Can't say I support going to court and hiring lawyers to get out of something that you clearly did. If you were speeding legitimately, going to court seems like a waste of everyone's time.
When I get pulled over for speeding, I check guilty, sign the ticket, and mail it in.
I speed, and understand the consequences of speeding are getting tickets, points, and a fine. If there was some shady business regarding a speeding ticket, then perhaps I would challenge it in court, but I've yet to be unjustly cited for speeding.
In PA you get 1 point for every 5 miles over the legal limit. Once you hit 6 points, you have to take a course, that will knock 3 points off. If you hit 6 again, your liscense can be suspended, etc.
Every year without an infraction, three points are removed from your liscense.
Depending on who your insurer is, and your driving history, you may or may not receive a rate increase. Generally, I've noticed anything up to 15 MPH over is not big deal and won't get you any negative insurance points. 15 over didn't get me any, but such excess is much more likely to result in a negative point on your insurance record.
Points issued by the police are different from those issued by the insurance company. A speeding ticket might be worth one point; a totalled car, three. Ultimately, the insurance company's points are more costly because they result in higher rates, and take longer to expire. Points issued by police are generally a nuisance that can pile up if you speed often.
I'm always willing to jump into a debate about speeding on the highway not necessarily being unsafe, but this thread doesn't seem to be the time or place for it.
You mentioned being cited for basic speeding. It's possible they didn't give you any points, or they gave you a default amount, like three. If you were going 31 MPH over the limit in PA, that would be good for 6 points. A court appearance might also be required, depending on the specifics of the ticket.
Regarding the fine.. In my experience, the taxes are the most expensive part. I figured out the MPH over to cost ratio in the past, and I think it was something like $7 per MPH over the limit. The taxes are generally what jack up the rate of the ticket. The money is not the aspect of the ticket that bothers me; the points are, because they linger and are cumulative.
You could always call the State police and ask them how many points you have on your record. They will likely send out a mailing saying you were cited, yada yada, and include the amount of points applied to your record, if any.
I was caught doing 75 (excess of 80 MPH while being pursued, after I was initially clocked) while going out for a drive one night. I think the speed limit was 50. She asked where I was going, and I told her the truth: that I was out joyriding as a means for relaxing during finals week. She cited me for speeding without a specific MPH listed. No points, just a fine. Was pretty neat. She was pretty cute too.
In PA the locals can't use radar, so they have to rely on 100 foot distances to calculate speed. Thus, they generally sit on overpasses and merge points. If you see white lines on the road, they are generally 100 feet apart and used by cops to determine speed. The State cops can use radar, but they aren't really out much.
I was pulled over by a new state cop for doing 15 MPH over. I didn't think I had my newest registration card, and told him I had just got a new one and my dad had put it in, or so I thought. The officer said he would cite me for not having a registration card, but not for speeding; thus, no points. While he is back at his car writing up the ticket, I find my registration card, and hold it out the window. The officer comes up, takes the card, and cites me for speeding, and gives me three points. I figured I would help him out and make his day easier. Big mistake.
