Why “but this is my first ticket!” is not a defense
“BUT THIS IS MY FIRST TICKET!” is something I hear ALL the time when I explain what the likely outcome of an Orange or Chatham County speeding ticket might be. People sadly work under the mistaken assumption that if you’ve never had a ticket before, your first one is on the house. That just ain’t true.
Think of it this way: A speeding ticket is, whether you like it or not, an accusation of a crime. A small crime, but a crime nonetheless. Which means it’s like larceny, or arson, or murder. Do you get one free murder? Nope. Doesn’t work like that.
I know, that’s not an apples to apples comparison, precisely, but the premise holds true: Just because this is your first ticket doesn’t mean you’re going to get out of it without some sort of consequences. Does having a clean driving record potentially help your outcome? For sure! The ADA negotiating the ticket will very likely take that into consideration. But it ain’t getting dismissed just because it’s your first one.
I just thought you all should know.
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