Ticket for talking on my cell phone.. fee $132?

I got a ticket for talking on my cell phone a few weeks ago and the officer told me that it was going to be an $80 fine tops. Also, she stated that it would not go on my record and wouldn't affect my insurance because it wasn't like moving violation. According to her, the ticket was equivalent to that of a parking violation.

The bill finally came in and the fine is $132! I looked online and it's supposed to be a $20 violation and someone said that this ticket will affect my insurance. Could someone clarify how much I should be charged and whether or not it DOES affect my insurance? I have the option to go to traffic school (or so the ticket says), but should I go? This is my first ticket, so I'm not sure about what I should do.
Additional Details
I live in California. Although it was my fault for talking on the phone, I wasn't even driving in the street. I was driving around a parking lot trying to find a space to park and talk. As soon as I parked a police car pulled up behind me and cited me for it. I believe people are allowed to talk if they pull into a parking lot?

Hushyanoize

You should have been charged $1000.00 for it. Maybe you might learn something. If you are a young driver, your rates may go up, AND you may be cancelled. The insurance company will run your abstract next time you renew. It should go up, because what you did is serious.

Stay off of the phone when you are driving.

agave_1986

With most insurance companies, one violation won't cause them to raise your rates.

But really: you didn't even say what state you are in.

Get off the phone.

DuTchHmiSS

If you have a court date on the ticket go to it and talk to the prosecuter

Beautica

You are not allowed to be on the phone regardless of whether or not you were just trying to park, your car was still moving wasn't it? Not only does this fine go on your license and stay there for 3 years, but your insurance rates are going to go up even though it was only a cell phone ticket. Insurance companies are in the business of jacking up your insurance over every little thing they can because they are allowed to, that's how they make money. Your wrongdoing is their monetary gain. Next time use an earpiece. By the way, your insurance company is going to hold that ticket against you (points) for at least the next 3 years too. One last comment. Never believe what a police officer tells you about ticket prices. They don't know what the prices are, they just write the tickets.

Avid Ticket Contester

Well though I am not sure about the highway safety code in California. Over here in Montreal, Quebec I know for a fact that in the Quebec highway safety code does not define a commercial parking lot as a public road in article 439.1 pertaining to the use of cellular phones while driving. Therefore, any infractions related to cellular phone use in a parking lot are invalid here in Quebec for the simple fact that a commercial parking lot is not defined as a public road. In order for the ticket to be valid, one must be driving his or her car on a public road while talking on CELL PHONE. A public road is a road under the mandate and charge of the municipal, provincial, state, or federal governments respectively in which the highway safety code laws would apply in Quebec. For a great reference, look into your local highway safety code, research the definition of a public and private road, and the laws that apply in every case. In Quebec, the cellular phone law only applies on public roads and is therefore invalid in a shopping center or commercial parking lot that is privately owned.

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