I received a "complaint ticket" in CT. 85 in a 65. Infraction code 14-219(c)(1). Is this considered reckless driving? Should I go to court to fight it or just pay the fine? If I do go to court, will I get points even if the charge is reduced? Thanks in advance for the help.

The Connecticut infraction schedule list has a complaint ticket written up for 14-219(c)(1) listed as a speeding violation; motor vehicles other than trucks; greater than 70 mph. So it is a speeding citation, not reckless driving which would be under infraction code number 14-222.

CT motor vehicle statute 14-219 discusses speeding by noting that no person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any highway, road or any parking area for ten cars or more, at such a rate of speed as to endanger the life of any occupant of such motor vehicle.

Part c states that any person who operates a motor vehicle on a multiple lane, limited access highway at a rate of speed greater than seventy miles per hour but not greater than eighty-five miles per hour or on any other highway at a rate of speed greater than sixty miles per hour but not greater than eighty-five miles per hour shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one hundred fifty dollars.

The State of Connecticut's Judicial Branch states that if you make your payment in full and your case disposes at the Centralized Infractions Bureau, no points will be assessed by the Department of Motor Vehicles against your driver's license; however it will appear on your driving history. There site also notes that points are only given if there is a conviction (a finding of guilty) or a bond forfeiture, after a court hearing.

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So it does not appear that points would normally be assessed if you pay your speeding ticket in full. However if points are assigned it would be 1 according to the point system for motor vehicle violations information listed as RCSA 14-137a.

Section 14-137a can be read in full here but basically states that not less than two points shall be assessed for conviction of a violation of subsection (d) of section 14-100a, [deals with safety belts], not more than one point shall be assessed for conviction of a violation of section 14-219 [speeding] and no points shall be assessed for an infraction or any violation specified in subsection (b) of section 51-164n for which the person sends payment of the fine and any additional fees or costs established for such infraction or violation to the Centralized Infractions Bureau in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 51-164n. If such regulations provide for participation in a driver improvement course or system for the owner of an operator's license, the commissioner may charge a fee of fifty dollars for registration for such course or system.

Whether you want to go and fight the ticket in court or just plead guilty and pay the fine is a personal decision. A lawyer that specialized in traffic law may be able to help you determine if you could reduce your ticket or if it is worth fighting it in a CT court.

Since points are assessed by the Connecticut DMV they would tell you for certain about if points would be assigned for this offense even if you had it reduced. The Connecticut DMV's Driver Services can be contacted at 860-263-5720.