I got pulled over the other day coming back from work. The cop was coming from the other way, saw me, flash the light and made a u-turn. I really didn't think that I was speeding at all, and didn't know that he was stopping me. So it took me a several seconds to pull over after he tailgated my car.

When I made a stop on the right side, he pulled up behind me and turned his car to the left a little bit. So I thought that maybe he wasn't stopping me and he was trying to pulled up into this compound on the right. So without thinking to much, I scooted up several feet thinking that he was trying to access the entryway. That got him really ____ed off, I looked into the rearview mirror and saw him point his finger right at me.

He came over in a hurry and just went off about how I shouldn't run away from a cop. I tried telling him that I didn't know that he was stopping me, but he just kept on going, and ramble about how I was going 15 miles over the speed limit (I didn't even realize I was going that fast).

When he asked for my insurance, I told him it's in the glove compartment. As I was reaching over to grab it, he told me "Don't worry about it, it's a new car."

He went back to his car for 5 minutes and came back with a ticket. I just signed it and didn't bother to look at it. Later, I found out that he wrote me up for speeding 59 on a 45, "fail to maint financial responsibility" which means no insurance, and "expired/ no inspection." WTF?? no insurance and no inspection?

In Houston, we have this computerized citation ticket, where everything is online. I checked the ticket amount and it was more than $500!!!! I never got a speeding ticket in my life before, and this is gonna kill my insurance rate.

What are my chances in court, and how the hell am I suppose to prove that my tc had an inspection sticker and it doesn't expire til 08? I thought all new cars came with inspection sticker anyway.

 

Don't they just put you in the chair in Texas? Good Luck.

 

title edited. please use nicer language. I know you;re upset but please respect teh badge. Most are awesome guys.

Hope you come out okay though..

 

what a sucker... obviously you're not gonna have any paper form of insurance when you get your car but it will come in the mail shortly thereafter. even before they let you drive off in your brand new car, the dealer was suppose to make contact with your insurance company claiming you on it already just incase something happens when you're driving home. the cop was just being really rude and trying to say that you didn't have insurance. ok, if you didn't, how come he didn't tow your car? driving without insurance is illegal. it's a brand new car, so there's no sticker on it yet, but he has the ability to look it up in the system and find out about it. that's really messed up, especially the $500 ticket. go to court bro! don't pay! but you should probably take fault in the speeding though as claimed by the officer. you should ask him for proof too. good luck!

 

just go to the courthouse and explain the insurance/inspection part they'll cut you slack , and then try and explain the speeding and at least ask for a reduction in fines but first ask to take traffic school and reduction in fines. . if no traffic school reduction in fines.

 

ticket assassin
Use this. Worked for me.

 

thats why you -always- look at what you're signing!

 

Why didn't you just pull over from the beginning? It makes no sense that you see the police officer turn on his lights, do a u-turn come right at you, and you let him sit on your rear for several seconds before you decide to pull over? You deserve the ticket and more.

 

Um... all new cars rolling off the lot should have inspection stickers. And any decent dealer/insurance company will have a card faxed over that you can use in the meantime with a policy number and such on it - even if you have to use your previous card.

 

he says he had the insurace card in the glove box....
it was not a matter of the insurance comp not sending it to him. he had it.

best solution is to go to court.
if you show your insurance was in force when this happened, you'll be ok on it.
the speeding, will prolly get stuck with. (at least in NJ) it is the lowest speeding bracket you could get nailed for. (0-14 mph over the limit...fine and 2pts)
provided your driving record is clean, this will not effect your premium rate.

 

why are people outside of NY and cali so odd.

 

Easier said than done. Sometimes there are areas where a person might be unsure if it is legal to pull over.

Do not go to court in person if you can avoid it.
Check out the website I posted. Trial by written declaration is your best option. Saved me $186 and points on my record.

 

Trial by written declaration may not be an option in Texas. He is not in california nor was the citation written in california, and many states do not have provisions for trial by written declaration. I do not know texas traffic law, so I can't speak to that, but Massachusetts does not have such provisions and requires you to appear in person to refute a ticket.

Careful making legal suggestions in a state different from your own- the law can be very different there.

 

Why do I have to be careful?
It was just that, a suggestion. It is up to him to find out what his options are in his state.
When cited in CA the only options shown to the defendant are to pay the fee and be found guilty and/or go to traffic school. The latter still puts finds the defendant guilty.

When I was cited I researched what my options were because I thought the citation was unjust.
Next commentary on my suggestion to him?
Only trying to help. Whats your suggestion?

 

there's no sense in suggesting trial by declaration is the "best option" if that option doesn't even exist in his state.

 

youll bring proof to the courthouse that you had insurance at the time of the incident and that the car had inspection. don't worry about that part of it. bring all of your paperwork with you.

You may get hit with the speeding if the cop shows up. even if he does you can still try to plead down to a non-speeding violation (town gets some fine dollars, and you walk away with the equivalent of a parking ticket...no points). i've been to courthouses where the judge actually directs everyone to go "find their cop" before the hearings begin to do just that.

the justice system is so perverted.

 

sounds like he is trying to make it difficult for you, all you need to do is show proof in court, as long as you have proof that you had insurance at the time then your ok, the speeding thing is different.......you would need to contest that.
and ditto what jetlounge said.