Those "ticket fighting" people that bug you at truck stops

[ohiomohawk]

I am sure most of you have come across these people that sit behind the little podium at some truck stops who try to get you to buy some coverage to fight tickets.I have never stopped to talk to them because I don't really have the time and I want straight forward answers not a 10 minute lecture. The sign says "We fight pre-existing tickets".

Does anyone have any experience with this service? What are the pro's and con's? How much do they charge?

[boneebone]

A waste of money, a word to the wise don't get a ticket and you won't need them.

[Uturn2001]

All I can tell you is what my cousin, who is a district court judge, once told me. The best time to contest charges is before you plead guilty.

With that said I think you would be better off to subscribe to some kind of pre-paid attorney program than go with one of these deals where they fight after the fact deals.

When I drove I belonged to Open Road. I found the rates reasonable, every licensed driver in my house was covered for the same price and it included many of the same features as an auto club would (for our private cars not the truck).

[Biscuit Lips]

I would just save the money that you would pay them each month and put it in a savings account or something. Then by time you get a ticket you would probably have enough money to fight it, unless you are a serious screw up that gets a ticket every month. Never have listened to their spiel though, but boy are they bothersome. You tell them you are not interested and they will practically follow you out of the truck stop. Have seriously wanted to punch a few of those guys before.

[Kevin0915]

ran into a lady like that at the Pilot in Laredo. She started talking to me in spanish, then switched to Spanglish and asked very poorly, "you need pre-paid legal service?". I just said, "nope....my lawyer is in my sleeper.....and she's tired!!!" hahahah

[BanditsCousin]

I was laid over at Monroe, MI and listened to the pitch. She said it was stupid for not having the service. I said, "Thanks, I have been stupid `all these years and didn't know it. You probably sell a lot of this" and walked to the Pizza Hut Express.

[Hawkjr]

Well an old fart that stopped me at the T/A in Richmond/Ashland the first question he asked me was did i have a TWIC card?? i was like WTF?? i knew what the card was but i was like why is he asking me this.. then he start rambling about that ticket fighting stuff and i told him i had to take a duece and i be back, of course i went to Popeyes got me a three piece and walked out the front.. I drive a 60 mile per hour truck, i don't plan on getting pulled over by Beauford T Justice any time soon...

[dollarshort]

Every time I pass one that tries to suck me in I tell them I don't need it. They look at you as if you are an alien. What do you mean you don't need it? Because if you use your head and drive safely you won't ever need the service. It's perfect for those outlaws that speed from truckstop to truckstop to play the cherry machines.

[GMAN]

At one time I subscribed to Prepaid Legal. They give you a certain amount of legal counsel per year included in the monthly fee. For the most part it was a waste of money for me. I think that I could have done as well or better on my own. I keep my speed down and drive carefully so it isn't a factor with me. If you get a lot of tickets then it may be worth it for you. Basically what most of these people do is locate a lawyer for you in the jurisdiction where the ticket was received. Supposedly, you are given a discount rate for the attorney they secure for you.

[Kevin0915]

At one time I subscribed to Prepaid Legal. They give you a certain amount of legal counsel per year included in the monthly fee. For the most part it was a waste of money for me. I think that I could have done as well or better on my own. I keep my speed down and drive carefully so it isn't a factor with me. If you get a lot of tickets then it may be worth it for you. Basically what most of these people do is locate a lawyer for you in the jurisdiction where the ticket was received. Supposedly, you are given a discount rate for the attorney they secure for you.

its probably the same level of 'legal education' as you'd have got from the service anyway. I think those 'pre-paid' services are for those newbie lawyers who dont really want to spend the time to make a good name for themselves, or want their own 'firms' name on business cards they hand out.

either that, or its just for a bunch of interns looking for work. either way, its no different than those loser lawyers who have such a deep bench of people who actually use them, so they look for 'work' by spending $400-500/mo on bilboards showing them holding a phone in a rented $2,000 suit.

[Jumbo]

I was laid over at Monroe, MI and listened to the pitch. She said it was stupid for not having the service. I said, "Thanks, I have been stupid `all these years and didn't know it. You probably sell a lot of this" and walked to the Pizza Hut Express.

Was she the sort cute younger girl who smokes Swisher Sweets. I spent about half an hour listening to her pitch. By the time she was done she had my fake address and my fake phone number. She wasnt good enough to get my fake credit card number though.

[Cluggy619]

I know most of us drive as legal as possible when in a rig. And we all try to do the same in our personal car.

But bad things do happen to good people, and for truck drivers, tickets are a part of the job.

I wouldn't use a pre-paid legal service, but that doesn't mean I don't put some money away for tickets. I guess the idea is to figure out how much a driver should set aside.

Better to have the umbrella when the rain pours. It's really up to you. Only you know weather you drive safe and legal enough not to worry, or maybe a nestegg wouldn't hurt you to much to have. You know, just in case.

[Cluggy619]

And those prepaid legal people bother everyone....along with others.....

[Kevin0915]

... bad things do happen to good people...

off topic, but also good things happen to bad people. life is a "zero sum" game. everything equals out in the end.