Got Criminal Traffic Ticket Before Oath

[lifeisalwaysgood 0]

Hi there,

I just got a criminal speed ticket for driving 74 at 50 zone (I must have missed the sign, the speed limit was 65. I just kept going after I passed a car and forgot to slow down) in Arizona. The court day is Dec 16 and my oath is scheduled on Dec 17. I'm planning to reschedule the court to an earlier day (since I have a very important meeting on Dec 16 for work) and hoping I can convince the judge to change the criminal ticket to civil. I've been in the states for almost 10 years and this is my first speed ticket. On top of worry about my good character being a citizen, now, I'm more worried about the oath. Am I going to be allowed to attend the oath as scheduled because of this? What's gonna happen to me? How should I get this ticket resolved in order not to affect my oath? Please give me some advise. Thank you in advance.

[Cool_Together 0]

Can you check to see if you can reschedule the court day til after the 17th (after your oath)?? Don't offer up info to them you wanna change due to an oath ceremony just call them and tell them you have a very important meeting for work that you can not miss (use the word "mandatory" if your boss at work says its that important). I think this would be beneficial to you and I don't see why the courts wouldn't let you make it for another day. Hope everything works out! Good luck

~Kristie (why do we eat so much on this day...lol??) Happy Thanksgiving!!!

[john & jean 37]

just because it is a mandatory appearance traffic ticket does not mean it is a criminal charge!

[SuperDuper! 230]

24 miles over the posted speed limit makes it criminal? Usually DOUBLE the speed limit makes it reckless driving and possibly criminal.

Just WHO told you this is a criminal charge, and NOT a moving violation?

Edited November 27, 2009 by Hopp

[Old Dominion 26]

Reckless driving is what she is charged with, a felony, not a misdemeanor. In Virginia, driving more than 15 miles over the speed limit is reckless driving. Traffic offenses don't seem to bother USCIS.

[lifeisalwaysgood 0]

Hi there,

I just got a criminal speed ticket for driving 74 at 50 zone (I must have missed the sign, the speed limit was 65. I just kept going after I passed a car and forgot to slow down) in Arizona. The court day is Dec 16 and my oath is scheduled on Dec 17. I'm planning to reschedule the court to an earlier day (since I have a very important meeting on Dec 16 for work) and hoping I can convince the judge to change the criminal ticket to civil. I've been in the states for almost 10 years and this is my first speed ticket. On top of worry about my good character being a citizen, now, I'm more worried about the oath. Am I going to be allowed to attend the oath as scheduled because of this? What's gonna happen to me? How should I get this ticket resolved in order not to affect my oath? Please give me some advise. Thank you in advance.

Thank you for everybody's replay. Here is some more:

The officer said driving more than 20 miles over the posted speed in ARIZONA could put me into jail! Can you please tell me if I should get this resolved before the oath? I have to claim that I got a CRIMINAL SPEED TICKET. Will that delay my oath? Thank you.

[NickD 203]

We have a similar law in Wisconsin for speeding over 20 mph of the posted limit, but you get points taken off, 12 points and can get your drivers license suspended, but may only give you three points.

Sounds similar in Arizona according to this site.

http://www.duiaz.com/PracticeAreas/Speeding-Tickets.asp

But I see they call 1 to 19 mph over the limit a civil violation, 20 mph and over a criminal violation, but that gal attorney says in either case can get 3 points given. My daughter-in-law recently got such a ticket, miserable driving in this state with all these damn little towns built on state roads, one block wide and ten miles long with 25 mph speed limits. City limit is 25 mph, and she saw a 55 mph limit sign ahead, was completely out of town, but sped up so got hit with 47 mph in a 25 mph zone, cop told her she has to drive at 25 mph until she passes that 55 mph sign then she can speed up. Sounds a bit crazy, but issuing speeding tickets like this is a way for towns to raise money, to me, that is criminal as are those one block wide towns ten miles long built on state highways. In a democracy, surprised more people don't complain about it.

No one was hurt or killed, and if your fine for a speeding ticket is under 500 bucks, do not have to report it to the USCIS, feel those hicks in Arizona are misusing the word "criminal."

