 295 (a highway) doing 62. They said it was a 40mph zone. I don't remember that. It's a highway for ####s sake. But what really annoys me is that they took my picture and declared it so. Didn't come pull me over. Just hit me with this egregious amount for a speeding ticket. I've never had a ticket more than $200 for speeding. This is quite the racket they have down there. 

So I either can dispute it then have to drive 3+ hours down to court and 3+ hours back on the chance that maybe I'll get some money taken off. Or I eat it like the #### sandwich that it is.

What a nice letter to find in the box on a beautiful Saturday.

 
It’s common here in Baltimore/DC. It was likely a work zone where the speed limit dropped for a mile or so. They have little white Ford SUVs hidden behind “port o potty’s” equipped with a radar and camera on the hood. 

Complete money grab. 

 
What pisses me off the most is that I was driving slow. I normally go about 75-85 mph but I was purposely keeping it down around 60 on the highway to hopefully avoid this situation. 

 
Insein said:
What pisses me off the most is that I was driving slow. I normally go about 75-85 mph but I was purposely keeping it down around 60 on the highway to hopefully avoid this situation. 
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Like said above, just a money grab. Harder to pull off if a cop pulls you over . Then you are in the moment even more certain.

 
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Insein said:
Not risking that. Says if I don't pay by 8/31, the fine jumps to $800.
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I've been there with parking tickets that I thought were bs.  I'm not willing to fight that battle especially if it involves hiring a lawyer and/or having to travel back to the location where it occurred. 

 
Oof.  You are complaining about going 20+ mph over the speed limit in a construction zone.  They should have fined you twice as much.

 
It sucks--but as long as you have confirmed that it is a "real" ticket and not some sort of scammer--pay it and move on.  I've known lots of people that have ignored paying tickets and it pretty much always comes back to haunt them in the future.   Besides that--if you were really going 50% faster than what the speed limit was for that zone and only got fined $400--that fine is not unreasonable. 

 
tjnc09 said:
Oof.  You are complaining about going 20+ mph over the speed limit in a construction zone.  They should have fined you twice as much.
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I don't think it was a construction zone. I don't see any orange in the picture they took. I'm in the middle lane on a 3 lane highway with no cars around me. No construction signs anywhere.

 
Yes, I've gotten these before. Its a BS money grab. Pretty sure they only send the tickets to out of state drivers, since they know we'll never drive all the way back there to fight it.

Surprised it was so much though. The last one i got was like $50.

And the definition of "construction zone" is pretty laughable. When I got one, there weren't any workers or heavy machinery or anything along the ride that might cause a dangerous situation (and would obviously make a slower speed limit a reasonable request). It was basically "Hey, there were some traffic cones in the shoulder".

Mine were cheaper, so I just paid them rather than risking further problems. But if they tried to hit me for 4 bills, I might try the "prove it was delivered to me" angle unless it came by certified mail.  And honestly, given the state of the world now, it wouldn't shock me if someone tried a scam by faking something like this.

 
Yes ticket is legit. Has the timestamp and officer code. And it is not a construction zone. Doesn't say it on the ticket. Doesn't show any construction items in the picture. It's just a major 3 lane highway that has a section that's 40mph.

 
And looking up the fine it says 50-$300. I guess I get the out of town rate with all of their fees thrown in or something.

 
I have no advice on whether to pay it or ignore it, but make sure that it’s a speeding violation and not reckless driving. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in those parts. I got one for doing 82 in a 70 in northern Virginia about 4 years ago. I had to hire a lawyer to fight it and plead down to speeding. 

 
I just got a speeding ticket in the mail from France from a few months back.  It was only 42 euros though.  $400 is a lot harder to swallow.  That's obscene.  

 
Man In The Box said:
I have no advice on whether to pay it or ignore it, but make sure that it’s a speeding violation and not reckless driving. Reckless driving is a misdemeanor in those parts. I got one for doing 82 in a 70 in northern Virginia about 4 years ago. I had to hire a lawyer to fight it and plead down to speeding. 
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Good advice.  You should also read the ticket to make certain that the date and other information is correct.  If they make a mistake and you were elsewhere, you may be clear.

 
dgreen said:
https://ddot.dc.gov/release/ddot-reduce-speed-limit-i-295-corridor-through-2021
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LOL, they did that solely for increased tickets. Having cops pull people over or being on the highway causes everyone to decrease speed, which might make things safer. I say might because now cars are closer together since every car spends more time on the road going the same distance. Taking pictures and sending tickets in the mail doesn't slow anyone down, it just makes more money.

I just got a ticket a year or so ago, first ticket in forever and I had to do that lawyer crap to avoid points and having to drive multiple hours (still in my state) for court. Just a radar and a half dozen cops pulling people over past the bridge. I got multiple letters from lawyers before I was even home from the trip. Pissed me off because I wasn't going fast, but I sped up because to get around that group of cars you always get behind where the idiots in the left lane are going the same speed as the slow people on the right.

