In order to be old and wise, you first must be young and stupid.
I got caught today, being just that: stupid.
Driving on a three-lane highway, I got "clocked" doing 70 in a 40... I guess my non-working Speedometer didn't help, either.
It was a dual ticket: Speeding and Reckless Driving. (I guess the cop didn't like my burnout at a previous light... which was partial accident and partial manual error)
Ah, well, anyways. Court date is June 14th. I guess I'll have to wait on that Electric Fan and Radiator Upgrade I wanted!
TRUUBLE. You *MUST* stop being so funny. That almost caused some soda through the nose!
Young_Buck
Check your laws. Consider a lawyer. Yes its expensive, but its probably cheaper than the higher insurance rates for the next 40 thousand years.
I suggest you look at it from all possible angles, particularly if it really was an accidental burn-out and accidental speeding. (Going with the flow?) I am in no way whatsoever insinuating you should lie in court, or to the officer, of course. After all you never know if they have you on tape. And that would make for more, ahem, "fun." And of course I am no lawyer, so consider all that I say to be rubbish. :O
As an example of some possible angles:
If the speedometer just recently broke and if you can show them it has been fixed (and possibly calibrated) so you "Cant make that honest but stupid mistake again, Your Honor" - they might possibly drop the speeding charge altogether after some probation period like 6 months without a ticket. (Well, this would be a typical scenario here in VA anyway.)
Along the same lines, maybe your pedals were slippery/worn out and you were planning to replace them so that you cant accidentally slip your foot from the clutch again?Did you remember to have the car inspected again (if applicable) after replacing those pedals just to "have an extra set of eyes make sure everything was safe so this kind of thing can never happen again."
Or was that really your fan belt squealing and not your tires? Was the smoke the officer saw from the rear of the car because you need new rings or because of all the oil on the headers? Any rain or other things that could have played a part of the "spin the tires too easily" - such as that big puddle of oil at the light that you could take a picture of to show the judge?
In some cases you can argue that while your driving was not appropriate it was not "reckless" - IE, your actions did not place yourself or anyone else in any kind of danger. This can possibly get the charges reduced to "failure to maintain control" (foot slipped off clutch) or something similar.
Caution: Be very very careful in agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge - or any charge for that matter. In VA, and so I assume other states, they will try to talk you into pleading to a similar charge such as "Improper Driving" instead of "reckless." Sure, "Improper Driving" sounds better - but it can often carry the same exact penalty as the original reckless charge!
And that is why you *NEED* a lawyer.
(Did I mention no judge is going to listen to any b^ll without one?)
TRUUBLE. You *MUST* stop being so funny. That almost caused some soda through the nose!
Young_Buck
Check your laws. Consider a lawyer. Yes its expensive, but its probably cheaper than the higher insurance rates for the next 40 thousand years.
I suggest you look at it from all possible angles, particularly if it really was an accidental burn-out and accidental speeding. (Going with the flow?) I am in no way whatsoever insinuating you should lie in court, or to the officer, of course. After all you never know if they have you on tape. And that would make for more, ahem, "fun." And of course I am no lawyer, so consider all that I say to be rubbish. :O
As an example of some possible angles:
If the speedometer just recently broke and if you can show them it has been fixed (and possibly calibrated) so you "Cant make that honest but stupid mistake again, Your Honor" - they might possibly drop the speeding charge altogether after some probation period like 6 months without a ticket. (Well, this would be a typical scenario here in VA anyway.)
Along the same lines, maybe your pedals were slippery/worn out and you were planning to replace them so that you cant accidentally slip your foot from the clutch again?Did you remember to have the car inspected again (if applicable) after replacing those pedals just to "have an extra set of eyes make sure everything was safe so this kind of thing can never happen again."
Or was that really your fan belt squealing and not your tires? Was the smoke the officer saw from the rear of the car because you need new rings or because of all the oil on the headers? Any rain or other things that could have played a part of the "spin the tires too easily" - such as that big puddle of oil at the light that you could take a picture of to show the judge?
In some cases you can argue that while your driving was not appropriate it was not "reckless" - IE, your actions did not place yourself or anyone else in any kind of danger. This can possibly get the charges reduced to "failure to maintain control" (foot slipped off clutch) or something similar.
Caution: Be very very careful in agreeing to plead guilty to a lesser charge - or any charge for that matter. In VA, and so I assume other states, they will try to talk you into pleading to a similar charge such as "Improper Driving" instead of "reckless." Sure, "Improper Driving" sounds better - but it can often carry the same exact penalty as the original reckless charge!
And that is why you *NEED* a lawyer.
(Did I mention no judge is going to listen to any b^ll without one?)
Blade
Did I mention that I AM a lawyer?? My advice stands.
alright man, you came to the right place.
i just got finished with traffic court last week, got the points reduced from 4 (which is the highest violation possible in PA) to ZERO. and the fine nearly cut in half.
there are several tricks to getting out of a speeding ticket entirely, and there is actually a small book out about it, you should buy it, only like a dollar on amazon.
#1: FIGHT THE TICKET. if everyone would fight, the cops would have to spend so much time in court, that they would have to cut down on issuing tickets in the first place. also the fact that you took the time to show up shows that your atleast considering that mistakes were made. there is only one circumstance under which you should fight the ticket: if you are definately at fault and are only looking for a reduction. some states have an actually process seperate from traffic court for fine reduction. check on it, if not, then go to court.
