Speeding Ticket
- Thread starter chiludo67
- Start date
What website or book/literature does anyone recommend to fight a bogus small town speeding ticket? 
The radar gives a continuous readout of speed so the officer can lock in what ever speed he wishes to write the ticket. Your can bet if you are gaining speed they will wait for the bigger number and they really like the "20 over".
'Beat the Cops' - don't remember the author. Very very good info in this small paperback.
I found the National Motorists Association online at www.motorists.org, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to Free Pursuit of Driving Happiness (my personal interpretation of their mission).
They have some useful info on the site for free, including local lawyers, but if you join you get some additional stuff. Also, if you want to fight tickets, they rent out a "Get out of jail free" kit.
I joined a while ago, but never rented the kit, because my ticket got dismissed in the meantime.
George
They have some useful info on the site for free, including local lawyers, but if you join you get some additional stuff. Also, if you want to fight tickets, they rent out a "Get out of jail free" kit.
I joined a while ago, but never rented the kit, because my ticket got dismissed in the meantime.
George
Hmmm. I have that book. Beat the Cops the Guide to Fighitng Your Traffic Ticket and Winning by Alex Carroll. The key to fighting radar... at least where I was (Ann Arbor, MI), was listening to what the cop had to say about the incident and attacking what he says. For example, when he says where his vehicle is compared to where your vehicle is. Granted, its small stuff, but you need everything you can when you're dealing with radar. I asked a bunch of questions like when the radar device was last calibrated... but that wasn't going to win over the judge. Strange thing was that my cop said that he tagged me twice. Why would he do that? Did he think it was wrong the first time? In any event, I think what really convinced the judge was that I drove all the way from Chicago just to fight that damn ticket! At that point, I think he felt compelled to give me a break. He was stunned that I drove 4 hours to fight a $100 ticket!
Of course, I wasn't in the NSX. I think if the judge knew that, I would have been doomed.
Don't you guys think it's really hard to fight a ticket when you're in the NSX? It's basically presumed that your speeding. Man, the smile on my face when I pass cops on the highway and I'm NOT SPEEDING (especially in MI where it seems there's a cop every 10 miles)!
Actually, a funny reaction from other drivers is when I move over to the slow lane. If you're driving slow in the NSX people think something's not right - like there's a cop around the corner.
Good luck fighting the ticket! Oh, and my book included two pages of intersections of common speed traps in Illinois.
Of course, I wasn't in the NSX. I think if the judge knew that, I would have been doomed.
Don't you guys think it's really hard to fight a ticket when you're in the NSX? It's basically presumed that your speeding. Man, the smile on my face when I pass cops on the highway and I'm NOT SPEEDING (especially in MI where it seems there's a cop every 10 miles)!
Actually, a funny reaction from other drivers is when I move over to the slow lane. If you're driving slow in the NSX people think something's not right - like there's a cop around the corner.
Good luck fighting the ticket! Oh, and my book included two pages of intersections of common speed traps in Illinois.
You think Michigan's bad??? LOL RAOTF!!!!!
Juice said:
i use to think ohio highways were tough to speed on until i realized how predictable the troopers are. they never hide and they are always on the median... NEVER on the shoulder. MI is tough to speed on because they hide behind bushes, onramps, overpasses, etc.
juice, i want a rematch in downtown cleveland.
How about just hiring one of those ticket lawyers to fight it for you. For the $65 that they charge it is well worth it. You don't have to waste your time by taking a day off work, and furthermore you don't have to sit in courtroom surrounded by DUI and suspended license morons. They also know how to work the system so all that ends up happening is that you pay a court cost and maybe a "seatbelt violation" fee. If you don't know the proper procedure in a courtroom, your chances of winning are greatly reduced.
I haven't had one conviction or any points added to my license for the past five tickets that I've gotten. But then again, I haven't gotten any tickets in the past three years thanks to my V-1.
I haven't had one conviction or any points added to my license for the past five tickets that I've gotten. But then again, I haven't gotten any tickets in the past three years thanks to my V-1.
nicholas421 said:
Hey, at least there were no cops for that quater mile!
I've been waiting for the chance to do the Ohio tour again. If there are any runs in your neck of the woods, let me know and I'll be there if possible.
As far as I know, MI does not allow that "probation" period where you pay a fine, and receive no points as long as you don't receive any additional tickets. This makes it more difficult to negotiate a good deal.
