In Monterey I was coming into an EMPTY tunnel, so I downshifted and gunned it, just for a few seconds. Too bad I didn't see the cop who had pulled in behind me. He didn't use radar (ticket says no radar and Escort didn't go off). He said I was going 60, but he never accelerated to match my speed or anything, so it was a TOTAL guess. He was also quite far behind me, so it was a really big guess.

This is my first ticket, and I'm not from CA (military) so I'm trying to decide what I can do. The worst part is I'm leaving CA in October, so I need relatively quick resolution. The way i see it, I have 4 absolute options
1) Pay the fine (what's the fine for $25 over)
2) File a written declaration (rather not, as I still have to send in the fine and may lose without saying anything)
3) Show up for a walk-in trial
4) Traffic school.


Advice from you Left Coasters? What's the traffic school fine? What's the odds of winning or getting a reduction through a walk in or written declaration?

Thanks for any help


Ice

 

were you actually going 60 MPH... try and use the basic seed law in court.

 

I don't think I was, but I'm not sure, b/c I only acclerated for like 3 or 4 seconds...
what's the basic seed law?

 

Its a law stating that you can exceed the speed if it is safe to. But if the cop got u at 65 thats way over 25 so it might not work. Something you could also do is tell the judge that the cop did not trap your speed by a radar and it is more of a guess which was very unaccurate. These are just some things i was told by a retired highway patrol officer to fight a speeding ticket. Good Luck

 

If you show up, have a good record and are very polite and apologize and say I know I was going over the speed limit, but i a do not think I was going that fast, they may reduce the pints or let you go completely. Nothing worse can happen by showing up in person. Military uniform probably wouldn/t hurt either. My sister got out of a speeding ticket and I think it was just because she was in the army.

 

Interesting, i'll do that,

Any other CA-ers know anything, like how much is traffic school?

 

Not sure about CA, but around here, it's $9 per mph over. So, 25 over * 9 = $225.

Also, almost anywhere requires a court appearance for 25 or more over the limit.

 

Show up in uniform! It will be made into a lesser offense.

When you got pulled over did you show your military I.D. If your in the service always hand your military I.D. with the license to the cop. It helps sometimes.

Good luck.

 

I don't think I'm required a court appearance as the ticket gives me the option of just paying.

I didn't show my mil ID, but I have an AF license plate frame...I didn't b/c around here alot of the cops prefer screwing military guys, esp. young ones cuz they think we're trouble I"ll wear the uniform to court though.

 

I just wouldn't have been speeding in the first place.