[vassily]

Hi guys,

I mostly lurk but I feel like venting a bit and also have a few questions I guess.

I was going down US-59S at maybe around 70ish (speed limit is 60) in the 'passing' lane.

I was pulled over by the speed trap (which I saw a long distance away, for some strange reason I never felt like he'd pull me over -- all the traffic was moving at a fair clip).

The policeman was very nice and polite and I showed him all my papers. I have a clean record etc etc. Initially he said I was going 77mph. I said nothing, I had honestly no idea how fast I was going when he had clocked me.

So he gave me a ticket, which says 'speeding 70mph in a 60mph zone' but it also has 77 written on it and crossed out. Also, very oddly, he kept pointing out the court date on the ticket and said almost three times 'You can go to court and plead not guilty'. I was so confused and dazed by what was going on (I don't know what I was supposed to say or do) that I kept asking 'What? What?' and he repeated himself. I didn't want to annoy him so I just nodded in the end and drove off.

Is this entirely normal? Are cops supposed to tell you to go plead not guilty? I'm a foreign national (it says so on my Drivers License) so was he just trying to be friendly and inform me of my rights? Should I just pay the ticket or try to contest it? Do I get a lawyer? I don't mind paying the fines, but points off my license and increased insurance rates worry me a little. I'm confused :-/

[///M3NACE]

don't get a lawyer go 2 court and plead guilty. Few of mine were thrown up because the cop didn't show up.

[ScaredOnce]

Originally Posted by vassily

Hi guys,

I mostly lurk but I feel like venting a bit and also have a few questions I guess.

I was going down US-59S at maybe around 70ish (speed limit is 60) in the 'passing' lane.

I was pulled over by the speed trap (which I saw a long distance away, for some strange reason I never felt like he'd pull me over -- all the traffic was moving at a fair clip).

The policeman was very nice and polite and I showed him all my papers. I have a clean record etc etc. Initially he said I was going 77mph. I said nothing, I had honestly no idea how fast I was going when he had clocked me.

So he gave me a ticket, which says 'speeding 70mph in a 60mph zone' but it also has 77 written on it and crossed out. Also, very oddly, he kept pointing out the court date on the ticket and said almost three times 'You can go to court and plead not guilty'. I was so confused and dazed by what was going on (I don't know what I was supposed to say or do) that I kept asking 'What? What?' and he repeated himself. I didn't want to annoy him so I just nodded in the end and drove off.

Is this entirely normal? Are cops supposed to tell you to go plead not guilty? I'm a foreign national (it says so on my Drivers License) so was he just trying to be friendly and inform me of my rights? Should I just pay the ticket or try to contest it? Do I get a lawyer? I don't mind paying the fines, but points off my license and increased insurance rates worry me a little. I'm confused :-/

Welcome to America (yes, we own the whole continent - both of em...).

You're not guilty, at least not until proven or you admit such. Go prove how much smarter you are than them and get out of this. But, be nice. Know your audience.

[BTTGMan]

Go to court. Say you believe you were within legal limit.

Does ticket explain what he got you with? Radar? Laser? Clock?

Buy an escort passport 9500. Pay for itself.

[vassily]

The ticket says nothing about the method used to determine my speed limit, but I recall the cop said he 'clocked' me at 77mph.

Thanks for your kind words guys. I feel abit distressed and disappointed to be honest. I'm curious - is there a reason why getting a lawyer should be avoided?

[BTTGMan]

Originally Posted by vassily

The ticket says nothing about the method used to determine my speed limit, but I recall the cop said he 'clocked' me at 77mph.

Thanks for your kind words guys. I feel abit distressed and disappointed to be honest. I'm curious - is there a reason why getting a lawyer should be avoided?

I don't believe it. Every state I've ever gotten a ticket in has a box they check showing how they got you. Is tx that different?? Look again

[Bakeme521]

Hold are you? Your best bet is to just go and plead guilty or some states have a defensive driving course you can take to wipe it off. Usually only given that option every 5 years or so but since you've never got one before shouldn't be a problem for you.

[BTTGMan]

Originally Posted by Bakeme521

Hold are you? Your best bet is to just go and plead guilty or some states have a defensive driving course you can take to wipe it off. Usually only given that option every 5 years or so but since you've never got one before shouldn't be a problem for you.

Don't plead guilty. He wasn't going that fast. Plead honest belief he wasn't speeding.

