i got my first ticket today...

[Notorious]

Ok ok, Since I can pretty much guarantee I have the most tickets out of anyone on this board let me give you hopefully helpful pointers. First thing is that if you plead not guilty you better be sure that you were not guilty. If you try to lie about it, they will most likely know. When you get your info in the mail, go to court and go to the counter and request more time. They will give you another month. Before its over again request more time again. This time they will give you 2 weeks. You'll see why in a minute. MAKE SURE YOU DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Put things in writing.

Go plead not guilty after your time has run out. The judge will give you an option of a speedy trial (amendment right) or you can waive it. Waive it. Get the furthest court date possible. Tell the judge you wish to have "trial by written declaration". Say you have lots of school or something, or lots of work and schedule is so erratic that you can't lock down a date. Trial by written declaration is basically you write out a statement of what happened. Why you weren't speeding. Just say everything that happened. If the cop was jerk make sure you include that. Be as specific as possible. The reason for doing this is 2 fold. First cops get payed to show up in court, they don't get payed to sit at home and write letters. Second, if you are found guilty this way, you can then request to have another trial but in the usual fashion. You show up and the cop shows up and a judge decides the outcome.

Let me know if you have any other question.

 

[Notorious]

Btw if you were hit by a laser unit. Your screwed. Radar, I could tell you how they can be inaccurate.

 

[Leadfoot]

Ok ok, Since I can pretty much guarantee I have the most tickets out of anyone on this board let me give you hopefully helpful pointers. First thing is that if you plead not guilty you better be sure that you were not guilty. If you try to lie about it, they will most likely know. When you get your info in the mail, go to court and go to the counter and request more time. They will give you another month. Before its over again request more time again. This time they will give you 2 weeks. You'll see why in a minute. MAKE SURE YOU DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Put things in writing.

Go plead not guilty after your time has run out. The judge will give you an option of a speedy trial (amendment right) or you can waive it. Waive it. Get the furthest court date possible. Tell the judge you wish to have "trial by written declaration". Say you have lots of school or something, or lots of work and schedule is so erratic that you can't lock down a date. Trial by written declaration is basically you write out a statement of what happened. Why you weren't speeding. Just say everything that happened. If the cop was jerk make sure you include that. Be as specific as possible. The reason for doing this is 2 fold. First cops get payed to show up in court, they don't get payed to sit at home and write letters. Second, if you are found guilty this way, you can then request to have another trial but in the usual fashion. You show up and the cop shows up and a judge decides the outcome.

Let me know if you have any other question.

I'm probably up there with ya, Notorious...I lost my license in NJ back in 1995 (took me just 3 years to wrack up 17 pts...most in the 1995 w/ my RX7)..anyway..I had a negative outcome doing something similar. Maybe it was 'cause I didn't delay the trial, but I had a notorized declaration of my side of the story and they smacked me w/ fine + court costs. It was a ticket for no headlights on 7 minutes after sunset on a clear fall day...and I did have driving lights on. I'm definitely not flaming here, just sharing a story.

MYE...I think that the general consensus from us is to fight it...Whatever you decide, I truly wish you the best of luck, and hope it doesnt' happen to you again. I know exactly what it's like to be singled out for the car I drive (my '82 RX7 w/ limo black tint)

 

[Notorious]

Yea I agree my method isn't the surefire way out. But it seemed to work for me, and didnt work for other people. That sucks about getting a ticket 7 minutes after sunset. Sometimes cops have too much time on there hands.

 

[batmang]

cops in tucson are very shady. all they ever pull over is honda's and sports cars. u never see anything else get pulled over. ive gotten about 4 tickets in 3 years. 2 of them got cleaned out by going to the driving school. but the thing that pissed me off on all my tickets, is i was going to same speed as the flow of the traffic, and because i was driving a civic or my crx, i got pulled over. its such bulls*** cause the person in front of my and behnid me were going faster then i was. they were going 60 in a 50, and i get pulled over for going 57 in a 50. its all about meeting that ******* quota. and the whole radar thing, cops do not have to show u the radar. your just asking for more trouble arguing about that. cops are trained to determine your exact speed without even using a radar. at least thats how it is in tucson, cause thats what i learned in driving school. the last ticket i got, i was going 81 in a 35, i got rid of the ticket by taking the driving class. id rather pay $100 for the class, instead of paying $400 for the ticket, and he almost arrested me.

 

[MYE]

good stuff guys.

yea the cop was a total ass.. and i WAS going at the flow of traffic. its the bright yellow car with the spoiler, i guess. im just scared that if i plead not guilty for speeding, the cop will get me for that >not yeilding to a emergency vehicle< thing. which is 500 buckos.

 

[Notorious]

Once you are charged they can't add charges. If its just simple speeding ticket, and its your first one it might be easier just to plead guilty and take the class.

 

[ZackyFarms]

sorry to hear that...yellow is am major attention getter...hope everything works out...

at least you could say your first ticket was in a kick ass car

 

[orangezoom]

FIght the ticket i can almost bet that the PIG wont show to court date if 1 has been set. if he dont show no ticket!!!!
anytime a cop pulls u over ask to see what his gun read!! then compare out smart a pig, GIVE HIM A DONUT!!!

I don't know about were you are, but here the cops do not have to be in court, I thought you had the right to meet your accuser but nope they said it was a new law.

 

[Notorious]

In california if the police officer does not show MOST of the time the judge will dismiss the case, as there is basically no one to prosecute. The only time I can think of when it won't be dismissed is if its a misdemeanor, or if the cop left evidence to be presented in trial in his absence.

 

[PhreekPhive]

FIGHT IT!!! Cops are real dicks in CA lately. Maybe Arnold will fix this. I got pulled over for speeding while stopped at a red light. SERIOUSLY!!! No one believes me about this one.

 

[mountjonas]

my friend got pulled over with a pack of about 5 or 6 other cars all doing 80 on the freeway. three chp's got them by surrounding them - one in front, one in back, and one on the side. my friend was pissed, but not completely since everyone else got caught, also.

 

[MYE]

FIGHT IT!!! Cops are real dicks in CA lately. Maybe Arnold will fix this. I got pulled over for speeding while stopped at a red light. SERIOUSLY!!! No one believes me about this one.

what was your speed when you were stopped ?? =P

 

[mypfizzle]

cops in ca suck.. next one that calls my car a ****** honda is gunnah get slapped

 

[PhreekPhive]

what was your speed when you were stopped ?? =P

0mph. But I think it was before the light, when I passed him going 80 in a 50 zone. He just never caught up to me until the red light stopped me...I should have done 90, then I would have made the yellow light.

cops in ca suck.. next one that calls my car a ****** honda is gunnah get slapped

That really sucks! I hate it when they call my car a station wagon. It's a SPORTS WAGON people!!

 

[Notorious]

hahaha 10 bucks says i know what the cop is gonna do after you slap him.

 

[mypfizzle]

yeah.. slap me back.. cuff me.. beat me with a night stick.. then run me.. see the thing that says.. is known to be armed and violent.. and then ill really get laid into -=\

 

[Notorious]

still, if you do this, make sure you get it on video. It'll make for some good entertainment.

 

[MYE]

(lol) hehehehe...

 

[mypfizzle]

i could sue.. i donno why the beat me ossifer.. i was doin 130 thru a residentail.. LoL