Just curious since I recently got a speeding ticket. I think I was doing 85 on a 65 (on a highway).

When the LEO asked why I was speeding, I had no excuse, just told the truth, ansie to get to my destination.

Thnx
Mondo

I'm trying to outrun that cloud of cyanide gas should work, if it's true.

Since you admitted the assumption implicit in the question, the answer is, "no". If you had not admitted to speeding at the time, you might have had a chance at trial, if the cop did something that prevented his being able to prove you were speeding beyond a reasonable doubt. You don't have to win, since you enjoy the presumption of innocence - you only have to "not lose". But since you were, in fact speeding, and were honest about it (a quality I applaud, btw) you're best off by going ahead and paying the ticket and doing better in the future. The best way to avoid traffic tickets is to obey the law.

quote:

just told the truth

I find that's the best policy. I've been stopped twice in the last three years and each time I got off with a warning. I was polite, owned up to my mistake and got a break. Being a clean cut, middle age guy with a clean driving record probably doesn't hurt either.

quote:

Originally posted by modiecast:

quote:

just told the truth

I find that's the best policy. I've been stopped twice in the last three years and each time I got off with a warning. I was polite, owned up to my mistake and got a break. Being a clean cut, middle age guy with a clean driving record probably doesn't hurt either.

I would flat out tell people, honesty is the best policy. 99 times out of 100 if you honestly told me what you did wrong, when I asked, "Do you know why I stopped you?" then you would get off with a verbal warning. I didn't get a commission for the tickets I wrote, so I tried to focus my efforts on assholes. If you told me the truth about your mistake, then you probably weren't an asshole and didn't need to be hassled. I prefered to use traffic enforcement as a vehicle which would lead to larger violations.

my brother has been pulled over 12 times... and got out of tickets all 12 times!

I, on the other hand, have been pulled over twice, and only managed to get the sentanced reduced at trial, never got off either.

1.) speeding 10 over the limit reduced *tech. got off, i had to donate the cost of the ticket to a charity of the court's choice
2.) Reckless driving 83 in a 55 (actual speed of 104 in a 55, but the cop was very nice and told me that because i was upfront, he would say i was doing 83 because "sometimes the radar guns can be finniky" i knew he was lying but i did appreciate it) but i went to court and got it plead down to just speeding 10 over the limit because i was honest with the judge that i was speeding, and the cop said in court that i was open and honest the hole time and didnt recommend the full sentance to be charged. (part of a plea bargain for the lower sentance)


i did learn after paying over a grand in lawyer fees to help my position, to not speed so much.

One of my good friend's father is a retired pilot for United. He got pulled for 15 over Manassas several years ago. The cop came up to the window and with a smile said- flying a little low tonight, huh? Hope you have a pilots license. He pulled out his license and handed it to him. He said it wiped the smile right of the cops face....... but he still got a ticket.

Claim "defective equipment" (speedometer or other). This can be plead onsite with the officer, or at the least reduced to defective equipment with the county court clerk if you still get a ticket. The defective equipment will still carry a small fine, but does not appear as a moving violation on your traffic record, and no points are assessed.

One of my buddies got clock at 50 over the speed limit and didn't get a ticket. He was driving his buddy to the hospital who had shot himself in the armpit. I think the technical term for that would be guilty with a good excuse.

I just told the officer the truth. I gotten more warnings then tickets. Sometime the officer is going to right the ticket no matter what you say something you get lucky if you polite. My guess would be if you a dick about it your never get out of one.

I rarely give citations, other than Failure To Maitain Financial Responsibility, Expired MVR and Expired MVI. The reason for those three? Because if, by law, I must have insurance, valid registration, and valid inspection, THEN SO SHALL YOU...or pay the price in fines! No excuse for that sh!t. Another thing is that I always give citations in motor vehicle accidents if I can prove one driver, or both, are at fault. But speeding? Nahh, rarely. Unless the driver blatently disregards the speed even after noticing me or tries to lie to me about it, or, and I've had a couple of these before, tell me, "Prove it!". I politely tell those drivers that we can prove all that in court and there's more info on the back of the citation on how they can either arrange to pay the citation or arrange to meet again in court. When they insist on seeing the radar unit sometimes I'll call another officer to come to the scene as I go to my unit and turn the handheld facing outward on the dashboard or let the driver see the dash-mounted unit through the window as it flashes the given speed, then I ask the driver, "Does this satisfy your request sir/ma'am?". But that is even more rare than my actual issuance of a speeding citation and an act of extreme courtesy on my part and BY NO MEANS required of us.

