Well, I was profiled tonight.

I was at a light, and two other cars peeled out, turned, and took off. This caught the attention of a cop. I happened to be next to the one car, and never saw the cop. I drove down the road right at the speed limit for about a mile. Apparently the cop followed me for a while. I came up to another light that was red. So I left it in gear and slowed down (speed limit 40). I was down to about 25 and it turned green. I accelerated, but was still in fourth. The engine bogged, so I down shifted to second and took off. I got on it, but never redlined 2nd, so I was going about 55 - 60 in a 40. The cop lit me up.

He asked me if I knew the people aside of me that I was racing. I said I wasn't aware that I was racing, and I had no idea who they were. He disapeared to his car for like 10 mins. Came back, asked what kind of car it was, asked me how old I was, I answered 29. He asked me if I thought that was a bit too old to be racing. Again I said it was my opinion that I was not racing. Then he asked me what kind of car it was again. Odd.

Anyrate, he never asked to look under the hood, he never looked for me not having a front plate, being too low, modified exhaust, or any of the usual 'racer' type stuff.

So now I have a month to prepare a case to go to the judge (11/8). I admited to speeding to the officer, but never racing. Sigh. So I'm gonna delay the court date to between T-Giving, and X-Mas, and go try to plead down to speeding rather than a speed contest.

I'm pissed none the less. That's what I get for driving a birght red sports car.

Thanks for listening. I need a beer.

Here's my car just for $hits and Giggles.

 

That is ultimate BS. He was trying to trap you for so long and then hits you up for stuff like 15 mins ago you had no idea of, or could recall (saying you remember them will not help your case)

Good luck man, that sucks..

-Rage

 

Was he behind you? Did you cross in front of him? Before it's too late, call the dpt. and ask for his camera footage to use as evidence in your favor. This has helped me in the past. If they won't supply this, or won't bring a copy to court, then make sure you let the judge know that you specifically requested this because you know you were not racing and they wouldn't provide it. That should swing things in your favor.

 

I'm not sure If I can use the fact that he followed me for several miles, waiting for me to do something, in my favor. I've heard that there is some sort of law regarding the fact that a cop can't follow you for a certian time waiting for you to do something to incriminate yourself. I'm not sure on this one.

I have no idea where the cop was, so I'm sure, if he has video, he has it of me taking off from the stop light. But if he has it from earlier when the other cars were peeling out... Hmmmm.... I don't even know if my town has video.

Thanx for the ideas...

 

Some states, police are not allowed to follow someone more than a mile, but in your situation, and unfortunately for you there is no way you can prove it. The officer can always say that he was going somewhere in the same direction you were traveling. Kinda sucks

 

good luck bob!

yshi - who hates BS tix

 

I just got off the phone with a cop friend of mine here, and my town does not have video in their cars... No go on that front.

Cops are just to anxious to give out racing tickets when a simple speed ticket will do. For anyone driving an import sports car in this day and age (thank you FnF), I am firmly of the opinion that if your driving above the speed limit, you are racing...

 

get a lawyer! good luck.

 

I was considering looking into this. Cause this is a mistemeaner offence. I know it's a 2 point, it'll go to insurance, and is on for like 3 years... so some money for a lawyer might be very beneficial.

 

get a lawyer....i have never had a speeding ticket hold up in court...x-copper has saved me 3 times in the last 5 years...

 

I went before a judge for a similar offense.

A cop coming the opposite direction noticed me accelerating (not from a stop light) on the left hand side of a Grand Am. I was trying to pass him in order to make a right hand turn at the next intersection (almost a half mile away). He gave me a ticket for racing him (It was a riced out Grand Am with a large banner accross the windsheild).

In court the judge asked the officer why he thought I was racing the other guy. He said that both cars were side by side and acceleration/speeding. The judge said that just because 2 cars are one next to the other and are speeding/accelerating does not mean they are racing each other. He said that if I was speeding, he shoud have givien me a speeding tikt and not a racing tkt.

I belive that this was plausible because of the fact the 1) the police oficer did not see us at the light. 2) He was travelling in the opposite direction...

try anything, bro, and good luck.

 

speed contest is a misdemeanor.... you cant postpon those. i should know.. i'm fighting one right now.

 

i like the pic

 

Bummer dude... A cop tried to do that to me once also. Said i was racing out of a toll booth. I was like umm... first of all who the hell was I racing? Second it was raining and I'm not that ******* stupid to do that crap in the rain. Anyway he let me go with a "stearn" warning and a lecture on how presious life is

Craig - Who apprently has an invisible friend he races

 

Well, I'm more pissed this morning.

Of course, first thing at work, I'm not even in the parking lot yet, and a guy I know is like, 'Hey, was that you pulled over at the AM/PM last night?'

I never was stopped at the stop light, I was comming up to the stop light slowing in 4th. Prolly going 25 - 30 and then downshifted to 2nd and took off. So, there wasn't even any peeling out or anything. Speeding... yes. Racing... no.

 

Sorry to hear about that man. A speeding ticket was deserved, but none of that racing bull$hit.

Cops with nothing better to do

 

dude get ******* lawyer ASAP, they are worth EVERY penny.....the reason I still have an ITR & a license.

 

Yea. I'm gonna get a lawyer. I'm starting inquirys today. My friend works at a law firm, and is going to law school here. I have her looking around for good lawyers... Sigh.

In Cali, you basically are allowed 3 points for things get nasty on your liscence. Speeding is 1 point, but you can have it taken off by going to traffic school. Speed contest is a 2 pointer, and is stuck on your record for 3 years. Fortunately, my record is clean... Sigh.

Thanks for your support and ideas guys...

 

A 2 point ticket is 7 years on your record...there are only a few of them, DUI, 100+, and racing.

3 points in 12 months=6 month suspension

Bob...get yourself a lawyer, it's the only way I was able to get out of an unfortunate stuation.

Austin

 

ouch.....that sucks...

 

Do you have the school option with a fine? Or is this a court appearance he issued you? i have seen the bad things that can happen. Pay the stupid fine if possible.

After reading that it is not just a fine...hire a lawyer and plea bargain for best results.


[Modified by SOUNDEFFECTS, 5:25 PM 10/9/2002]

 

It's a mistemenour (sp) offense, and I have no choice but to go infront of the judge.

As the ticket is written, traffic school is not an option.

My hope is to plee bargan down to a speeding ticket, fine, and traffic school.

 

Does anyone know of a good resource to find Lawyers specalizing in traffic tickets in California? I have a couple options, including the phone book, but i"m looking for some experience here. Thanks!

 

**** dude.....if you get caught racing in canada you get 7 points...which is almost all of your points........then you can pretty much forget about driving a nice car due to insurance

 

My friend was in the same situation. He was crusing around...some people next to him were caught racing and he got the ticket. Same thing as you.

He went to court, did the entire lawyer thing..ended up getting only a speeding ticket..so there is hope. Just do all you can and you should be ok.