Don't go on a long trip without Waze.

 
Mile High said:
Can This Simple Letter Get You Out of Paying a Red-Light or Speeding Camera Ticket?

https://m.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2013/12/18/can-this-simple-letter-get-you-out-of-paying-a-red-light-or-speeding-camera-ticket
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It's an intriguing thought. My problem is, if they want me to come to court, it's 3+ hours away. The court date will most likely be during the school year too. So that's just a no go all around. I'd love to find a way out of paying but I think they got me.

 
Insein said:
 They said it was a 40mph zone. I don't remember that. It's a highway for ####s sake. 
Click to expand...


Insein said:
What pisses me off the most is that I was driving slow. I normally go about 75-85 mph but I was purposely keeping it down around 60 on the highway to hopefully avoid this situation. 
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I think you are not being completely honest with us here ...

Nobody "purposely"  keeps is down to 60 on the highway - unless the speed limit has been lowered, and you know it.

 
Sinn Fein said:
I think you are not being completely honest with us here ...

Nobody "purposely"  keeps is down to 60 on the highway - unless the speed limit has been lowered, and you know it.
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I purposely kept it down to 60 to appease my wife. She's constantly complaining that I drive too fast so for the vacation, I was trying to make her happy. I figured it was a 55. 

 
Sinn Fein said:
I think you are not being completely honest with us here ...

Nobody "purposely"  keeps is down to 60 on the highway - unless the speed limit has been lowered, and you know it.
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You do if you are riding dirty. If not then you should. 

 
Hey man, sorry about the ticket. Ive been saying for years how those tickets just have to leave a bad taste in the mouths of the tourists who visit our fine capital. I think the majority of tourists use Uber but for folks like you who drive down its gotta blow chunks.

Thats what you get for coming here and not visiting your internet buddy that you sorta got to know 10+ years ago! S7uttmonkey and I could have shown your family a great time! 

Seriously, the ticket is messed up. (Hope you don't get anymore.... :oldunsure:  )

 
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If you're not comfortable with the letter, hire a lawyer.  They won't charge that much and will likely get it dismissed.  With a $400 ticket you will probably still spend close to that between lawyer and court costs but you will have the satisfaction of knowing their rigged game netted them nothing.

 
Insein said:
Went to DC two weeks ago for a weekend trip with the family. Just got a ticket in the mail for $400. I was on 295 (a highway) doing 62. They said it was a 40mph zone. I don't remember that. It's a highway for ####s sake. But what really annoys me is that they took my picture and declared it so. Didn't come pull me over. Just hit me with this egregious amount for a speeding ticket. I've never had a ticket more than $200 for speeding. This is quite the racket they have down there. 

So I either can dispute it then have to drive 3+ hours down to court and 3+ hours back on the chance that maybe I'll get some money taken off. Or I eat it like the #### sandwich that it is.

What a nice letter to find in the box on a beautiful Saturday.
Click to expand...
I would pay it and pay it well before the due date.  Years ago something similar happened to me, I got the ticket in person and I had already decided to pay it (this is pre-internet days) so I mailed it in but apparently it arrived late.  I got another letter in the mail stating "you missed the deadline, so you're being fined for paying late, blah, blah, blah" and I essentially had to pay double the ticket.  Awesome, lesson learned, pay the ticket quickly.

 
I got a red light ticket in the mail from Chicago.  150.00     There are 4 police officers in my golf league and they told me I don`t have to pay it.   That was 4 years ago and I have asked them to run my license to see if I have any outstanding unpaid tickets.  They did and nothing.

They told me the "mail" tickets are not the same as actual police traffic stops.

 
avoiding injuries said:
It’s common here in Baltimore/DC. It was likely a work zone where the speed limit dropped for a mile or so. They have little white Ford SUVs hidden behind “port o potty’s” equipped with a radar and camera on the hood. 

Complete money grab. 
Click to expand...
That explains why everyone drives ridiculously slow around there...

 
Mrs. Rannous said:
Good advice.  You should also read the ticket to make certain that the date and other information is correct.  If they make a mistake and you were elsewhere, you may be clear.
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Not true in California.  I remember getting a speeding ticket (my first, I believe) driving from brunch back to campus on my college graduation day.  The idiot cop wrote my driver's license number down incorrectly on the ticket.  Called and tried to get out of it based on that and they kinda just laughed it off and told me it didn't matter.

 
nirad3 said:
Not true in California.  I remember getting a speeding ticket (my first, I believe) driving from brunch back to campus on my college graduation day.  The idiot cop wrote my driver's license number down incorrectly on the ticket.  Called and tried to get out of it based on that and they kinda just laughed it off and told me it didn't matter.
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Im in MD so Im sure its different here but I think you have to actually go to court, not make a phone call. 

