Stupid speeding ticket

[PyRo]

I was nice as heck, I didn't give him a load of bull about illgle search when he wanted to see what was in the bags. Although he is probably upset that he looked like a dumbass infront of the other cop over the bags of rocks thing. How about some advice for when I go to court Mr. Expert
I also discovered this won't affect my insurance rates at all, so thats a good thing, i'm just worried about the fine because a police department in a small town like that probably takes most of its income from traffic tickets, so its probably going to be big.

[CasingBill]

I have never even had to initiate a conversation. The officer always calls me out and asks what I want to do with the ticket and see if you are seriously pleading not guilty. Just tell him you were wrong and ask if there is anyway to get it reduced. Just give him a little story about your insurance rates and blah blah blah. Don't go to much with it though. I have never not had a ticket reduced. If you get real lucky he won't even show up and then just move to dismiss. Don't let the judge move to postpone. Make sure you move to dismiss.

[shartley]

[845]

Old people dont get tickets only us young guys do. My dad always gets off with warnings even for doing 75 in a 30 trying to get me to the train. While I get pulled over while driving with my mom and they check to see if I have my permit. I am not even speeding.

[PyRo]

My dad got a 74 in a 65, so old guys get tickets too. Didn't you used to be a cop shartley? That would explain the lack of tickets

Yes, I know I have no chance of winning it, but if I show up atleast there is the remote chance that the cop won't show up and it will get dismissed out for some reason. Or I will atleast get it reduced.

[shartley]

Originally posted by PyRo
My dad got a 74 in a 65, so old guys get tickets too. Didn't you used to be a cop shartley? That would explain the lack of tickets

Yes, I know I have no chance of winning it, but if I show up atleast there is the remote chance that the cop won't show up and it will get dismissed out for some reason. Or I will atleast get it reduced.

[fire1811]

man you got a speeding ticket for speed.....those bastards


i really wouldnt challenge it. your just going to cost the court more money so they will try and get more money out of you.

go there pay your fine and try and get supervision after a year of good driving it wont be on your record.

[cphilip]

I been driving for over 30 years. Got one ticket my entire life. For doing 65 in a 45. Seems they lowered the speed on the hill approching where they set up a few weeks back before this to 45 without me noticing it. I road I had traveled at 55 for over 20 years and only one sign before this after I enter the road. Brand new shiney one I discovered later. I came up over the hill and picked up speed as I was going down the long hill thats over a mile long. He was set up at the bottom. He got me then about half way down the hill. And because it was over 15 mph over the limit it was a 4 pointer. A four pointer is 2 insurance points. That loses your safe drivers discount for three years. $100 fine and increase in insurance for three years. Cost me about a grand for the one and only ticket I ever got.

I should have gone to court and just told the judge I was mistaken and was indeed speeding but asked for reduction as It was my only one and they had just changed the speed limit. would have still payed the fine but at least not the insurance if he would have reduced it by the 5 mph. I feel certain had I approched it with that attitude he would have looked at my driving record and cut me a break. I have had no at fault accidents nor tickets in all that time. But I did not realize the insurance was going to go up. My insurance agent told me if I got the Defensive driving course I could gain back the 4 points and it would be good. But he lied. And they do not go up right away. It took them a year to finaly do a review of my record and find it and go up. For three more years I paid that thing. I am out from under it now but that was expensive.

[Thordic]

If it was extremely close to the sign, you may have a point there. Slowing from 55 to 30 suddenly may be unsafe, you can argue you were in the process of slowing down. If by "close" you mean a half mile past the sign, then thats not exactly the same thing

As for the bags, if I had something in my backseat, and the cop asked to open it, I'd say no. Not because I had anything illegal in there, but because he has no right to look in there. Whats the point of having rights against illegal search and seizure if you don't exercise them? Refusing to allow them to search you is not grounds for probably cause, and if they argued that and proceeded to search you, you'd have a nice court case against them.

I'd fight the ticket. 90% of the time you can end up getting the points removed, at least. You usually can't get the fine reduced much, though.

And as for $400, are you on crack? I got a ticket for 18 mph over in upstate New York and it was only $110.

[impostal22]

do as casing and myself said. the cop WILL call you over, and you NEED to apologize and basically plea to get it dropped or lowered. this all happens before you get into the courtroom, too. don't fight it, as some will suggest. it's just dumb, especially cuz cops hate being in traffic court. just lose your pride for a few minutes and respectfully ask the officer to lower/drop it. simple as that.

[PyRo]

Hmm, a friend of mine got a $545 speeding ticket he was doing 90 in a 55, the cop wrote him for 80, so thats only 3mph differance. I guess I shall find out.
As far as fighting it goes, I know I have no chance, but I have to fight it to even get to a court room, so thats really my only option other than pay it. Hopefully I will be able to talk to the officer and get it down.
Another thing I might have going for me is I got this ticket at 10:30, and the guy was sitting in the driveway of the police station, so chances are this guy works 10pm-6am or somthing like that I would go to court at 1:00. Point being there is a chance that going to court at one in the afternoon might be like you going to court at 3 in the morning.
So maybie the guy won't show and I can get it dismissed, or atleast reduced by the judge, or prosecuter if they have one.

[fire1811]

actually he will probably be getting payed overtime so he might like it even more

[PyRo]

True, but an hours worth of overtime for getting up in the middle of the night hardly seems worth it to me.

[RRfireblade]

Can't you just opt for traffic school or something? Here in Fl,you can opt for traffic school,they reduse the fine,and no points on your record.All you have to do is sit through 3-4 hours of class 1 day.

I've been fortunate to never have been caught speeding.Seems like if your going fast enough,they don't even try and catch you down here. You just have to find the fine line between speeding and "Holy crap,what the heck just blew up the radar gun?"

[Will Wood]

I hate reading through peoples posts to see if they answered your question or not, so sorry if it's been answered 10 times already ^^


No he does not need anything other than his own supicion to search your car. Given how he can't simpley go and get a warent, you car can and will move. your house ain't moving. He can search you legally.