Ticket Vent

[BellaVerde]

I got it. I deserved it. I will pay the "fine". Not a whine, just a vent.

A beautiful NC evening and a sort of twisty road. Driving it at 5/10ths when a big, dark F150 got on my bumper. Just as I was pulling away(not hard to do) a Wake Deputy coming the other way clocked me(didn't I JUST pass another one about five miles back?)! I pulled over at the first wide spot and waited. Took it like a man(on the outside at least).
I did mention the BIG, DARK pickup. Deputy said he saw it, but clocked me.(radar aimed at a little Sol and a BIG, DARK pickup, so it must have been me...well it was, so let it go).

Now, why do I hire a lawyer? The SYSTEM! If any of you have read the Raleigh News and Observer the last few weeks, you are aware that few of the speeders caught in the state have to actually "do the time". It turns out that the laws have been written in such a way as to LOOK like the lawmakers hate speeders, but the real motive became clear in the series of articles about speeding. The lawmakers, no doubt influenced by the insurance companies and lawyers AND deciding to play both ends against the middle, also wrote loopholes in the laws so that those of us guilty of speeding can, if we contribute to the court system, can get off without license or insurance points! Can you believe it?

I have gone to court for a few tickets, pled guilty, and wondered about the looks the judge gave me. Their eyes seemed to be saying "What are you doing HERE?" Turns out, I am just a real slow learner.

In a system, where, if you do not kill somebody(Heaven forbid), you have to either pay the insurance companies and the courts, or the lawyers and the courts, it is cheaper to pay the lawyers and the courts!(wonder which lobbyists are handing out more contributions?)

So, sandwiching the citizens' wallets between the insurance companies and lawyers, it turns out they can get a lot of the funding for the court system without having to raise taxes(remember, the court fines are paid regardless). AND, all those scofflaw citizens will just go out and do it again, so the big wheel turns and more money gets generated for the courts and everyone gets paid.

What about the lesson I should learn? It is this. The roads are paid for by the public and are there for the safe conveyance of even the least capable of drivers. As a grown up adult, I should realize this and behave accordingly. If I choose not to, then there are penalties to be paid. But said penalties do NOT have to include loss of license and large insurance bills. Feed the lawyers and the courts and be grateful for the mercies of the SYSTEM. And remember, don't drive like my brother.

Thanks for the rant time. Its all better now. (Isn't it?)

[bradsol]

I was pulled one time, just like yourself...and learned the hard way too. The cop didn't see the danger of someone tailgating and speed to increase distance as a viable defense.

Next time call *HP and report the guy for tailgating (ie. unsafe following distance).
Then when you pull away, notify the dispatcher and when you pass the cop, the truck should get pulled over.

I've had to do this before, it works....but only if a HP or cop is close by. That way the real bad guy gets caught.

You'll get a ton of letters from lawyers. Anywhere from $500 down to $75. Shop around.

[jimbo]

A well written and worthwhile vent.

[turboman808]

Originally Posted by BellaVerde Feed the lawyers and the courts and be grateful for the mercies of the SYSTEM. And remember, don't drive like my brother.

Yep took me years to figure this out. Just no one ever told me how to play the game. YOU NEED TO HIRE A LAWYER!!!

Has nothing to do with right or wrong. It's all about playing the game and playing the system. The worst thing I ever did in my life was just plead guilty to a ticket. I lost my license for 2 months and paid all the fines they just made up along the way. Added up to more hassle and a bit more then if I just wrote a lawyer a check for $500 to take care of it.

[scootch]

Originally Posted by bradsol The cop didn't see the danger of someone tailgating and speed to increase distance as a viable defense.

On one of my few days while driving only 12 mph over the speed limit on the interstate, a semi decided to avoid the empty left lane to tailgate me. Slowly, very, very slowly I backed that SOB down to well below the speed limit, by now traffic was in all 3 lanes so he couldn't pass, so he spent awhile speeding up after I left him in the distance.
He was so close I'd say shooting his radiator would have been a fitting payback, but this is a public forum, so I won't...

Oh,, and the other tailgating stories I could tell! I really dislike those MF...

[GREY GHOST]

All I know is in a line of 7 cars speeding one backed off... cop pulled him over... when he asked why... cop says you stopped...

Had you not stopped the cop might have clocked the truck while trying to get you... just a though.

[jimbo]

I thought the curves and small size of the Solstice made it a very low radar signature. Does anybody remember an article or something posted here to that effect?

With talk of being nabbed by radar, I was just wondering if anybody remembers reading an article or a post about the Solstice having a radar signature like a motorcycle or such and that it gives a deceptive reading on police radar.

Just curious. If true and provable, it would be an interesting way to try to fight a ticket. I must have dreamed it because I can't find it anywhere.

[cooper1340s]

I am lucky, I guess. I have been stopped for speeding 3 times in the past 6 months. I was asked to please slow down and was sent on my way all 3 times. My Vietnam Veteran Purple Heart license plates and military base stickers are responsible. I was asked all three times where I was going in such a hurry. I told them that I was heading to work. Police asked if I worked at MacDill AFB and I told them yes. Asked what kind of work, told them am in charge of classified operations in the Iraq and Afghan theater. Police said thank you for my service and please slow down a little. Will have to watch my speed a little better.

[JewJenk]

two or more vehicles bunched together, that's a defense that you weren't the one speeding, that is unless the officer is using laser,

Tailgaters, I simply slow down until they get off my tail, have even come to a complete stop a couple of times. Had one tail me in my mustang, till I downshifted, then he attempted to pass me and give me the finger, that is until he realized that it was the Po, Po. Did not ticket, but gave him the word on realities of rear end crashes.

