[Porsche-O-Phile]

Florida is a police state - at least it was when I used to live down there 20-or-so years ago. Maybe it's changed but I suspect not. Part of that is because for whatever reason Florida is a magnet for every criminal scumbag, drug addict and scam artist on the planet. It's also a poor state (aside from the touristy areas, creating a huge divide between rich and poor). It's similar to Arizona in that regard. That doesn't help.

But yes, I specifically recall Florida also being a magnet for every "boo-yah", "high-speed", jarhead, paramilitary a-hole cop on the planet. I had several run-ins during my time there and have never been a troublemaker or anything like that in my life. One more reason I don't miss living there and doubt I'd return.

My advice would be to go get a consult with a traffic law attorney. They should be willing to sit down with you for an hour to discuss the case you have and whether or not it's worth pursuing free of charge. If you go forward, they can discuss fee structure, etc. with you.

IIRC Florida does traffic school. I'd either pay the $110, do the traffic school (which will probably cost more than the ticket) or have a lawyer fight it in court. I dunno but it sounds like you (stupidly) forgot to update your address and although the cop was a prick and went on a fishing expedition, hell-bent on finding something to bust your balls over, you did give him something to nail you for. Lesson for next time. Keep your paperwork straight. I dunno (talk to an attorney) but I suspect if the case/ticket is about failing to update an address and you didn't, it'll be cut and dry and you'll lose. Remember every single person that goes to a traffic hearing thinks cops are jerks and frankly I bet the judges don't particularly care or want to hear another *****ing-session from an angry cited driver. I'd expect the judge to want to hear the specifics of the case and the facts, not your opinion of why the cop was a jerk. Attempts by you to derail the discussion and complain won't get you points and won't endear you to the judge. They have 50 other cases to hear that day and don't need some "spoiled punk kid in a Porsche" complaining that a cop was mean to him (right or wrong, that's how you'll probably be perceived).

Yes, it's about money. Get used to it. It doesn't get any better when you get older, you just tend to get a little smarter and learn to give the cops easier pickins' so they leave you alone. Kids stick out and are usually dumb and don't know how to react to intimidation tactics - easy prey. Cops I'm sure know this.

Go talk to a traffic lawyer and if you're that hurting for cash where you can't afford a hundred bucks or so, perhaps you should evaluate whether you ought to be driving at all. Seriously. What if a tire explodes on you? What are you going to do? Just leave the car on the side of the road for two months until you can fix it? Ain't gonna happen. Just something to ponder. Everyone's strapped these days but if you're THAT strapped perhaps you ought not be partaking in activities which can potentially get very expensive very quickly.