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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Help me fight a ticket?

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May 27, 2009 11:49 a.m. poopshovel SuperDork
Going to court for a speeding ticket this afternoon. Do I have a case?

Things going against me:
1. The cop is a cop.
2. I never saw him. The radar detector went off, didn't see him in the rear view, or traveling the opposite direction.
3. 65 in a 45.
4. Got another ticket around this time last year.
5. I didn't bother collecting any evidence (radar gun calibration, etc.)
Things going for me(?)
1. I had actually just crosse into a 55MPH zone when he popped me. Seriously.
2. Wherever the berkeley he was, it took him a little over 2 miles before he got behind me and threw the lights on (I was still going 65, now in a 65 zone.)
3. I was driving a bone-stock, white 91 Integra (case of mistaken identity?)
4. I never admitted to speeding.
So what say ye? Do I have a chance in hell? Should I concede that I was going 65, but I was in a 55 zone, and see if I can get the ticket knocked down to 10 over, or should I argue that the cop lost sight of my inconspicuous, white 2 door honda for over 2 miles, and there's a chance that he clocked someone else?
May 27, 2009 11:54 a.m. 93celicaGT2 Dork

When he stopped you, you were doing 65 in a 65. I think that's the only part that would really stand a chance, to be honest. He didn't stop you in a 45 doing 65.

If i were in your shoes, i'd just see if i could do the deferment program and not take any points.
May 27, 2009 12:04 p.m. Xceler8x Dork

Get a lawyer. It sucks. I hate to spend that money. It's your best bet to get away with a 'not guilty' verdict. Trust me. I've tried to fight these for years. Now, I just hire a mercenary and let them do what they train to do all the time.
May 27, 2009 12:06 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork

I'm going to court in 2 hours, (I know, I know,) and the ticket is "only" 200 bucks (compared to a lawyer.) I don't have any points on my license...yet.
May 27, 2009 12:51 p.m. bludroptop Dork

Not guilty by reason of insanity?

Seriously - dress appropriately, be humble and polite, ask for leniency. That's all you've got at this point.
May 27, 2009 1:15 p.m. poopshovel SuperDork

bludroptop wrote:

Not guilty by reason of insanity?

Seriously - dress appropriately, be humble and polite, ask for leniency. That's all you've got at this point.

10-4. Already gots muh fanceee duds on. Should I open with a joke?
May 27, 2009 1:19 p.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

You should open with "I'm very sorry, your honor, I need to postpone this so I can get my lawyer."

Your other choice is "I'm guilty, can I have traffic school?"
May 27, 2009 1:40 p.m. Mental SuperDork

I believe if you plead Not Guilty then they have to schedule a jury trail. That gets expensive. Thats when the cop will have to show. You're only option here is "Guilty" "No Contest" or ask for a trail.

I'd go with the dress nice, show some humility, it has always worked for me, espcially if the guy before you in a tool.
May 27, 2009 1:48 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

poopshovel wrote:

Should I open with a joke?

"Your honor, I just want to say that dress looks fabulous on you."
May 27, 2009 7:04 p.m. alex HalfDork

Lawyer up. That's pretty much the only way to avoid points. And the money you spend on the lawyer is money you'll save on insurance - for the rest of your life.

But aside from that: update?
May 27, 2009 7:23 p.m. Volksroddin HalfDork

How did it go?? Worst case go to trafic school.
May 27, 2009 7:28 p.m. wbjones New Reader

talk to the DA before and ask for a reduction of the speed.... ask if he would be willing to recommend a "prayer for judgment" .... ask if he would be willing to recommend safe driving school (if it's available in your county) , reduces the charges to a non-moving violation..... get a lawyer, they can do all the above far better than you and it's not just a $200 fine.... think of 3 or more years of greatly increased insurance.....
May 27, 2009 7:43 p.m. 72SuperBrian Reader
I once beat a ticket by telling the truth in court.
- I was going 86 in a 65. I was in the left lane.
- My right signal was on
- There was a very large 18-wheeler on my bumper
- There was lots of traffic and I was having a tough time getting right, to get out of the truck's way
- I kept accelerating to put some distance between me and the front bumper of the truck, with the hope that I'd find a hole in the traffic to my right and be able to slide over and slow back down
- I was very respectful when I got pulled over
- The actual cop that gave me the ticket showed up in court.
- I told it like it happened without getting aggitated
- I got the fine reduced to $100 with no points on my license
Maybe my (true) story can be adapted to your situation, and if you can tell it like you really believe it, it could work.
May 27, 2009 8:10 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

wbjones wrote: it's not just a $200 fine.... think of 3 or more years of greatly increased insurance.....

