Hi Mary,

I am really sorry to hear of your circumstances. It is unfortunate when a police officer uses his "discretion" to put stress on a person by giving a speeding ticket, rather than using his/her "discretion" to give a verbal warning. Maybe s/he thought that you would just "pay the ticket" because you are from out of state.

Each jurisdiction handles traffic violations differently. The cost of the ticket varies from city to city. And, whether you are allowed to take a class to eliminate the points from your record varies from court to court. It is within the judge's discretion as to whether you are able to take a class to eliminate the points. And, in some jurisdictions, there is a "deferral program" in which you pay the cost of the ticket and an additional court cost, and if you get no violations within a period of time (set by the judge), then your ticket would be dismissed.

Because you live so far away, it makes it more difficult for you to go to court and attempt to resolve the violation in your favor. HOWEVER, you may wish to contact an attorney who specializes in traffic law in the city/county in which you received the ticket. Sometimes, a telephone consultation may be free or at a minimal cost. You can discuss the specific facts of your case, evaluate your options and decide how to proceed. Because this matter is a "civil infraction," an attorney may appear on your behalf and resolve your case without your attendance.

If you just "pay the ticket," the conviction and points will transfer to your Florida Driver's License. It may be less expensive to hire an attorney in Indiana to represent your interests. If the attorney can get the ticket deferred, or the attorney can get the judge to allow you to take an on-line course to avoid the points, it will be worth the cost of the attorney to do so. That way, your insurance rates won't go up.

In any case, it would be well worth your time to speak to an attorney. Below is a link to the Indiana Bar Association Attorney Referral Page. You can contact the Association and get a referral to one or more attorneys in the area in which you received the violation. You can then contact the attorney for a telephone consultation.

http://www.indybar.org/community/lawyer-referral-service/

I hope you find this information useful. If you have additional questions, please ask.

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