#2: DO NOT GET A LAWYER. it is overkill. traffic court is less than 10 minutes long, and your fees will be outrageous. alot of judges will even view it as a bit pompous, and not cut you any breaks at all. you dont need a lawyer. chances are you're lying anyway.
#3: DELAY THE TRIAL!!!! under mandate of federal law, you are allowed at least three continuances of your trial. when you find out your trial date, call about 3 days ahead of time and ask for a continuance. the first trial date is scheduled for that particular officer. it will be a day when he has about 10 other violations to battle. reschedule and reschedule again as many times as you can, the more you delay, the more likely the officer wont be able to show up (NO TICKET). just tell them you are unable to get out of work, trust me they wont care that much.
#4: RESPECT. show some respect for the court room, even if its a backwater magistrate. dress nice (slacks and a nice shirt, maybe a tie if your feelin lucky) and act professional, it might help, and wont hurt you for one day.
do some research of your own on google. youll be suprised what you learn.
__________________
1965 Mustang Coupe Project: 1965 Mustang Inline 6 (For Now) Coupe, New Floors, New Quarters | Ford 9 Inch Rear, 11" Rear Disc Brakes, 3.50:1 Gears | Control Freak Front U/L Control Arms, Global West Adj. Strut Rods | KYB Gas-A-Justs, Grab-A-Trak 620 Coils & Mid-Eye 5-Leafs | Global West Tubular Subframe Connectors | Addco 1-1/8 Front Swaybar Kit
Did I mention that I AM a lawyer?? My advice stands.
lmao
Yes indeed. I've been issued 6 tickets and I've had a lawyer go to all my traffic court dates (lawyers in the family) and I've never paid a dime. You should look into deferred judication or something like that, basically you pay in advance and as long as you don't get another moving violation is six months it doesn't go on your record.
__________________
1995 GT 5.0
CAI, American Thunder Cat-back, Mac O/R H-pipe, 180* thermostat, Steeda Tri-Ax shifter, Steeda rear swaybar, Urethane bushings, MSD coil, King Cobra clutch & flywheel, GT40 Intake Manifold, ~1800 watt sound system
Guys, thank you so much for the advice. I'll make a couple responses here.
The squeeling was definately my tires... I left rubber on the road. (It's still there! YEAH!) It was the middle of the day and sunny, so the pavement was hot and crisp for great traction, no go there.
As far as the Speed-O goes, I was going to fix it Monday, but I'm going to a mechanic to get it stated that I didn't have it working the day of the ticket and if what you says is true, I'll go there after I fix it to prove that I will not let a careless mistake pass me by again.
I was in Duty Uniform, so I can argue that my foot was a bit heavier because of the boots I was wearing, maybe that can fly?
Reckless is the big one, I want that one reduced. I can handle speeding. All I did was change lanes (I was in the far left), passed on the right, went to the middle lane, and took off.
What I think I'm going to do is show up at my first court date (is delaying a good idea, really?) by myself in a suit and tie (yeah, I'll look good, and take pictures for you guys to see: Suit and Tie with a Black Stang... hawt) and see if I can't talk to the DA and the Prosecuter about a lesser charge.
definately. if you were EVER in the service, any branch, show up in uniform. whether you believe it or not, people respect those who defend our freedoms.
__________________
1965 Mustang Coupe Project: 1965 Mustang Inline 6 (For Now) Coupe, New Floors, New Quarters | Ford 9 Inch Rear, 11" Rear Disc Brakes, 3.50:1 Gears | Control Freak Front U/L Control Arms, Global West Adj. Strut Rods | KYB Gas-A-Justs, Grab-A-Trak 620 Coils & Mid-Eye 5-Leafs | Global West Tubular Subframe Connectors | Addco 1-1/8 Front Swaybar Kit
Now this thread shows a major flaw in our society today. Nobody ever wants to be held accountable for their actions. Every day you read about criminals in court, their lawyers say "It wasn't his fault, he had an abusive upbringing" or "it wasn't his fault, he was too drunk or high to realize that he was killing those people". And it permeates every level of ciminality.
Somebody who's driving 30 mph over the limit, doing burnouts on a public road, and weaving through traffic at high speed, is not only breaking the law, but flaunting it. But instead of being a man about it, taking your punishment, and learning form the experience, all we get is people giving advice on how to beat the rap.
New flash: Everyone is accountable for their own actions, if you are breaking the law, then you should know there is a chance you will be caught and punished.
Many times I see people driving as described here, and wish there was a cop around to pull them over.
Nothing against anyone here personally, it's just that this whole unaccountablity thing really burns my azz.
__________________
OFR - old fart racing
We're not the fastest car at the track but we might be having the most fun.
If you're not having fun, then you're taking this stuff too seriously!
mmb617 - You are right...but theres a point of being held accountable as compared to being screwed.
Clear cut burnout, sure you deserve the ticket. Speeding because your speedometer doesnt work, well, maybe not assuming it recently broke and isnt a 5 year old problem or something.
Many times I see people driving as described here, and wish there was a cop around to pull them over.
Me too, because I know if I did it I'd get pulled over. Laws were created to protect citizens and alot of times they're only upheld to make money. He knows what he did was wrong and he'll probably be more careful about it from now on, but if he can get out of paying exorbitent amounts of money to the state then more power to him.
__________________
1995 GT 5.0
CAI, American Thunder Cat-back, Mac O/R H-pipe, 180* thermostat, Steeda Tri-Ax shifter, Steeda rear swaybar, Urethane bushings, MSD coil, King Cobra clutch & flywheel, GT40 Intake Manifold, ~1800 watt sound system
Mustangs go fast? No way! 
