Pleading no contest on a speeding ticket? (Florida)

[J17369]

Hey there,

Had a pretty tough question that I haven't been able to figure out. I live in Florida and I got a traffic ticket back in November that I elected to contest in court (for insurance purposes and to keep it off my record because I'm considering a future career in the FHP). I've always been one to contest my tickets because I want to learn the justice system and I've been quite surprised of some of the outcomes and had one outright dismissed.

I was confident I might be able to fight this ticket based on a few circumstances and maybe some miscommunication, but I'm having my doubts now. I'm not sure if I'm able to plead 'no-contest' and get a court ordered traffic school, since I've already taken traffic school just a few months ago for a previous violation to keep my record squeaky clean.

I read the FAQ on my county's clerk of courts and it states:

"May I enter a no-contest plea and have my traffic fine reduced?

If you were charged with certain specific traffic violations, you may be able to plead no contest to the charge and have your fine reduced. These violations include, but are not limited to, driving with an expired or suspended driver license, expired car insurance policy or registration, or not having a motorcycle endorsement. By pleading no contest you are neither admitting guilt nor innocence.

The Clerk will withhold adjudication and points, if applicable, will not be assessed against your license."

You are allowed to take this option one time in a twelve month period and only three times in a lifetime."


This was posted about three years ago. I don't know if anything has changed. Does anyone have any information on this?

[Samuel]

Hey there,

Had a pretty tough question that I haven't been able to figure out. I live in Florida and I got a traffic ticket back in November that I elected to contest in court (for insurance purposes and to keep it off my record because I'm considering a future career in the FHP). I've always been one to contest my tickets because I want to learn the justice system and I've been quite surprised of some of the outcomes and had one outright dismissed.

I was confident I might be able to fight this ticket based on a few circumstances and maybe some miscommunication, but I'm having my doubts now. I'm not sure if I'm able to plead 'no-contest' and get a court ordered traffic school, since I've already taken traffic school just a few months ago for a previous violation to keep my record squeaky clean.

I read the FAQ on my county's clerk of courts and it states:

"May I enter a no-contest plea and have my traffic fine reduced?

If you were charged with certain specific traffic violations, you may be able to plead no contest to the charge and have your fine reduced. These violations include, but are not limited to, driving with an expired or suspended driver license, expired car insurance policy or registration, or not having a motorcycle endorsement. By pleading no contest you are neither admitting guilt nor innocence.

The Clerk will withhold adjudication and points, if applicable, will not be assessed against your license."

You are allowed to take this option one time in a twelve month period and only three times in a lifetime."


This was posted about three years ago. I don't know if anything has changed. Does anyone have any information on this?

Why don't you just fight it like you always have done in the past? :rolleyes:

[S43riff]

hey there,

(for insurance purposes and to keep it off my record because i'm considering a future career in the fhp). i've always been one to contest my tickets because i want to learn the justice system...

denied! :d

[APDSarge]

Taking traffic school is not exactly keeping your record "sqeaky clean", the violation is still on your driving history, you were just not adjudicated.

Depending on your previous driving history will depend what the judge or magistrate will do if you plead no contest.

In addition to the fine for the violation, you may also have to add court costs.

Getting multiple tickets in a few months does not bode well for a future in law enforcement.

[Taz_bb2]

Take the chance and roll the dice...just like you do with your driving habits.

And if you are considering FHP, with your attitude and driving habits, you may want to consider public transportation for a while. FHP wants their Officers to be squeaky clean, and your record is starting to get too many streaks on it.

[mcsap]

Why dont you work on not getting tickets and than you wouldn't be in this quandry ??

[Samuel]

Why dont you work on not getting tickets and than you wouldn't be in this quandry ??

Because he "wants to learn the justice system"... :rolleyes:

I'm surprised that he hasn't been out committing crimes so that he could get caught and further get to know the inner workings of the judicial system... :rolleyes:

[DeltaV]

A "no contest" and a "guilty" plea are in essence the same thing. Your plea means nothing, it's the ruling of the magistrate or judge that decides whether or not points are assessed.

As is clearly printed on the website, you can only take driving school once within a 12 month period. You can actually take driving school now up to five times in your life, not three. Also, As APDSarge stated, all of those offenses still show up on your driving record whether or not adjudication was withheld and points were assessed.

If you actually want to work for FHP then you need to stop getting tickets. If they pull up your driving record and see that you routinely get tickets, you're going to fail the background investigation.

[Drew27k9]

Hey there,

I elected to contest in court (for insurance purposes and to keep it off my record because I'm considering a future career in the FHP). I've always been one to contest my tickets because I want to learn the justice system

[J17369]

Well, thanks for the responses.. and the constructive criticism.

I guess I made myself out to be some kind of 'habitual offender'. I've only been to traffic court a couple times, and after having a traffic control device ticket thrown out where the officer 'though I was speeding by the sound of my exhaust', I've grown more respect for the judicial system. That's basically what I was getting at. Don't tell me you guys don't enjoy going down to court and getting the experience. It's not like I do things on purpose.

If I remember correctly I thought it was 6-7 recent violations that would disqualify you from entering the academy. I only have 3 (well 4 after this one) and two of the three are a little older. I had an improper left hand turn, careless driving from an accident where I had worn-out tires and a blowout involving me getting ran over by a semi-truck, and another unrelated traffic control device that I didn't end up fighting.

I wouldn't consider a career in public transportation because I have a degree in Electrical Engineering as well as a decent job. I remember reading the FHP prefers those with college credits and degrees. The FHP is just a distant thought and possibility for the future, I think they accept people who are up to 60 years old. I'm waiting to see what the economy does to people in my field.

Thanks.

[mcsap]

Each and every ticket you earn knocks your hireability down a notch.

Are you starting to catch on ??

[S43riff]

Ha...well, don't try to learn the prison system that way. :eek:

[Creeker]

...I wouldn't consider a career in public transportation because I have a degree in Electrical Engineering as well as a decent job. ....

If I'm not mistaken, I believe they were trying to tell you to take public transportation until you can learn to drive without unintentionally making so many "driving errors" among those of us who do not.

Aside from that, your argument makes no sense. Why would you go into LE rather than Public Transportation, since neither field is related to Electrical Engineering?