| Author | Message | ||
     Vaneo1 |
So...My wife and I decided to take a nice loong sunday ride. We went up Pacific Coast Highway and continued North on the 101FWY. We exited on the 126 toward Santa Clarita and were going for quite a while. Anyway we where doing about 80 in a 60 zone and were still getting passed up by cars and trucks. I never saw the CHP behind me until he turned on his sirens and lights (gotta love Buells mirrors, cant see much unless you make it obvious). I pulled over and got searched because I told the officer that I have to go into my pocket to get my license and registration. He said I was doing 85 but when asked I replied 80. He awarded me a ticket of doing 80 in a 60 zone. Im gonna take this to court, not necessarilt to fight it but to at least let the judge know that I being on a bike was keeping up with the flow of traffic and cars were still passing me. The officers whole peeve seemed to be about me having a passenger on the bike. Any suggestions for the big day at court? | ||
| Voltage_vector |
Pay and leave...you never win in court. You'll only make em mad. Get better mirrors. Sorry, but that is the way of things...you really don't want that stuff getting back to your CO in the CG. IMHO as ex military from Ft Ord. | ||
| Jlnance |
Any suggestions for the big day at court? Not sure how things work in California, but if it happened in NC my advice would be "get a lawyer." A lawyer may not be able to get you out of a ticket, but they can probably get you a lesser ticket. They know the system a lot better than you do. | ||
| Kdan |
If you could rotate the earth backwards, reverse time and slow down...That'd be good. Otherwise, plead for a lesser penalty and cross your fingers. I told the prosecutor on my last one that I was really sorry, this wasn't something I do and I haven't had a ticket in 12 years. I smiled real pretty like and dressed up too. They reduced it to $60 and only 11 over the speed limit. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I always fight tickets. It's always worth a shot. Take pictures of the "crime scene". Admit that you "might have" been going faster than the speed limit but say that people were passing you too fast to be safe. Don't admit guilt but offer doubt as to the speed. DON'T say that you didn't know the speed limit. | ||
| Ezblast |
You want to win - for first offence this usually works per BARF - ask for a court date and cancell/ask for court date extensions - twice - by court date cop may cancel thus you win - in the mean time it gives you time to prepare your case incase he does show - just worked for me! Good luck! GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Vaneo1 |
Maybe I screwed up already. When the cop asked how fast do I think I was going I said 80? I guess he thought he was doing me a favor by putting 80 on the ticket when he insisted I was going 85. I guess Im just pissed that he seemed to be looking down on me during the stop. Anyway here is my alaby...Im going to tell the judge that this is the first time Ive ever rode highway 126, and I wasnt aware of the speed limit until I got pulled over and was informed of it. Second I noticed that this highway moves FAST I was pacing off of traffic and that didnt seem to be enough since we where still getting passed up. I shouldve taken PCH to get back home. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
Not sure how things work in California, but if it happened in NC my advice would be "get a lawyer." HAHA, I do know how things work in NC. A year ago I was pulled over by a state trooper for doing 80 in my truck on the freeway. I received letters from all kinds of lawyers. I was on my way back to Cali fulfilling some military travel orders. I am definitely requesting traffic school to get this ticket wiped off of my record so my point count remains at 1. Anyway, this must sound pretty bad to everyone on here but Im not a bad driver/ speeder. I really do pace with traffic. I notice on freeways I stay around 70 since traffic usually stays at 70 and its a 65 limit out here. Today was one of those middle of nowhere looking places with orange fields all around and traffic was just moving QUICK.  } | ||
| Josh_ |
>Ive ever rode highway 126, and I wasnt aware of the speed limit until I got pulled over and was informed of it. The judge will not be amused that you assume you can do 80MPH on any road you have not been on before. You cannot win this case. Get a lawyer to plead you out/down to a very expensive non-moving-violation ticket. | ||
| Captainkirk |
Geez, I wish I could feel sorry for ya, but it's 30 degrees out and raining and my bike's been under a tarp since November...  Seriously, though, go with the extensions as previously mentioned. You probably cooked your own goose by admitting you were doing 80...sounds like the CHP was "fishing" (giving you a fictitious speed to get you to admit how fast you WERE going) but it's worth a shot, anyway. | ||
| Swampy |
I have a friend that wins in court all the time. He goes on the principle that a court summons(Ticket) is a contract between the court(city, state, or what ever juristiction)and you. You inform the court you do not wish to be a party to the contract and it leaves the court with no options, because they were counting on you of either pleading guilty, not guilty or no contest. The court WILL NOT let you plead Innocent. Ever wonder why you can't walk into a court and say you have a constitutional right to do what ever it is you were doing? Its not quite that simple but I have seen him do it many times before. I can share his email or phone number if anyone is interested. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
Swampy, I dont follow. Can you please expalin more, youve got my interest in the sense that I am more curious about how your friend does this rather than my ticket situation... | ||
