Oh really, you should be like dude I wasn't speeding when your going 80 in a 55 and you're the only car on the road. That's a good way to insure you get a ticket! i've gotten out of more tickets than anyone I know. If you beleive that courts have different eyes your just a retard yourself.

 

[QUOTE=530s2k,Jun 9 2006, 11:05 AM]Me:

 

Hire an attorney..nuff said.

Erick

 

I'll start with the obvious: speeding is against the law and dangerous. Without direct observation of any matter, I can't draw conclusions. Please don't be offended. I'll also say the posted speed limits in the USA are sometimes random, and not indicitave of what roads can safely handle. I also find it bizarrely arbitrary the policia, at times, appear to focus their attention to cars capable of driving at speeds they consider reckless. I personally am more worried about a crusty 70's vintage pick-up going 80 mph on an interstate than I am about a S2000.

Anyway, I received my last speeding ticket around 1997. I was coming off an extremely long and strenuous week of work. I really don't remember anything anything about the drive from work up until I see the rollers in the rear view mirror. I'll note the road i was on is a notorious speed trap, and my habit is always to cruise control it. Granted, cruise is set about 4 mph over the posted limit on this empty two lane country road. That's still below the "defacto" limit

I ask Johnny Law if I can see the reading. He says no. He was just matter of fact, and not annoyed. I then ask him where he took his reading. He showed me. I asked him when he was behind me. He remarked where he caught me. I confirmed with him.

I go to court, and make a case. I provided distances based on county zoning charts, and describe the impossibility I was going the speed he claimed. I provided a table of calculations with many intercept scenarios like showing the Fuzz had to average just under 70 mph over less than a quarter mile [from a standing stop] to intercept me if I had braked hard and immediately went 30 mph after being radared. I also noted I'm qualified to make such calculations as my undergraduate degree is in Physics.

The judge carefully reviewed all the documents for probably two minutes [it seemed like an hour,] and found me guilty of speeding. I was gutted. I left the court room, paid my fine, went to the bathroom, and got into a long conversation with some guy who thought i was an attorney. As I am leaving, I see the judge in a suit by the elevator. I introduced myself, and asked him if it was improper to ask him questions about the proceedings. He commented I made a great case, and then he closed: "look, this was a speeding ticket. Your facts/words against a Police Officer. He then used some elegant language to say: I have to support the officers. He also added he would've considered dropping the points if I had made the request.

Bottom line from my experience: if you don't hire an attorney, the odds are against you. They're probably not much better with an attorney. That's not to say people don't get out of tickets every day. It's more of a statement of averages. You only hear from the people who do.

I'd also make it clear in your court case the officer asked for your SSN. Highlight this point if you're in California due to privacy laws.

When you go to court, you will probably be one of the last items for the court to hear that day. Your case may be after several "scarier" crimes. I think they organise matters this way to intimidate you. You may want to observe a case or two a few days before your court appearance to get some familiarity.

This was a watershed experience for me. I'm now a bit lighter on the gas pedal than I was. The S2000 does make it harder than the VW! The reason: the points on my licence killed my insurance. I ride a sportbike many companies wouldn't insure unless it was with a homeowner's policy. They took their pound of flesh.

Best of luck to you.

 

I didn't say you should be like "Dude blah blah..." I said don't admit to anything-read my post.
If you think cops are pulling you over to reward your honesty, then you are in fact retarded and should be in a program. Your admission of guilt seals the deal for the officer, if he had a rock solid case he wouldn't need to ask you any questions plain and simple.
And yes, courts do have different eyes than observers. If they didn't O.J. would be in prison.
Stop giving people stupid advice that will yield them a ticket that will be nearly impossible to get out of.

 

You probably were going 45 in a 30. If you said high 30's, that alone is viable to get you pulled over. However, the cop's attitude was unwarranted and I wouldn't have given him my social security number. I would probably beat that case in court though, given he basically you said YOU admitted to speeding when you would sway it to admit your speedomoter portrayed you were speeding but you were never sure of your actual speed.

The one thing I don't understand is, you DID deserve that ticket. High 30's with an off speedo could easily mean 45mph or more.

 

Police are assholes!

 

Here's a new thought.

Go to a speedometer repair shop. Have them calibrate your speedometer. If your speedometer was off, ask the shop to put something in writing detailing the variances at speed. Show the court this information.

If you can demonstrate their was no intent to speed, you may get off. It's not all giggles: they could find you guilty of driving with improper equipment [don't know the exact statue, and I'm sure it varies by state.]

I am not a lawyer. I did come across this as a suggested strategy when I researched my last ticket.

 

if the cop pulled you over you're going to get a ticket unless he's just checking to see if your a drug dealer or you charm your way out of it. Acting like a moron, duh I wasn't speeding I didn't do anything wrong, is going to piss him off. I never admit that i was speeding only that he must have had a reason to i.e. you must have clocked me going over the speed limit not I was going over the speed limit.

 

or if you have been