 
Da Guru said:
I got a red light ticket in the mail from Chicago.  150.00     There are 4 police officers in my golf league and they told me I don`t have to pay it.   That was 4 years ago and I have asked them to run my license to see if I have any outstanding unpaid tickets.  They did and nothing.

They told me the "mail" tickets are not the same as actual police traffic stops.
Click to expand...


Ive read and heard this too. 

 
Da Guru said:
I got a red light ticket in the mail from Chicago.  150.00     There are 4 police officers in my golf league and they told me I don`t have to pay it.   That was 4 years ago and I have asked them to run my license to see if I have any outstanding unpaid tickets.  They did and nothing.

They told me the "mail" tickets are not the same as actual police traffic stops.
Click to expand...
Same thing here.. although I didn't ask any cop friends.. I just thought it was bull#### and I wasn't paying it.  It was a "no right turn on red" and I was already in the intersection when it turned red..  No way in hell I was paying it.. It went up with "fines and fees" each time they sent me a letter.. but eventually they stopped sending them.

#### Chicago.. 

 
Ron Swanson said:
If you're not comfortable with the letter, hire a lawyer.  They won't charge that much and will likely get it dismissed.  With a $400 ticket you will probably still spend close to that between lawyer and court costs but you will have the satisfaction of knowing their rigged game netted them nothing.
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This is what I did. The ticket was a $500 misdemeanor. I hired a lawyer for $250 and got it knocked down to a $150 fine. 

 
We used to have speed cameras in Arizona. They had a policy that you were not legally obligated to pay the ticket unless you were served in person. The ticket was removed from the system after 90 days of non-payment. Most people didn't know this and just paid the ticket.

My little brother got over 20 photo speeding tickets and never paid any of them. Occasionally someone would try to serve him and he would just not answer the door. I got one that I never paid (on his advice) and nothing ever happened.

You may want to research the DC law, but I have no idea how they can prove you ever received the ticket in the mail if they don't serve you. I'd ignore it and see what happens.

 
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kutta said:
We used to have speed cameras in Arizona. They had a policy that you were not legally obligated to pay the ticket unless you were served in person. The ticket was removed from the system after 90 days of non-payment. Most people didn't know this and just paid the ticket.

My little brother got over 20 photo speeding tickets and never paid any of them. Occasionally someone would try to serve him and he would just not answer the door. I got one that I never paid (on his advice) and it nothing ever happened.

You may want to research the DC law, but I have no idea how they can prove you ever received the ticket in the mail if they don't serve you. I'd ignore it and see what happens.
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It must be different in DC. According to the traffic code, they consider the film or image "evidence without authentication." So they don't need to prove anything. The burden of proof is in me to prove my innocence. How nice.

https://code.dccouncil.us/dc/council/code/titles/50/chapters/22/subchapters/V/

 
kutta said:
We used to have speed cameras in Arizona. They had a policy that you were not legally obligated to pay the ticket unless you were served in person. The ticket was removed from the system after 90 days of non-payment. Most people didn't know this and just paid the ticket.

My little brother got over 20 photo speeding tickets and never paid any of them. Occasionally someone would try to serve him and he would just not answer the door. I got one that I never paid (on his advice) and it nothing ever happened.

You may want to research the DC law, but I have no idea how they can prove you ever received the ticket in the mail if they don't serve you. I'd ignore it and see what happens.
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This is exactly what I've been told by two state troopers/highway patrolmen.  It's a scare tactic to try and get money, if you ignore it they'll send another threatening letter asking for more, but they can't enforce anything unless they have proof that you've been served, and they're not sending them by certified mail so they can't prove jack. 

I'd say it's a combination of this, coupled with the fact that you're an out of state driver and therefore way less likely to fight it, they're hoping you give them a $400 donation. 

 
I really want to throw it out. Trust me. I'd love nothing more. But with a wife that has anxiety over everything, can't take the chance. She'd be worried forever after that the cops will come to our house and drag me away.

 
I had same thing happen last year, July 2018 in DC/VA area... received "$246 citation" for speeding (62 in 45 zone) & non-compliance in HOV area (3 in car, but son was reclined in back), and some other nonsense.  The picture was so obscure and grainy, there was no telling the make/model or plate info.  NC only has back plates.  I called the # on ticket to ask questions, but all they wanted was to get my name & phone # to connect to the ticket info.  I declined.  Gave "my name is Jerry" and no number avail.  Work phone goes thru switchboard (generic xxx-9000 exchange and 240+ employees here) on any caller Id readout. ....  So, after a few questions, I deduced they were not official police force but "contracted driving safety consultants" hired to provide added security to highways and enlisted to cite violators (CAN YOU SAY $$ SCAM).  I threw it away.  Never heard a thing since.  The only concern I had was the Quick Pass token.  But if they had that, I would have received something before now.

 
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