Beating a speeding ticket?

[mmm240]

I'll tell the story before I divulge my plan!

I was pulled over for 14 over last weekend (79 in a 65) I had just passed someone and was doing about 3mph more than everyone else. I saw the undercover on the side of the road and he didn't hesitate to come right at me. He pulled up about ten car lengths behind me before he put on his lights (which I thought was a little weird, they usually get a bit closer) So, I put on my blinker and the car semi truck next to me backed off and let me over (now I'm in the center lane) Again there was someone next to me in the right most lane (a car this time that did the same and backed off to let me over) Now at this time I'm in the right lane waiting to pull over and the cop is still in the left lane slacking. Well, I'm about to an on ramp, so I can't pull over there, I wait a half mile and come across someone already pulled over, I get into the shoulder and start to slow, when I see another just a bit ahead of me. I realize I'm in a pretty ridiculous speed trap. As I come to a halt the cop finally comes over (rather quickly) stops in front of me and jumps out of his car and puts his hand up (in a stopping fashion) at this time I was doing only a few mph. He rushes to my door

Officer: "Yeah I was pulling YOU over!"
Me: (thinking of course) "Yep, that's why I pulled over."
Officer: "Next time wait til I get behind you!" (Not my fault he put his lights on way too soon (while he was probably looking me up, could have very well just followed me for a second), but If you get behind me and put your lights on, I'm going to pull over.))
Officer: "Do you know how fast you were going?"
Me: "No" and before I could add anything... (not like I had anything planned)
Officer: "You're getting a citation for speeding, pull in front of my car" (he walked away quickly) I pulled in front of his car, which I thought was a really stupid and dangerous idea. 'Lets unnecessarily pull into traffic!' Remember there were squads all around, very slim chance of getting clipped while on the side of the road, but lets pull into 65mph limit traffic at a slow speed just to pull around another car. Anyways, I do and wait only a couple minutes when he hands me my ticket. 200 bucks and 4 points. Was a very quick stop. I left before either of the others that were already pulled over did.

Anyways, I'm rather upset about the way this went down, and it's largely a matter of principle at this point. Thinking about having my mechanic write up that I had a faulty speed sensor and that he replaced it. And hopefully the judge will at least drop the points. I don't really know how this works, haven't spent much time in court.

P.S. was pulled over in an e36 sedan, not that fancy of a car, but in the eyes of the ignorant a rather nice car for a younger guy in a wife beater, lol. Maybe that had something to do with his actions and attitude.

[car nut]

You failed at pulling over lmao. How did you even know he was pulling you over? You wait until the cop is on your a** with his lights AND THEN you pull over. From the sound of it, you just forced your way into a $200 ticket.

[mmm240]

Pulling me over or not, if I see lights behind me, I'm going to attempt to get outta the way. And by the time the truck next to me let me over, he could have very well been right on my a**.

[RobPaulson]

did he get you with radar? or just pace you?

if he just paced it, and this is your first speeding ticket, you will easily get out of it. just go to court, tell them the officer was being somewhat unprofessional and abrasive. the key to this is your complete ignorance of your speed, when he asked you how fast you were going, you said "I dont know" and stuck to it, stick to it.

go to court, be super nice and reasonable, it was a mistake, your not even sure if your WERE speeding, you were keeping up with traffic. courts will throw it out immediately, or reduce it to ~$80 donation. either way you win.

i was nervous buot my first ticket too, i went to court, couldnt have been easier tog et out of.

[mmm240]

Come to think of it, he did say he clocked me at 79

[4cefed]

You got a speeding ticket.

Pay your road use tax and get on with life. Yes, we all know it's a crooked system.

Make sure to wipe your sack with the check, that's the only joy I get out of it.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Young guy in a wife beater?
Why not just bring drugs in the car lol!

Cops stereotype, is this something new we learned today?

What now... depends on your state, in NY id file for a supporting deposition (within 24 hrs)...
Def go to court for all point violations and try to get the pts lowered.

[sentrastace]

go to court, be super nice and reasonable, it was a mistake, your not even sure if your WERE speeding, you were keeping up with traffic. courts will throw it out immediately, or reduce it to ~$80 donation. either way you win.

+1
and slow down a bit

[Loki]

Cheap traffic lawyer or give up. Who do judges side with? Random kid or officer of the law? Do not expect to just magically get out of it because you decided to go to court about it.

[elwesso]

Of course, its not about what happened, its what you can prove in court...

IF you know you were speeding, then the best you can do is just claim ignorance... Trying to get out of traffic violations are like gamb|ing.. The rules favor the house, but sometimes you can win.

[breadbox]

I got 14 over because the road goes from 45mph then switches to 35 for a couple blocks while you pass the police station and then the other side of the intersection I got pulled at is a 45mph sign.

Any one wanna rationalize why we have to pass a police station 10 miles slower? Is the reason so they can pull people over conveniently? Isn't a unmarked cop with no lights on at night sitting in a legit turn lane himself a potential to cause an accident?

Did I pay the ticket without thinking twice?

Is the answer to all these question yes?

