Probability of all this at once= 0.000001
 

Just needed to vent this one. Last week, I was given a speeding ticket for 83 in a 65. I normally drive 5-10 miles over the posted limit and have no problem paying the ticket if I'm caught; that's the risk.

In this particular instance, a vehicle in front of me cleared a large piece of truck tire retread and it was suddenly front and center. I knew I could not clear it in my 911. Here was the situation. I was in the left lane with cars behind me and others coming up quickly in the center lane. I assessed the situation, hit my turn signal (to help those behind me), dropped back to fourth and accelerated around the hazard.... right into the sights of a radar trap. At the same time all this was happening, my radar detector was full on but I was totally focused on driving.

I admitted to the officer I was speeding and deserved a ticket for 75, but he said two things that threw me for a loop. First, he admitted he had earlier seen the hazard in the road himself and knew I wan't just making it up. Second, he said I should have braked instead, and if someone would have rear ended me, they would have got the ticket, not me.

I'm very disappointed that the police would choose writing tickets knowing a road hazard was 200 yards around a curve from him, and even more shocked that he would have stated going on the brakes (and potentially causing a pileup) was a better choice than avoidance. The part that really bothers me is that in the same situation, I would do the same thing again. Most of the general public are aware of how fast a 911 accelerates but by the way they stay on our bumpers, they and obviously the police don't know how quickly these cars can decelerate. I paid the ticket early just to get this entire episode behind me.

From your account the officer is a fool. Cops are people too and, though well trained and capable in their duties, aren't always bright or articulate. I'm not cop bashing, I'm simply stating a fact regarding the human condition.

You did the safe thing. Try not get in that position again but if you do, do the same thing. Hopefully the next cop will appreciate your good, and rare, judgment.

Auto,

That sucks that you got a ticket from a probable "rookie" trying to work up his numbers. Any cop who admits that he left a road hazard in place has to be an idiot.

In any event, WHY WOULD YOU PAY THE TICKET EARLY?? I'm not sure what the procedure is in Kansas, but in most places, you have the opportunity to set the matter for a "hearing" or a "trial", and at that time, you can talk to the officer/trooper who issued the summons to you. Chances are, if you didn't give the guy or girl a hard time, they'll go ahead and reduce the ticket to something less serious.

Doesn't always mean that you'll get off cheaper, but usually ALWAYS means you'll get less points, which in turn means less or no insurance hike and less of a chance of a suspension down the road.

In NY, if you get 3 speeds ro 11 points in 18 months , goodbye priveleges (for at least 90 days), so if you can get the guys to amend the summons to a "no pointer" then you've got a lot more breathing room.

Sorry, I wanted to give my 2 cents. I represent people for tickets all the time, and it's a no brainer.

Tell the court to give you a trial date, which may take months (and waive the supporting deposition, it's only extra work for the cop).

regards,



:eek:

Two words, fight it!

If you would have caused an accident by slamming on your brakes, that cop would have been at fault. For he knew about the hazard, and did nothing about it. I think you have a strong case in court!

I wasn't there, so I certainly can't make any valid comments concerning your incident. I take cop bashing comments with a grain of salt because usually, people leave out some important facts of the story, to make their point more valid. In 40 years of driving, I have NEVER been issued a ticket that I didn't deserve. (that doesn't mean I was a happy camper, just that I deserved the tickets) Cops don't have to "go looking" for speeders. There are plenty of them on the roads for the cops to pick from. Most city cops, in my area of Northern Calif. don't pull people over unless they are going at least 7 mph over the posted speed limit. (this may not be a valid point, in the city you live in). The comment, by rscupper, about cops not "always" being bright or articulate holds true for some people in most professions. Half the posters on this BBS can't spell but that doesn't mean they aren't worthwhile humans. No one was complaining about cops, when the cops and firefighters where running back into the World Trade Center to haul out the bright and articulate. Autbonrun, I am not saying your facts aren't accurate, I just get tired of all the cop bashing. No wonder so many children don't respect the police, they hear their parents complaining all the time about unfair tickets, etc. Just my .02 cents, your mileage may differ :)


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No attempt to do any cop bashing here. I know too many officers on the force in other cities. I've talked to two and they both said I chose the right action. I'm also not denying guilt as I admitted to the officer that I deserved the ticket. My position was that it should have been reduced back to the speed I was traveling before I accelerated to avoid the obstacle. My other real problem was that he did not call someone in to remove the hazard. I did not expect him to do it personally since it would have been dangerous for him on a motorcycle; but if safety is a concern, he should have seen to it that it was removed.

Where I live, once a year you are allowed to pay twice the ticket amount and the moving violation gets reduced to a parking ticket. I chose this way out. I felt I might as well pay and get it over with; no need postponing the inevitable once I knew I was going to pay.

However, if I had been driving the speed limit and had to accelerate to avoid the obstacle, I definitely would have fought it. But since "kinda guilty" is not one of the three options the judge gives, in this case I chose to take my medicine.