View Full Version : Paralegal Suggestions
Phamo
04-09-2014, 06:40 AM
First off, I'll admit I am guilty and a retard for being so careless.
Obviously, I won't admit this in court, and I am definitely not trying to allow my insurance company to have me in a death grip.
The main reason for this post is that I am looking for a a good reputable paralegal service. I am looking for no conviction results, plea bargain/reduction as a last resort. Price wise, it doesn't matter, anything will beat the looming increase in insurance rates. Any suggestions, thanks in advance.
Details: At 2:43am I got caught for going 135kmh in a 100kmh zone on the 403 heading south, just north of the Eglinton exit in Mississauga. Officer reduced it to 129kmh to save me 1 extra demerit point.
Lol honestly, I don't expect to win unless the cop is a no show. BUT “It is better to try and to fail than to fail to try and forever experience the inestimable loss of what might have been.”
PLS though, any suggestions and experience will be greatly appreciated!
jeffjones
04-09-2014, 08:00 AM
Hands down the best I have seen is http://www.redlinelegalservices.ca/
They are god in the motorcycle world for serious speeding charges.
They are pricey but have yet to see a complaint about them.
Use them if you are looking to beat the ticket, I would try not to plea to a lesser offence (Same rate increase with insurance company as it will still be a minor speeding ticket unless you beat it)
And forget about demerit points as they dont mean anything until you get about 9 in a 3 year span.
Demerit points have zero effect on insurance premiums, having a 15km/hr with zero points is worse than having 7 points on your license.
Stathakos
04-09-2014, 08:01 AM
^
CloudPump
04-09-2014, 08:22 AM
Don't bother.
1km over, 20km over, 49km over are all the same to your insurance. Demerit points don't mean anything at all in insurance terms, they're simply the score-card the ministry uses to cancel your license if you score high enough.
If the cop shows up, unless you can prove you weren't speeding AT ALL, you're going to get convicted of this ticket. Your only hope is that the cop doesn't show and you don't need to hire someone to hope a cop doesn't show.
-Geoff
S.F.W.
04-09-2014, 08:41 AM
CloudPump Based on experience, there are many ways a good paralegal can help, even if the cop does show up. I have used a paralegal 3 times, three times the cop showed up, three times I was not convicted.
Things like, requesting large volumes of discovery, moving trial dates around, etc.
Hands down the best I have seen is http://www.redlinelegalservices.ca/
They are god in the motorcycle world for serious speeding charges.
They are pricey but have yet to see a complaint about them.
Use them if you are looking to beat the ticket, I would try not to plea to a lesser offence (Same rate increase with insurance company as it will still be a minor speeding ticket unless you beat it)
And forget about demerit points as they dont mean anything until you get about 9 in a 3 year span.
Demerit points have zero effect on insurance premiums, having a 15km/hr with zero points is worse than having 7 points on your license.
+3 for redline. When I was in court helping a friend I saw first hand the amount of work they put in vs. your standard "my client will accept the reduced fine" (waste of money). It's because of redlines 11b charter application and lengthy argument our matter got adjourned (along with theirs) lol.
CloudPump Based on experience, there are many ways a good paralegal can help, even if the cop does show up. I have used a paralegal 3 times, three times the cop showed up, three times I was not convicted.
Things like, requesting large volumes of discovery, moving trial dates around, etc.
This. If you have the time to fight it yourself it's pretty straightforward and you can save a couple hundred dollars!
These are good sources of reference and help:
http://forums.redflagdeals.com/ask-me-anything-about-fighting-your-traffic-ticket-speeding-parking-etc-945928/
http://www.ticketcombat.com
http://www.ontariohighwaytrafficact.com
jeffjones
04-09-2014, 10:23 AM
If the cop shows up, unless you can prove you weren't speeding AT ALL, you're going to get convicted of this ticket. Your only hope is that the cop doesn't show and you don't need to hire someone to hope a cop doesn't show.
-Geoff
Heavily disagree with this.
There are lots of ways you can win with the cop showing up.
-11b (If your trial takes to long, you get yout charge thrown out)
-Other cars on the road (could the officer have pulled over the wrong car?)
-How many lanes on the road (could the radar reading have come from a car in another lane, or even a car going in the opposite direction?)
-Calibration of the Radar unit or other speed-measuring device (was the device properly calibrated?)
-Possible interference to the speed measuring device (for example, neon signs are one of many things that can interfere with radar)
-Clerical errors on the ticket (If the officer made mistakes writing down information on the ticket, couldn't he be wrong about other things too?)
..... Just because you are "guilty" doesn't mean you can't fight it.
