Cop gives seatbelt ticket for speeding?

[sketchers356]

So my wife was pulled over for speeding. The cop said she was doing 70 in a 55 and decided to 'be nice' and give her a ticket for not having a seat belt on. However, she was wearing her seat belt as she normally does. I understand that a seat belt ticket is cheaper than a speeding ticket, but my wife feels like it is dishonest to plead guilty to a seat belt ticket since she wasnt doing that. I feel pissed that the law works this way. How is this legal?

[Rick Lee]

Well, would you go to court and call the cop a perjurer if he had clocked you at 85mph in a 65 mph zone and written you for 74mph? I think it's a valid argument, as it's a case of an agent of the state lying in order to get you to pay. But we all know courts are corrupt and traffic enforcement exists for the purpose of raising money and little else. Basically, traffic cops are like the highway men of old England. It's just that nowadays we're allowed to pay by credit card a few weeks later rather than by cash on the spot. It's an imperfect world and I'd feel more protected paying the mafia, but that's what you gotta pay to keep out of jail.

[Zeke]

If the cop was feeling charitable he could have written a warning.

[Dueller]

Also, its a non-moving violation that should not be reported to your insurance,

way of the world.

[island911]

Police play politics. (surprise)

No doubt some(political)person somewhere wanted the police to write more tickets for seatbelts . .. likely to justify some big pet expenditure.

[krystar]

it's because of politics and budget.

seat belt tickets pay to local gov. speeding tickets pay to the state.

[island911]

there ya go! (sounds right)

Of course ticketing is actually all about safety.

[Jeff Higgins]

I already told you guys about my speeding ticket that was reduced to a seatbelt violation in court. I was on my Ducati.

[sketchers356]

I understand reducing it to a seat belt ticket in court, but what is the cop going to say if we challenge our seat belt ticket?

[BeyGon]

I would be happy with it.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I already told you guys about my speeding ticket that was reduced to a seatbelt violation in court. I was on my Ducati.

Hey, we have a seatbelt law but no helmet law. Go figure it out.

[masraum]

Hell, here in Texas, you can get a ticket for not wearing your seat belt in the back seat.

I think someone here once told a story about a guy that had his dog with him and got a ticket for no seat belt on the dog. Guy went to court, the judge was going to uphold the seatbelt ticket, so the guy said "ok, that must mean that I can get on the HOV lane if the dog is in the car too then, right?" Supposedly, the judge then threw out the seatbelt ticket.

[stomachmonkey]

You got a lower monetary fine with no points that won't raise your insurance rates.

I don't understand the problem unless she is claiming that she was not speeding to begin with.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by sketchers356

I understand reducing it to a seat belt ticket in court, but what is the cop going to say if we challenge our seat belt ticket?

And admit to the Judge that she was actually speeding?

Pay the seatbelt, move on.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

You got a lower monetary fine with no points that won't raise your insurance rates.

I don't understand the problem unless she is claiming that she was not speeding to begin with.

You don't have a problem with a cop ignoring a real infraction and committing perjury to increase the likelihood of payment so his locality gets more money than had he written up the real infraction? Say it ain't so.

[island911]

the anatomy of a shakedown.... :-/ ..some are so well trained they just don't see it, and move along happily. --shaken, not stirred.

[sketchers356]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

You don't have a problem with a cop ignoring a real infraction and committing perjury to increase the likelihood of payment so his locality gets more money than had he written up the real infraction? Say it ain't so.

Exactly my whole problem.

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

You don't have a problem with a cop ignoring a real infraction and committing perjury to increase the likelihood of payment so his locality gets more money than had he written up the real infraction? Say it ain't so.

Get a grip, Rick.

Best,
Tom

[island911]

let me say it again. ...w/ a small edit

Originally Posted by island911

the anatomy of a shakedown.... :-/ ..some are so well trained they just don't see it, and move along happily. --shaken(down), not stirred.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

You don't have a problem with a cop ignoring a real infraction and committing perjury to increase the likelihood of payment so his locality gets more money than had he written up the real infraction? Say it ain't so.

It's NY.

If I was knowingly speeding and got popped for doing 15 over the posted but got off with a seatbelt violation I'd buy the cop a drink.

Seatbelt is $40 plus $50 surcharge. Fixed fine. No points, no insurance premium hit.

1st offense speeding 11-30 over posted is a minimum $90 plus the surcharge. Max for the speeding portion is discretionary up to $300. Oh yeah, it can also get you 15 days in the pokey.

Then if you get another speeder within an 18 month period the max can go as high as $450 and 30 days in the clink.

That's all up to the judges discretion.

Get a 3rd speeder in that 18 months and mandatory revocation of license for 30-60 days and insanely expensive.

Add in the insurance premium increase and I think she is doing just fine.