Speeding Tickets ...and what cops say...your best story

[DB6]

So, my luck finally ran out last night, what was I thinking, well I did not think I was going that fast, I think the more used to a 7 you become you start to get comfortable with the car and not realise just how fast you are really going, and no that was not my plea,lol.

 

Deserted long straight road, good conditions, rural back road but still within Gearhart city limits with a blanket speed of 25 mph and" Flash, Flash %@#$ing Flash", (is there any worse feeling in the world).

So, I think in the past when I managed to worm my way out it was probably due to a human submisive thing of grovelling and also looking at a cop in the kneecaps while sitting in the car can only be a good thing right, partic if you had a pint,lol.

Well, this Plod was all biz, my typical flippant answer to... "Do you know how fast you were going" has always been..."I have no idea, it's a struggle to see a black 2 inch speedo with a match bulb for light during the day let alone at night", then we talk about the car and I live to drive another day.

Well , not last night,, 51mph in a 25 = $242.00.

By the way, whats the deal with insurance companies in the USA, do they all raise your premiums for speeding tickets?

I think when I get gear shift warning lights I need to get speed warning lights (is there such a thing), it really is hard to keep tabs on the stock speedo tho.

 

 

[scannon]

Some insurance companies raise them for one ticket, some don't. Since you doubled the speed limit they will probably come down hard on you.

 

In Colorado, if you are 20 or more mph over the limit you have to appear in court, they won't let you mail in the fine. This is a good thing as when you get to court, you have a conversation with the assistant DA and if you have a reasonable DMV record he/she will most likely offer you half the points and a lesser violation to go on your record.

 

My last two tickets were 81/55 and 86/45. The first one dropped it to 70/55 and knocked the points from 6 to 3. The second one changed it from speeding to failure to yield and did the same reduction on points. Total fine and court costs for the first was $145 and the second was $130. Well worth the time to appear in court.

 

I didn't have to go in front of the judge on the first one but the judge in the second one wanted to chew my butt a bit. I had been watching others going in front of him asking for hardship reductions in their fines so when it was my turn after he had finished chewing on me he asked what I had to say for myself. I told him I was on long term disability, had taken a 40% pay cut (all true) and pointed to my oxygen tank hanging on my shoulder. He knocked $40 off the fine.

 

Skip

[DB6]

Some insurance companies raise them for one ticket, some don't. Since you doubled the speed limit they will probably come down hard on you.

 

In Colorado, if you are 20 or more mph over the limit you have to appear in court, they won't let you mail in the fine. This is a good thing as when you get to court, you have a conversation with the assistant DA and if you have a reasonable DMV record he/she will most likely offer you half the points and a lesser violation to go on your record.

 

My last two tickets were 81/55 and 86/45. The first one dropped it to 70/55 and knocked the points from 6 to 3. The second one changed it from speeding to failure to yield and did the same reduction on points. Total fine and court costs for the first was $145 and the second was $130. Well worth the time to appear in court.

 

I didn't have to go in front of the judge on the first one but the judge in the second one wanted to chew my butt a bit. I had been watching others going in front of him asking for hardship reductions in their fines so when it was my turn after he had finished chewing on me he asked what I had to say for myself. I told him I was on long term disability, had taken a 40% pay cut (all true) and pointed to my oxygen tank hanging on my shoulder. He knocked $40 off the fine.

 

Skip

 

Can you mail me your oxy tank and disabled sticker??

I think you did well.

 

I do not have to appear in court unless I contest it ,but there are a load of options on the ticket from not guilty to no contest to guilty etc,I guess your main point is, if you choose to appear, not to argue what happened but rather the effect of financial burden and hardship, I think it worked for you as you have true harrdships; myself... well , I think I would be just pissing in the wind.