[Shizane2002]

The more at ease you make the LEO during your beginning stages of getting pulled over will greatly increase your chances of getting out of a fine (for future reference).

- I always get as far off the main road as possible. Like on an Interstate I have my drivers side tires barely on the edge of the far right emergency lane. If in an urban area...get off a main road...move to a side street. This makes the cops out-of-vehicle duties alot safer than having the risk of his a** getting tapped by a side-mirror or worse

- Turn off car and put keys on dashboard so he can see them.

- I always put my left hand outside the window and my right hand on the steering wheel. Keeping your hands visible and stationary is full of win.

- Dont figit with s*** until he asks you to. Like wait to get ze papiers until he wants to see them. This includes license.

- If youre out goofing off and breaking a traffic lie...admit it. LEOs are used to dealing with people who make horrible liars for a living...so they're gonna read you easily if you try with them. We all break the traffic laws at some point...if you get pulled over...its generally your fault. So just be a man/woman and face the consequences IMOyarly.

- Proper attitude goes along way as well.

Theres more..but Im a noob and Ive already spoke too much

[Dire91]

^ What he said, I even go as far as to tell the cop my papers are in my glovebox so he doesn't think I'm grabbing a gun or something.

Young guy in a wife beater?
Why not just bring drugs in the car lol!

Cops stereotype, is this something new we learned today?

Exactly! Kids need to learn that, if I'm wearing a fitted when I get pulled over I immediately take it off. I don't want the cop to label me as a thug giving me a better chance of getting a ticket.

[mmm240]

It was hot out, I would have gone shirtless, but I didn't wanna get stuck to the leather. In no way am I a "thug"

So, no one thinks getting a statement and receipt from my mechanic stating that I had a faulty speed sensor and had it replaced is a good idea? Yeah, it's cheating, but welcome to America, I'm thinking for myself on this one.

[ProudNissanFreak]

Wouldn't really make sense since the cop clocked you on the radar, eh?

[Solar_Runner]

Well, you WERE speeding... so pay the ticket, then file a comlaint. It is the cops behavior that you have the beef with, yes?

[C-Kwik]

So, no one thinks getting a statement and receipt from my mechanic stating that I had a faulty speed sensor and had it replaced is a good idea? Yeah, it's cheating, but welcome to America, I'm thinking for myself on this one.

Doubtful it would work. Regardless of if your speedometer is working or not, you are still required to drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions. Generally, speed limits are statistical approximations of what the basic speed law is for that section of roadway. A faulty speedometer argument might be an argument that might be considered if you were just over the limit, but 14 over and at nearly 80 mph, I doubt any judge will be anything but annoyed by that argument. Short of weeing if the officer fails to show or if the judge might offer a lower fine and less points, you realy need to have a solid argument (using solid facts) for a judge to consider dismissing the ticket.

[BusyBadger]

If you've never been to court before I wholeheartedly recommend hiring a lawyer. You can go in without a lawyer and win, I’ve done it a dozen times for speeding tickets citing terrain error, lack of tracking history, panning error, look past error etc… But despite all of my self-representation in traffic court when I got a ticket four years ago in North Carolina I hired a lawyer and it was some of the best money I ever spent. No time out of my workday for court, no sitting around and just waiting in court, no time out of my personal life to request information as part of the discovery process (speedometer and radar calibrations, tuning fork accuracy, radar operator certification) and review the information provided. But most of all, despite my firm belief I could avoid the ticket I wasn’t familiar with a particular judge’s courtroom procedures and the last thing I wanted to happen was to look like some uppity yankee trying to tell Southerners how things were done. I paid an attorney $250 plus court costs and was happy about experiencing no hassle and enjoying the fact that zero points that got added to my license.

Your other option is to see if traffic school is an option and save the lawyer for a "rainy day".

Doubtful it would work. Regardless of if your speedometer is working or not, you are still required to drive at a speed that is safe for the conditions. Generally, speed limits are statistical approximations of what the basic speed law is for that section of roadway. A faulty speedometer argument might be an argument that might be considered if you were just over the limit, but 14 over and at nearly 80 mph, I doubt any judge will be anything but annoyed by that argument. Short of weeing if the officer fails to show or if the judge might offer a lower fine and less points, you realy need to have a solid argument (using solid facts) for a judge to consider dismissing the ticket.

It worked for me. That ticket four years ago was for 78 in a 60 and it was reduced to "Improper Equipment" (a non-moving violation) in NC thanks to a non-working HUD on my S13. I was going nowhere near that speed, told the traffic lawyer the same thing but he knew that the non-working speedo was a far better defense than the "wrong car" defense.

And fwiw, I've actually used the "safe speed for conditions" once as a defense on an empty, low traffic road and had it work when I didn't have any other option for a defense, but it would never be my first choice.

[Jesda]

Cheap traffic lawyer or give up. Who do judges side with? Random kid or officer of the law? Do not expect to just magically get out of it because you decided to go to court about it.

Yep.

A traffic lawyer will charge $40-$100, worth every penny to keep your insurance down. Your fine might go up in exchange for changing it to non-moving, but its worth it. But don't just outright pay the ticket. Keep your record clean.