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Advice on a speeding ticket...
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:02 pm
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:02 pm
GSP popped me today coming back to the office from a funeral. Officer said I was doing 71 in a 35. I concede that I was speeding for sure, but I had the sun setting behind me and saw no signs saying 35.....nor could I have read them if they were there due to the glare. Was busy checking my GPS trying to find an approaching turn and was just moving with traffic. Had no idea I was running quite that fast.
The trick here is that my GPS was showing the speed limit where he stopped me as 55 and it's pretty dead-accurate. I took a picture of it with his lights in the rearview (and it's time stamped, of course to match the ticket time). I showed it to him and explained that I never saw a sign stating 35 and couldn't read any of the signs anyway from the sun. At that point, he wrote "polite" on the bottom of the ticket and pointed out to me that he wrote it. What does it mean? What should I do? The fine is $125 plus junk fees for 15-19 over (which is what I'd a been had the limit been 55), but it's a whopping $1,000 from what I can tell if it stands as 71 in a 35. Haven't had any points on my license in 5 years to boot.
The trick here is that my GPS was showing the speed limit where he stopped me as 55 and it's pretty dead-accurate. I took a picture of it with his lights in the rearview (and it's time stamped, of course to match the ticket time). I showed it to him and explained that I never saw a sign stating 35 and couldn't read any of the signs anyway from the sun. At that point, he wrote "polite" on the bottom of the ticket and pointed out to me that he wrote it. What does it mean? What should I do? The fine is $125 plus junk fees for 15-19 over (which is what I'd a been had the limit been 55), but it's a whopping $1,000 from what I can tell if it stands as 71 in a 35. Haven't had any points on my license in 5 years to boot.
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Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:03 pm to S1C EM
thats super speeder status
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:06 pm to S1C EM
where
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:07 pm to K9
Unless you have a connection, your best bet is to appear in court. They may waive the super=speeder, especially since you were "polite". But 71 in 35 is really bad. Even with no signs, it was probably pretty obvious that it was a low speed limit area. You may not get much mercy. Depends on the judge.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:11 pm to S1C EM
IME fighting speeding tickets in terms of taking them to trial is usually about as futile as anything you can do and you can end up worse than what you could get otherwise.
By the same token I'd never recommend just paying the fine either. See what the prosecutor (probably call the court clerk first) would be willing to do especially since the officer wrote polite on the citation. In essence he is suggesting that you get a break. You probably could work out a good deal and might even be able to keep it off your driving record.
By the same token I'd never recommend just paying the fine either. See what the prosecutor (probably call the court clerk first) would be willing to do especially since the officer wrote polite on the citation. In essence he is suggesting that you get a break. You probably could work out a good deal and might even be able to keep it off your driving record.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:19 pm to K9
quote:
thats super speeder status
I thought this, too, at first, but it's not. Super speeder is 75+ on a two-lane road and 85+ on a three lane. I'm safe on that one.
It was in Hall county, btw, on Peachtree Industrial Blvd. I was literally running with traffic and there wasn't anything obvious making it a 35. If a 35 exists in there as he says, it's sandwiched between two 55 areas (and he even admitted this).
I've had good luck with court clerks in the past dropping speeds, so I'm hoping. Going into Christmas season, this was the last thing I needed.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:20 pm to S1C EM
quote:
I thought this, too, at first, but it's not. Super speeder is 75+ on a two-lane road and 85+ on a three lane. I'm safe on that one.
I thought it was 20+ the posted speed limit? Granted I'm not up to date on shite like this.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:23 pm to S1C EM
Don't pay and leave the state.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:27 pm to S1C EM
If I lived in Hall Co i'd go see the sheriff. Elected officials are fairly easy to coerce in an election year.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:27 pm to S1C EM
I work in law enforcement and 36 over would be super speeder status in GA. I would bring the picture you took to court and hopefully the judge would concede that you believed that the speed limit was 55 therefore reduce the speed. Also you might want to go back to the area if possible and see if the area you were clocked at (not the area you stopped at) is for sure a 35 mile an hour zone. If you can get legit documentation that it was close to a speed change zone than the judge may drop the ticket. When moving from a higher speed to a lower speed area there is a buffer that an officer has to give a driver.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:27 pm to S1C EM
quote:
on Peachtree Industrial Blvd
Good luck fighting that one. PIB is one giant speed trap
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:32 pm to S1C EM
You is fricked
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:33 pm to Georgiaman228
quote:
I work in law enforcement and 36 over would be super speeder status in GA.
