Okay I got a ticket. It sucks. I will be in UT and have to come back just to go to court...I think So I have a few questions... Can I send that form that comes with the ticket and just take defensive driving or do I HAVE to go to court no matter what unless I pay(which I'm not). If I can do that, what defensive driving methods are best? --On-line courses --Comedy ones or what other options...videotapes? I could go back to court and hope the cop doesn't show up and everything is dropped, but I don't know if I want to take the chance. Anyways, I appreciate the help...
1. You don't HAVE to go to court, unless you want to fight the ticket. If you plan to take defensive driving (meaning you haven't taken it within 1 calendar year of the ticket issual date), then you can mail in the defensive driving attachment to your ticket to the court, informing them of your decision. 2. I've tried them all. My recommendation? Comedy defensive driving on a Saturday. Sure it wastes a whole day, but I find it much easier than splitting it into 2 and taking it at night after a long day of work or school... $25.00 for most classes, max is usually $30 if they offer a lunch (like pizza). Video courses and online courses are much duller... at least in the "comedy" version (i use that term loosely), you get human interaction and could meet an interesting person? hope that helps.
You do not have to go to court, and you can mail it in to take defensive driving. Since you have a computer take the TAKE HOME VIDEO version it is in 6 installments and is about 6 hours or so.. You watch a video stop and sign onto the internet and answer questions about it. Really easy. Randall's carries the tapes. DD
Thanks all. About the tapes, do I still send in that form? Do I have to do all the installments at once with the tapes. How long is the comedy course?
So about the videos... Also one last question...With the classes do you have to take any tests or just attend?
yes there is a test at the end... but its amazingly easy... at almost all of the comedy courses i've attended, the teacher reads the questions aloud, with multiple choice answers, and just happens to put a little more stress on the correct answer (wink wink)... the test is usually just a formality and easy to pass.
I was in the exact same position as you in December. I go to UT and got a speeding ticket in Waller Co. What you can do is call the court clerk (you should have the number on the ticket) and plead "no contest" and agree to take defensive driving. They will then make you pay like sixty dollars for court costs or whatever. Then I took defensive driving online, which IMO is the best way to do it. You can go to www.defensivedriving.com and take it at your own pace and it is extremely easy and relatively inexpensive ($40, I think) - just takes a little time, that's all. Also, there is something else one can do for a ticket, which is almost just as easy and it doesn't show up on your driving record. There's this thing that courts do called "deferred judification" which is something of a gamble if you are prone to getting a lot of tickets. You can go into court, pay the fine, and as long as you are in no trouble with the law for 90 days - the charge never even gets entered into the computer. However, seeing as you are a fellow Longhorn, I would recommend just taking defensive driving online and dealing with the courts by mail/phone. Anyway, best of luck to you. <i>-Turbo</i>
There are only 2 videos and you get them at the same time. The Randalls on the corner of Mopac and William Cannon has it for sure. DD
