First speeding ticket

[ORNGASM]

Originally Posted by OK2DRUL

I don't know what the laws are in Rhode Island, but in Georgia your insurance and license aren't affected if the ticket is less than 14 over. Once you get over the 14 then they add points to your license and rates increase. Anything below that doesn't get reported and it's like it never happened. I got a ticket Saturday night, cop clocked me 55 in a 35, right before it changed to a 45, but still got me. He wrote the ticket down to 48 in a 35, but made a note in the comments section that he reduced it (keeps you from going to court and getting it dismissed). Doesn't affect me any other than the $100 fine. I just pay them and go about my business. Taking time off of work isn't worth it to me.

Very good point...I will easily miss $95 of work pay if I go to court...that is why it is such a hard decision, especially if they don't dismiss it and then I lose my work pay, AND pay the ticket AND pay court cost....total loss. Think I will call my insurance co. and see if the 10 over will even effect my rates.

[ORNGASM]

Originally Posted by dkbmx993

Careful. When a cop pulls you over he also writes a narrative in the computer that is sent to the courts. Often times it is stated the speed was much higher than recorded and then in that case you make yourself look like an ass. I was clocked at 140+ according to the officer which I believe because I was alreading slowing down and he lowered it to 85 in a 65. I gladly paid the 300. In was much better than losing my liscenc considering I drive a tractor trailer

I've heard this before....The judge can see the notes from the officer and see the actual speed I was going. The cop can also write in the notes whether you admitted to the speed or not. I didn't outright admit to the 83 but I did say that I did realize I was speeding when I saw him perched off the highway. This stuff worries me.

[ORNGASM]

Originally Posted by Spartan01

ALWAYS FIGHT THE TICKET.
As a former LEO, the best advice I can give you is:
Hire a traffic lawyer.
The ticket is$95 so most traffic lawyers will charge you around 15% more than the price of the ticket.
If the cop doesnt show up, you win,
if the cop made the slightest mistake on the ticket, the lawyer can get it dismissed, often, if you try to pull this yourself, the judge will not dismiss the ticket- Remember, the courts are designed to make money for the state and for lawyers, not to provide you with justice.
Consider pleading guilty with an explanation- Judges like this way more than pleading not guilty.
Remember, it is not your word vs. the cop's word, it is your word vs. the state, for which the cop is acting as an agent.

I hear you. In RI though, the first court date is an arraignment only and this is where they will dismiss it if you have a clean 3 year record. If not, you can plead not guilty and arrange a second court appearance. This is where you get the lawyer and actually fight the ticket and the cop (or a representative for the cop) would need to appear. For $95 it's not worth it for me to take time off for two court dates, unless the ticket was much higher.

Thanks for the input though!

[Normagene]

You have to be very careful with what and how you talk to the officer. My hubby learned that lesson, pulled over at 1am, just got off work, and in my SS he gets pulled over. Officer asked if he knew why, and he said "well it sure wasn't for speeding" to which the officer responded "well you sure came around that rotary pretty fast" and my husband said "really".

Then the officer stated he was driving on the fog line. To which my husband said "what the heck is that" and I was dead smack in the middle of the road, to which the officer responded "are you calling me a liar?" At that point my husband knew he was screwed and he shut up! The officer gave him a warning. He also tailgated my husband for over a mile before pulling him over, and I'm sure he could see the radar detector red lights screaming maxed out. Probably why he pulled him over, that and 1am he figured a Camaro??...drugs, alcohol....dead body in the trunk......all possibilities!

[trashmanssd]

I once got a ticket on the way home from a wedding for 90+. In a 55. Had a friend that worked for the court who took care of it but I had to show up for the hearing with magistrate officer was there magistrate says looks like paper works been lost officer looked like he wanted to leap over the desk and strangle me

[Evil-Bee-NH]

Originally Posted by Normagene

You have to be very careful with what and how you talk to the officer. My hubby learned that lesson, pulled over at 1am, just got off work, and in my SS he gets pulled over. Officer asked if he knew why, and he said "well it sure wasn't for speeding" to which the officer responded "well you sure came around that rotary pretty fast" and my husband said "really".

Then the officer stated he was driving on the fog line. To which my husband said "what the heck is that" and I was dead smack in the middle of the road, to which the officer responded "are you calling me a liar?" At that point my husband knew he was screwed and he shut up! The officer gave him a warning. He also tailgated my husband for over a mile before pulling him over, and I'm sure he could see the radar detector red lights screaming maxed out. Probably why he pulled him over, that and 1am he figured a Camaro??...drugs, alcohol....dead body in the trunk......all possibilities!

