Speed Traps, Florida I-95.

AFJuvat · 01-21-2006, 01:40 PM

If you are in the area, be careful, they are out in force this weekend.

**grumble .......94 in a 70.......grumble**

In a related note, anybody have hints for fighting the ticket in court. He already has the wrong road on the ticket. Can I use this?

AFJ

singpilot · 01-21-2006, 02:09 PM

Depends if he shows up at the trial. Otherwise is up to the judge. Most of the smart ones will listen to only two words prior to you saying anything.

'Guilty' or 'Not Guilty'. The words 'with an explanation' are not in their vocabulary.

You say guilty, he'll listen to what you have to say prior to the money part. But you have to remember, everyone has a story. Everyone wuz robbed. You even know women that think Hillary's thighs aren't too thick. I mean, what planet are they from?

Long and the short of it, the officer wrote the wrong road or location? Isn't a judge out there that has not made a paper goof of some kind. The judge will likely feel sympathy for the officer.

The officer wrote the wrong date? OK, that's a goner. Wrong color or make of car? Maybe. Wrong plate, wrong name, maybe.

94 in a 70? The judge only has to say to you "How much over 70 were you really doing?" You are toast as soon as you say anything over 75. You say less than 75, he knows you are lying or under the influence.

The officer might have put in his written report that he was being gracious to you (knowing that he HAD TO ARREST you at 95). In some ways, the 94 is code to the judge that he gave you a break. In some states, you'd have been arrested and the car impounded at that speed.

I'd start looking into traffic schools, and get a haircut as well as a new suit for your appearance. If you are a gambling man, say 'Not Guilty', and hope the officer does not appear 3 months from now for trial. Gawd help you if he does.

Good Luck.

Dixie · Dixie's Garage

When I lived in Florida, I *always* found it beneficil to hire a lawyer. Don't bother showing up without one. And don't bother just mailing in the fine. The cost of the legal representation was much less than the increase in insurance premiums. Makes one wonder if the real goal is to raise revenue, and lubricate a few palms...

RoninLB · 01-21-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by singpilot

Everyone wuz robbed. You even know women that think Hillary's thighs aren't too thick. I mean, what planet are they from?

bell · bell's Garage

and how much IS the hillary speacial going to cost?

singpilot · 01-21-2006, 09:18 PM

How much do you have?

bell · bell's Garage

my vote should take care of it........who really likes small breasts?

singpilot · 01-22-2006, 05:29 PM

You and me together voting against small breasts should take care of the Democrats' entire tally from AZ.

Jims5543 · 01-22-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AFJuvat
If you are in the area, be careful, they are out in force this weekend.

**grumble .......94 in a 70.......grumble**

In a related note, anybody have hints for fighting the ticket in court. He already has the wrong road on the ticket. Can I use this?

AFJ

Blasted through Viera at about 3:00 today and saw no police at all. We were cruising in the 85-95 range from NC to south Florida.

Its funny, I drove up to North Carolina on Friday and back today and only see police in Geogia and Florida running speed traps.

If you use a lawyer you should be able to beat the ticket on the technicality.

Do NOT use a ticket clinic. Get a real lawyer. Good luck!

legion · 01-23-2006, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by singpilot
I'd start looking into traffic schools, and get a haircut as well as a new suit for your appearance. If you are a gambling man, say 'Not Guilty', and hope the officer does not appear 3 months from now for trial. Gawd help you if he does.

My experiences in McLean and Champaign counties (Central IL):

I've never gotten a traffic ticket that didn't contain some kind of mistake. I've also never gotten a judge that thought any kind of mistake was enough to throw out the ticket. Their basic philosophy seemed to be that the officer handed me the ticket and the clerk had my license, so I must have been doing the crime...

I always showed up for traffic court in a suit. Without exception, in the two counties listed above, the judge would throw out tickets for people dressed in holey jeans and stained t-shirts, and uphold tickets for people in suits, polo shirts & Dockers, etc... I guess they figure one group can afford the tickets and one can't. (I wonder what those judges political leanings were...) It didn't matter that the guy in the suit had clear evidence that the situation didn't occur as the officer described, and the guy in the holey jeans whole argument consisted of "I can't afford a ticket".

I've never had an officer not show up for a court appearance. In this area, traffic court dates and times are set up by working with the officer. The time is purposefully convienent for the officers, not you. Also, showing up for court is part of their job. I know that around here failing to show up for a court appearance without a very good reason will get the officer in trouble.

My best advice is to hire a real lawyer. The judges know who the ticket clinics are and generally don't like them.

wcc · 01-23-2006, 10:01 AM

When I lived in Va I had a speeding ticket thrown out on a technicality. The officer wrote down my birth date wrong. To make a long story short, the ticket was sent to juvenile court. Since the officer didn't show up it was thrown out. I smiled all the way through that one.

I beat another speeding ticket because I had a friend of mine with me and I guess our words were better than 1 policeman's words.

I didn't get a lawyer for either one, but I think I was lucky.

singpilot · 10:23 AM

I recently appeared on a speeding ticket by closed circuit TV. Security concerns, apparently. Judge took a look at my ticket. 85 in a 65 at 11pm on one of the 6 lane wide sections of the 405 in Santa Monica. He asked how fast I was going. I said I was one of the slowest people that night in the third lane. Yes, I was probably doing 85.

The judge laughed. He said he was on that same freeway at about that same time. In about the same lane. He said he was doing 85 and was being passed on the right by many cars doing much faster than he was too. He said he would have words with the female officer who wrote me up. He said she doesn't like red Porsches.

Dismissed.

Because I was on TV, a close cropped head shot, he couldn't tell that I was wearing a hawaiian shirt and old jeans.