Dave: LOL....thanks for that story...got me to laugh

 

I got a ticket after owning my tC for a grand total of two days. I paid it, despite the fact that the fine was doubled because it was in a work zone. I was running late for something so was feeling rushed, was stopped at a traffic light with empty road ahead of me, accelerated too fast when it turned green, hit 48mph in a 30, and naturally there was a speed trap just ahead -- two cops were standing there with radar guns, pulling over one car after another. They actually made me pull my car up further so they could fit more cars behind me.

It was obviously blatant revenue generation on the part of the local PD, and they got $270 out of me. But I figured it was pointless trying to fight it, and in fact the upper range for the possible fine was over $1000, so I didn't want to take the chance of the judge getting annoyed and laying on a higher fine.

It doesn't matter that the car was new to me, that it has a lot more power than my old car, that the speed limit on that road is ludicrously low, whatever. The fact is, I screwed up, so with a grimace on my face, I wrote the check. Next time I'll be a lot more careful.

--mark

 

Look at the facts, you got pulled over for speeding and the officer was lenient about the ticket. He probably knows the judge better than you and was helping you out abit but you always have the option to admit guilt or fight it. Let us know how it goes.

 

YEAH..let me guess, you hadent found the speedometer yet?

 

As much as I hate to admit it but take it from someone (me) who has been in court for a multitude of moving violations. I have gone to court with and without a lawyer (yes I have a personal 1) no matter how well thought up of an excuse it is the judge DOES NOT want to hear it. If you want to fight it go for it fight it, but trust in what everyone here is saying and believe you'll walk out paying alot more when they tack on court costs and fees... Depending on where you live the points will come off in about 12 months as long as you dont acquire any other points in that time frame 36 months if you do.

Tim

 

Unless the ticket has obvious errors, fighting it probably isn't the smartest idea. If there is an error, by al means, fight it all the way. Here in Cali, if the ticketing officer isn't present in court, the ticket is dismissed. I plead not guilty on my last two tickets; the first for make/model of car simply said "Honda" (it was a del Sol, but it had no badges), the second ticket in the speed box said "80+". WTF is 80+? The cop didn't show up in either event... but I wouldn't have tried it without errors in the tickets.

First offense, take the traffic school.

 

Any time you get a speeding ticket the fine is like $10, you are already paying for the court fees, the reason the court fees are added in is because you not found guilty till after the court date. If you are paying for it take advantage of it and just say you didn't realize you were going that fast and you cant afford the ticket. You may have to pay it in full, but it has a good chance of being reduced or dismissed due to the cop not showing or the radar not being recalibrated in 30 days(which they have to show the paperwork to reinforce).

 

Depending where you stay generaly a CHP will lessen your speed to bring it down a bracket for your points and fines.
My uncle has fought every ticket he has had and TWICE the officer could not make it in to court,BUT,CHP have nothing else to do.

When I got rolled here in AR doing 98(I was braking when he got me!!!) in a 65 the state trooper said he wouldnt list it as reckless even though he thought I was pushin my luck.

Judge said he was goin to suspend my license for 3 months just to scare me (WHICH WORKED) and then gave me 3 points and a $300 fine minus $25 for wearing my belt.

THE MORAL IS...... IN ARKANSAS RADAR JAMMERS ARE NOT ILLEGAL.YEEEEEEEHAAAAHHH

 

oh yeah and the judge gave me a lecture about being old enough to know better

 

I got pulled over once doing 61 in a 45. The officer asked me why I was going so fast and I was honest with him, "I honestly just wasn't paying enough attention." He dropped the ticket to 58 in a 45, which is a lesser fine.

Be honest, it does wonders. You wouldn't have gotten a ticket if you weren't doing something wrong in the first place, so accept responsibility for it and pay your fine.

 

I got pulled over for 68 in a 55 once quite a while ago and just said that I didn't realize how fast I was going b/c I was on my way to work and he took my stuff and went back to the car. He then called me back to the car to the passenger side to talk to me. He was asking me if it was my car and if I paid for it and if the insurance was all in my name (which it all is). Then he asked if my parents helped me at all with my car (I was like 17 at the time), and I think he felt bad when I said that they don't - so he wrote the ticket for disobeying a traffic signal or something stupid so it wouldn't be as bad for fines/points.

I was impressed.

Last time I got pulled over was sometime last year by a lame local cop (who everyone in the entire area knew was a joke)... I was doing 55 in a 45 and just told him I was on my way home from work. Luckily he knew some of the family and just let me go. He was useless anyways - I was laughing when I saw who it was getting out of the car behind me.

 

edited.. bleh typo.

and i forgot the correct mph's anyways..

 

Fines are lame... and unless they were like 500 bucks or more its still going to be WAY less then the rate your insurance goes up over the next years. Should of gave the cop a hundred dollar bill. If the cop gets angry because he doesn't take bribes, say it isn't a bribe that you are a nice guy and you appreciate all his hard work to keep the roads safe and you hoped he would take him and his buddies out for lunch with it. ;)

 

I sense some negative emotions abrewin'... For those of you who need a reality check, consider why the courts even give you the opportunity to make a plea. Sure, it is nothing more than time for excuses. I think I have a very reasonable excuse. I could have told the cop that I had diarreaha or something, now that woulda been lame. Anyways, thanks for all the advice. It sounds like most of you are speaking from experience, so I will do the wise thing and just pay it. I can go to traffic school anwyays..

 

Beltronics RX65 Pro

 

Yeah compound the one illegal act you have with yet another. Brilliant move!

 

LOL nice

 

It's Friday lighten up, it was a joke.

 

I say fight it. Wear you Sunday best, get a hair cut and be polite and respectful. Rehearse whatever BS your going to tell the Judge so it sounds believable and hope for the best.

You were obviously really speeding so all you can hope for is to get lucky and hope the system works out for you.

At worst, you bought yourself some time to pay the ticket, at best the cop doesn't show up, the judge thinks you'll never do it again etc.

 

SPeaking on the topic of getting rolled, what is a good radar jammer/detector system for a decent price? How effective are these devices?