LINK
Am I missing it somewhere? I don't think it is.
quote:
I would bring the picture you took to court and hopefully the judge would concede that you believed that the speed limit was 55 therefore reduce the speed.
Do you think they'd really even consider it? I don't live in Hall county. I'm also not exactly sure where on the road he clocked me or where I pulled over (but it was bang-bang.....we didn't drive for half an hour down the road). I may retrace the route, but it's a long way off and outta the way. I'll contact the clerk first. Like I said, I'm not arguing the speeding part. He got me fair on that; but I definitely had no idea it was a 35. When he said that, I was shocked.
This post was edited on 10/17/14 at 10:36 pm
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:43 pm to sudogs
I got busted doing 87 in a 45 a few years back.. They arrested me and everything. Treated me like i murdered someone, cuffed me and once i got inside they cuffed me to the bench in the booking area.. Got finger printed, the little crappy half broken foam flip flops and a an itchy wool blanket. 3 or 4 hours later and a 650 dollar ticket I was on my way finally.
Ended up having to pay the fine but the lady at the court house let me do some nolo something or other and it never went against me. Live and learn. I use to get those all the time but paying 1500/6 months for insurance is bullshite, 8 years later and Im finally paying normal rates i think.
If all else fails ask them about taking a defensive driving class to reduce the speed/points.
Ended up having to pay the fine but the lady at the court house let me do some nolo something or other and it never went against me. Live and learn. I use to get those all the time but paying 1500/6 months for insurance is bullshite, 8 years later and Im finally paying normal rates i think.
If all else fails ask them about taking a defensive driving class to reduce the speed/points.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:47 pm to daw9
quote:
a 650 dollar ticket I was on my way finally.
I'd actually be fine if it got down to this. Better would be $500 or less. And I know they don't have to make it $1,000. I'm hoping that they don't based on the "polite" notation. I'm going to explain the situation to the clerk (and beg and plead if I have to).
We shall see.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 10:58 pm to S1C EM
Go see them, dont call. People tend to help more when you talk to them face to face about things like this. Tell them you understand you were speeding, but would like to know if there is any way possible to potentially get the fine reduced. Tell them its close to xmas and all that but dont tell them you couldnt see real well, that makes it sound worse because you were speeding. Be honest, dont deny or try and make any excuses.
Posted on 10/17/14 at 11:22 pm to S1C EM
Ask if you can plead guilty to a " non-moving violation", given the evidence. Will reduce both the fine and the points. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Depends on the judge.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 12:31 am to Cobb Dawg
There's some good info here but a lot of bad. Disclaimer: Not a lawyer, but I highly recommend talking to one. If you google super speeder lawyer you'll find plenty who will give you a free consult.
If you plead out to speeding over 14mph, the clerk of the court will report it to Dep't of Driver Services, where it'll be picked up by your insurance carrier. Carrier can jack up your rates for up to 3 years as a result of the ticket.
Prosecutors love to railroad people who try to represent themselves. IMO, best bet is to hire a ticket lawyer to negotiate something for you. A good one will go to court for you so you don't have to waste time there. Not to mention the insurance savings alone could justify the cost of legal representation.
If you plead out to speeding over 14mph, the clerk of the court will report it to Dep't of Driver Services, where it'll be picked up by your insurance carrier. Carrier can jack up your rates for up to 3 years as a result of the ticket.
Prosecutors love to railroad people who try to represent themselves. IMO, best bet is to hire a ticket lawyer to negotiate something for you. A good one will go to court for you so you don't have to waste time there. Not to mention the insurance savings alone could justify the cost of legal representation.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 12:41 am to saltydawg
quote:
Not a lawyer, but I highly recommend talking to one. If you google super speeder lawyer you'll find plenty who will give you a free consult.
You'd recommend this even if it isn't a super speeder violation (it doesn't appear to be)?
quote:
If you plead out to speeding over 14mph, the clerk of the court will report it to Dep't of Driver Services, where it'll be picked up by your insurance carrier. Carrier can jack up your rates for up to 3 years as a result of the ticket.
I've had multiple tickets over 15mph and never had this happen. I understand that typically, if you don't give your carrier a reason to check your record (like filing a claim), they won't.
I agree about representing yourself, but I'm thinking that the lawyer is still way more costly than the fine assuming the insurance isn't affected. Again, I've heard stories both ways, but personal experience has been that my rates have never been affected.
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