Got a speeding ticket...advice? - RC-Monster Forums

BP-Revo · **Got a speeding ticket...advice? -** 08.18.2010, 11:11 PM

Yesterday I was coming home from school (but before school I was camping), and I was about 3 blocks away from home when a cop pulled me over. Said I was doing 57 in a 45 zone (probably was, wasn't really paying attention - I had to go to the bathroom really bad so I was focused on getting home).

The cop came up and did the whole license, insurance, registration thing and I was honest with him and told him I was going a bit fast cause my stomach hurt a lot and I wanted to get home to relieve myself. He totally ignored this (no sympathy at all) and promptly wrote me up.

Now, seeing how I got a ticket 6 months ago and just finished the traffic school for that, I can't take traffic school for this, so I'm screwed. I really would rather not have that point on my license.

Can anyone offer advice as to help me try to get out of this one (I know that sounds really bad LOL)? Normally I'd say I deserve whatever tickets I get cause I drive a bit on the faster side but in this case I had a decent, honest reason and I think anyone with half a heart would have understood (you gotta go if you gotta go).

Unfortunately he got me with a laser (which is more accurate than radar, so harder to really refute), but on the plus side he clocked me when I was over 500ft away.

I did a simple calculation with geometry and for him to "miss" and aim at the car in the other lane would have required just 1.1 degrees of error in whatever direction he was pointing his laser.

Also, I don't know if this matters, but on the ticket he wrote that the car is registered as "same as driver" but it is actually owned by my dad. It's a technicality but murderers even get let off on stupid technicalities like that - is there something I can do about this?

I'm going to do trial by declaration and hope he doesn't respond, but if he responds and I lose I'm gonna take it to court and fight it and every little tactic helps I guess.

So...bring on the advice?

Thanks

Finnster · 08.18.2010, 11:17 PM

1.) Slow down
2.) Hire a lawyer, go to the intial hearing and hope for a plea deal to drop to defective vehicle or whatever BS your state has
3.) Slow down

BP-Revo · 08.18.2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finnster

1.) Slow down
2.) Hire a lawyer, go to the intial hearing and hope for a plea deal to drop to defective vehicle or whatever BS your state has
3.) Slow down

1 and 3 were already done after the last ticket. Guess even more so now...

Lawyer up seems...expensive...was hoping to achieve this without a lawyer.

bryan · 08.18.2010, 11:20 PM

I would go to court. Just making an appearance shows you somewhat care about your record.FYI,Make sure you take care of buisness before you confront the judge

BP-Revo · 08.18.2010, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bryan

I would go to court. Just making an appearance shows you somewhat care about your record.FYI,Make sure you take care of buisness before you confront the judge

LOL will do.

I think trial by declaration first, no? I'm still allowed a court appearance even if I lose the trial by declaration.

Arct1k · 08.18.2010, 11:33 PM

Just go to court and meet the prosecutor - Be nice and plead it down...

I was stopped for 80 in a 65 'safety zone' and changing across 2 lanes without indicating - I saw the cop...

The cop let me off the 80 and just gave me a 2 point + $280 ticket for changing lanes without indicating.

I went to court was polite and chatted to prosecutor - walked away with a zero point obstructing traffic ticket with a $83 fine including court costs...

Lesson is brush up on ticket fines and points, dress smart, be polite and plead down...

BP-Revo · 08.18.2010, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arct1k

Just go to court and meet the prosecutor - Be nice and plead it down...

I was stopped for 80 in a 65 'safety zone' and changing across 2 lanes without indicating - I saw the cop...

The cop let me off the 80 and just gave me a 2 point + $280 ticket for changing lanes without indicating.

I went to court was polite and chatted to prosecutor - walked away with a zero point obstructing traffic ticket with a $83 fine including court costs...

Lesson is brush up on ticket fines and points, dress smart, be polite and plead down...

Isn't the prosecutor the officer in this case?

Arct1k · 08.18.2010, 11:40 PM

No... There is a court appointed persecutor - The officer would give evidence but that doesn't happen as you a pleading guilty - just to a lower offense :)

blueb8llz · 03:11 AM

not sure if this still works, but reschedule the court appearance as last minute as you can.
most of the time, the cop will not show up for the rescheduled hearing.
plead not guilty, and if the cop doesnt show up, you should be good.
worse comes to worse, dress nice, at least a dress shirt and tie and slacks. and be veeerrry polite. tell judge your still in school, with no job. he may lower your ticket price

BP-Revo · 08.19.2010, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueb8llz

not sure if this still works, but reschedule the court appearance as last minute as you can.
most of the time, the cop will not show up for the rescheduled hearing.
plead not guilty, and if the cop doesnt show up, you should be good.
worse comes to worse, dress nice, at least a dress shirt and tie and slacks. and be veeerrry polite. tell judge your still in school, with no job. he may lower your ticket price

It's not the ticket price I'm worried about, it's the point on my license.

I would gladly pay the ticket twice over if I didn't get the point.

JERRY2KONE · **Confusing -** 08.19.2010, 03:41 AM

Although confusing all good advice. First thing is to slow down and understand that officers hear every excuse in the book all day long, so none of them really count no matter how relivant you may feel it is. Speeding is speeding period.

As stated previously dress neat, shave, and be totally respectful even if it does not work out to your benefit. Judges hate shabby dress in their court rooms as a point of disrespect.

Try to discus it with the officer if you can, asking for his mercy for the reasons mentioned(school, no job, no money) and let him know that you are going to be a more defensive driver from now on. If he ignores you move on and don't push it.

Then speak with the prosicutor if possible to plea down to a lower offense or maybe a warning if you are lucky noting it is to save time and give you a second chance.

No matter how it turns out at least you know you tried your best. Don't go in there expecting anything good to come of it, and feel lucky to get out of there with your license in tact and good health.

The bottom line is, slow down and stop getting tickets. It is a lesson that we have all had to learn over the years of growing up. Trying to use charm, good looks, or kissing a$$ just pisses the officers off, so stick to the facts. Your an idiot and you are working hard to change plain and simple.

JERRY2KONE · **Story -** 08.19.2010, 03:48 AM

A young man is driving down the street two blocks from his house and approaches a stop sign. He slows down to a crawl, looks both ways and accelerates through the intersection within the speed limit.

An officer watching from around the corner pulls up behind teh driver and pulls him over.

The officer approaches the driver and asks if he knows why he was being stopped.

The driver says no I have no idea.

The officer informs the driver that he did not stop at the stop sign, and still continued through the intersection.

The driver insists that he slowed to a crawl and looked both ways carefully moving through the intersection.

The officer takes out his baton and begins to beat the man over the head continuously saying the sign says STOP.

The driver yells out stop, stop, please stop, stop.

The officer begins to ask the driver, does that mean stop, or does it mean slow down.

I'm sure you get the point.

Bondonutz · 08.19.2010, 11:12 AM

Wear DIAPERS ?

bdebde · 08.19.2010, 03:20 PM

You can ask to see the calibration records for the laser used. also ask to see the officers training record for use of speed laser. also, your angle of error (if other traffic on the road) is a good argument as well. Good luck!

Arct1k · 08.19.2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdebde

You can ask to see the calibration records for the laser used. also ask to see the officers training record for use of speed laser. also, your angle of error (if other traffic on the road) is a good argument as well. Good luck!

For such a minor ticket this will just piss them off - you're likely to just put a big target on you...

In NJ at least you just see the prosecutor and generally if you only have a couple of offenses it will be reduced...