Got a Speeding ticket today...
 

So I leave work early today because I am feeling sick. I get home sit around for little while and the phone rings. My wife is in a panic rushing out of her job to the hospital where her grandmother is being transported.

She is in an utter mess, and that had me in a rush to get to the hospital to see our "nanny" as we call her. All I knew was that she was unresponsive and has been having health trouble within the past 3 months. So I'm driving with my flashers on and get pulled over going 88 in a 70. Granted its pre-lunch traffic on a 3-lane interstate and I'm not being reckless (bobbing and weaving), I'm just driving fast in the left lane. The trooper that pulled me over asks the usual yadayada "Why are you speeding?" and I explained the situation. He goes back to his car and presents me (10 minutes later) with a ticket.

I understand I was breaking the law, and he had every right to pull me over but give a guy a break. Under the comments he wrote "driver was using emergency flashers, said he had family med. emerg."

I only hope the judge has some sympathy for me. I don't understand the complex with LE regarding circumstances like that. It was clear I was speeding, but I wasn't driving like a maniac. Traffic was very light. Oh and he was tucked past the barrier on a rolling left turn hill, ie. speed trap.

Moments like these that sour my view of Law Enforcement...just venting I guess...

Their only doing their job. The laws are written with exceptions unfortunately.

Sorry about that. Hope your wife's "nanny" is doing well! Sometimes they have compassion and sometimes they don't...maybe caught him on a bad day or maybe the last person lied to him about speeding and he was fed up. I would definitely tell the judge, "I am sorry for speeding, but I was panicked by the health of a family member and I wanted to be there for my family as soon as possible." Maybe they will throw it out or reduce it.

no lo or pay higher insurance rates check it out

Yeah, that's what I planned to do. I understand it's their job to "protect and serve" and what have you, but what ever happened to giving someone a break. Do a little Google search and you'll find my city, Birmingham, is filing/has filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in the US. Looks like they need the cash. :laugh:

No lo contendre means no contest. Basically a guilty plea. It doesn't help you at all.

Talk to the judge. I think he may sympathize (this is coming from a paralegal).

no lo?

Yeah, will do. Hopefully he has his morning coffee on my court date.

I got one fri night 71 in a 55, still contemplating my plea, its different here, the TVB (Traffic Violations Bureau) handles it, a branch of the NYS DMV, if it were not within the city of Buffalo limits I plea not guilty, go to court accept a few parking tickets pay the fine and its over. Here, If I plea not guilty there is no plea bargain, I have to prove doubt, which in this sitation, im doubtful I can do. I have 15 days. Might just hope they only raise my insurance 20% which I could accept. I guess.

Being in a form of LE, everything becomes situational and is never routine. But I do have to say is that if there are no other reasons for the stop and no other suspicions arise, the Officer could have let you go with a warning. But the Laws are laws. Hope for the best when you go to court if you fight it.

Thanks for the positive words. I don't really intend to 'fight' it, but I am going to go to court, talk to the judge, and hopeflly plea for driving school to keep my record clean. I have no background, but I'm a 22 y/o male and my insurance is going to skyrocket otherwise. I'd rather pay CC and driving school and not pay an extra $50 a month for 2 years...

Luckily, I'm married and that helps with insurance.

In Jersey they would have given you an escort...as long as you did not YouTube it. :D

Sorry about the ticket and your grandmother...how is she?

After you explained why you were speeding what did he say? Did he respond to your story at all?

I'd like to hear some resident Camaro5 LEO views on this one.

$50 a month extra? One should be so lucky...when I was in my teens I amassed so many tickets my insurance was like double what it was supposed to be and I was dropped a few times. Now ive been clean for about 5 yrs I believe so im hoping not to be hammered this time.