 

 

Regards & thanks Skip

[TonyI]

Last ticket I picked up was in Co. Springs Co. year and a half ago. Goes like this a couple days befor we were on a long incline going down I70 toward Monument Co and the fuel pump was packing in on the Yukon pulling our 26' car hauler(full, way over gross) and we couldn't keep the speed up so pulled in the rest area near the summit and the local state patrol stopped and said if this was rush with traffic he could have given us a ticket for going to slow. We talked for a while he said weve been ticketing for going to slow so within reason keep up with traffic....Two days later in Co.Spring i'm in the middle of a pack of cars and I get popped for 12 over...Not happy, no break out of towner, no front plate(michigan doesn't have them). 35minutes later i'm in the court house changing my court date so we can take care of this before we go home (not taking a 120fee+court costs +4points) Two days later in court. Those that don't agree with your plea go to the side office..Talk to the court pross. and its reduced to the fee+ one point for obstructed vision..fine i'm out of here, stiil have to go in front of judge. in the court house the guy before me gets up gets the same 1pt (obstucted) and an 840 ticket +court cost ( so that would be 42 over in a constuction zone (x2) $10 per mph but he was dressed much better than I and had a mullet that would make Joe Dirt cry with envy.. Me..thank Judge, shake head,pay fine, leave. Only ticket before that was in 1981...

 

Cheers

Tony

[scannon]

 

Can you mail me your oxy tank and disabled sticker??

I think you did well.

 

I do not have to appear in court unless I contest it ,but there are a load of options on the ticket from not guilty to no contest to guilty etc,I guess your main point is, if you choose to appear, not to argue what happened but rather the effect of financial burden and hardship, I think it worked for you as you have true harrdships; myself... well , I think I would be just pissing in the wind.

 

 

Regards & thanks Skip

The financial burden only saved me $40. It was not a factor in getting the record changed to show the lower offenses. I didn't have the oxy tank for the first one and was so happy the ADA offered me the deal she did and that I didn't have to go before the judge I accepted the deal and was out of there less than 10 minutes later.

 

I'm certainly not an attorney and you might do well to consult one before you do anything. If it were me, I'd mark not guilty and send in the ticket. Then arrive a bit early for your court date and see if you can plea bargain it down to something lower in points and speed for the record.

 

Good luck,

 

Skip

[powderbrake]

This past summer, somewhere in very northern California, in my Vette, in a 60 mph zone, I'm doing a speed that I won't divulge, when the Valentine One goes off , Iv'e been hit by radar from behind. I slam on the brakes, look in the rearview mirror, and see this CHP pulling out of the weeds next to a railroad overpass that I had just went under.

 

He pulls me over, and says, "do you know how fast you were going", and I replied, "Sorry officer, I don't know, because I didn't have my eyes on the speedo" He says he got me at 73, and asked about my driving record, I told him the truth , that I hadn't had a speeding ticket in 20 years. He went back to the car, checked my plates, and wrote the ticket.

 

He came back, and said, I giving you a ticket for 65 in a 60 zone, and since it's only 5 over, you can go to traffic school on the internet, and have the record expunged. I thanked mim for that, and he said " do you have a radar detector? to which I replied yes. He said, " I saw the brake lights the instant I hit the trigger, so I figured you did, keep it on, it may save you the next time, have a nice day".

 

I paid the $150 fine , did the traffic school on the internet($35), and paid the data transfer fee to the court ($35). I was lucky.

[gjslutz]

A friend once told me to fight every speeding ticket as if it was the last points you could take, they all add up. I found if you go with the not guilty plea and hire a lawyer, you come out much better. It puts you into the good old boy system as the judge is also a lawyer. You don’t save any money on the cost, but at times come out clean, or with much reduced points. A few years of not being gouged so bad on your insurance will make up for the legal cost. Some of the “crime fighters” are behind the curve on operating the equipment, and that sure helps.

 

The best very best defense would to show a forged drivers license and only speak Spanish, check with your friends in law enforcement as to how great the illegal’s are handled, or go sit in a court and see for yourself. The people in Colorado have many stories to tell on this.

 

No disrespect for “good” law enforcers, but as I once was told, it is a speeding tax.

 

Gary

 

[Alaskossie]

Tony,

 

I can't believe that you got a ticket in Colorado for no front plate, when your state (Michigan) does not require them. That would seem to be a violation of the "full faith and credit" clause of the U. S. Constitution.

 

My best strategy (I'm a lawyer as well as an occasional speeder) is to plead Not Guilty, then write the court clerk after the trial date has been set, and ask for a re-scheduling to a later date because you have a pre-existing conflict on the original date. If you really want to push the envelope, repeat this process as soon as you get the re-set date.

 

With luck (it has worked for me twice), the citing officer will either forget the court date, be on leave or in training, or will no longer be with the force. Without the complaining officer present (you have a constitutional right to confront your accuser), then the ticket should be dismissed. With an aerial (airplane) stop, both the air officer and the fellow who pulled you over on the ground should be present in court to face you at trial. Otherwise, the judge should throw it out.

