[kdbryce]

Hey guys,

I got a speeding ticket back at the beginning of August in Massachusetts. I wanted to have a hearing and hopefully get it reduced, so I mailed in the ticket with the $25 processing fee.

It's now been a little over two weeks and they still have not cashed my check and I haven't received anything in the mail, so I'm getting a little worried. I have a NY driver's license if that has anything to do with it...

Anyways, I've been on hold for about 15 minutes with the RMV. I've been calling them a lot these past few days, but never get through. One time I was on hold for a half hour before I gave up.

My question is: Do any of you have experience with this? Is it normal for them to take this long to process a check and get a court date? I'm beginning to suspect they never got it.

please let me know

Thanks!

[Simmadown115]

MA is the worst for this stuff. You won't be in the court before a year. Trust me I've been there before.

Good luck, you'll need it!

[kdbryce]

Originally Posted by Simmadown115

MA is the worst for this stuff. You won't be in the court before a year. Trust me I've been there before.

Good luck, you'll need it!

Thanks bro

I just don't want my license to get suspended because of some mailing mistake. I just went through a huge thing with another court and got my license suspended for a window tint just because they mailed everything to an old address of mine. I reallllllly don't want to go through it again so I got a little scared.

[SM335i]

Dont worry about it man, thats normal in mass, it took almost a year for one of my tickets!

[krazyking]

Yep thats pretty much normal. I mailed out my ticket around July 10th and didn't get anything in the mail until a month later! I was freaking out just like you cause I thought it didn't get to them.

[kdbryce]

Originally Posted by SM335i

Dont worry about it man, thats normal in mass, it took almost a year for one of my tickets!

Originally Posted by krazyking

Yep thats pretty much normal. I mailed out my ticket around July 10th and didn't get anything in the mail until a month later! I was freaking out just like you cause I thought it didn't get to them.

thanks for the replies, guys

[SilverGSX]

Just for further reassurance, I contested a citation in January and did not have a hearing until late August. I also did not get notification of that hearing until early July. I wouldn't sweat it.

[jsunma]

What others have been saying here...it takes a long time to get a hearing date.

And just so you know, in case it's important to you, you won't go to "court" but rather will have a hearing with a clerk magistrate (and a representative from the local police dept...usually not even the cop who gave you the ticket). They'll listen to your argument and assuming you're polite and even-tempered will likely reduce your fine somewhat. But seldom will they ever eliminate it entirely and you'll still end up getting the license points you would have gotten if you'd just plead guilty and paid the fine. That's the case with MA drivers at least...i d k exactly what happens so far as points and such for out of state drivers. (the clerk will tell you that he/she doesn't know either as that's a matter between you and your insurance company) You will have the right to reject their offer and have a "real" trial, but that of course involves setting another court date, paying court fees, etc.

So disputing a ticket can save you money in the short run on an expensive ticket, but you'll still wind up paying over the long haul (in increased insurance costs, etc.).

Good luck!

ps -- I do know that crying and pleading the case that this is the first blemish you've ever gotten on an otherwise perfect driving record can get your ticket dismissed entirely. But that only works if you're female and are telling the truth about the perfect record. ;-)

[kdbryce]

Originally Posted by jsunma

What others have been saying here...it takes a long time to get a hearing date.

And just so you know, in case it's important to you, you won't go to "court" but rather will have a hearing with a clerk magistrate (and a representative from the local police dept...usually not even the cop who gave you the ticket). They'll listen to your argument and assuming you're polite and even-tempered will likely reduce your fine somewhat. But seldom will they ever eliminate it entirely and you'll still end up getting the license points you would have gotten if you'd just plead guilty and paid the fine. That's the case with MA drivers at least...i d k exactly what happens so far as points and such for out of state drivers. (the clerk will tell you that he/she doesn't know either as that's a matter between you and your insurance company) You will have the right to reject their offer and have a "real" trial, but that of course involves setting another court date, paying court fees, etc.

So disputing a ticket can save you money in the short run on an expensive ticket, but you'll still wind up paying over the long haul (in increased insurance costs, etc.).

Good luck!

ps -- I do know that crying and pleading the case that this is the first blemish you've ever gotten on an otherwise perfect driving record can get your ticket dismissed entirely. But that only works if you're female and are telling the truth about the perfect record. ;-)

Thanks. I really hope I can get out of the points all together. I'd rather pay more and have no points but well see

Also with te court date taking so long, I'm more concerned with the fact that they haven't cashed my check yet

[Etek]

so are you insured in MA or NY? They're not interconnected unless it has changed since I got a speeding ticket in NY 10 years ago. I paid my fine..MA points never changed.

[kdbryce]

Originally Posted by Etek

so are you insured in MA or NY? They're not interconnected unless it has changed since I got a speeding ticket in NY 10 years ago. I paid my fine..MA points never changed.

I'm insured in NY

[Etek]

Originally Posted by kdbryce

I'm insured in NY

Call your insurance and see if it will give you any points. I'm pretty sure its not. Also depending on how much your ticket is just pay and be done with it if insurance says there's no points.

[kdbryce]

Originally Posted by Etek

Call your insurance and see if it will give you any points. I'm pretty sure its not. Also depending on how much your ticket is just pay and be done with it if insurance says there's no points.

This would make me pretty happy.

Regardless, I've already sent in the hearing request. And I only got the ticket because I was taking a Sunday drive through the mountains of eastern mass, so another drive and a reduced fine doesn't sound bad to me!

I'm pretty psyched you guys are telling me I won't get points in mass. I hope that really is the case.

[KFJ512a]

Well i remember when i went to get my hearing done for my window tint violation they sent me my hearing date like within a week that i sent in my violation asking for a hearing. Not sure whats going on but usually they don't take that long for this. I also have a California license so i don't think a different state license matters.