Good read if you plan on trying to fight it yourself: http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?59068-What-to-do-when-you-want-to-fight-your-ticket-in-court-(new)
SilentJay
04-09-2014, 12:12 PM
Get yourself thoroughly educated regardless of whether you fight it or not. I had the misfortune of dealing with a supposed "great" paralegal that had supposedly done well for others here, that ended up wasting my time and money. Dismissive, ignorant, windbag. Didn't do squat in court and wanted me to do the research for him when I presented him with a viable defence. Utterly horrible waste of time and money and I ended up getting charged anyway.
Anyhoo, in my experience, your trial taking too long is sort of subjective. My trial took 8 months to book, and spanned 4 trial days across 5 months. My incompetent paralegal weakly fought for 11(B), and it was declined because they felt that the charges were serious enough to bypass, regardless of the hardships they've caused to me.
If you're looking to avoid insurance dry-sodomy with broken glass sprinkles for the next 6-10 years, get the charge dropped entirely. If you're feeling lucky, try to negotiate for it to be changed to a non-moving violation (eg. improper muffler with a big fine).
CloudPump
04-09-2014, 02:11 PM
Get yourself thoroughly educated regardless of whether you fight it or not. I had the misfortune of dealing with a supposed "great" paralegal that had supposedly done well for others here, that ended up wasting my time and money. Dismissive, ignorant, windbag. Didn't do squat in court and wanted me to do the research for him when I presented him with a viable defence. Utterly horrible waste of time and money and I ended up getting charged anyway.
Anyhoo, in my experience, your trial taking too long is sort of subjective. My trial took 8 months to book, and spanned 4 trial days across 5 months. My incompetent paralegal weakly fought for 11(B), and it was declined because they felt that the charges were serious enough to bypass, regardless of the hardships they've caused to me.
If you're looking to avoid insurance dry-sodomy with broken glass sprinkles for the next 6-10 years, get the charge dropped entirely. If you're feeling lucky, try to negotiate for it to be changed to a non-moving violation (eg. improper muffler with a big fine).
Tickets are only ratable against your insurance for 3 years from the date of conviction, not 6-10.
-Geoff
CloudPump
04-09-2014, 02:12 PM
All things aside...
I only reccomend people fight the major tickets down to minors. If you get a minor, pay it as fast as you can to get it on and off your record. If you're lucky, your insurance company won't ever even find out.
-Geoff
jaimie08mazda3
04-09-2014, 03:12 PM
I took a failure to yield to court myself and the cop showed up. But I don't think he expected me to show up as he didn't have any notes. Prosecutor had no choice but to dismiss the case and I got off scott free. The one time I used a ticket company (H.E.L.P.) They told me they would get it reduced greatly and I wouldn't have to worry about fines. They got it reduced from 35 over to 29... And I still had to pay 265 for the ticket ON TOP of paying them 300. Do not use this company imo.
SilentJay
04-09-2014, 09:04 PM
Tickets are only ratable against your insurance for 3 years from the date of conviction, not 6-10.
-Geoff
6-10 is probably a bit of a stretch (I think I was thinking of accidents), however are you saying that all tickets, regardless of severity, are only on your insurance record for 3 years, regardless of company?
Phamo
04-10-2014, 05:25 AM
Thanks guys, I have done quite a bit of research. I'm considering redline, a lot of people have recommended them and other car forums too.
In terms of demerit points, I already have 3 and will get another 3 if I dont fight this ticket. I'm not too concerned about the demerit points, I just dont want the ticket to go on my driving record for insurances' sake. I would do it myself, but I'm not too experienced and even the walkthroughs online is kinda vague for someone who has no experience dealing with court procedures and such; I'd probably **** up some how in the process. Once again thanks for the tips and suggestions.
CloudPump
04-10-2014, 08:20 AM
6-10 is probably a bit of a stretch (I think I was thinking of accidents), however are you saying that all tickets, regardless of severity, are only on your insurance record for 3 years, regardless of company?
Yes.
Impaired driving and a 1km/h over ticket both fall off after 3 years from the date of conviction and are no longer ratable.
-Geoff
jeffjones
04-10-2014, 09:05 AM
Yes.
Impaired driving and a 1km/h over ticket both fall off after 3 years from the date of conviction and are no longer ratable.
-Geoff
Is it the same with dangerous driving and HTA 172?
Because I know the dangerous is a criminal offense and the 172 will just rape you before any plea and for years after.
CloudPump
04-10-2014, 10:25 AM
Is it the same with dangerous driving and HTA 172?
Because I know the dangerous is a criminal offense and the 172 will just rape you before any plea and for years after.
Yes.
All tickets fall off after 3 years from the date of conviction.
-Geoff
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