 

Photo radar (used in some cities) may require some special considerations re a trial with your accuser (including the camera), and the person standing in court, who presumably did not witness your violation, but only looked at the film.

 

My last ticket, about 4 years ago, was for 97 mph in a 55 mph zone 4-lane highway in Anchorage, Alaska, in my Audi S4. I was in fact trying to avoid a side-swipe by an accelerating BMW 5-series who apparently did not see me, and was moving across into my (inside) lane as we were accelerating onto the highway at around 55 or 60. I had nowhere to go, and the only way I could avoid a collision was to keep accelerating until I cleared him, and I did that until he and I both reached around 100 mph, at which time I got nailed by radar from the next overpass.

 

I pled Not Guilty and tried the re-schedule ploy, but the cop showed up on the new trial date. So I asked him questions about what had happened (he testified truthfully, and largely upheld my version of what had happened, including the BMW next to me). I then told the judge that under the same circumstances, I would do the same thing again, as it was the only way I could avoid an accident. He gave me the 6 points, but reduced the fine from $350 to $110. All in all, an acceptable result, I thought.

 

My funniest result was, a few years ago in Alaska, a 60 mph ticket in a 55 zone, in my Porsche 944 Turbo (I passed a state Fish & Wildlife Enforcement pickup with an ATV in the bed, because I did not want to hang behind him for 120 miles of great driver's road coming up on the Richardson Highway from Delta Junction to Gulkana, Alaska. The jerk pulled me over for passing him; I pled Not Guilty because I knew that his pickup did not have a state-trooper-calibrated speedometer. I played the re-schedule ploy, then drove 250 miles to to Delta Junction in -40 F. degree midwinter to attend trial in Delta Junction. The Trooper showed up; but I convinced the judge that the cop's speedometer was only an estimate, and that what I had done (clear, dry road, signalled pass, etc.) was not unsafe at all. The Trooper had to admit my arguments, and the judge said Not Guilty. I thanked the judge and the Trooper, and drove all the way back home in the cold and dark.

 

The next day, the Trooper called me, and asked me if I would represent him in a personnel matter with the Dept. of Public Safety!! (I told him that was outside my field, but referred him to another attorney, and he thanked me).

 

Ah, the tales....

 

Alaksossie

[TonyI]

I didn't get a ticket for the lack of plate. The lack of plate is an "out of towner" and they think automatic mail in (no fight) thats what the lady said that made my court date, NOT me taking a guess or thinking paranoid thoughts about the PD. That and the fact not that many in the Springs have ski boxes on top (Denver, yes Springs, no) I kinda stood out in the crowd. When I talk to many of the miltary out there the local PD is not all that GOV friendly.Otherwise why did I get the ticket (Three lanes of traffic, middle lane, second vehicle from the front) Lesson learned I guess i'm not going to be a lemming or sheep;) I do know that the guy with the mullet would NOT have had such a good day in the mitten. I also work with current and retired officers daily and a couple retired pross. attrn.

BTW I still love Colorado just not to crazy about the Springs. Then there is Boulder but thats just....different, cool, but different. Going out there mid feb-march (south Denver) and visiting the Springs and will be doing the limit while i'm there.

 

Peace out... I mean uh...Cheers

Tony

[DB6]

One point that always concerned me...

My hit was on radar (in car I assume) ,

but here is the rub...

what is there to prove, apart from the testimony of the police officer, that the figure he claims is actually true, I am not talking about speed detection device error but just a cop telling lies or exagerating.

You would think in this day that there would be some kind of verification and proof of that ...or am I missing something ?

[slomove]

One point that always concerned me...

My hit was on radar (in car I assume) ,

but here is the rub...

what is there to prove, apart from the testimony of the police officer, that the figure he claims is actually true, I am not talking about speed detection device error but just a cop telling lies or exagerating.

You would think in this day that there would be some kind of verification and proof of that ...or am I missing something ?

 

That is really strange here....in Germany (where I come from) the police needs to have objective evidence like a speed camera photo or the testimony of a second police officer to write a ticket. Which is why they usually are on the beat in pairs. The notion that a single officer can look at his radar gun and write you a ticket would be considered absurd. After all, there is enough result pressure on the guys if it is official or not.