Really bad after 9/11 and this Homeland Security BS, they doubled the size of our police force. And you certainly don't say, oh boy, there is a cop to protect me from terrorist. That SOB is hidden some place to hang you, even for driving 26 in a 25. Happened past our courthouse, over 200 people standing in line to pay traffic violation fines, but surprised no one is complaining. When the sign says 25, I drive at 24.

My last ticket some years ago was doing 59 in a 55, damn cop was at the bottom of a very steep hill so my car picked up speed with the cruise set at 55. When I told my insurance agent about it, he laughed and told me all about all the tickets he received, he didn't increase my rates.

[SuperDuper! 230]

All this talk about ridiculous and aggressive, I dare say dishonest speed laws and practices in various states just makes me glad I got a professional radar detector installed a couple years ago. Those on the dash/windshield ones are a joke, and cops will just take you for a lead foot if they see it stuck to the windshield.

I highly recommend this unit. Just to be aware of the speed traps and revenue collectors with guns. I don't speed by practice, as I love to get 30+ mpg in my Toyota. But I want to be aware of sneaky cops trying to give out $450 traffic tickets. Especially in AZ, they are very aggressive and sneaky. My condolences to the OP.

This is all you see in your car and can be placed in the most discreet areas, even under the dash. A speaker alerts you a half mile or more ahead of time when radar or laser is being used up the road.

The main receiver goes behind your grill. The laser diode detectors go up front and then attached about license plate frame. The laser diodes also "shift" the laser light bouncing off your car, kinda like a stealth plane bounces/absorbs radar waves. Very cool and trouble-free. Will pay for itself for sure as broke municipalities are under pressure to generate more revenue on the backs of everyday work commuters. Good luck and safe driving. Don't be a fish in a barrel.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

I have never understood the need to buy a device to let you know that you have been spotted. The reason it goes off is that it detect a signal. But that means that they have spotted you.

[SuperDuper! 230]

I have never understood the need to buy a device to let you know that you have been spotted. The reason it goes off is that it detect a signal. But that means that they have spotted you.

Maybe the cheapo devices do that, but the one pictured above gives you advance notice by detecting the scattered microwaves being aimed at the cars ahead of you, before the badged tax collector puts you in his sights. I'm not a speeder by practice, but when the alert goes off i double check my speed and be sure i make safe lane changes, not tailgating, etc when i know the sharks are feeding in nearby waters. They have the right to monitor us, and we have the right to monitor them monitoring us, unless you are in a few selected states, like Conn. and Maryland. B)

[Old Dominion 26]

Using one of these units in Virginia is illegal. The police can detect your detector. Anyway, this charge is not a criminal one by USCIS definition, even though yes, repeat offenders can spend a day in jail. Even so, the judge might reduce the charge based on your otherwise perfect traffic record. It is probably worth hiring an attorney to help get the fine reduced.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Using one of these units in Virginia is illegal. The police can detect your detector. Anyway, this charge is not a criminal one by USCIS definition, even though yes, repeat offenders can spend a day in jail. Even so, the judge might reduce the charge based on your otherwise perfect traffic record. It is probably worth hiring an attorney to help get the fine reduced.

Yes, thanks for reminding that Virginia bans them as well. I made an effort in my previous post to point out that the detectors are illegal in some states, so the user has to be aware of his local laws. Also, you can get sophisticated devices that bypass the "detector detector", just sayin'. Also note that it is illegal for big rigs to use the radar detectors, and i applaud this 'cause these huge trucks need to drive slow and not drive fast to beat a shipment deadline, so the police need to to have a "detector detector."

But we are only talking about a handful of states that outlaw radar detectors. I know very well that the CHP has a "detector detector" and I am actually glad they can see that drivers are "fighting back" and refuse to be passive victims of this road revenue generation program.

It is a statement that i am exerting my rights that i have the right to monitor them monitoring me. If you are not speeding, they don't pull you over, usually. They are going after easy targets, lets say drivers going 15+ over the posted limit. That eliminates most drivers contesting it in court and taking the cop away from his lunch hour to appear. If the radar cop gets you for going 5-10 over the limit, then there is a chance that his radar gun is not calibrated properly, and your ticket can get thrown out.

