So, I got a speeding ticket. Can ya help me get out if it?

[clef360]

Originally posted by Ty McNeely
I can pay the fine, but I *cant* take the points. I would have to get another job just to pay the increased insurance.

My point is this: I've been driving for 3 years with no other history of speeding, wreckless driving, or anything else. I don't feel that it is right to crucify me for my first mistake made at time when the only person it was even possible for me to endanger was myself. I do accept responsibility for my actions--I know I shouldn't have been driving that fast.

I didn't come here asking for a lecture and for people to tell me that I didn't need to be driving fast--no crap, I've heard that enough already. I came here asking for advice on things to do so that I could POSSIBLY avoid getting points put onto my driving record. Easy enough? Guess not.

Well since I already provided a link to an extremely informative website about getting out of traffic tickets, I figure I'd give you a hard time about it too. Besides, jsut because this is the first time you got caught, doesn't mean you don't speed on a regular basis (I'm not saying that I know that you do, but you have alluded to the fact that you've driven faster before). Have you gone significantly over the speed limit since you got your ticket? If so, you probably haven't learned your lesson

 

[ModulusFan]

That would be illegal, and BS for the rest of us that have to obey the laws.

 

[Johnny BoomBoom]

I guess do whatever penance is prescribed - or esle get a whizzo (and cheap) lawyer or get someone on the inside.

Another thing you could check it your speedo. Over here the law requires that a speedo shows the actual speed (remember this is speed average over a slight time period and not true velocity - although it can be close) +10% and then another plus of 2.5mph. No speedo is allowed to show less than the actual speed the vehicle is travelling at.

There was one case here that I know of where the defendant was clocked doing in excess of 100mph (and autmoatic - unless a celeb or a Royal - ban over here). He took it to court, and had it reduced to what the manufacturer stated as the maximum speed for the vehicle 96mph. Still got a lot of points and a huge fine - but avoided the ban!

Good luck in your case, I suspect you may need it!

 

[Ty McNeely]

Originally posted by MJ5150
Hey Ty....OK, I do not understand Oklahoma traffic laws then. In Washington, a judge oversees your case in a courtroom. If the officer/trooper that wrote the ticket shows up for the hearing, they have no authority to do anything about the ticket. They can only testify about the violation. Is Oklahoma different?

I understand how his knowledge if the county may give you an inside track on what to say to have it deferred, but just what can he do to possibly have the entire case thrown out of court?

I'm not necessarily saying that it could be thrown out of court, but there are any number of things that can happen with it. I'm not going to go into detail on exactly what they are.

 

[DirtDog]

Originally posted by Ty McNeely
My thoughts exactly.

"I've been driving for nearly 3 years now and I have a totally clean record and I'm a college student who can't pay the increased insurance if this goes on my record...."

Yeah--here's the update:

I talked to the woman in charge of speeding court at the courthouse. <snip>

I dunno, I hear that all the ladies at the courthouse work on commission.....

Seriously, take your chances with court, regardless of what the clerk says. It's your best and only chance to avoid penalty. If it makes you feel better, hire one of the paralegal traffic ticket specialists to beat the charge. It'll cost you a couple of bucks but it sounds like you're more concered with the points than with the fine.

DD

 

[P. Aaron]

Originally posted by DirtDog
I dunno, I hear that all the ladies at the courthouse work on commission.....

Seriously, take your chances with court, regardless of what the clerk says. It's your best and only chance to avoid penalty. If it makes you feel better, hire one of the paralegal traffic ticket specialists to beat the charge. It'll cost you a couple of bucks but it sounds like you're more concered with the points than with the fine.

DD

I'd like to add, state that you were over the limit. Call the judge; "Your Honor" and refer to the cop; as "Officer" at all times.
Respect for titles and formality may reduce the pain a little.

Good Luck, but when driving in the future, always make sure that there's someone out there that goes faster than you on the highway. Then they get the attention, and you can still speed a little.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Coming from an attorney (of course, as I always say, free legal advise is worth about what you pay for it)...

I practice in CT and NY. In those states, I have never seen someone have to pay more for showing up in court.

