5 ms·

In Texas a speeding ticket is a Class C misdemeanor which feels overly punitive to me.

by macjohnmcc 5y ago

Guest42 5y ago
Interesting, to me it seemed that the drivers there were fairly aggressive with speed and lane changes.
- aaomidi 5y ago
  Because selective enforcement exists. Not everyone is being slapped with the same charges.
fredgrott 5y ago
ahem what is the lowest level of misdemeanor in the United States Of America? For those who do not know it's class A misdemeanor which actually means a felony in most states, not the C.
- quickthrowman 5y ago
  It is different for every state. My state has a class of offense below misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor. Petty misdemeanors are not considered crimes in my state, the max penalty is a $300 fine. We also have a special class of speeding ticket for a dumb “parkway” freeway that rich white people lobbied for and received a 45 mph speed limit by state constitutional amendment. Any ticket in this zone for speeding between 45-55 mph is a simple $100 fine that is not even recorded or reported to insurance. This means the speed limit is effectively 55 mph, and an easy way around the constitutional amendment. This freeway is I35E between downtown St Paul, MN and Mendota Heights, MN.
ARandomerDude 5y ago
In Texas a class C is the lowest level of misdemeanor, and A is the highest misdemeanor. So a speeding ticket is the lowest level of crime you can commit.
- mindslight 5y ago
  In many (most?) states, basic speeding tickets aren't actually criminal charges, rather some sort of administrative thing. Hence seeing a magistrate instead of a judge.
  - brianwawok 5y ago
    Speeding can kill other people. Doesn’t seem unreasonable to be some kind of crime? Just like shooting bullets in the air. Probably won’t, but has potential.
    - ghaff 5y ago
      Speeding some amount over the speed limit, driving recklessly in other ways, etc. can be a crime. 75mph in a 65mph zone generally isn't. (There's a lot of technical language around this but, as a practical matter, minor speeding offenses result only in a fine.)
    - mindslight 5y ago
      Driving while not speeding can also kill people, so that isn't much of an indicator. Every state has penalties to discourage speeding, just not criminal ones for basic speeding. Given that standard road customs are 90% of traffic going at least 5mph over for everywhere but the PNW, I'd say that not making it so that most everyone is criminal is the right call.
- macjohnmcc 5y ago
  Before you speak to the judge you speak to the prosecutor who can decide to add to the base fine of $173 + $25 court fee even if you don't go to court and it is at their discretion to increase the fine. A prosecutor involved for a speeding ticket no matter if you are going 5 over or 15 over is insane.
antisthenes 5y ago
Wait till you get to Virginia then.

In Texas a speeding ticket is a Class C misdemeanor which feels overly punitive to me.

Guest42 5y ago

Interesting, to me it seemed that the drivers there were fairly aggressive with speed and lane changes.

aaomidi 5y ago
Because selective enforcement exists. Not everyone is being slapped with the same charges.

fredgrott 5y ago

ahem what is the lowest level of misdemeanor in the United States Of America? For those who do not know it's class A misdemeanor which actually means a felony in most states, not the C.

quickthrowman 5y ago
It is different for every state. My state has a class of offense below misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor. Petty misdemeanors are not considered crimes in my state, the max penalty is a $300 fine. We also have a special class of speeding ticket for a dumb “parkway” freeway that rich white people lobbied for and received a 45 mph speed limit by state constitutional amendment. Any ticket in this zone for speeding between 45-55 mph is a simple $100 fine that is not even recorded or reported to insurance. This means the speed limit is effectively 55 mph, and an easy way around the constitutional amendment. This freeway is I35E between downtown St Paul, MN and Mendota Heights, MN.

ARandomerDude 5y ago

In Texas a class C is the lowest level of misdemeanor, and A is the highest misdemeanor. So a speeding ticket is the lowest level of crime you can commit.

mindslight 5y ago
In many (most?) states, basic speeding tickets aren't actually criminal charges, rather some sort of administrative thing. Hence seeing a magistrate instead of a judge.
- brianwawok 5y ago
  Speeding can kill other people. Doesn’t seem unreasonable to be some kind of crime? Just like shooting bullets in the air. Probably won’t, but has potential.
  - ghaff 5y ago
    Speeding some amount over the speed limit, driving recklessly in other ways, etc. can be a crime. 75mph in a 65mph zone generally isn't. (There's a lot of technical language around this but, as a practical matter, minor speeding offenses result only in a fine.)
  - mindslight 5y ago
    Driving while not speeding can also kill people, so that isn't much of an indicator. Every state has penalties to discourage speeding, just not criminal ones for basic speeding. Given that standard road customs are 90% of traffic going at least 5mph over for everywhere but the PNW, I'd say that not making it so that most everyone is criminal is the right call.
macjohnmcc 5y ago
Before you speak to the judge you speak to the prosecutor who can decide to add to the base fine of $173 + $25 court fee even if you don't go to court and it is at their discretion to increase the fine. A prosecutor involved for a speeding ticket no matter if you are going 5 over or 15 over is insane.

antisthenes 5y ago

Wait till you get to Virginia then.