Michigan Ticket: Careless Driving

[pmouse]

What is the name of your state? Michigan

I recently recieved a Careless Driving ticket in Brighton, Michigan because I was caught doing doughnuts in an abandoned parking lot. I am 18 with a perfectly clear record previous to this. What can I expect as far as fines? It's a 3 point infraction, but are there any classes I may be able to take to reduce that? If not, what can I expect my insurance to be upped by?

 

[lwpat]

A careless driving violation is serious and you can expect a major jump in your insurance rates. As a general rule this will be in the neighborhood of a 100% increase for the next three years.

My suggestion would be to retain an attorney who may be able to plea bargain it down to a lesser offense.

Since it was an abandoned parking lot there may be a question of jurisdiction. Most areas do have a provision covering private lots but there may be a requirement such as the posting of signs.
The attorney will know the answer for your area.

 

[jjtricket]

Good advice by lwpat.

 

[Bcar1463]

Same Situation

I was in almost that exact same situation before. I though I was going to be screwed by the insurance. However, I hired a traffic lawyer and he helped me plea bargin down to community service. I got 10 hours in trade for basically making the ticket dissapear, no record/points/etc (except for court costs.) I mean, 10 hours is less time than I spent looking up information relating to my ticket, lol. I don't know if the courts work exactly the same way there, but it is something to shoot for.

I would definatly hire an attourney, and the jurisdiction question is a valid one. In many states the owner of the private parking lot has to have filed a request/permission for the police to have jurisdiction on the property.

Traffic school will reduce points (and increase cost), but since the ticket is usually left on the record the insurance rates will still go up. Like Iwpat said, an attourney will be able to answer all these questions, and probably get the best outcome.

p.s. abandoned parking lots must attract cops like flies... My cop wrote "no regard for other in the lot" (ABANDONED???)

 

[loocpoc]

I used to work in your area. Ive never heard of any District court accepting traffic school in leiu of money, now that the courts are receiving less money they are most likely going to want the money.

As far as jurisdiction, if the lot is open to the public then the police can patrol it and issue citations on it.