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In Reply to: Got a ticket... guidance please... (more) posted by SShawn on August 20, 2000 at 21:56:16:
On a societal level, if enough cops and judges end up wasting enough time and money having to deal with thousends of minor traffic violations, writing these tickets will cease to be profitable for the various localities envolved, and the cops will no longer by encouraged to enforce this road tax.
On a personal level, you have nothing to lose, and something to gain. You can usually haggle with the DA/town attorney or the judge, and get a lower fine/point count in return for pleading guity. In your case, If you have three witnesses who will testify that there was another car in radar's field of view than you might be able to raise enough reasonable doubt to get the charge dismissed.
Well, I got my very first ticket today and am very pissed off. I was traveling down a highway, 2 lanes each way with a grass area between the directions. I was going about 95MPH and saw a cop hit the brakes. I was traveling in the left lane and there was another car next to me going about 90-95mph. I was driving a new mercedes s-class and the other car was a beat up red escort. I litely tapped the brakes to bring the speed down to 75MPH or so. The cop passes me on the opposing traffic side. My mistake was to tap the brakes again, because that's when he turns around and starts following me. Now I'm going a perfect 62 MPH (speed limit 65 MPH), following another car. He lets me go for 5 minutes or so, then turns on his lights. I thought he was going after the guy in front of me so I kept watch, but there was an exit to the right hand side and no shoulder so I wasn't about to take the car into that. Anyway, I pulled over. I lower my window and he's all "I pulled you over for speeding, you were going 86mph, and I locked you at 80MPH." Then the entire license business. Then he's all "is there some reason why you didn't stop sooner". I'm all, "I wasn't speeding, I thought you were going after the car in front of me". He says, "there was no car." I was about to say bullshit, but said "yes there was". I had both my parents and another friend in the car. He writes me up for 86MPH and asks me to sign it. I'm all, "I wasn't speeding what's your problem". He hands me a copy of the ticket and I'm pissed right now. I'm all, "You pulled me over cause I have dark skin and am driving a brand new mercedes. That makes you mad doesn't it?". Then he says that, "you were dirving 86MPH and braking hard."
My question is, should I risk fighting it in court to see if I can get the MPH reduced? By the time he could have clocked me, I was down to 65-70MPH. Or since this is my first ticket, should I call the municipal court and ask for traffic school and call it a day? I won't be in town for the court date this guy gave me because I'll be 1000 miles away attending college classes, how should I get the date moved? If I take traffic school, do I still have to appear in court? Some help please... I placed an order for a Valentine 1 about 5 minutes ago.
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