Last September, I had the unfortunate luck of getting pulled over for speeding on the Palisades Interstate Parkway. Anyway, I had to go into court this week to try to avoid getting any points. Instead of ranting about how 50 mph is too slow for the parkway, I decided it's better to use my experience to help others who may get stuck in the same situation.I'm not sure that this applies to everyone who gets a speeding ticket in New Jersey, but if you got a speeding ticket on the Palisades Parkway and are looking to pay extra money in order to avoid points, then this definitely a guide for you....
Call the Police Station After Getting the Ticket:
Despite the fact that the ticket clearly states "Notice to Appear" and "Court Date", you don't have a right to show up on that date unless you reserve a spot at least a week in advance. So if you go to court that day without having called, like I did, you're just going to be told to go back home and call the police station the next morning to set a new appointment. And if you're like me, that new date will be 4 months from when you got the actual ticket.
Clear Your Schedule:
Some people have the deluded idea that they'll go into court, speak to someone real quick, pay the fine, and be on their way. If you go into court thinking that, you're in for a rude awakening. There are over 50 people (maybe even 100 people) who are going into court that very same day and only one prosecutor and one judge to handle all of their claims. So the process is slow and cumbersome.
I was one of the first "not guilty"'s to get out of court that day and I was there for over three and a half hours. I would imagine that the 90% of the people behind me didn't get out for at least another hour. So make sure that you leave yourself plenty of time to wait the day you go to court.
PS. Getting there early is pointless unless you're doing it to get parking -- you will not finish any earlier by getting there early.
PPS. Lawyers have priority. So if you really want to save time (but spend extra money), hire a lawyer.
Don't Sit in the Courtroom:
The courtroom is small, so not everyone who goes shows can fit. This is a good thing for you. If you sit in the courtroom, you're forced to stay absolutely quiet, sitting very close to strangers. If you're in the lobby, you can still hear the judge, but you can walk around and make a phone call outside if you have to.
The main benefit, however, is that being outside the room puts you in a better position to meet with the prosecutor. After the judge goes through his spiel, he tells all the not-guilty's to go out to the lobby to wait on line to plea with the prosecutor. If you're already out in the lobby, you just stand next to the prosecutor's door. That's how I ended up being fourth in line, while the people in the court room were all the way at the end of the line.
Plead Not Guilty:
When you go into court, the judge calls your name and asks you to plead guilty, not guilty, or request an adjournment. They say that if you're not sure, to plead not guilty.
If you're trying to pay a speeding ticket and avoid the points, you have to plead not guilty. By doing so, you're given a chance to make a deal with the prosecutor. He'll then offer to change your speeding charge to an "unsafe driving" charge (NJSA 39:4-92.2). "Unsafe driving" does not come with any points, but costs $380.
One thing you should note is that you can only use this twice during a five year period. After that, "unsafe driving" comes with four points.
PS. Be prepared with cash or a check. They don't accept credit.
Bring a Baby:
Okay, I'm being facetious with this one... kind of. Obviously, you shouldn't purposely bring a baby if you have a choice to drop them off with a baby sitter or something. It's just that while I was there, three people who had babies were allowed to go ahead of me. These people thus got out a little bit faster than me. I'm not saying you should try use kids to "abuse" the system. I'm just saying, you know, that's what I saw while I was there.
Anyway, I hope this guide helps if you ever get caught in a situation like mine. And considering how many people I see pulled over on the Palisades Parkway nowadays, I wouldn't be surprised if that was a lot of you. Good luck and happy point dodging!
33 comments:
i haven't gotten a speeding ticket yet, but if i do, i will remember your post! thanks for the helpful advice.
it's pps, not pss, as in post-post-script.
pip court is actually probably the worst court system around this area. most other places have a much better system of getting to see the prosecutor before court. not during court which is just silly making people wait hours
pip court is actually probably the worst court system around this area. most other places have a much better system of getting to see the prosecutor before court. not during court which is just silly making people wait hours
Those Parkway County cops will pull you over for absolutely ANYTHING! They are THE WORST! Do 50mph and stay on the left lane! I was doing 50 with a cop behind me, and as I was approaching another car, that car was doing UNDER 50. I was afriad to pass him, as it would force me to go over the speed limit, and ended up inadvertantly tailgating that slow car, and sure enough, the cops lights go on! UGH!!! I get stopped for TAILGATING! UNFRIGGINBELIEVABLE!!
Im on the PIP everyday, they hide in all of the U-Turn areas, and in certain spots near exit 3. They also hide out south bound after the long stretch between 3 and 2. They are nothing in the police community, just highway and park guys. No community experience and they also ticket other Cops, I have met a few that have gotten tickets including NYPD.
just got a speeding ticket tuesday on the pip. i.m in a van and following traffic in front of me, pip police pulls out after car in front of me but decided to stop me instead. i roll my window down and cop just starts yelling and ask for the usual docs. said i was going 71 mph and my van is commercial. after giving me the tickets, and said sarcastically that i should use 9w like everyone else. if i speed and i get a ticket, it's ok but for the cop to think that he's so righteous just piss me off. he probably breaks the law all the time.just give me the tickets, i don't need his ego trip.like the previous post said, LOSERS
Thank you very much for this advice, I used it almost to a T.
