I'm at the bar. All is quiet. Let's hope it stays this way.

So last Friday, I got my first ever ticket. It was 12am and I was on my way home. I was tired, worked a full shift and wanted to just sleep.

I was driving on this road I normally take to get home. Its speed limit is 35 but for some reason I thought it was 40. So I was going 40 when suddenly I notice a dead deer on the opposite side of the road. And after that I saw a police car and I thought it was going to examine it so I ignored it.

Suddenly I see someone with their brights on all the way and riding my ass. I speed up since there was a car on the only other lane I could get on so I could avoid jackass. Well after I sped up to change lanes I see the flashing red and blue lights followed by the all too familiar siren... 

I pull over, unsatisfactory, so the cop yells at me to park elsewhere. I do. He asks what I'm doing. He tells me, "You know, at one point [when he was riding my ass] I caught you going 50." 

The usual ensues and I get myself a pretty $160 ticket  

My parents both say to go to defensive driving and get the ticket relieved that way. That way my insurance won't go up. My gf tells me I should pay it. I'm afraid of how high my insurance will go up if I don't get the ticket relieved though... I would do the course my parents suggest but I don't know if I have the time since I work 75hrs a week x.x 

What should I do?

Wouldn't your insurance rates stay the same by simply paying it off? I would just do it right away and move on

I've had one ticket in my life and I got that reduced to a charge that wouldn't affect my insurance by taking the class thing. It was nothing, just show up and be bored for awhile. Still had to pay cost of court but at least my premium didn't increase and I can say that I've (technically) never had a ticket for a moving violation. I wouldn't care about that except that it does matter when dealing with insurance.

Would it? My parents are under the impression it'd get higher

How high would it go if I just paid it? Also how do I find the class?

I don't think one ticket is very bad.  You'll get a small increase, probably around $100 or so for the year, but it varies depending on the company and the region.  It's impossible to say.  I mean, for example, I pay more because people where I live hit a lot of deer.

The bigger deal, in my opinion, is that it will be on your record if you're unlucky enough to get another one.  

Maybe call your insurance rep for some advice?

I have no idea about the class thing, that's totally going to depend on how your city/county does things.  I talked with the court clerk, I think, to set up my class.

By $100 you mean overall or per month? Per month would break my already unstable finances x.x

I don't think I will. But the idea of it happening again scares me. 

I might do that tomorrow actually.

Hmm alright I may do that as well

You got Hazzard County'd.

I found this--

How much rates rise after speeding tickets

If you have speeding tickets on your record, you might be considered a risky driver and face insurance increases.

But exactly how much speeding affects your car insurance rates varies by company. In a NerdWallet study, we sampled quotes in two states to see how much rates spiked after speeding 11 to 15 mph over the limit.

After one speeding ticket: Expect at least a slap on the wrist — a rate increase of $100 to $150 a year. Some insurers hike rates by several hundred dollars a year, however.  https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/insurance/how-much-car-insurance-quotes-rise-after-an-accident-or-violation/

So probably like $100-$150 increase over the course of the year.  However, that's a pretty good amount if they hold that against you for 2 or 3 years before it comes off your record.  

What's the amount on the ticket, though?  10mph and under might not even apply.  I'd call my agent.

Oh ok... thats not too horrible. He said I was going 15 over the limit. I guess my only other worry is in my job field getting a ticket is risky. If I get 3 tickets I can't be a caregiver until they're off my record which can take between 3 and 5 years.