| Ghostrider |
Look at it this way: If you take it to court, you have a 50-50 chance of getting it dismissed. If the cop shows up, just tell the judge, "Yeah, I did it. No Excuse, Sir. Can I please have driving school?" and let it go, pay the fines or whatever. But, if the cop no-shows, you can get it dismissed. Also, if the cop shows, you make the city/county/state or whoever pay the costs of the cop's overtime, etc. Makes having taken your own time to go there a little more satisfying...to me at least. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
You all have the weirdest systems for tickets. Over here the cop has to have a witness, usually his partner, & a reliable method of speed observation, usually laser or radar, but also elapsed time point to point can be used, all these systems must have regular calibration checks; & the penalties are fixed on a national basis. Basically if his equipment has been checked & he's got a partner, you're nicked! if not you can wriggle, but be prepared to keep a low profile as they'll be looking out for you. | ||
| Skyguy |
Ok guys, It is late but I saw this post and have to reply as I have had a ton of experience in traffic courts over the years. First a 20mph over ticket is two points in California. It will also destroy any good driver discounts you may be currently getting from your insurance company. It is EXPENSIVE! Also, three points in one year and you can lose your license....... Fight the ticket every time if you have not had traffic school in the last 18 months. Maximum extentions before going to court. Preferably at the last possible second each time. Hope and pray the officer does not show... If the officer does show do not assume the officer will tell the story as it happened. I have see more than one officer lie in traffic court. Here is my top secret stratagy for getting a ticket reduced in court. Do not engage the officer in any way. nothing you can say will sway the judges belief in his officer. Instead even before the officer can state his side of the case say "Your honor I would like to apologize for wasteing this courts time today. I scheduled this hearing before I realized that I was speeding. You see, I was so sure that I could not have been speeding and that if I was it was only because my speedometer was wrong that I took my motorcycle down to the speedo shop and had it calibrated. There was nothing wrong with it at all. These new bikes are so smooth that I just did not notice. I try not to ride like a jerk and decided that if I did not notice that maybe I needed additional training. It is at this time you present the judge a reciept from a speedo shop and your recent enrollment or graduation from a MSF riding course. The judge will be pleased on many levels. You did not waste his time, you did not question his officers integrity, you were humbled by the experience and sought training. On all counts you will have done about the best you are going to do. Oh and right after he has looked at the documents you have given him he will ask for your plea. It is at this time you say Guilty and ask the judge if there is any chance for a reduction to a one point ticket. Tell him your insurance company is going to eat you for lunch and in light of all the money your spent on that MSF course..........It's going to be a serious financial burden over the next three years. Trust me when I say that a speedo calibration, an MSF course and a DMV printout are going o be way cheaper than a 20+ ticket..... BTW if you had not had a ticket in awhile bring a copy of your DMV printout and give it to him with the speedo and MSF course cert. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
Had a talk with my criminal justice prof. today who is an ex-cop in CA. I explained to him that I planned on enrolling myself in the MSF course and going to the HD/B to get my speedo "calibrated" that way Ive got receipts to show the judge come "judgement day". I let him know that I was going to ask for the courts leniancy (sp?) and show the judge what I have have done on my part to improve myself. My prof. said I would be wasting my time and money if I did that. He recommended I just pay the fine request traffic school and be done with it. I also asked about going the route of extensions and hoping the officer doesnt show. He said you can only extend once and if the officer shows and you are found guilty then your right to go to traffic school is waived. | ||
| Josh_ |
The thing to remember here is every jurisdiction, officer and judge is different. I know a guy who got a simple ticket for 60-over. A friend of mine spent a night in jail+$1000 for 30 over (right after leaving my house). What is a sure-fire win in one place will lose you in another. Don't ride faster on the street than a lawyer can get you out of. Don't ride faster than the max fine level you can afford. Keep an eye on local laws and use them to your advantage. Be nice to the officer, even if he's a jerk. Readily admit you're an idiot but don't admit your speed. Ask the local DA/prosecutor for advice in finding a lawyer (true story - I got a ticket last summer in Kansas. The only 2 lawyers the local prosecutor would deal with were his two golfing buddies. Ok, I don't know they were his golfing buddies, but I had 2 different non-local lawyers check - both said the prosecutor would only deal with two local lawyers) (Message edited by josh_ on January 30, 2006) | ||
| Typeone |
