Sorry 'bout this one. Gotta watch those towns on 395.

Perhaps a letter to the local paper would raise the issue locally & pressure the court to back off on this one. Bishop is a tiny place with not much else to worry about, though I can't guarantee the public sentiment would be on your side - perhaps they hate speeders. And the judge will probably be the cop's dad.

Maybe you could crazy glue him into his car the day of the trial.

 

I think we do all speed at times, but in low speed zones which are there for a reason (schools or whatever) I tend to be more careful. I keep my speeding for the country lanes and open roads and try not to put other people at risk. I have to agree with Ubetit to a degree as you have to have regard for other people. I agree everyone speeds, but I don't spend the whole of my journey doubling the speed limit, that is just asking for a ticket!

Not saying the cop was right giving you 4 tickets, but you deserved at least one. Not being self rightous as I am very aware that I have broken the speed limit before!

 

I like to take responsibility into my own hands.
But understand my circumstances.
My entire drive that day was more than 400 miles. I happen to pass by this little tiny town that was 5 miles long where the speed limit changed from 65 to 25 to 35 to 55 to 65. I just wanted to get home. I really feel that the multiple violations were not fair. It triggered some anger in the police officer that made him do what he did...

 

A typical cop.

Good ones are few and far between.

 

I am glad to hear that. Technically, you did not get four tickets, you got one ticket with four separate violations on it. The bottom line is "were you speeding" as the ticket indicated. We all speed, but as others have mentioned, going 50 in a 25 zone is just reckless. If you were indeed speeding and you were caught, then take the responsibility and admit your mistake and be done with it.

On the other hand, if you were not speeding (or if your speeding was justified), then by all means, find a lawyer and fight the ticket.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by WhiteS2k
I am glad to hear that.

 

The 25 mph zone that I passed through was their main street with 4 lanes with no houses present. It was mostly commercial.

 

Again you really should get a lawyer because you are facing the potential of 4 citations.... It's not worth the risk of fighting it yourself. The fines alone will run almost $1000, and you may lose your license. You're insurance may also very well double(or you could be denied coverage) for the next three years. Even if you pay 2K for a lawyer it's probably a bargin. This is NOT something you want to fight yourself, if you get it wrong, the risks are too great.....

 

He wasn't being careless he was driving his car. Speed limits should only be enforceable if a persons speed contributes to an unsafe condition for others. That's my interpretation of most basic speed laws. I think double jeapordy might come into play here as well with the over 65 and over max. Your being prosecuted twice for the same infraction! Get a lawyer, you really have no choice you can lose your ass here!

 

The little towns along 395 (Lone Pine, Independence, Big Pine, Bishop) all have the potential for being speed traps. In the matter of a couple hundred feet the speed limit will drop from 65, 55, 45, 35, to 25 (all signed -- you can see all the signs at once in some cases!).

Maybe there are regulations about how large speed limits can decrease (so it doesn't drop from 65 straight to 25), but as I recall, in those towns you need to get on the brakes when the speed limit starts dropping, because coasting won't be enough.