[halcyon_waves]

i just got my very first ticket ever for making an illegal left turn out of a shopping center. i'm pretty sure the cop was just camping there waiting for someone to make that mistake. sucks

anyway, the citation code is 21461 (a). i have several questions regarding this:

1. how much will the ticket cost me? i did a quick search online and someone said around $150 which to me is a little unfair. it doesn't say anything about the fine amount on my ticket.

2. how will this affect my insurance? will the premium go up next time i go renew, if so will it be by a significant amount?

3. should i go to traffic school to get this taken off my record? is it worth the time? how many times can you do traffic school to get something off your record? if it's only once i'd rather save it for something like a speeding ticket or something more serious.

any help is greatly appreciated, thanks!! the best part of my shitty day... being on bimmerpost

[bmwmike335]

if u are eligible for traffic school, take it. you violated a "failure to obey marked traffic control sign" which means there was a not left turn, and but you turned left anyway. it probably will not affect your insurance at all because it was not reckless or dangerous.

what affects your insurance is things like speed, unsafe turning movements, unsafe starting, unsafe backing, racing, accidents, bla bla.

as far as fines it could be anywhere from $120 to $250, depends.

[halcyon_waves]

dangg $250? sounds like what you would pay for a speeding ticket.

well anyhow, thanks for the info!

[Greenkirby21]

if u can, take a driver education course. I took comedy defensive driving to get out of only ticket. It was such a joke. You didn't even have to watch the videos(I did cause it was my first time and I had no idea what I was doing).

then at the end, the questions were like, which should you do while driving

A) pay attention to road
B) drink beer
c) do drugs
D) sleep

not only did I get out of ticket, but my insurance went slightly lower >_>

[halcyon_waves]

Originally Posted by Greenkirby21

if u can, take a driver education course. I took comedy defensive driving to get out of only ticket. It was such a joke. You didn't even have to watch the videos(I did cause it was my first time and I had no idea what I was doing).

then at the end, the questions were like, which should you do while driving

A) pay attention to road
B) drink beer
c) do drugs
D) sleep

not only did I get out of ticket, but my insurance went slightly lower >_>

what a joke of a test. the answer is clearly B.

[TK-421]

damn, i got caught manji drifting all four lanes of the interstate and only got a $280 ticket (but paid much more on my insurance premiums )

edit: basically this but then switching back after reaching the other side of the road, repeat, repeat... "license and registration"

[kevinbahnz]

Originally Posted by TK-421

damn, i got caught manji drifting all four lanes of the interstate and only got a $280 ticket (but paid much more on my insurance premiums )

edit: basically this but then switching back after reaching the other side of the road, repeat, repeat... "license and registration"

how do you do that? I've always wanted to try that out but I'm too scared I might mess the car up.

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

I did this once but talked my way out of the ticket by playing dumb.

And don't worry about your rates, I got a "Driving in HOV lane" ticket about a year and a half ago which is 2 pts, my rates didn't go up. But then again, I question why there is even a carpool lane when in NJ the only people who use it are buses going to NYC and people who don't have the correct amount of people to use it..... Heck, driving up north I couldn't even name 2 other people that I knew from my area that would drive up north.

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by kevinbahnz

how do you do that? I've always wanted to try that out but I'm too scared I might mess the car up.

you'll need at least an lsd if not a welded diff. once you initiate with a clutch kick (and even some handbrake) it's all about throttle modulation

[UncleWede]

The correct answer is E: any of the above.

Seriously, take drivng class. Points is points - you don't want them on your record.

[halcyon_waves]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

The correct answer is E: any of the above.

Seriously, take drivng class. Points is points - you don't want them on your record.

how many times can one take a driving class? can you do it every time you get a ticket to get points taken off?

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

Originally Posted by tarheelsauce

how many times can one take a driving class? can you do it every time you get a ticket to get points taken off?

Once every 3 years I believe

[halcyon_waves]

Originally Posted by TeRRoRiFiC35

Once every 3 years I believe

so should i maybe not take the test in case i get a more serious offense like speeding?

[TeRRoRiFiC35]

Originally Posted by tarheelsauce

so should i maybe not take the test in case i get a more serious offense like speeding?

It's up to you, the course helps drop your rates no matter what.

[Hawkeye]

What are points? Silly states.

[Simple5]

Yea.. got that when I pulled out of an In and Out burger. Made a left turn when there was a sign that said "Right Turn Only"... cop was hiding in the bushes across the street. Failure to Obey Sign

I paid the fine
Went to traffic school
Done Deal.

[Bobble]

You can take driving school/education class once every 18 months. If you get another ticker within that time frame but close to the end of the 18 months the court comissioner can assign you traffic/drivers ed class if you ask but you will have to go to court for that. Cost will be more than the ticket alone.
Actual citation is V C Section 21461 Obedience by Driver to Official Traffic Control Devices, the a defines the section which is
21461. (a) It is unlawful for a driver of a vehicle to fail to obey a sign or signal defined as regulatory in the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or a Department of Transportation approved supplement to that manual of a regulatory nature erected or maintained to enhance traffic safety and operations or to indicate and carry out the provisions of this code or a local traffic ordinance or resolution adopted pursuant to a local traffic ordinance, or to fail to obey a device erected or maintained by lawful authority of a public body or official.