I got a speeding ticket on 5 heading to ButtonWillow, Going with the flow of traffic and the Higway Patrol goes for the R. Tried to be friendly to the Officer and ask for a warning, stating that I was going with the flow of traffic and the Civic that I was following must have been going faster as he passed me up. He tells me that I was going a bit faster than everybody else thats why he got me. BS, He went after me cause he wanted to get the car with the big wing. I also ask if he could at least write down on the ticket that I wasnt going as fast as he says I was, . He gave me a 94 in a 70 zone.

Now, anybody know how I could get out of the speeding ticket(Radar) or at least reduced fine?
One problem is, I got pulled over near ButtonWillow and I live about 330 miles away, I dont really want to drive 330 miles to go to court to fight this one. Anybody know how "trial by declaration" works? Or am I wasting my time and I should just pay the fine and go to traffic school?

BTW, Any Idea on what the fine is for 24 over the limit? They did not send the courtesy notice with the fine yet.

 

24 over will be a nice big fine, that sucks. you can call the court in that jurisdiction and ask if you can plead via letter or fax or other written correspondence. I highly doubt they'll let you defend yourself without actually being there though... Just go and maybe your officer won't show up.

 

you are telling us that traffic was going 94 mph?

 

95, the civic passed him up and it was "also" going with the flow

 

Basically yes. I did not see my speedometer but the flow of traffic was and is that fast on 5. Hell some of the Semis pulling full loads are going probably 80 or more.

And the officer said I was going 94, It sure didnt feel like it and I dont think the officer would let me see his radar gun anyways. Like I said there were cars that were going the same speed and some even faster, The officer just picked the ITR over the Civic, Camry, P/U truck, SUV, and whatever car that was going in the same pact.


[Modified by ITR#132, 9:04 PM 3/15/2003]

 

I had the same thing happen to me while driving on I5 north heading to Thunderhill. Cars passing me like crazy, and I could barely hang with the semis, but he still wrote me up for 85 in a 70. Then he spent 15 minutes trying to recruit me to the Highway Patrol <u>after</u> he wrote me the speeding ticket.

I've gotten out of the last two moving violations that I was (wrongfully) issued by using the trial by declaration method. It seems that you are much better off at least attempting to get off than you are just paying the fine. You can always pay the fine and get traffic school later on if you aren't found not guilty through trial by declaration.

I'm guessing around $200. That's based on a ticket I got about three years ago for going 85 in a 55 (the fines are calculated at 15 mph intervals, so a stop for 24 over is the same as 30 over as far as $$ is concerned).

 

tractor trailers doing 80, and you doing 94 are two differnt things. I dont think ive ever seen a trucker doing 94mph though.

well if you honestly believe that you werent going 94, then make him bring the charts and paperwork to court. be careful though, if you go that route, he is likely not to drop the speed at all because you are making him do extra work. My friend got caught speeding on the Triboro bridge in NYC and requested the cop bring all the read outs to court, and the cop raped his *** and had crazy detailed info/charts/graphs etc, and didnt lower the ticket at all. its tough to beat the system.

anyway, yes I believe driving a yellow car, no matter what kind, you will be pulled over more than the same car in a different color. I have a PY R as well and have gotten pulled over "just because". sucks but thats the way it is.

 

http://www.ticketassassin.com

trial by declaration. they teach you your ****.

 

I'm not sure how the laws work in the states, but up here I'm pretty sure the cop has to show you the radar gun if you ask to see it. I know they have to get you twice (get you once, reset the gun and get you again).

I would fight the ticket, no matter what. I didn't fight any of the, uh...four speeding tickets I got and now my insurance is $6,875 per year (geez, that's painful just writing it).

The cop might not show, then your case get dismissed and you WIN!!!

 

Traffic flies once you get past LA on the 5, I've held about 100 just cruising up to NorCal, and that's common. I've heard of people cruising at 110-120.

Sucks that he picked you though

 

pay the fine and go to traffic school...i got tagged for 80 in a 45...complete BS...but the beauty of California is traffic school...your record gets wiped clean...just don't get another ticket right away...

btw is your ITR yellow? that could be why he picked you....

 

Yes, but their speed limit is 55

 

Tell me about it, going home we went as a group and they were averaging 100-105, I didnt want to get left behind or get another ticket: My eyes were wide awake checking mirrors and looking way ahead (We left buttonwillow at about 5pm, I left my house at 3:30am and drove all day!) Plus I tried to stay in the middle of the group, but kind of hard to do when everyone keeps going faster and faster.

 

if you've every driven on 5, 95 is considered normal.

i drove from bay area to san diego at average of 95-100 in an old corolla. and people were still passing me.