I don't think staties in MA. are much different then those in NH sure you should be somewhat nice but your husband had the right of it. 9/10 i get pulled over by a cop in the camaro it's simply because 1. it's a camaro and apparently i am to young for one. 2. they're looking for something else and use anyything as an excuse to shine that light in your car.

[ORNGASM]

Originally Posted by trashmanssd

I once got a ticket on the way home from a wedding for 90+. In a 55. Had a friend that worked for the court who took care of it but I had to show up for the hearing with magistrate officer was there magistrate says looks like paper works been lost officer looked like he wanted to leap over the desk and strangle me

Nice!

[ORNGASM]

So I HAVE just found the answer to my dilemma.....called my insurance company and they said if they see any ticket on my driving record that they will raise the annual rate by 60% for 3 years. 60 fricken percent!! That's about $800 extra a year!

Can't believe it....I am definitely going to court to get this ticket dismissed. I NEED that money for mods!

Lesson for anyone.....DON'T SPEED!.....or don't get caught....or only get one every 3 years (in RI)

Decision has been made to definitely fight the ticket so I won't be needing anymore advice. Thanks for everybody's input!

This thread should keep going though....let's hear your favorite ticket story....there have been a few already......there has to be a lot more!

I'll start....

So I will admit...I like the fast lane....not only that, I like to view all the lanes like a chess game, strategizing my next move at all times, and on occasion I will use all lanes to get where I need to go. I'm not dangerous or aggressive.....I'm actually very careful and fully aware of my surroundings.....I just like to have the freedom to stay around 70-75 mph and not have any slow pokes in the fast lane cause me to press on the brake.

That being said.....I have blown past speed traps a few times and my strategy at those times, if the traffic is thick enough, is to carefully weave some lanes to the immediate first exit....take the exit fast and immediately take some side streets....while the cop is trying to pull his car out into traffic. I have eluded some tickets a few times, but the last time I tried this, the cop found me and wasn't too happy about the whole situation. He questioned why I did what I did and where I was headed....I made up some story that I was headed to somewhere nearby....he didn't buy it....wrote me a big fat ticket....lol.

So I will repeat:
Lesson for anyone.....DON'T SPEED!.....or don't get caught....or only get one every 3 years (in RI)

[Happy_Dan]

Well, I am kind of old fashioned and I believe it you take the risk to speed and get caught, then you pay up. I would thankful the officer lowered it to save you some of the pain, but to take that good will and try to get it completely dismissed just isn't right in my book. But I don't expect people top live my book and I make no judgement. Just what I would do for me.

[2SS2010]

2 years ago I got bagged for beating up on a corvette in my old 2001 GT (610rwhp 2V GT) raced him on 95 south just by the Walmart exit in Coventry. State cop got me because I stopped, said we passed him on the side of the road in excess of 120 and still pulling. He wrote me up for 10 over and told me to pay the ticket and go home, as he was walking away he came back and said by the way I own a Cobra good run! I went home with a smile and a little broker.

I bought the SS and apparently my wife said I drive it like im 70 (36 actually) I guess getting married and having a 10 month old changes your whole perspective on speed.

[kevinw]

normagene. the trunk is way too small to put an adult body in the trunk. lol
dkbmx993. if you were really doing 140 on a public street/hwy, you should be in the slammer. thats irresponsible.

[ORNGASM]

Originally Posted by 2SS2010

2 years ago I got bagged for beating up on a corvette in my old 2001 GT (610rwhp 2V GT) raced him on 95 south just by the Walmart exit in Coventry. State cop got me because I stopped, said we passed him on the side of the road in excess of 120 and still pulling. He wrote me up for 10 over and told me to pay the ticket and go home, as he was walking away he came back and said by the way I own a Cobra good run! I went home with a smile and a little broker.

I bought the SS and apparently my wife said I drive it like im 70 (36 actually) I guess getting married and having a 10 month old changes your whole perspective on speed.

Nice....lol.....I know that exit well.

[Normagene]

Originally Posted by kevinw

normagene. the trunk is way too small to put an adult body in the trunk. lol.

Seriously??? Are you saying in your emergency kit you don't have the all necessary accessories like duct tape, zip ties, hatchet, plastic wrap, etc...... Those are all Camaro necessities.

[Northeast Rod Run]

Originally Posted by bshull17

So I'm thinking ...I'll get the ticket dismissed in court....for having a clean record for three years.

That's some wishful thinking. The cop probably "gave you a break" because he knows there is no way you're getting out of the ticket anyway.

In lots of states, anything over 80MPH can be considered a driving to endanger charge, with possible jail time, loss of license and thousands of dollars in fines... I won't tell you how I know that though