Yay speeding ticket...

kserg · #1 05-17-2009, 03:23 AM

because of some drunk ...hole.

Going over highway 17 some guy ahead of me kept on going off the road, going into my lane, switching lanes, and throwing stuff out the window... constantly speeding up and slowing down, speed between 45mph and 60mph... (highway 17 is 50mph)

Finally i got tired of it, and on next opportunity, as he almost hit the mountain again, I hit the gas and passed him... When i tried to pass him he hit the gas as well... and as i passed him and started to slow down, highway patrol in the bushes... I'll take the ticket, I broke the law, but worse part of it was that as the highway patrol was pulling away from his hiding spot, the guy in 4runner got very nerves and almost hit the mountain again... cop still pulled me over and not him, even though i was going maybe 3-4 mph faster then the idiot.

Just sucks... I just saved someone from DUI and with car payments and higher rent now, can't really afford the ticket... Really hope they will reduce my fine if they believe my story.

jwbassman · #2 05-17-2009, 04:17 AM

That sucks. Sorry to hear. What did the cop say when you told him the story?

LiquidMidnight · #3 05-17-2009, 07:51 AM

Fight it. If you can articulate your story well, you very well may win it. Or the best case scenario: The cop won't show up for court. That happened to my singer. He fought a ticket and won by default.

Of course, this is all of my non-lawyer opinion.

But all of the political crybabies on my local music scene forum argue for days because they all got their JDs from "Armchair Quarterback School of Law," so I guess it's all cool.

kserg · #4 05-17-2009, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwbassman

That sucks. Sorry to hear. What did the cop say when you told him the story?

"well. then, safest thing would be to slow down."

Don't think i can fight it, as clearly i broke the law, but i can go to traffic school... Just can't be getting any more tickets for next 18 months...

I will however go to court and try to lower the fine due to my story.

ErebusBass · #5 05-17-2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kserg

"well. then, safest thing would be to slow down."

Don't think i can fight it, as clearly i broke the law, but i can go to traffic school... Just can't be getting any more tickets for next 18 months...

I will however go to court and try to lower the fine due to my story.

Just go to court. It's not necessarily "fighting" it, but if you just show up, they'll at least reduce it. If you tell them your story they may reduce it even more/maybe even drop it. I've gotten tickets dropped before.

If you go to court they will definitely reduce the amount you have to pay them, and you can get a payment plan. It never hurts to try.

kserg · #6 05-17-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErebusBass

Just go to court. It's not necessarily "fighting" it, but if you just show up, they'll at least reduce it. If you tell them your story they may reduce it even more/maybe even drop it. I've gotten tickets dropped before.

If you go to court they will definitely reduce the amount you have to pay them, and you can get a payment plan. It never hurts to try.

Well, in CA, if i go to court and ask for reduction, then go to traffic school - that's fine, I'll have no points on my record and insurance will stay the same. However if i go and fight it, if I loose, i won't be able to go to traffic school and the points will stay on my record as well as insurance going up.

warwick.hoy · #7 05-17-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kserg

"well. then, safest thing would be to slow down."

I have to say that I agree with the cop on this one. The most likely result is the one you got. The other driver turns offensive and gases it and then you find yourself in a rolling drag race with a drunk.

kserg · #8 05-17-2009, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warwick.hoy

I have to say that I agree with the cop on this one. The most likely result is the one you got. The other driver turns offensive and gases it and then you find yourself in a rolling drag race with a drunk.

He is, but if the drunk did that i would have slow down. At time i thought it was safest thing to-do because he would merge into my lane, hit the brakes hard, then turn to the right and go off the road and almost hit the hill. Few times he came very close to hitting me and few times trash would fly out from his car and hit mine... I followed him for good 10 miles, trying to back off and yet ending up right next to him again because he would slow down so much, when i saw my chance to pass him, i did.

I totally see cops point of view, but to me, that was the safest thing i could have done... I really don't feel safe behind someone like that... I would rather get a ticket then drive behind someone who in incapable of driving. Which I did...

At this point, only thing i feel bad is if didn't do it, the idiot would have gotten a DUI - and that would have been beneficial to all of us.

tplyons · #9 05-17-2009, 01:49 PM

Maybe if you would just put on your front license plate, we wouldn't have this problem.

Waitaminnit, wrong thread.

Sucks, but better alive and ticketed than ticket-free and dead.

machine gewehr · #10 05-17-2009, 01:53 PM

Get one of these,find the man and tell him to cover your ticket.

kserg · #11 05-17-2009, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Maybe if you would just put on your front license plate, we wouldn't have this problem.