I received a speeding ticket for going 77 mph in a 50 right next to exit 4. I went to court today after postponing for 3 months, and then plead not guilty. Spoke with the assistant DA and he allowed me to amend the charge to the unsafe driving and I got off without any points. Granted there was a fine, but that was really nothing to what my insurance rates could have been.
KEEP IN MIND! It takes at least 4 hours to get through this whole process and is rather annoying, but no points instead of 4 is well worth it.
Thanks again.
I wish I had read this post earlier and tried your method. I got a ticket on the PIP for speeding. I wasn't. There was heavy traffic and no one was doing more than 50-55. Best yet, the cop wasn't using radar, he arrived at his decision by observing "pace". He absolutely lied, offered a veiled threat if I chose to go to court and plead not guilty. I hired a lawyer. I came away feeling like the prosecutor, cop, judge and my lawyer were all in on the game together. Learned through my lawyer that the cop was not certified to use a radar gun. But my lawyer thought he was a nice guy. Still cost me points and lots of money - fine and lawyer. Bottom line, don't trust the PIP cops they can, and will lie, and there is nothing you can do about it. Actually there is, complain to your elected officials!
I went yesterday and was there for 5 hours. I didnt read this untill today unfortunaltely. What a scam over there and boy do they know how to waste people's time. I have a NY liscense so I took a 64mph in a 50mph charge and paid $95.00 with no points. But what a hassle.
this weekend i got pulled over for flicking my cig out the window.. and now i have to go to court for my littering ticket... what should i do plead guilty not guilty? how much do you think it wil be bc its the PI
Jaby,
I just got tickets on the PIP also. Did you get the two tickets "speeding", and "careless" or "reckless" driving?
And I assume that the Equipment is "Pace"? right?
Any help is appreciated. I need to go to first court next next week.
David.
Thanks... this was helpful. I was forth in line too. :-) Still, it took three hours. The judge took a 1 hour break between the guilty and not guilty hearings.
Fight the pace ticket. Their cars have to be certified every 4 months to hold up the ticket. Their's aren't.
I am just curious, do the cops read these? Cuz if they do, it should help them become a bit 'community-friendly'. lol, Gotta admit, I agree with many comments in here although I don't drive on the palisades as much as many people do..thank God. Good luck to everyone! This guide is helpful! Funny but true! Thanks everyone for the advice!
The PIP Court reminds me of the Court from "My Cousin Vinny" except it is located in NJ. Actually, that's insulting the Court in "My Cousin Vinny." I got a speeding ticket on the PIP and went to Court where the Judge supposedly looked up my driving record and accused me of having a parking ticket from 5 years earlier (how's that relevant, I'll never know -- I think the Judge got his law license from a Cracker Jack box). It wasn't my record however because five years before I got my ticket, I was out-of-state, going to school, did not have a drivers license or own a car. The Judge pretty much said I was lying.
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They gave me a ticket on Easter Morning while I was going to see my family. He told me he was giving me a verbal warning for my brake light....then handed me a 21 mph over the speed limit. Also it turns out.....there is absolutely nothing wrong with my brake light. .... i have noth8ing else to say about this group of bandits.
I recently got a ticket in PIP while entering the highway from a ramp. Here is the situation. I enter the ramp, look through my left mirror and blind spot, a car was coming far behind (safe enough for me to enter the highway). When I looked straight, within 20-30 feet, there was a police officer standing in the middle of the road obstructing the highway traffic, stopping all the cars. There was one other officer walking on the road talking to the car drivers who were pulled over to the right. I was stopped by the police officer standing in the middle of the road and he asked me to pull over to the right. I had no idea why I was asked to pull over. The other officer came to me and said I failed to yield and asked for my license and registeration. It was very obvious the officers randomnly pulled over cars entering the highway from the ramp for the sole purpose of issuing tickets and collecting funds for the city.
The ticket states "Disregard of traffic sign - 411.1Q". No other offense was checked in the ticket. Has anyone got this ticket before? How many points for this? Is it worth fighting in the court or pay 85$.
I have decided to fight in the court since I did not disregard any traffic sign. I have to take time-off from my office. Is it worth my time or just pay the fine?
Hi all,
I just got a speeding ticket for going 78mph on a 50mph zone in the PIP. I am a NJ resident and I got pulled over in NY. He cut me a break by charging me as 60 on a 50 (or 10mph over the speed limit). I asked him what happen's if I plead not guilty. He stated that "If you do please not guilty, you'll have to go to court, but that's where I'll tell the judge you were really going 78."
My question is, if he does tell the judge my true speed, will I get points on the 60 or the 78 at the 50mph zone? Isn't it that I'd have to plead not guilty in order to even plea for a lesser charge? I feel like this is a scare tactic.
I just need to inform everyone of my discovery;
First before your plead state you have not been served before they make you swear in; failure to serve is a dismissal as "legal deficiency" Then demand that the order of the court be released to you immediately; have some cash ready to agree to pay the fee.