My friend got a radar ticket this year, and he says he was going the posted speed limit on cruise control. He went ahead and paid the ticket, not having the will or time to fight it. I like to even lower my speed below the posted limit just for this reason, when i get an alert that radar is being used up ahead. Cheers.

EDIT: I agree that the OP should get a specialized atty to fight this ticket. Such atty's have great success in getting the ticket thrown out or downgraded 'cause that is all they do. USCIS dont care about traffic tickets, concurred, too.

Edited November 27, 2009 by Hopp

[conquest 0]

First off you can not be found guilty until you go to court on the matter. So make the court date for a later time. Tell them that you have an emergency and you can absolutly not make the court date until after such and such a date. Generally they will make it for a month or so later. That would mean that although you did it before the actual conviction would be done after. You are not guilt y of a crime until you are found guilty or plead guilty. So they cant really say that you are a criminal becuase it hasnt been in the court yet.

Secondly although you may have been going 20 over the chances that you are actually conviceted of reckless driving are low. Now if you had alot previous tickets then I might worry. In my state (Washington) they have the 20 mile an hour rule. I have been cought for that before more than once but have never actually been charged with reckless driving. Usually it would have to be combined with some other stupid mistake for them to actually enforce it although states may differ on that point.

THird ly because its your first offence if you plead an cry alot (lol) what ever works and swear never to do it again and show that you have never done it before then there is a good chance that it will or can be plead down to some thing much less or even forgiven.

""

Look into your state we have here in this state a program that you can "defer" your ticket and if you dont get any more for a period of time its thrown out dismissed and never goes on your record and only court costs apply

Edited November 27, 2009 by conquest

[thongd4me 69]

Hi there,

I just got a criminal speed ticket for driving 74 at 50 zone (I must have missed the sign, the speed limit was 65. I just kept going after I passed a car and forgot to slow down) in Arizona. The court day is Dec 16 and my oath is scheduled on Dec 17. I'm planning to reschedule the court to an earlier day (since I have a very important meeting on Dec 16 for work) and hoping I can convince the judge to change the criminal ticket to civil. I've been in the states for almost 10 years and this is my first speed ticket. On top of worry about my good character being a citizen, now, I'm more worried about the oath. Am I going to be allowed to attend the oath as scheduled because of this? What's gonna happen to me? How should I get this ticket resolved in order not to affect my oath? Please give me some advise. Thank you in advance.

This lawyer's site gives more detailed info about Arizona criminal speeding law than you'll find on a Visa-oriented site

- you may or may not have to get an attorney, that's your decision.

You MIGHT get a free consultation but I wouldn't bet on it. Doesn't hurt to try.

Arizona Lawyer's Site

PS - I am from New York and got no compensation for posting this - just googled criminal speeding Arizona

Best of luck,

TD4Me - I looked at it again and she DOES offer free consultations

Edited November 27, 2009 by thongd4me

[internetkafe 0]

All this talk about ridiculous and aggressive, I dare say dishonest speed laws and practices in various states just makes me glad I got a professional radar detector installed a couple years ago. Those on the dash/windshield ones are a joke, and cops will just take you for a lead foot if they see it stuck to the windshield.

I highly recommend this unit. Just to be aware of the speed traps and revenue collectors with guns. I don't speed by practice, as I love to get 30+ mpg in my Toyota. But I want to be aware of sneaky cops trying to give out $450 traffic tickets. Especially in AZ, they are very aggressive and sneaky. My condolences to the OP.

This is all you see in your car and can be placed in the most discreet areas, even under the dash. A speaker alerts you a half mile or more ahead of time when radar or laser is being used up the road.

The main receiver goes behind your grill. The laser diode detectors go up front and then attached about license plate frame. The laser diodes also "shift" the laser light bouncing off your car, kinda like a stealth plane bounces/absorbs radar waves. Very cool and trouble-free. Will pay for itself for sure as broke municipalities are under pressure to generate more revenue on the backs of everyday work commuters. Good luck and safe driving. Don't be a fish in a barrel.

How much did it cost you to have it installed? Any links to the product?