Waitaminnit, wrong thread.

Sucks, but better alive and ticketed than ticket-free and dead.

Hehehe, that's what i am thinking...

I should have asked him regarding front license plate. My car does not have any place to put em in the front.

Unrepresented · #12 05-17-2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kserg

He is, but if the drunk did that i would have slow down. At time i thought it was safest thing to-do because he would merge into my lane, hit the brakes hard, then turn to the right and go off the road and almost hit the hill. Few times he came very close to hitting me and few times trash would fly out from his car and hit mine... I followed him for good 10 miles, trying to back off and yet ending up right next to him again because he would slow down so much, when i saw my chance to pass him, i did.

I totally see cops point of view, but to me, that was the safest thing i could have done... I really don't feel safe behind someone like that... I would rather get a ticket then drive behind someone who in incapable of driving. Which I did...

At this point, only thing i feel bad is if didn't do it, the idiot would have gotten a DUI - and that would have been beneficial to all of us.

I hate to narc on people but there've been a few moments when for the safety of the person driving and the safety of others around I've considered calling 911 on other drivers who've appeared heavily intoxicated (i.e. demonstrating the same qualities as the driver ahead of you).

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

Maybe if you would just put on your front license plate, we wouldn't have this problem.

Waitaminnit, wrong thread.

I was waiting for that to come up.

tplyons · #13 05-17-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I hate to narc on people but there've been a few moments when for the safety of the person driving and the safety of others around I've considered calling 911 on other drivers who've appeared heavily intoxicated (i.e. demonstrating the same qualities as the driver ahead of you).

I feel that it's sometimes necessary. However, unfortunately, in NJ it's illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving, so you could actually be ticketed for helping others.

Unintended consequence, I'm sure.

kserg · #14 05-17-2009, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I hate to narc on people but there've been a few moments when for the safety of the person driving and the safety of others around I've considered calling 911 on other drivers who've appeared heavily intoxicated (i.e. demonstrating the same qualities as the driver ahead of you).

Actually, i was waiting to get to pass to stop and call 911.

On 17, there is no place to stop and my bluetooth is not setup yet... Will set it up today so i won't run into this again. I probably would have saved myself a ticket if i called it in. That cop would have been told to pull the 4runner over not me.

**Pacman** · #15 05-17-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by machine gewehr

Get one of these,find the man and tell him to cover your ticket.

A toy gun's not really going to help much....

machine gewehr · #16 05-17-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pacman

A toy gun's not really going to help much....

You can always scare a drunkard with a toy gun.

I knew something was fishy about the pic. though.

Unrepresented · #17 05-17-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tplyons

I feel that it's sometimes necessary. However, unfortunately, in NJ it's illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving, so you could actually be ticketed for helping others.

Unintended consequence, I'm sure.

You don't have bluetooth exemptions?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kserg

Actually, i was waiting to get to pass to stop and call 911.

On 17, there is no place to stop and my bluetooth is not setup yet... Will set it up today so i won't run into this again. I probably would have saved myself a ticket if i called it in. That cop would have been told to pull the 4runner over not me.

Hopefully you got the cop to at least note on the ticket your explanation. They're supposed to take notes detailing your statements, it should hopefully help in court since I'm sure the judge hears all sorts of excuses, and anything to give yours more credence will benefit you.

tplyons · #18 05-17-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

You don't have bluetooth exemptions?

We do. It would work wonders if I could find my Bluetooth though.

kserg · #19 05-18-2009, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Hopefully you got the cop to at least note on the ticket your explanation. They're supposed to take notes detailing your statements, it should hopefully help in court since I'm sure the judge hears all sorts of excuses, and anything to give yours more credence will benefit you.

He didn't, but i am not looking to fight my ticket, i am looking for reduction in fine due to what happened on the road and my reactions at the time were best for my safety...

thefruitfarmer · #20 05-18-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kserg

He didn't, but i am not looking to fight my ticket, i am looking for reduction in fine due to what happened on the road and my reactions at the time were best for my safety...

Whilst I agree the other driver was a fool it could be argued that you should not have allowed his poor driving to justify your driving.

You could have pulled over for 10 minutes (and maybe called the police?) and relaxed yourself before continuing your journey.

That would have been the really mature thing to do when in charge of a machine (ie car) that can kill. I see where your coming from though and I may have done the same thing as you did....