[vassily]

I'm 30. And no - the ticket has no check box as you've described. I've read it carefully several times.

[username604]

Man, that cop was begging you to plead innocent. I don't think he's gonna show up to court! Nice guy!

[BeenieMan]

usually its plead no contest, pay the court fee and get deferred adj. so it wont go on your record unless you get another within 6 months

[BreakPoint]

<----- cop

Yes its perfectly normal for us to urge a motorist to plead not guilty and attend court. We write tickets, we don't care what goes on after the fact. Go to court, plead not guilty, get it dropped down.

[Johnny D]

Call up there early as in tomorrow. Ask them their procedure for deferred adjudication. Each place is different, but in Dallas you pay (at the time I did it) $90 for court and processing fees and take either an online or in class drivers education. I strongly suggest in class, its no where near as boring. You cant skip though the online.

Once complete you will get a certificate you send to the court and dont get a ticket for 3 months. If you dont get a ticket, it doesnt go on your record. If you do, you pay the fine for both tickets and both go on your record.

[Kolyan2k]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

<----- cop

Yes its perfectly normal for us to urge a motorist to plead not guilty and attend court. We write tickets, we don't care what goes on after the fact. Go to court, plead not guilty, get it dropped down.

I heard you get paid good if you attend court hearing, no ? I am fighting my first ticket on 335i myself now. I obviously know that i was speeding, and 99.9% i am not gonna get out on the first hearing, but on the 2nd court hearing cop might not show up and thats what i am hoping for.

ps.used to be free to file for hearing, now its $25 bucks, and probably another $25 for 2nd one.

[Slwdrvr]

If you do decide to go to court and contest the ticket, do not speak first before the cop. If you speak first, you give the cop the advantage to change his story and make your scenario far worst. I don't know what to do in your situation, but for me, I'd just pay the ticket, take traffic school and wait for the point to be cleared off driving record, but that's just me. Hope this helps! And if you think the cop won't show up to court because you scheduled some weird date, false, he is now forced to go to court and fight against you as well. Good luck with that as well, and.. welcome to America.

[Johnny D]

Mr Judge, I honestly didnt think the officer would pull me over for going 70mph in a 60mph zone....honest...

Just go the deferred route. You're guilty and this is the courts way of saying here is your free pass.

[BTTGMan]

Originally Posted by jntar

Mr Judge, I honestly didnt think the officer would pull me over for going 70mph in a 60mph zone....honest...

Just go the deferred route. You're guilty and this is the courts way of saying here is your free pass.

Whatvis he guilty of, and why is it a crime?

Not guilty. Period.

[E92ML]

I think you should hire a very good lawyer and fight the ticket. It will probably cost around $300 which is higher than the cost of the ticket but you will get it off your record and you wont have to pay increased insurance rates.

There is no reason not to get a lawyer besides the $$.

[BreakPoint]

There's no need to get a laywer for a 10mph over speeding ticket. If its your first offense, the prosecutor should work with you before the judge ever sees you.

Cops only get overtime for courts when its an actual hearing, not motor vehicle violations.

[Intellx]

Look into seeing if your state offers a probation period.

Personally, I'd lawyer up just because. No reason to get points on your license and with it only being 10mph over, you don't need someone spectacular. I use a cheap guy in my area for little stuff that does $100 and he usually gets the tickets dropped. Well worth the money. Ask around and find someone to help you.

[slowSwede]

Going to court, spending more tax dollars, for something I'm guilty of doesn't make sense. Can't you just pay the fine and be done?

[Wild Squid]

I don't know about you guys, but here in CA we have a right to Trial by Written Declaration. What it is is you fill out a specific court form with an explanation of your side of the story which also pleads Not Guilty. There are websites that show you a template for each kind of offense on how to fight it. For me, basically I lie out of my fucking ass and I'll swear by all that is holy that I was not speeding even though I was. I have no shame lying, I really don't give a fuck. Those who feel bad about lying to get out of trouble with the law? Ha. I feel sorry for you dickweed. Tickets are for losers and is just a revenue stream for the government. If I can fight it and get away scot free I'll do it, and I have won 5 cases this way, with a 6th pending. The officer has a time limit to respond, and if he doesn't do so on his own time then your case is dismissed. Cops and the government lie all the time to get what they want, why can't we? Screw the immoral bullshit, lies are what runs the show these days.