Your insurance will go up even if you get the ticket reduced. The Insurance company will see you got charged, they don't care about the outcome of the court case. I just went through this. I asked a buddy that owns an insurance company and his response was "getting points reduced only helps you keep your license, the insurance company does not care about the outcome, only that you were cited. They will not find out unless you try and switch companies in the next 2 years, don't give them a reason to check"

He is not my insurance guy so he was not just trying to keep me as a customer for 2 more years....
May 27, 2009 8:21 p.m. 72SuperBrian Reader

Could it be different state-to-state?

I don't know how, but mine never showed up on my driving record.
May 27, 2009 8:27 p.m. alex HalfDork

Yep. 'Round here, accusations don't count for points or insurance, only convictions. I've never been convicted, so I've got a perfectly clean record.
May 27, 2009 9:10 p.m. Datsun1500 HalfDork

alex wrote:

Yep. 'Round here, accusations don't count for points or insurance, only convictions. I've never been convicted, so I've got a perfectly clean record.

You can fight it in court and have a clean driving record but still have the insurance go up. Points and convictions go on your driving record which is different than what the insurance companies are looking at now....
May 28, 2009 5:08 a.m. foxtrapper SuperDork

As insurance companies only have access to your drivers record, and not the court transcripts, they are looking at convictions and points, not hearsay and bickering.

And that's only if they do bother to pull your record. Not all do.

They all are quite well capable of discerning the difference between a 1 point minor speeding ticket and an 8+ point DWI ticket.
May 28, 2009 8:03 a.m. spitfirebill HalfDork

Around here a two point violation used to get a pass from the insurance companies. Not any more. I got a hefty increase in my premium once when I surrendered a tag late to the DMV for a car I had donated. There was no ticket issued or anything, just went into the record.

I doubt there is any insurance company that isn't running your DMV record at least once a year. That's just money the the bank for them.

What you usually have to do is hire an attorney, but it can be done yourself. Go to court and see if you can plead to some BS charge they have that doesn't get reported to the DMV, like parking on the sidewalk.
May 28, 2009 8:33 a.m. poopshovel SuperDork

Plead guilty. Asked the judge politely to reduce the fine and get rid of the points. He dropped the points, but kept the fine the same. That's pretty much all I was hoping for.

As much as I love where I live, there were some berkeleying winners in court yesterday. Pretty sure the judge and I were the only ones wearing shirts that had buttons.

Thanks for the advice dudes!
May 28, 2009 9:45 a.m. Rusty_Rabbit84 Reader

i bet there are some winners up there in Pickens County, probably the same as Forsyth County...
May 28, 2009 11:44 a.m. spitfirebill HalfDork

poopshovel wrote:

Pretty sure the judge and I were the only ones wearing shirts that had buttons.

I go into courthouses all the time doing research for my job. I cannot believe the state of dress that most people are wearing when they going to court.

Most court rooms now have signs that state that tube tops, tank tops, shorts and flip flops are not approproiate attire for court.
May 28, 2009 11:57 a.m. Xceler8x Dork

spitfirebill wrote:

I go into courthouses all the time doing research for my job. I cannot believe the state of dress that most people are wearing when they going to court.

Most court rooms now have signs that state that tube tops, tank tops, shorts and flip flops are not approproiate attire for court.

I don't get this either. I usually show up in at least a nice shirt and dress slacks as a way of showing respect i.e. kiss some arse.

I see folks rolling up in pants they hold up with one hand, tank tops, athletic shoes, etc. They say Justice is blind but I'd rather not risk it.
May 28, 2009 12:02 p.m. Travis_K HalfDork

At least the way it works here, if you plead no contest the judge will usually reduce the fine, all you have to do it give some reason (politely, which most people cant figure out), why you think you shouldnt have to pay as much.
May 28, 2009 12:06 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

"It turns out that in the future, justice was not only blind, but it had become rather retarded also." [/idiocracy]

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