Now you want to talk about dumb tickets, my son in N.Y. was parking his vehcle, when an officer in an unmarked car uturned and asked for his license. He had no idea why he was stopped, the officer came back with a ticket for an obstructed windshield, (tree air freshener hanging fronm the mirror) Now that's petty.

[shenvalley]

Originally Posted by JewJenk Tailgaters, I simply slow down until they get off my tail

Originally Posted by scootch On one of my few days while driving only 12 mph over the speed limit on the interstate, a semi decided to avoid the empty left lane to tailgate me. Slowly, very, very slowly I backed that SOB down to well below the speed limit,

That's what I usually do also. Slow down VERY gradually, so I don't incite them into road rage. Usually, they'll pass or back off. Sometimes, though, they will be clueless, and will just slow down with you, or change lanes and ride in your blind spot. In those cases, I try to get away from them, but now, with our new punitive fines in VA, I'll have to be careful. It's too easy to get 20mph over the speed limit when everyone is running 15 over anyway.

[plausibledenial]

Originally Posted by GREY GHOST All I know is in a line of 7 cars speeding one backed off... cop pulled him over... when he asked why... cop says you stopped... Had you not stopped the cop might have clocked the truck while trying to get you... just a though.

For a counter-thought, the last time I really full out raced anyone, the two of us had been roaring down this highway for a good two miles, and as we came up over the hill (doing a speed that would have made my insurance rate cry) my radar detector went wild just as a cop pulled out of a hiding spot and lit the back of our vehicles up. I immediately started slowing down as quickly and safely as possible, while the other guy just took off.

Guess who got that ticket? ...Apparently a Dodge Ram can't outrun a police cruiser.

[druid-2]

Originally Posted by BellaVerde I got it. I deserved it. I will pay the "fine". Not a whine, just a vent. A beautiful NC evening and a sort of twisty road. Driving it at 5/10ths when a big, dark F150 got on my bumper. Just as I was pulling away(not hard to do) a Wake Deputy coming the other way clocked me(didn't I JUST pass another one about five miles back?)! I pulled over at the first wide spot and waited. Took it like a man(on the outside at least). I did mention the BIG, DARK pickup. Deputy said he saw it, but clocked me.(radar aimed at a little Sol and a BIG, DARK pickup, so it must have been me...well it was, so let it go). Now, why do I hire a lawyer? The SYSTEM! If any of you have read the Raleigh News and Observer the last few weeks, you are aware that few of the speeders caught in the state have to actually "do the time". It turns out that the laws have been written in such a way as to LOOK like the lawmakers hate speeders, but the real motive became clear in the series of articles about speeding. The lawmakers, no doubt influenced by the insurance companies and lawyers AND deciding to play both ends against the middle, also wrote loopholes in the laws so that those of us guilty of speeding can, if we contribute to the court system, can get off without license or insurance points! Can you believe it? I have gone to court for a few tickets, pled guilty, and wondered about the looks the judge gave me. Their eyes seemed to be saying "What are you doing HERE?" Turns out, I am just a real slow learner. In a system, where, if you do not kill somebody(Heaven forbid), you have to either pay the insurance companies and the courts, or the lawyers and the courts, it is cheaper to pay the lawyers and the courts!(wonder which lobbyists are handing out more contributions?) So, sandwiching the citizens' wallets between the insurance companies and lawyers, it turns out they can get a lot of the funding for the court system without having to raise taxes(remember, the court fines are paid regardless). AND, all those scofflaw citizens will just go out and do it again, so the big wheel turns and more money gets generated for the courts and everyone gets paid. What about the lesson I should learn? It is this. The roads are paid for by the public and are there for the safe conveyance of even the least capable of drivers. As a grown up adult, I should realize this and behave accordingly. If I choose not to, then there are penalties to be paid. But said penalties do NOT have to include loss of license and large insurance bills. Feed the lawyers and the courts and be grateful for the mercies of the SYSTEM. And remember, don't drive like my brother. Thanks for the rant time. Its all better now. (Isn't it?)

I hate to quote the whole thing...but there are so many points buried here.

My story.....I have a perfectly clean record.....however I committed my own sin. I have told people approaching Charlotte to get in the right hand lane and go with the flow. Even if you are speeding you are in a pack. Well in May I decided to take the HOV lane from 15 miles out going south...and yes...before i knew it I came upon a ninja cop who busted me for 83. He wrote it down to 80 so I would not have to come back to charlotte from Ohio to appear in court. OK that's the story.

Now...in Ohio..you get lit up...you write the check and you are done. But no sooner than I get back from hilton Head I start getting lawyer letters from all over NC. I smell vultures- so I toss them all. My fine is $140.00 - with a clean record I pay it...I'm done. My own insurance company has told me they do not research driving records any more because it costs $6.-00 a pop and it adds up to too much money going out vs what the rate increase would be.

So now Bella is telling me (I think) that I should have contacted one of those shylocks- and not pled guilty (am I correct). But I end up paying way more than $140.00 to the lawyer-sharks

So - as unfamiliar as I am with NC justice......why do I need a lawyer to pay a $140.00 fine??

Enlighten me boys to southern justice.

[SmokinSolstice]

I plead guilty to a 15 over in my focus 4 years ago. It was because a driver was going 10 below I got pissed and passed right where a cop was. A week ago my insurance on m sol dropped in half! Ticket is off. Worse thing I did was plead guilty.