I've always heard that saying you were just 'keeping up with traffic' is a big no-no and that it won't get you anywhere. I go to court whether guilty or not, and i had my fair share last season. One i was guilty of I used the 'i didn't know this road, didn't see speed posted' bit... judge chopped $100 off which was great. still got points against my license though (MA), which blows. two other times pled to the magistrate that i KNEW the road and how much it was patrolled, stated there was no way i was speeding. she dropped it... part two of that incident (cop was a nut case, went house on me) i needed to be there with the officer... he never showed. part 2 dropped. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Go to court,after exhausting your extensions."I don't recall ever saying what speed I was going".Tell judge you could not have been speeding as you were doing the same speed as all the other cars that were obviously doing the speed limit---they got no tickets. My son has gotten 2 tickets recently for absolute BS things--once he was pulled over while driving my stock Toyota pickup with the stock stereo for too loud music,and then the officer stated to him that he was unsure if it was James or the car in front of him.After searching the car for the amps and subs that MUST have been there(not) he ticketed him anyway.Both times they never showed.Good thing as we had specs on stereo and witness all ready. | ||
| Cruisin |
Three points in a year gets your license yanked? That sucks. In VT it takes 10 points and you lose it for 10 days... My wife was busted for 85 in a 65. She contested it. She was talking with the officer outside the courtroom while they waited. The gun had been calibrated 20 days prior, she's certified, etc. The officer asked what she was hoping to achieve out of the court date. My wife just explained that she understood she needed to pay the penalty since she was speeding, but was hoping to get the points dropped so it wouldn't impact her insurance. She's got a clear record so far and was hoping to keep it that way. The officer agreed to change it to a faulty equipment ticket, same fine, no points. I never mind paying the price of the ticket, it's the points that hurt the most. We don't get the option of going to traffic school. | ||
| Spike |
That part you'll just have to get over, it's part of dealing with LEOs. "You dirty civilian . . . how dare you operate a motor vehicle during MY shift" I've found it's best to take the submissive approach. Do not speak unless spoken to, answer questions with as few words as possible, show no signs of discontent. Remember, when you see blue lights you are guilty and should act accordingly. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
I am going to go to court in my CG uniform and just plead guilty..hopefully the judge asks a couple of Q's to open it up for me to give a couple of "Im sorry can you please go leniant" words. Otherwise traffic school to get the point wiped off my record, and no unnecessary riding for the nex couple years. Good news to all of those anti-Buell-rice-rocket-guys... Buells do go fast enough to get speeding tickets!  | ||
| Vaneo1 |
BTW VT it takes 10 points?? Damn how mant points is a moving violation worth? | ||
| Swampy |
Vaneo1 I am trying to get my friend to log on here and explain what he does because he has it down real good! He rode one of my Blasts across the UP with me a couple of years ago so he like Buells. His email will be posted on my profile and you can contact him directly. | ||
| Cruisin |
Common tickets are 2-3 points. Doing 20 over on a local (town) road would get you 3 points, state road might only be 2 points. A really bad ticket might get you 5 points... | ||
| Toomanytoys |
In Wisconsin, you get 12 points, and it sounds like the violations in Vermont are about the same. 2-4 points for most violations... 5-6 for extreme violations, although the $ does not always reflect the points. I got a ticket for "unsafe lane deviation"... cutting someone off, and it was $94, but they sacked me with 4 points on my license. | ||
| Hacksaw |
Vaneo1 found this on Sacborg web site, don't know if it will work or not but the person that posted said it did. www.ticketassassin.com. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
looks like a good site. Im checking it out. Thanks for showing me this! ADAM | ||
| Captpete |
Or, you could just move to Guam where government inefficiency, ineptitude, and graft leave no money for enforcement officers or even paper to write the tickets on. The bad news is, it's an island and it gets pretty boring riding around in circles all day. Every month or so, what must be the entire force gathers together and sets up a road block to screen for drunk drivers. The good news is, they announce the time and place ahead of time, and the radio stations make sure the public is aware. It's a great system that works for everyone.  (Even the occasional pot bust, but by the time the court date arrives, the evidence has mysteriously gone up in smoke.) The governor of the last administration has been brought up on every imaginable charge by the DA since his last term. A few people have taken falls for him, but he has been consistently acquitted by juries of his peers. He’s running for office again, and his campaign slogan is, “Bring the Sunshine Back.” His supporters are rubbing their hands together in anticipation. It’s a hoot. | ||
| Vaneo1 |
haha someone I work with is from Guam. | ||
| Medic_2512 |
Pay the ticket and move on if you really were speeding. In NY they charge you a court fee which usually doubles the price of the ticket if your found guilty. Plus the Judge will review your record to see if you`ve gotten other tickets which can result in higher penalties. Just because people are passing you isn`t a defense that will hold up in court. Most likely the Dept told the cops to write more summons to Bikes to combat accident numbers. Besides most cops (including me) get paid overtime to go to court, so they rarely miss it. So i tell people to only fight the ticket if they think it wasn`t deserved. Otherwise you have to take time off from work and risk the chance of paying more money. | ||
| Cruisin |
Thankfully the court fee in VT is only $10. |