Going the speed you did, I would say the odds of getting the ticket tossed are about slim to none. However, if the cop does not show for trial, (in the states where I practice)the court has to drop the charges.

I would go to court. Speak to the prosecutor, and tell him your situation. Be respectful and all. If the guy wants to, he can give some latitute. The chances of beating a ticket without a lawyer are slim to none - and going 90, I don't think there is anything else he/she could do.

 

[Ty McNeely]

Originally posted by buldog5151bass
Coming from an attorney (of course, as I always say, free legal advise is worth about what you pay for it)...

I practice in CT and NY. In those states, I have never seen someone have to pay more for showing up in court.

Going the speed you did, I would say the odds of getting the ticket tossed are about slim to none. However, if the cop does not show for trial, (in the states where I practice)the court has to drop the charges.

I would go to court. Speak to the prosecutor, and tell him your situation. Be respectful and all. If the guy wants to, he can give some latitute. The chances of beating a ticket without a lawyer are slim to none - and going 90, I don't think there is anything else he/she could do.

The ticket does get tossed if the officer (P. Aaron) does not show. I am definitely going to court with it, but I'm not going to try and BEAT the ticket. Instead, I'm just going to try and get a deferred sentence to avoid the points.

P. Aaron, that is exactly what my brother told me: Don't try and deny the speed. Just try to appeal to the judge and get him to defer the sentence and pay the fine.

Thank you all for all of your help. If there are any additional suggestions, please go ahead and say them

 

[Bryan_G]

Heh, I could have told you not too speed up here. Was it between Edmond and I40? There are always a couple of cops there. Sucks that it was so much. I would show up to court and see what happens. Let me know next time your up in my neck of the woods


-Bryan

 

[secretdonkey]

Originally posted by Ty McNeely
I didn't come here asking for a lecture and for people to tell me that I didn't need to be driving fast--no crap, I've heard that enough already. I came here asking for advice on things to do so that I could POSSIBLY avoid getting points put onto my driving record. Easy enough? Guess not.

I know I find it far more disturbing that the court clerk told Ty that a lawyer could keep the offense off his record " almost guaranteed" than I do Ty's little transgression. What say we moralize on THAT instead of picking on a fellow TBer, whuddayasay?

Or is it okay for those of us who can afford attorneys to drive with impunity?

 

[Ty McNeely]

Originally posted by ChronicPain
Heh, I could have told you not too speed up here. Was it between Edmond and I40? There are always a couple of cops there. Sucks that it was so much. I would show up to court and see what happens. Let me know next time your up in my neck of the woods


-Bryan

Hey man how ya been? I talked to your dad and he said you were thinkin' about transferring. UT, perhaps?

I was just up for the evening--I didn't get in until about 7:00 and left about 1:30. I'm too dang nice to the females

It was actually just south of Purcell, less than 10 miles out of Pauls Valley. I learned from an Ardmore P.D. captain yesterday that highway patrol STOPS patrolling past Pauls Valley, so I just got really unlucky.

I will probably be back up in your area sometime within the next few weeks. I'll see if I can track you down.

 

[Ty McNeely]

Originally posted by secretdonkey
I know I find it far more disturbing that the court clerk told Ty that a lawyer could keep the offense off his record " almost guaranteed" than I do Ty's little transgression. What say we moralize on THAT instead of picking on a fellow TBer, whuddayasay?

Or is it okay for those of us who can afford attorneys to drive with impunity?

I don't necessarily think that she was referring to the fact that I would have any attorney. Rather, the attorney would know how to properly represent me and my spotless driving record and be able to appeal to the judge enough to let me off. It's not just that I'm "buying my freedom," but rather that I'm extremely concerned about my record and am willing to do what it takes to show that this was just a freak occurence and NOT normal.

 

[Geoff St. Germaine]

Originally posted by Ty McNeely
LMAO.

That has to be one of the most widely accepted misconceptions I've ever heard. Any cop will tell you that a radar gun is HIGHLY fallible. They are given a 2 mph deviance by the books, and thats not counting any other possibilities for messing up the gun.


Secondly, speedometers and governors are just only equally as fallible as a radar gun--speedometers are required to be accurate, so if they're not I can sue Ford and make them pay my ticket.

