Karma, Irony, Speeding Ticket

by RichieRich 14 Replies latest jw friends

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  RichieRich

  Yesterday morning I was enjoying coffee with a few teachers when we started talking about the North Carolina laws that say that if you get a ticket while you're under 18, your license might be revoked. I was joking with them that in my business sedan (ford taurus), I can speed and no one seems to care.

  I spoke way too soon.

  Yesterday evening, I was leaving for work at about 5:20. I saw that I was coming up on a cop, so I did that thing where you hit the brakes, but try not to make it obvious that you just slowed down.

  Well, right as I was about to pass him, I saw his lights come on, and he quickly pulled out behind me, and pulled me over.

  Now I don't know about other areas of the country / world, but here in this area, when you get pulled over, the cop always takes a minute or two and runs your license plate through the system.

  Well, my father has a Concealed Carry Weapons permit. And my car is in my father's name. And when you run the plate through, apparently it tells them that you are a potential threat. So instead of just being asked for my license and registration, I had to get out of the car, and be patted down. By this time, the neighbors and the rest of the civilized world was out side, watching the show.

  Once I was determined not to be a threat, I presented the officer with my license and registration, and he informed me that I had been going 40 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. According to my spedometer, I was doing like 35, but I didn't want to argue. So then the officer goes and get back in his car, and writes me a ticket.

  So now I have to find some way to fight the ticket before my court date (november 17).

  Any suggestions?

  Oh- god news though- my nest post will make me an emperor!!
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  AlmostAtheist

  Nice avatar!

  FYI, your brake lights don't come one when you apply your parking brake. So if you can do it safely (remember it will only stop your rear wheels), you can slow down that way without advertising that you're doing it.

  No advice on fighting a ticket, good luck!

  Dave
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  carla

  Did you have the spedometer checked yet to see if it is accurate? Might reduce your ticket if it is off. If it's not off by much, well, good luck.
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  kid-A

  Having lived in the states and dealt with speeding tickets, there are a couple things to do:

  1) Try to delay the court date. The date that they assign you is the one that they KNOW the officer can attend. If you get the date changed, there is a better chance the cop wont show up and the ticket will automatically be thrown out (I assume this applies to your state as well?)

  2) If you want to go to the trouble, you can request the details about the radar gun the cop was using and find out from the manufacturer if there have been problems with this brand, with calibration, etc.

  3) Just showing up in court will usually reduce the number of points taken from your record, in fact, you can ask the judge if he can reduce or not take any points off if you raise some doubts that you were definitely not going 40 mph. The points are what the insurance company will use to screw you with an insurance increase, but most insurance companies, like Geico, will forgive the first ticket without increasing your rates.

  4) THere is an URBAN legend about this also and I have no idea if its true. Apparently, if you OVERPAY the amount of the fine, the state has to issue a refund to you. If you never cash that check, technically the file is never closed and the points dont go on your record...however, this is probably bunk.

  good luck
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  Legolas
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  Legolas

  
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  Legolas

  Thats for the new Emperor!
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  RichieRich

  LEt's keep this one close to the top because I really hope someone has some good advice / experiences that I can use.

  THANK YOU!!!

  PM me if you don't want to post your business, but don't mind me knowing
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  kwintestal

  Find out where the cop lives and slash his tires the morning of the court case. Slip some sugar into the gas tank while you're at it for extra mesure. I'm willing to bet he won't show up, plus the bonus is you'll feel a lot better for getting revenge on him for giving you the ticket in the first place.

  Kwin
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  Soledad

  1) Try to delay the court date. The date that they assign you is the one that they KNOW the officer can attend. If you get the date changed, there is a better chance the cop wont show up and the ticket will automatically be thrown out (I assume this applies to your state as well?)

  I've done this, and it works.