Excessive speeding ticket fine in Dekalb County (2013, lawyer)

[meisert]

I got a ticket the other day (~1/30/2013) on Shallowford Rd just west of 85. I didn't notice a school zone light flashing. Me and probably a couple of hundred people were pulled over that day as I was one of about 6 pulled over in just the 10 minutes I was stopped to the side of the road.
They said I was doing 44 in a 25 (with the flashing lights). But the thing that really gets me is the fine amount of $353. What the what!
When did traffic fines go up to these ridiculous amounts? Do we need to start throwing these bumbs out of office.
Has anyone else received such a high fee? I was expected around $150 or so. Do they double the fine in a school zone? It seems to me that there's some school zone every half mile no matter where you go in Dekalb.... alot of times I'm hard pressed to find a school anywhere. I mean I'm all for protecting kids, but come on. This smells like a racket to me.

[berkeleylake]

GA increased its fees for speeding tickets. What you describe sounds like what I have heard form other people about the fines around here. Plus, you went through a school zone, that makes it higher.

[Eresh]

Yes, fines are doubled in school zones when the yellow lights are flashing or during the posted times. As a parent, I wish the police around me would monitor school zones more, since there are a lot of kids who walk to school.

[tikigod311]

The speeding fines are truly out of control in this state. Sorry that happened to you.

"Oh, you made a mistake? Here's a $400 fine."

An action without malicious intent or a high degree of recklessness should not have excessive fines. The point will be driven home with a $100 ticket.

[ATL_GUY]

sounds like Dekalb county. I had to fight a case where my license were suspended by mistake and couldn't get anyone at the court to help. They didn't even have a copy of my ticket or the name of the officer. I was given a citation number by the DMV office and looked it up. Turns out that someone else didn't go to their court date so they somehow suspend my license instead. I ended up having to get a lawyer. My lawyer is very familiar with Dekalb and said they have a very rough police force and their court has almost 1000 people in and out every day. This was also where the scam was going and it went on for few years without anyone watching. Such power should never be given to a public servant. After all, our taxes pay their salaries, not the other way around. What was easy to correct and a mistake(maybe a scam) turned out in me having to get an attorney and fight them until I won. My suggestion to you is be careful when in Dekalb county, especially in certain parts.

[SAAN]

The police could care less about kids safety. They know school zones are a cash cow for there tickets. I live right next to a middle school and the flashing lights are on until 9:00am and school started way before that and the cops pull up about 8:30 and start writing the tickets long after the kids are in school.

[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

you think thats expensive? my daughter got a ticket for not having proof of license...$785.00 fine

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by SAAN

The police could care less about kids safety. They know school zones are a cash cow for there tickets. I live right next to a middle school and the flashing lights are on until 9:00am and school started way before that and the cops pull up about 8:30 and start writing the tickets long after the kids are in school.

Isn't there a sign attached to the flashing lights indicating what hours the lower speed limits are in effect?

[joey86]

Did you really join the forum to post this? Sure it's high. But you were going twenty over in a school zone.

[meisert]

Did you really join the forum to post this? Sure it's high. But you were going twenty over in a school zone.

I'm not debating that I shouldn't have gotten a ticket. I'm debating the amount. They can fine people with a reasonable amount. But that was excessive IMO. And the fact that it appeared they were pulling almost every single car that was driving by the speed trap over... smelled like pretty fishy.
I wanted to get a feel for others opinions as I'm fairly new to this county.
Glad to get the feedback from others.
There's a point when a fine can be criminal in itself. $353 is ridiculous. And the next speed limit sign just down the road was 45. So if the light were not flashing I was going within the speed limit of 45. It's not like I was drag racing at 80 here. I mean come on. I can ride by bike 44 mph and have.