Pleading down a speeding ticket

[masraum]

I'm not in the habit of running out of gas, but wow, MA has some "issues".

[Steve Carlton]

Make sure it’s not illegal to hire an attorney.

[bugstrider]

….

[Baz]

And people say Florida is oppressive............

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Found not responsible! My attorney was great, we were the first on the docket, prosecutor read the notes, my attorney described the situation, magistrate nodded to the attorney's story and said we find you not responsible.

Elated. Mostly because I haven't had a ticket in 11 years. If this had gone through, and I was stopped again for any reason, I'd be a criminal in the law's eyes.

Thanks for all the support and help!

[flatbutt]

Excellent!

[rfuerst911sc]

Sweet !

[Baz]

Congrats, Shaun......what a happy ending!

[Helix8]

That is great news. Congratulations!

[Jeff Higgins]

Most excellent.

[Baz]

I'll also add......that cop shouldn't have even issued that citation in the first place.

All the crappy drivers that go without hindrance every day.....and then they give YOU a ticket?

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Found not responsible! My attorney was great, we were the first on the docket, prosecutor read the notes, my attorney described the situation, magistrate nodded to the attorney's story and said we find you not responsible.

Elated. Mostly because I haven't had a ticket in 11 years. If this had gone through, and I was stopped again for any reason, I'd be a criminal in the law's eyes.

Thanks for all the support and help!

It sounds like you were doing 44 mph in a 30 mph zone, which could have easily been a 44 mph zone? But it was early and desolate. Do you think the magistrate sympathized with the speed trappy nature of the situation, or it was "professional courtesy" to help a fellow attorney justify his fee?

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Baz

I'll also add......that cop shouldn't have even issued that citation in the first place.

All the crappy drivers that go without hindrance every day.....and then they give YOU a ticket?

Here in Washington one of their favorite tricks is to set up speed traps on our freeways very early on weekend mornings. Saturday and Sunday, when even our normally congested freeways are almost completely devoid of traffic. Wide open, flowing freeways of three or four or more lanes, with no traffic on them. So, of course, drivers feel safe exceeding our 60 mph limit. These freeways were built for 70 mph traffic in the '50's and '60's. 60 years later, in far safer, far more capable cars, everyone feels safe going a bit faster, and many take the opportunity to do so on these vacant roads. And they get nailed for it. Ca-ching, ca-ching. Yet the crappy drivers, tailgating, weaving, cutting people off when the freeways have a bit more traffic on them carry on unabated. The enforcement targets what pays, not what is dangerous.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thank you gentlemen, it was definitely a good day.

My attorney played up the 30 to 40 zones and that it's a big road. And that it was early. And that I'm a business owner out on business. it was definitively not a professional courtesy. Here are the factors I think went into a very quick, like instantaneous ruling after my attorney finished:

Attorney was poised, professional, knew the story he wanted to tell and told it earnestly and well (we had a 30+ minute phone call last night). Part of his story is I have a horrible driving record from 16 to 30 and then a good driving record with a few infractions here and there. He brought up the bad driving record but I'm now a responsible business owner model citizen (he clearly doesn't know me for real).

The ticket was a BS ticket. I think everyone could have honestly agreed to that because of time of day, conditions, speed limit transition, etc.

Wore my nicest Brioni tie

Probably some other things but you can't dismiss how great it is having a good lawyer.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Baz

I'll also add......that cop shouldn't have even issued that citation in the first place.

All the crappy drivers that go without hindrance every day.....and then they give YOU a ticket?

Before I got an attorney, I was practicing something to say if I lost, something to the effect of "why are you pulling over people at 5:30 in the morning when you have to ask someone at Target to open a cabinet so you can buy toothpaste. Shouldn't you be focusing on real, actual crime?"

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Helix8

That is great news. Congratulations!

Thank you for the recommendation on the site! I was going through yelp to find a lawyer but OTR made the whole experience painless and positive, and he was a good attorney.