Speeding ticket...need advice

[G Wiz Ranch]

My last ticket was for 65 (65 limit for cars) in a 55 (limit for towing vehicles) with a trailer. I scrutinized the citation and found a couple mistakes. I did a "trial by declaration" and pointed out the mistakes the officer made on the citation and proposed that the officer was not in a frame of mind to accurately determine my speed (he did not use radar and only followed me on the freeway for 700ft, the length of a the bridge I was on). I won and it was tossed out. I too use a radar detector in ALL my cars including my motorcycle. I am surrounded by LEO's, from the CHP, Sherriff, city PD, and Air Force Police, I cant go 5 miles without getting hit on radar. I have a 59 mile one way commute to work. The AF police will cite for 68 in a 65! I use the Escort brand 9500 detector in my truck and bike and the 8500 in my wife's car.

 

[ozark hen]

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I completely agree here. SCHOOL ZONE...any speeding is risking a child's life. We have all done it but that doesn't make it right, sorry.

 

[Paraclete 2]

Ouch!!! Your guilty by your own admission. You said you always drive thirty in that posted twenty-five, so I'd call it Karma comming back to even the score. As a retired deputy sheriff and pastor of a local church I have been accused of a lot of things, most officers work hard to be fair and remember you were in a school zone. You have children and how would you feel if someone ran over one of your precious children due to speeding and unable to stop? Case Closed. Paraclete 2

 

[FireTigeris]

Here they HAVE to give you a ticket in a manned construction zone or a school zone- there were too many problems before.

and its double points and fines... (the points can be waved)

They DON'T want people speeding through there.

There was ONE exception, my mother who was a teacher was heading to the hospital and compleatly missed the school zone- as she's never out of school yet during the school zone times.

The officer ticketed her but told her to schedule court as he was going to defend her.

He did, the ticket was thrown out entirely.

 

[mypicklebird]

yep- try hard not to speed on a regular basis, and quit it in the school zone. you admit you were speeding, just pay the fine. you can fight it on the principal of the difference between 30 and 36/37, but time is money, and I would rather just avoid going to court period. If you get off, it will be more on a technicality- not because you were innocent. honestly, how do you know you were going 30, other than that is what you think you usually go there? I got a ticket going 80 in a 60 zone, I felt like an idiot- had no excuse other than I was going down hill and wasn't paying attention & don' t like to break going down hill on a straight road. I sucked it up and paid the fine, nothing to fight. I had NO idea how fast I was going, and only looked down at the speedometer when I saw the cop going the other way.... who then turned around....


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[bluey]

Ugh...it's amazing with all the enablers on this site, that folks have decided to turn judgmental on you. Let's not forget folks, we're not all perfect.

I would suggest that you go fight the ticket, be as honest and cordial as possible with the officer and magistrate. They are simply doing their jobs. Do not mention the radar detector but ask how you were clocked. Do not waste time challenging their measure. Just plainly state your case that you had your eye on the speedometer through the zone and did not exceed 30 mph. Apologize for exceeding the limit and tell them that you are most concerned about points being assessed to your license.

Usually, if you handle the hearing with humility and tact, the magistrate will consider waiving the points (by dropping the speed in the citation) and this will lower the fine somewhat. I think that getting the points waived is the most important issue.

Good Luck!

 

[redstars]

Best way to beat a ticket in a school zone is to not get a ticket in a school zone.
Pay attention and slow down you would not feel so good if you squashed someones pride and joy.
It takes like 1 minute to go thru a school zone then you can bring it back up to flash speed.

 

[DarkUnicorn]

I am one of the lucky school bus drivers who have to deal with speeders in a school zone...

I won't judge you... Once or twice.. Hey it happens.... But please consider this a lesson...

Be glad I wasn't trying to pull out of that school... Empty only, I wouldn't do this with kids on the bus... I WOULD have slowed you down! I'd have pulled out. and just let my bus come back up to speed..... I've done it before...

Now on a a side note... IF you were doing 30 and he marked you for 36.... the speed limit is 25..... He wanted you over speed limit by more than 10 mph. Double check your states laws... I know here in NY that's a BIG difference in points!

If you are willing to take the heat for 5 mph over, that's a good thing......

But I can understand not wanting to take the heat for 11 mph over.

 

[redhen]

I would advise you to fight it. Not the speeding part..but the amount over the speed limit point.
If you wernt going 37..then dont agree to pay for it. THe right thing to do is to go to court and admit to the 30...then see what happens from there..
I also was busted for speeding ina school zone many years ago..i wasnt going as fast as the officer said i was..i fought it and got my ticket reduced. But still had to pay something..which was fair..

 

[mom'sfolly]

Crossing guard here.....

Slow the bleep down....

You habitually speed in a school zone and you're po-ed because you got caught???????

I see it every day when I act as crossing guard. People who don't think slowing down for children is more of a priority than speeding through an 1/8 of a mile school zone. So it takes an extra minute or two to get to your destination. If you go through the zone all the time, you know its there. Slow down, take your time, enjoy watching the children, and pay attention. The five seconds it saves you could be the difference between hitting the child who steps off the curb early and not hitting that child.

ARRHHHHH!!!!!

I'm off to play in traffic, dodging all the moms who think getting their kid to school on time is more important than getting other children to school safely.

Sorry, you just hit one of my triggers today.