I just wanted to comment on this, as I was interested enough in actually how accurate radar guns actually are to talk to my folks. My father is an RCMP officer (that's police up here) with 27 years experience and my mother was a provincial prosecutor in Alberta for about 15 years. The courts in Alberta accept +/- 1km/h as the accuracy of the radar gun. This is what my mom said.

"The radar operator can make the radar gun more inaccurate by trying to track a vehicle at an exaggerated angle. It is most accurate when it is tracking in a straight line. If it is being used at 90 degrees it will be quite inaccurate, but only in that the reading will be low as compared to the actual speed."

Just thought that some people might be interested.

Geoff

 

[secretdonkey]

Originally posted by Ty McNeely
I don't necessarily think that she was referring to the fact that I would have any attorney. Rather, the attorney would know how to properly represent me and my spotless driving record and be able to appeal to the judge enough to let me off. It's not just that I'm "buying my freedom," but rather that I'm extremely concerned about my record and am willing to do what it takes to show that this was just a freak occurence and NOT normal.

I regret that you don't seem to grasp the point I was trying to make...

 

[Ty McNeely]

Originally posted by secretdonkey
I regret that you don't seem to grasp the point I was trying to make...

Well, I believe that I *do* grasp the point (and thank you for that, by the way), but I am just trying to add a shred of credibility to the already incredibly corrupt system.

 

[cheezewiz]

LOL! You did it, but the "system" is corrupt.

 

[secretdonkey]

Originally posted by cheezewiz
LOL! You did it, but the "system" is corrupt.

Ummm... I regret that you don't seem to grasp the point I was trying to make...

The notion that the two conditions might exist simultaneously (Ty's guilt and a faulty system) eludes you?

FWIW, the problems with 'the system' are probably more 'institutional' in nature than due to malicious conspiracy. The net result is no different, however... "better" justice for those who can afford it. I'm not screaming for revolution over a speeding ticket, mind you -- but the fact that folks are having trouble even seeing the blip on the radar screen, is telling...

 

[bassmonkeee]

Originally posted by secretdonkey
Ummm... I regret that you don't seem to grasp the point I was trying to make...

The notion that the two conditions might exist simultaneously (Ty's guilt and a faulty system) eludes you?

FWIW, the problems with 'the system' are probably more 'institutional' in nature than due to malicious conspiracy. The net result is no different, however... "better" justice for those who can afford it. I'm not screaming for revolution over a speeding ticket, mind you -- but the fact that folks are having trouble even seeing the blip on the radar screen, is telling...

I have a feeling that Cheezewiz's remarks come from the fact that he's seen more teenagers "who knew what they were doing " scraped off the pavement for driving 95 mph than he's seen instances of a 3 mph difference for a radar gun making a difference in court.

Not that Cheeze can't fight his own battles, of course, but call it a hunch.

To piss and moan about points off your license especially when you acknowledge that you were "only" driving 90 mph is ridiculous. Take your punishment like a man, and move on.

Seriously.

 

[Pacman]

Originally posted by bassmonkeee
To piss and moan about points off your license especially when you acknowledge that you were "only" driving 90 mph is ridiculous. Take your punishment like a man, and move on.

Seriously.

In a day and age where I hear so many people whine about how we're not held accountable for our actions, this needs to be restated. To bemoan the fact that your insurance is going to go up say to me that you wanted to "do the crime" but you can't "do the time". You're a big boy - own up to it, pay the consequences and learn from the mistake.


Oh, and be glad you got stopped by the cop and not a deer crossing that deserted road...

 

[secretdonkey]

Originally posted by bassmonkeee
Take your punishment like a man, and move on.

Seriously.

Ah, well okay, then. Don't let *my* proletarian sympathies fool ya - I make good money and my little red roadster tops out at a shade below 140 mph. So when I decide to stretch her legs and get caught doing it, I'll take my punishment like a man -- by pulling out my checkbook -- and move on. If no one else seems to have a problem with this, I guess I shouldn't be trying to shoot myself in the foot.

Oh, and lest I leave it out this time...

I regret that you don't seem to grasp the point I was trying to make.