 

Otherwise I learned that the usual rules of "innocent until proven guilty" and "due process" just won't apply in traffic court. It appears the judge has wide latitude in believing an officer or even a random witness. The court has to make some revenue, too. And who is going to challenge a questionable ruling for a $150 fine if the courthouse is 500 miles away (ask me why I know....).

 

Gert

 

P.S.: I had a "positive" experience on the PNW2007 trip on the Columbia River Gorge Hwy in WA. When leading the Wild Bunch I was getting impatient behind an SUV doing persistently just the speed limit. After passing it with howling engine it turned out to be an unmarked police car. I got pulled over and had to endure a lengthy angry tirade about why they can not tolerate such behavior in the State of Washington but at the end I got a verbal warning (to be forwarded to my comrades who had escaped).

[DB6]

thats what I thought too,

I guess we are the few that got tickets in a 7...???

[Dave W]

Tony

 

Keep your fringers crossed, No new tickets and in SE Michigan!!! Northville is number one in the nation for speed traps and Ann Arbor is number 6.

 

I've been lucky in the Seven, only one ticket for 5 over, while doing 76 in a 55 zone.

 

Got to remember the Radar Detector more often, Dave W

[Hank]

I always liked this one:

 

A woman is speeding down the highway. She sees a cop on a bridge with a radar gun so she slows down. Sure enough she gets pulled over and gets a ticket. The cop asks before she leaves, "What seems to be the big hurry?" The woman replies, "I'm just late for work." The cop says, "Oh yeah well what do you do?" The woman says, "I am an @$$hole stretcher." The cop then says, "An @$$hole stretcher, what kind of job is that?" The woman says, "Well you see i start off with one finger then two and so on until I get a 6 foot @$$hole." The cop says, "A 6 foot @$$hole, what can you do with a 6 foot @$$hole?" The woman replies, "Give him a radar gun and put him on a bridge."

 

D'OH!

 

I flew to San Antonio, TX to purchase a new car. After leaving the dealership I was pulled over by a Texas State Trooper in a shiny Camaro Z-28. He gave me a ticket for 84 in a 70. My insurance agent had bonded me for insurance (over the phone), but I had no proof with me until I got back to Louisiana. The cop gave me a ticket for no insurance as well. He was nice enough to let me continue my journey home, however. I get home and post on a local message board, and one of my friends suggested "deferred adjudication". I mailed a copy of both tickets to the address on the back of each ticket. I included a letter which talked about how wrong it was to speed, deferred adjudication, and a little bit of kiss @$$. The infractions were reduced to no proof of insurance (even though I provided proof in the letter). No points on my record, and the fine was cheap.

[SkinnyG]

I stopped speeding and have never had a problem since. Go figure.

[pi7ot]

Those of you with Birkins and the Factory defrost front windshield should keep in mind that the defroster grind shortens the range of your radar receivers.:yesnod:

 

m

[wallisek]

Thought I would pipe-in since I come from a law enforcement background in Oregon. If it was my knees you were looking at DB6, if it makes you feel better I wouldn't have given you a citation. Not every day you get to see a 7 on the road. If I did see one on patrol I'd find any reason I could to pull it over. All I can say is some cops are really lenient about traffic violations (me, way too nice ) and some are real sticklers.

 

 

[MHKflyer52]

Have to say that I have been pulled over twice in my 7....once on Rex Hill just outside of Newberg, Or (99W).....the State Trooper just wanted to see the car as he had heard about it from the Officer that had inspected it at the McMinville office when I went to the DMV inspection to get it registered...he was very cool.

The second time was here in SoCal over by were my shop is.....the officer was also very cool and just wanted to see the car as he is a gear head and had only seen photos of a 7 until he saw mine he later came by my shop and I let him drive it....I have seen him twice now on the road and he still has this big smile on his face.

[wallisek]

I know exactly where that is it. Popular spot for radar/lidar since lots of people don't watch their speed coming down the hill. I'm guilty of that too, was through that area yesterday and hit 70 before realized I was going too fast :-)

[solder_guy]

I always mention that I'm a ER physician on my way to or from the ER and more often than not they have given me a break!

 

There was the cop who gave me a ticket for going 61 in a 45 at 4AM on my way to the ER last year! :cuss:

 

Rob