+1 on what valetz had to say. Check your options. Every state varys what it will allow. Many Eastern states use prosecutors and you can go in before seeing the judge and arrange to plea bargain to a non-moving violation that won't affect your insurance.
Other states, like Oregon, have
Traffic courts that don't operate like normal courts. No prosecutor, very little options other than guilty, not guilty (goes to trial set later) or no contest. Oregon also gave up on 'traffic school' some time ago and now the ODOT sends you nice letters if you get more than 3 "incidents" for nearly any reason in 24 months. Incidents include things like accidents, regardless of fault, non-moving violations like window tinting and parking in a handicapped space, etc. as well as the expected speeding and failure to obey a traffic control device, i.e. all moving violations.
The first letter, after 3 incidents restricts your driving for 30 days, not allowing driving from midnight to 5 am and warns you that a 4th incident will result in an automatic 30 days suspended driving privledges. You can actually be suspended for 30 days to 5 years, solely dependant on the ODOT board of review and how they decide after reviewing your driving record. You can appear before the board with or w/o a lawyer, but most people that appear before the board end up with longer suspensions, (or so the nice ladies at DMV tell me).
Oh sure, you have two now and you think it'll never happen to you. Life is funny that way. I had a not at fault accident where a guy t-boned me at 20 mph. I had right of way, he didn't, very clear situation with two local cops as witnesses to the incident too. Still counted as a "preventable accident" as far as ODOT was concerned. Then I got nabbed on a cheesy 1 point violation in the neighboring state and next thing I know, two letters arrive. First a warning, second a suspension. The last ticket was in August, the suspension covered Nov 24th to Dec 25th. Not a coincidence me thinks. :glare:
I used to get a speeding ticket every couple of years or so. No big deal, no insurance issues. (I'm still in ultra-preferred). I live in Oregon, it's just a part of life when the speed limit is 55 most places and only 65 on "urban interstates", plus speeding tickets are used for revenue enhancement. WA is the same on the revenue enhancement part.
3 years ago when I got suspended for 30 days, I investigated my options, then just ate it and bought a bus pass for Dec and dealt with my suspension. I can't say I didn't get the two speeding tickets or have the accident, though not at fault. The last one was cheesy, but I was still the rider selected out of the dozen guys in our group that were guilty to get the ticket. It didn't help that my FJR was so new it didn't have plates yet.
(not required to display temp tag in OR, but you
are in WA. Oops!)
I haven't had a ticket since. I did slow down for a while, but now I still drive/ride the same way I always have. Mostly +10 on the interstate. In town I go the speed limit or very close. Plenty of other road users pass me. I have to admit I'm more aware now and watching more for 'the man' since it matters more to me, but I quickly realized that it was more hazardous to ride at the speed limit than more with the flow of traffic.
Just a story to caution you to be aware of the options and consequences in your home state.