I agree that a lawyer can help - especially one who is familiar with the traffic court in that particular jurisdiction, and even more so one who formerly worked in the prosecutor's office there.DocL said:
However, I am accustomed to paying a lot more than $65, even for the least expensive of the various jurisdictions where I have hired an attorney for traffic court:
Highest price asked: Colorado (11 defendants)
Highest price paid: Minnesota
Lowest price paid: Illinois
In between: Michigan, Ohio
I enjoy reading all of the thoughts you guys have on how we do our jobs it is super enjoyable...I am sorry you got a ticket but if you were speeding then pay the ticket if the cop was wrong go to court or what I tell my friends go talk to the soliciter and tell them you were speeding but you dont think you were going that fast....In georgia 14 mph over and below is no points on your license so usually if you tell the soliciter that... they will reduce it down to 14mph so they can keep the courts clear.... you will have to pay but your insurance and license status don't suffer......luckily me and my white 93 don't have to worry about this problem
bacon said:
Never admit guilt!!! Innocent until PROVEN guilty!!!
Hire a lawyer that specializes in speeding tickets and is recommended by others.
'Nuff said.
'Nuff said.
Like I mentioned in my earlier post, you might want to check on www.motorists.org, and check for recommended lawyers in the area.
As far as the cost, I've paid as little as $45 (in Dallas area), but it all depends where you get the ticket. The last ticket I got (which ended up being dismissed anyway), the lawyers wanted closer to $100, because, even though it was in the DFW metroplex, it was in a smaller town on the outskirts, where, I'm guessing they don't have as much clout.
And, lastly, I advise strongly against paying the fine without a fight. When you pay outright, you are going to get hit with the full force of it: full fine, insurance hike, points. And all because the local municipality is trying to raise money (don't even give me the argument of trying to keep the roads safe).
As far as the cost, I've paid as little as $45 (in Dallas area), but it all depends where you get the ticket. The last ticket I got (which ended up being dismissed anyway), the lawyers wanted closer to $100, because, even though it was in the DFW metroplex, it was in a smaller town on the outskirts, where, I'm guessing they don't have as much clout.
And, lastly, I advise strongly against paying the fine without a fight. When you pay outright, you are going to get hit with the full force of it: full fine, insurance hike, points. And all because the local municipality is trying to raise money (don't even give me the argument of trying to keep the roads safe).
bacon said:
see if it was like that in cali I would just pay the ticket and be done with it. the problem is that insurance is killer to start out with and a point will hike up your insurance like crazy considering im 19 on a sport bike and I would like to be able to afford a NSX sometime soon.
I've gotten more tickets than anyone I know and I still have 0 points
I assume you're an officer in GA? Can you say if it's true that all the cops around here have laser?bacon said:
I heard a rumor that the insurance companies paid for the GA cops to have laser, presumably to lower their costs, but I can't find any evidence of this, except that everytime I see a cop, my V1 doesn't go off (It's hidden, so laser doesn't register). If I cross any state line, it goes off all the time when I see speed traps.mojo yes I am Cobb County....no the insurance companies have not bought us all laser guns although all of our traffic guys now carry them instead of radar....they are much easier to use and a lot harder to beat in court.......the reason most of the smaller jurisdictions have not gone to them yet is cost ....laser guns are about five times the money of radar....I wish the insurance companies would give me one because I still have radar in my cruiser and they won't give me a laser to play with because I don't play in traffic as my primary duty....hope that helps
Osiris_x11
Gold Member, Moderator: Marketplace
Hmmm. No one mentioned something I'd heard some time ago and that was this: pay the ticket with a check by mail, but OVERpay it by a few bucks.
The theory being that the county will then process your check and cut you a refund check. Don't cash it.
The next theory being that until you cash the refund check they can't "close the loop" on the action on you, i.e., assess points on your license.
I have no idea if this is true or if it's urban legend, but for a few bucks it might be worth a try.
I'm lucky in that driving fast where I live isn't illegal as long as you do it where it's allowed.
Good luck to you. In the future, you might really want to obey the posted limit (or not exceed it blatantly, anyway).
Don
The theory being that the county will then process your check and cut you a refund check. Don't cash it.
The next theory being that until you cash the refund check they can't "close the loop" on the action on you, i.e., assess points on your license.
I have no idea if this is true or if it's urban legend, but for a few bucks it might be worth a try.
I'm lucky in that driving fast where I live isn't illegal as long as you do it where it's allowed.
Good luck to you. In the future, you might really want to obey the posted limit (or not exceed it blatantly, anyway).
Don
Does that mean you as a cop are immune from tickets from other cops.
sounds a little vain.no i can get a ticket just as easy as you......but if its not a serious offense like D.U.I. or something we usually get a courtesy pass it is kind of like an employee discount.......it is kind of like a family thing.........we are all kind of in a family owning an nsx well multiply that by about 100 and you will have the police officer family.......but never take anything for granted because there are cops out there that would write thier moms just not me i would never write another cop a ticket just as i would more than likely not write an nsx owner a ticket either.......unless they were being stupid .......dui, speeding more than 35 over the posted, wreckless, etc.......but you can call it what you want it does not offend me................
DonDavis said:
That's an urban legend.
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