Another Speeding Ticket Thread

[BlkBenz]

Alright, so I just got my first ticket this past Thursday (5/17) for doing 90 in a 70 on highway 5 in California. The office used a radar to approximate my speed, which he willingly showed me when I asked. I also asked him where he was when he clocked me, and he stated that he was driving in the opposite direction going underneath a bridge and then turned around over the center divider to pull me over.

From reading other posts on the site, I will subpoena the officers notes/records of the incident. Also, when I fight the ticket, is it better to do it in person than through a letter?

I have two more questions. 1) If I plead not guilty to the ticket, can I still take traffic school? and 2) I think that I heard somewhere (maybe 4 years ago) that if the cop is driving in the opposite direction that the ticket can't legally be given because it will be too inaccurate. Is this true? By doing a simple physics/calculus problem, I can easily calculate the speed of one vehicle if the other vehicle is moving in the opposite direction.

Thanks
Andrew

I've been following this site for a little over a year now and find it very informative. It is kind of bad that my first post is about a speeding ticket.

[RedGTiVR6]

If you know you were speeding, why do you want to get out of the ticket?

Why not be a grown person and admit your fault?

[TheLandYacht]

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

If you know you were speeding, why do you want to get out of the ticket?

Why not be a grown person and admit your fault?

Umm...MONEY. Not to mention points on your record.

Of course, if there were a defense that went something like...

"I was speeding but because of circumstantial evidence I don't think I should pay a fine", I'm sure he'd use that instead.

[RedGTiVR6]

No kidding the money is an issue as are the points.

however, if someone were really concerned about it they wouldn't have been going 90 in a 70 in the first place.

why does everyone think they have the right to skip out on responsibility when they have blantantly done something wrong?

[2k1Toaster]

Personally I believe it is more dangerous when all the traffic is going 85-95 mph through the 55 zone around here and then you get 1 person going 55 or slower. That is much more dangerous.

And anything that keeps the money out of their hands, is ok in my book. Although since you were speeding, and they offered you traffic school instead of points, just take it and be done.

Here in CO you get the same hefty fine even if you get no points. But I think CA is different.

And definately go in person.

[boomintrac]

In all my traffic classes for speeding (going on 7-8 or so) All the instructurs said the same thing, Even if you think you were in the right at the time of the incident, think of it as the last time you broke the law and got away with it.
Aron

[2k1Toaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by boomintrac

In all my traffic classes for speeding (going on 7-8 or so) All the instructurs said the same thing, Even if you think you were in the right at the time of the incident, think of it as the last time you broke the law and got away with it.
Aron

Well if you been to the calss 7 or 8 times, obviously they arent that effective.

[boomintrac]

No I just love to donate to the Illinois extra spending fund .. The time has been spent over the last 12 years whenever I get a ticket I opt to take the class to keep INS from rising.
Aron

[2k1Toaster]

Quote: Originally Posted by boomintrac

No I just love to donate to the Illinois extra spending fund .. The time has been spent over the last 12 years whenever I get a ticket I opt to take the class to keep INS from rising.
Aron

Here you get 1 shot at class. Then never again. I hate this damn state.

[Enforcer]

At least you get one shot. We don't have that here. Well I don't think so anyway, long time since I picked up a speeding ticket.

[2k1Toaster]

Dont they ticket you for driving on the wrong side of the road?

[BlkBenz]

I never said that I was speeding. At the same time though, I am not saying that I wasn't speeding. I was just stating what the ticket was given for (doing 90 in a 70).

[Rafster]

Here in California you can take traffic school every 18 months.

I'd say fight it as much as you can, even if you know that you were speeding. I figure, the worst that happens if you lose is you have to pay your ticket. If you win, you don't.

As to your 2nd question, you might want to ask a lawyer or someone versed in CHP laws.

What part of Cali are you in? I'm in San Diego... Every one goes 90 on the freeway here... If you don't, you get raped by other drivers....

Rafster

[RedGTiVR6]

Sure, take the definsive driving class to get out of it in a cheaper way. But to try and fight it and get out of a ticket completely when you know you were speeding? It goes way beyond your pocket to those pockets of the law abiding citizens and their tax money.

[Rafster]

Quote: Originally Posted by RedGTiVR6

Sure, take the definsive driving class to get out of it in a cheaper way. But to try and fight it and get out of a ticket completely when you know you were speeding? It goes way beyond your pocket to those pockets of the law abiding citizens and their tax money.

Well... if he wasn't speeding... he should fight it... and actually, it's more expensive to do traffic school, because not only do you have to pay the ticket, but you also have to pay like $30 for Traffic School.

I just got my first ticket ever for doing 85 on a 65 in December. In 6 years of driving the way I do, I only got pulled over for supposedly tailing the driver front of me. I know I had at least 2 car lengths between me and the other driver... but.. whatever... $180 later... I took traffic school and now am again point free as long as I don't get caught speeding/doing anything else till June 08... LOL So I can take Traffic School again...

Traffic School isn't too bad though... I went to Comedy Traffic School and sat in between 2 California beach bunnies, so... to say... I enjoyed myself....

Rafster