First speeding ticket in nearly 8 years.

[Kevinicus]

Was taking the wife to work this morning and I took the long way because we had a lot of snow and figured the highway would be the clearest roads. Got to a point where the speed limit changes from 55 to 65 and I accelerated and when I looked it was at 67 or 68 and I saw a car up ahead on the side of the road and to be cautious I let it back down to 65.

It was a cop from the sheriff's office and he pulled behind me. I wasn't even sure what he was doing for awhile because he had his lights on but for a long time was just going very slow way back behind me. I pulled over (despite someone in the right lane in a van who just kept trucking a long) and he pulled in behind me. He gave me a ticket for doing 70 in a 55.

This kind of pisses me off since it was at a point where the speed limit went up to 65 and I don't think I ever got as high as 70. The cost of the ticket is $108 which I guess isn't too bad, but I'm more worried about it impacting my insurance. I'm also contemplating going to court and hoping the guy won't show or that the judge will understand that I just accelerated for the speed change. I don't really want to do the lawyer thing since they cost too much. Any suggestions?

To make things worse, I went home via the route I normally take and it was perfectly clear. At least he didn't give me another ticket for no front license plate or tinted windows. That's 2 tickets now this month, one for the plate, and now one for speeding....both times the cop asked if it was a Charger. :bang2:

 

[Jon88]

You can go to court and contest it, but if you lose you have to pay the ticket and court costs.

I would contest it out of principle. The judge may reduce it to a seat belt ticket or something.

 

[ShiningStar]

contest it and go for radar, if not explain to the judge you werent going 70 due to weather, but you had make the speed limit. If there is no radar, most judges, as well as cops, shouldnt bother with 5 miles over. But if he has no radar hopefully you will win.

 

[Jon88]

contest it and go for radar, if not explain to the judge you werent going 70 due to weather, but you had make the speed limit. If there is no radar, most judges, as well as cops, shouldnt bother with 5 miles over. But if he has no radar hopefully you will win.

I don't understand about radar?

 

[WoodysGirl]

The funniest episode I had getting a speeding ticket was when I was driving to Austin one time.

There was lots of traffic, so you couldn't really speed. Then it opened up after awhile. This police officer had just blew past me. He was waaaay up ahead of me. He was so far ahead of me, I didn't see him at certain stretches. So I started driving faster too thinking the coast is clear.

Then all of a sudden, I see him. He'd slowed down. I slowed down, too. But he'd already clocked me. Next thing I know the cop pulls behind me and I got a ticket for speeding.

 

[Kevinicus]

You can go to court and contest it, but if you lose you have to pay the ticket and court costs.

I would contest it out of principle. The judge may reduce it to a seat belt ticket or something.

Court costs are included in the $108 amount, it's automatically included even if you mail it in.

 

[Jon88]

Court costs are included in the $108 amount, it's automatically included even if you mail it in.

Didn't know that. Well, you don't have anything to lose.

 

[Yeagermeister]

In Memphis if you go to court and plead guilty it doesn't hit your insurance.

 

[peplaw06]

Take defensive driving... the court will probably drop it and your insurance company will never know. You may even get a discount on your insurance.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

never got ticketed for speeding

 

[Signals]

Take defensive driving... the court will probably drop it and your insurance company will never know. You may even get a discount on your insurance.

Bingo!

 

[CATCH17]

I had the same thing happen to me about 2 weeks ago except mine went from 55 to 35 because it was a school zone.

I litterally saw the cop half a mile ahead of me. Made sure I was going slow.

I could have come to a complete stop before the guy ever even noticed me.

He said he clocked me at 50 and on my speedometer it said 37.

He had to of clock me before I ever got in the school zone and his actions are obviously pre-meditated so he wasn't paying much attention.

You would think these idiots would at least pay attention if they are going to go around stealing your money instead of solving real crime.

I don't have much respect for most cops now days because of what their job actually consists of.

Who wants to be the jerk handing out tickets?

On top of that the place where I work is inside that school zone so its not like I can just blow through it because I have to pull in to park.

 

[Jon88]

I had the same thing happen to me about 2 weeks ago except mine went from 55 to 35 because it was a school zone.

I litterally saw the cop half a mile ahead of me. Made sure I was going slow.

I could have come to a complete stop before the guy ever even noticed me.

He said he clocked me at 50 and on my speedometer it said 37.

He had to of clock me before I ever got in the school zone and his actions are obviously pre-meditated so he wasn't paying much attention.

You would think these idiots would at least pay attention if they are going to go around stealing your money instead of solving real crime.

I don't have much respect for most cops now days because of what their job actually consists of.

Who wants to be the jerk handing out tickets?

On top of that the place where I work is inside that school zone so its not like I can just blow through it because I have to pull in to park.

I would challenge that because it's going to be an expensive ticket.

 

[Jon88]

never got ticketed for speeding

Me neither. I have a radar detector. It's paid for itself about 10 times over.

 

[heavyg]

Me neither. I have a radar detector. It's paid for itself about 10 times over.

Unless you have a really high dollar detector most of the time when it sounds you have already been clocked. Unless the cop just wants to write a ticket he notices you slowing down and figures you got the point

 

[bbgun]

TNext thing I know the cop pulls behind me and I got a ticket for speeding.

Well how else was I supposed to get your phone number and address?

 

[Jon88]

Unless you have a really high dollar detector most of the time when it sounds you have already been clocked. Unless the cop just wants to write a ticket he notices you slowing down and figures you got the point

I don't think that's right. It picks up radar or laser waves that bounce from other cars.

 

[the kid 05]

at least you didn't get a ticket for not using your turn signal like i did :| 85 dollers not well spent. I did manage to receive a warning for having a smoked window and an expired drivers license though (thank god i wouldn' tlast in jail lol)

 

[theogt]

I once got a ticket going 80 in a 70. The only problem is that when the cop pulled behind me and turned his lights on, an 18-wheeler was literally passing me (must have been going at least 90). I asked the cop why he pulled me over instead of the 18-wheeler and his answer was, "you were the first to pull over so I gave you the ticket." Of course, I was in a sports car, so I'm sure that was the real answer.

I also once had a cop pull me over for going 50 in a 50. He thought it was a 40. I told him he was wrong and he replied, "You're probably right, I just have to pull so many people over in a day. Have a nice day sir." And drove off.

 

[the kid 05]

I once got a ticket going 80 in a 70. The only problem is that when the cop pulled behind me and turned his lights on, an 18-wheeler was literally passing me (must have been going at least 90). I asked the cop why he pulled me over instead of the 18-wheeler and his answer was, "you were the first to pull over so I gave you the ticket." Of course, I was in a sports car, so I'm sure that was the real answer.

I also once had a cop pull me over for going 50 in a 50. He thought it was a 40. I told him he was wrong and he replied, "You're probably right, I just have to pull so many people over in a day. Have a nice day sir." And drove off.

dont lie it was a 40