Today I was pulled over for going 95 in a 55. Yes I understand that this is an unreasonable speed to go and to be honest I don't think I was going that fast. Anyway the reason I was speeding was because I was late for work and I cannot afford to lose my job. The officer gave me two tickets. 1 for speeding and 2 for careless driving in regards to the first ticket since I was going 40mph over. My question is what are my chances of getting both tickets reduced down to similar tickets that bear no points on my license if I just talk to the prosecutor myself? I am in the process of becoming a NJ State Trooper but that will essentially be ruined if I get points on my record so I am very concerned. This is my first offense and I would hate for it to ruin any and all chances for my future.
I was pulled over in Sparta NJ.
You do not say how the police determined the speed that you were traveling at. Was it radar? Pacing (following behind you in a car with a calibrated speedometer)? Frankly, I am surprised that the police officer issued you a citation for careless driving; many would have charged you with reckless driving given the speed.
Your likelihood of getting the charges reduced depends on many factors but I do not think you will walk away with zero points. You definitely need to consult with an experienced attorney because right now, you could lose your license - judges can pull the license if you were doing 40 mph over the limit.
Your FUTURE depends on this and you want to go cheap on representation??? Even with representation this is no easy task and a long shot to go to zero points.
While I feel for your predicament I certainly hold very little hope for you to do this yourself and even an attorney would face great difficulty in getting 0 points. In fact at that rate of speed you may very well face a 10 day suspension for that rate of speed, even if you get the tickets reduced. I also agree you are lucky to get a careless which is only a 2point offense instead of a reckless driving charge.
Take it one step at a time. First retain a lawyer. Second allow the lawyer to do his job in getting all discovery. Third, in the event you have no defenses, allow your lawyer to plead you to the best deal. Fourth and finally understand your best deal will mist likely include 2 points.
Good luck. There are many good lawyers here who would be more than equipped to handle your situation.
Mark M CheserDUI / DWI AttorneyUnion, NJNJ licensed ·
Without an attorney your chances for 0 points are very small. Even with an attorney it is unlikely. A real issue is license suspension. I kid you not. Retain an attorney.
Your future is not a DIY project. The Judge in Sparta is not easily persuaded to accept a plea he does not like, assuming you convinced the prosecutor to give you a sweetheart of a deal because you intended to go into law enforcement. Even with a lawyer, this is a hard sell. Consult immediately with an experienced criminal defense lawyer BEFORE your court date, so you understand what your options are.
Without an attorney you have little to no chance of a plea that would involve zero points. With an attorney it will be hard to get a plea that has zero points. Given the concerns about your career, you need to retain an attorney ASAP. You should also obtain a copy of your abstract from the DMV.
I practice traffic defense in Sparta before Judge Mulhern on nearly a weekly basis. You chances of ending up with a no-point outcome in the context of a deal are nill. The only way to accomplish that would be to try the case and win. Let me take this one step further. You should expect to lose your license for some period of time. With a good lawyer, perhaps as little as 10 days. John McMeen, the prosecutor in Sparta, will probably seek 60 days DL suspension right out of the gates. If you go in on a "DIY project" as my colleague aptly puts it, you should expect to be walking for 60 days.
