This past Sunday night, around Midnight, I was given a ticket for doing 78 in a 65. I am going to see the Judge this afternoon on the case and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Here are some interesting points. First, I don't think that I was going that fast. I don't think that my car can actually go that fast. Master Baiter has seen my ride and can attest to its POS status. Also, since I was driving in Indiana at the time I was trying to be diligent about not speeding. I recieved a warning about three months ago in the same general area and it is always on my mind when I go throught there. I havn't had a moving violation in about 13 years. My plan right now is to ask the judge for a suspended sentence and just pay the fine. But I was if anyone had any better idea's.
Can you take defensive driving so the ticket doesnt appear on your record? There is always the chance that the officer wont show up
Do the defensive driving, if it is available or you can ask if you can do any community service. Too bad that you don't know the cops like I do. I have been pulled over, at least 23 times (I have seriously lost count) and have only gotten 3 tickets. Although the one time I got pulled over by a trooper, I wasn't able to get out of that one. Getting out of tickets is one of my greatest talents!
I don't know if that is an option in Indiana. The fact that I'm not a resident may play a factor as well. When the officer gave me the citation he didn't return my license. They hold it as a bond for out of state offenders to guarentee you either pay the fine or show up for court.
Back home I'm all set. My cousin is a state trooper and I know several local judges through various connections. The thing that sucks is I havn't even been pulled over 13 years until I started working in Indiana. I think they are in a contest with Ohio for strictest speed enforcement.
Wear a tie. From what I've heard, it wreaks psychological havoc on authority figures. The judge may just go crazy and let you off.
I don't know about that. I mean, I was pulled 3 times on one road in one night in Ohio, yet the officers were kind enough not giving me one ticket, being out of state and all that. The last trooper who pulled me kind of gave that incredulous look after he contacted the radio, "Haven't you been pulled over twice before?" And I often drive 80-90 on the 65 limit turnpike. Now New Jersey cops on the other hand, they don't even want to talk to you, they will just give you the ticket, no matter how innocent you are. If you ant to explain? explain to the court. Those money sucking bastards.
I made the mistake of supporting the 100-Club for a couple of years. I think the cops try to prove that they won't let it effect them, so I get out of 0 tickets now.
I'm pretty sure that defensive driving is an option no matter what state you're in. You should consider postponing your court date multiple times in hopes that the officer doesn't show up.
I hate giving this away, but the cat's pretty much out of the bag. Do "Not Guilty: Trial by Jury" They will set your case for a couple of months from the arraignment, and they've been getting wise to this, so you will be in court all freakin'd day, and if you have more than one citation, they will split them up so you have to be there two days. During the course of that day, they will threaten you again and again that you want to plea and not go to trial. Don't plea!!!! They will have to drop the case because it is to expensive to summon a jury for a traffic ticket. Best sure fire way to get out of a ticket. Time consuming, though.
With the money I'd lose from working, I'd be better off either paying the ticket or taking defensive driving if I had the option.
UPDATE! I met with the Judge and he showed that the cop had all his stuff in order (The gun was tested that day, he was standing still, etc). I asked what my options were and he said I can either plead quilty,pay the fine, take the points and go to defensive driving, or request a jury trial. He also said that since I had a clean driving record he would drop the points and defensive driving if I didn't get a ticket for six months and plead quilty. The fine was only $180 so I took it. I would have lost twice that much just taking the time off work. Just a small town look for a little extra income. Blood sucking bastards