Honesty and not trying to "Pull the wool over my eyes" has gotten many a driver I have stopped off the hook.

So what's the moral of this? Tell the truth and don't lie when you know you are wrong.

I must be the exception to the rule. In 18 years of driving, I've been pulled over 7-8 times (usually for speeding), been totally honest and respectful every time, and gotten the ticket every time.

It depends on who's doing the writing. There are certainly some cops for whom no explanation will suffice. Take the constables around here, they pretty much serve process and write tickets. They even have a little PDA doohicky to scan your license and print out a citation.

A coworker was pulled over last week for speeding. The deputy constable was standing in the street and waived her into a parking lot. He wrote her a citation for speeding, and another for not signalling the turn.

Come to think of it, that is the 1st ticket I have had in a long time. THe couple of times I was pulled over, I was always honest and thought I was just lucky to get out of the ticket.

I guess honesty is the best policy.

Thnx again for all the insite
Mondo

I can not believe no one has said the obvious yet.........


.........BEEEES, oh my God they're stinging me!!!!

I drive rapidly everywhere, but haven't gotten pulled over in years. When I did get stopped often (when I was younger, dumber and faster), my strategy was based on the kind of officer pulling me over:

CHP or traffic detail cop: STFU. You aren't getting a warning from these people. Your best bet is to go use court trickery or a traffic lawyer. No amount of sweet talking or honesty is going to have sway with the kind of officers who basically vulture cash out or driver's pockets for a living.

City cops or sheriff: Be honest. Be very friendly. Tell them answers to questions before they even ask. For these guys, my impression that running traffic is a chore and they despise speeding tickets just as much as you do. Hell, half of them probably became cops (partially) because they like driving fast.

I was driving home one time and i had to take a wicked growler like you had never had before. Mexican food induced, it was not going to be pretty.

I was about two miles from home and driving fast as i was sweating and in pain.

I got pulled over and the officer walked up. I explained to him "Yes officer, i know i was speeding. I know you probably get this a lot, but i REALLY have to take a crap. If you are going to give me a ticket, please do it so i can hurry home, i live just down the road."

When the officer saw my sweaty face, he started to laugh and told me to go.

I took off obeying the speed limit, and he came after me down the road.

We got to a railroad crossing that the gates were down at and a train was on the tracks. I of course was not happy about this developement.

The officer walked up to my door as i was shifting into my "clench" posture with a grimace on my face and said "That's gotta suck huh?" while laughing at me.

Before i could come up with a clever retort the gates lifted and train was gone so i took off leaving him standing in the road.

I'm sure he got a kick out of it and i'm the butt of a few jokes at the sheriff's office.

Kevin

I have had no luck with excuses but the judge and/or DA might help if ask nice.
Dave

quote:

Originally posted by KevinCW:
I was driving home one time and i had to take a wicked growler like you had never had before. Mexican food induced, it was not going to be pretty.

I was about two miles from home and driving fast as i was sweating and in pain.

I got pulled over and the officer walked up. I explained to him "Yes officer, i know i was speeding. I know you probably get this a lot, but i REALLY have to take a crap. If you are going to give me a ticket, please do it so i can hurry home, i live just down the road."

When the officer saw my sweaty face, he started to laugh and told me to go.

I took off obeying the speed limit, and he came after me down the road.

We got to a railroad crossing that the gates were down at and a train was on the tracks. I of course was not happy about this developement.

The officer walked up to my door as i was shifting into my "clench" posture with a grimace on my face and said "That's gotta suck huh?" while laughing at me.

Before i could come up with a clever retort the gates lifted and train was gone so i took off leaving him standing in the road.

I'm sure he got a kick out of it and i'm the butt of a few jokes at the sheriff's office.

Kevin

That's some funny shit right there....

quote:

Originally posted by ZenDriver:
I drive rapidly everywhere, but haven't gotten pulled over in years. When I did get stopped often (when I was younger, dumber and faster), my strategy was based on the kind of officer pulling me over:

CHP or traffic detail cop: STFU. You aren't getting a warning from these people. Your best bet is to go use court trickery or a traffic lawyer. No amount of sweet talking or honesty is going to have sway with the kind of officers who basically vulture cash out or driver's pockets for a living.

City cops or sheriff: Be honest. Be very friendly. Tell them answers to questions before they even ask. For these guys, my impression that running traffic is a chore and they despise speeding tickets just as much as you do. Hell, half of them probably became cops (partially) because they like driving fast.

For once, you and I agree, well until you get to the vulture part. Please remember, they dont get any of the proceeds that your speeding just generated. They are just doing the job, being the "heavy", some take it more personal than others. Good post otherwise!