Second; is the shocker, you just walked into a court of international jurisdiction under admiralty/maritime jurisdiction; your rights are no longer protected when you walked in; so bring a copy of the federal and state constitutions; you'll need them. Then learn real quick how to defend against the infamous "CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGE"; whether criminal or civil. Pulling out the constitution could get you a contempt charge so fast your head will spin.
Next, if/when they ask you for I.D. NEVER give your license or state I.D.; you just proved they have jurisdiction over your person; give them a work I.D. or library card with a picture etc., anything but a state I.D. (especially if you signed your driver's license)
Moving on; claim that under information and belief that the prosecutor is not licensed to practice law and instruct the court to have s/he state its "OMB serial placement number onto the record" No, number no license to practice law, case over; no prosecutor; if he states one ask to see the license so you can refute it; then deny that it is alicense according to the supreme court. look up the two cases.(it doesn't say license on it; it never does) there is no such thing as a license to practice law.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg that sunk the proverbial titanic.
If you have to go to court during the summer months, be aware that the lobby outside of the court room has no air conditioning, and will get extremely hot and muggy in there, all while you wait hours to get inside the courtroom. Best advice: Don't do anything to get pulled over in the first place!!
This theifdom known as the 15 miles of the PIP in NJ needs to be abolished.
These thugs get paid a salary to drive up and down a 15 miles radius ensuring that no trucks or "would be speeders doing 55" are not ticketed! I think this is the only "highway" in NJ that is 50 MPH...since the 5o's!
The PIP Police have started an aggressive ticket writing campaign since the talk about abolishing their little scam 2 years ago started!
The PIP Administration is ancient (cobweb ancient)..The judge is a jerk, and if you pay, pay by credit card and in person...ask for a paid receipt! Otherwise, they will hound you for "unpaid" summons.
NJ State legislature needs to let the county police do their thing here an let go of these do nothing but irritate the public uncivil servants!
I got scammed by these crooks today. The on ramp in Ft. Lee had an officer standing in the middle of the road waving people to the side. There was zero (literally) traffic on the parkway as it was 7am. The ticket states "Failure to yield to traffic". It was a complete and total fabrication.
I've been told that it's pointless to actually go to court and to expect to plead down and pay a fine...a fine for doing absolutely nothing. And I get to lose a day's pay as well. These clowns ought to be the ones facing a judge, not me.
I can't believe this is allowed to continue.
This afternoon I got a speeding ticket for doing 75 in the 50. I was being tailgated by another car and when the left lane was opened I signaled to go to the left lane. The car that was tailgating me went to the left lane forcing me to stay in the right lane. He then speed up and cut in front of me in the right lane. Just then he saw the cop car in the left and slammed on his brakes. HE WAS SPEEDING! After he passed the cop he then took off speeding again. The cop got on the highway and proceeded to pulled me over. He yelled at me over his intercom to pull on the shoulder which was non existent due to the 2 foot high grass. He came to my passenger side and yelled at me, "Do not yell at me, you respect me". He then told me he was doing radar on the side of the road. I tried to explain that I saw him and I was glad he got on the highway because I thought he was pursuing the car that was speeding in front of me. He again yelled at me to stop yelling at him. He took my information and told me he would tell me what I did when he came back. A minute later he handed me a ticket for doing 75 in the 50 and circle the address to send the fine or call if I wanted more information and walked away.
I was shaking when he handed me the ticket. I have nothing on my license.......zero! And I hate speeding.
I planned to go to court and plead not guilty but this post is also a little frightening. I feel I have been harassed. Once by the car that was tail gaiting me and then by the cop who pulled me over. This is soooooo unacceptable. I WAS NOT SPEEDING!
Anyone have any words of wisdom?
Ps today is May 31, 2011, ….the end of the month and the parkway had 5 other cars that I was parked on the side of the road just waiting to make the monthly quota.
I got a ticket two days ago for 70 in a 50... and another one for not wearing a seatbelt..... the second ticket has a description " approached vehicle and no seatbelt on".
Actually I had a passenger next to me and my purse was on the backseat, as I got pulled over, the cop came to my window n asked for my license, so I remove my seatbelt in order to get my purse and he comes back with a ticket for not wearing a seatbelt. He folded the tickets with my license and as I opened it n saw two tickets, he was gone by then....
Its more like the court from "Nothing But Trouble". I dont know why this court is so backward, still cant believe they dont take credit. Another reason to avoid Jersey.
Nice post! Thanks for posting this information regarding How to fight speeding ticket .
Fighting a speeding ticket
is very tough !
Cops in New Jersey are at their full force in issuing traffic tickets. And Traffic Tickets Penalties in New Jersey are worse. So finding an attorney is necessary. Contact Stabile Law Firm to get the one!
Just got home from there. I live in CT and last month I got a lousy freaking parking ticket. Actually two. They made me appear as opposed to just giving me a lousy fine. Had to go out of my way to appear! Long story short. The judge was pretty decent and took the prosecutors plea. They dropped the 2nd ticket and I paid a small fee for the one I really was guilty for.
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