Got a ticket, need help.

[Omar]

Well last night around 10:45 I was going home (355 S for you Chicagoans) and got pulled over just as I was taking the exit. Well I got two tickets; one for no insurance and one for speeding. I DID have the insurance card, but found it after he gave me a ticket. So I guess for that I will just show it to the judge.

Anyways, the bigger problem is that he clocked me at going 80 MPH when in reality I wasnt going that fast. I know for a fact there were cars in front of me and on my left that were going faster. I was going about 70 MPH on cruise. Now I know techinically I was going over the speed limit (55) too. So can I be fined even though I was going above 55, but not 80 as he stated it? Plus, how do I prove it?

My question is, what do I do?

Thanks for all your input.

- Omar

[rudee023]

I think either way you were speeding. Even if you prove that you were ony going 70mph, what is that gonna accomplish? I doubt that the fines are different for those two speeds anyway. Now if he clocked you at 100mph and you were only going 80 that might make a difference because isn't anything over 100mph ticketed as wreckless driving?

[StrangeLove]

I always thought there were different fines for different speeds... I'd much rather get 15 over than 25 over... it does make a difference

[milo]

if you want to have any chance of getting off i suggest a lawyer

[toki]

go to court and tell them that you were aware of 2 close proximity cars that were going atleast 5-10 mpg faster than you, and that the officer must have been hit the wrong car. Admit to 70mph, if the judge is nice, he will do the legal thing and DISMISS it because you wern't going 80, which is what the ticket is for, if he feals you still need a ticket, he will reduce the charge.

[MainEvent212]

how old are you?

[Mr1der]

he gets lots of tickets apparently:D

just bend over for the man, and don't do more then 10 over unless your willing to pay for a ticket.

[Sircnay]

http://www.chrononhotonthologo...l.htm

it'll be your best friend for life.

[sr20power]

from past experience and from friends, it would depend on how much time you got on your hands.......and it would help if you had a lawyer friend :asmile

1. you set up an appointment to go to court, take your chances that the cop won't show up. if he doesn't, your free from charges.

1-a. if by chance court day is set on the weekend and you think he might show up, you can request for a reschedule court date at the last minute, making it inconvience for the cop to come on another date. and hope he won't show up then.

2. lawyer friend: to get paper work that requests the cop to mail you all information about your case. also make sure you get a proof from the post office that you sent the letter. if he doesn't mail the info before the court date, you can use that against the cop. (that you weren't able to prepare for the case.)

3. do some homework, by chance if he does show up to court. be prepared to ask the right questions. how did he catch you going 80 mph? he will need proof of you speeding, like a radar gun. ask when the gun was last calibrated? how much experience with the radar gun? was he parked when he caught you speeding? was he visible or hiding (if hiding then that's entrapment = charges dropped) etc.....

from my own experience: got caught for speed, got the paper work from lawyer and mailed it. went to court and cop didn't show up. charges were dropped.

friends: rescheduled the court date and cop didn't show up. charges dropped.

hope this helps, with some effort on your part and some luck you can beat the ticket. good luck

[DAEDALUS]

I've had a near-identical ticket...my only speeding ticket ever. I wrote a letter to the judge. I didn't admit to speeding, even though I was. All I said was that it was impossible for the guy to tag me, on account of there being a car about 40' in front of me, directly in the line of sight of the cop. They dismissed the ticket. Say you don't know how fast you were going, just that you're certain it wasn't 80. With the above line-of-sight argument, it will be your word against the cop's. The judge might be nice. You have a fair chance of winning IMO. How's your driving record? If this is your first speeding ticket, I would bet $10 you'll get out of it if you play your cards right.

[MainEvent212]

i went to court, i was honest...i told her yes i was speeding, i had no excuse that could give me a right to be going that fast (19 over in a 30 mph zone)...she wasnt nice probation for 1 year, 10 hrs community svc, 54 dollar court fee....

i guess i coulda lost my liscense so maybe i'm lucky...i'm a juvenile btw...only 17....

for the record, the cop saw me doing 85+ in a 30 going the other direction and admitted that he couldnt have caught me if he made chase...and he was on a motorcycle....heh, he gave me props in a slightly masked way :pface

[Q-less]

Anything over 20 miles of a posted speed limit in Tennessee is wreckless endangerment. The cost of a fine is dependent of the speed and how much over. Who pulled you over is also a factor; City Police is always the cheapest, followed by the county, and state troopers are the most expensive. State troopers are usually over $100. Speeding on the interstate is not as bad as other roads in light of insurance companies. If your driving record is clean you should be offered driving school. In Tennessee judges are suposed to ask if you have attended driving school and if not allow you to take it in lieu of the speeding ticket, you still have to pay for court costs. This was told to me by the gentleman who runs the program in Tennessee (he would like to see insurance rates go down, and he has a lot of clout). But, at least it won't get reported to your insurance. You already have to go to court to show proof of insurance so don't prepay it. NEVER just pay a ticket. Most times (unless your just a complete *******) the judge will let you plead your case and reduce the fines. He can do that, he is the judge after all. If you get pulled over again, NEVER ask why the cop pulled you over; it only upsets them. NEVER speak unless spoken to...and if he asks if you know how fast you were going just politely say no sir. NEVER own up to anything NOTHING. Say as little as possible. He is already thinking of stuff to remember you by for court to use against you....and did you know you are being recorded the whole time. You won't outsmart a cop, only piss off him and the system.

[Q-less]

If you doubt you will get off after going to court, find out how much this ticket will affect your insurance. It may be cheaper to go ahead and hire a lawyer for what it will cost in insurance for the ticket being on your record for 3 years. Find a lawyer located in the heart of the city or near the precinct, he will know all of the officers; he will take your money and make a phone call. I once paid $800 dollars for a lawyer just to prove a point to a state trooper, THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO GIVE ME A TICKET!!

[gumby]

As a last ditch without representation. Make sure you call ahead so they put you on the roster if you don't plead by mail. Show up early get in line to talk to the prosecutor. Be polite and apologetic to the cop if he's there and you didn't already give an attitude. Sometimes they will even advise you speak to the prosecutor. Explain any extenuating circumstances. Typically they will downgrade the fine. Knock off points and so forth. You plead guilty to the lesser charges. Act meek & respectful. Pay the fine and save $. At least they do in N.J. Our insurance is already through the roof.

remember a lawyer has his hand in your pocket the moment you speak to him whether you know it or not.