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Posted on 10/18/14 at 6:09 am to S1C EM
Salty is the smartest here as to this.. Get you a court date as is on the ticket, get you a friend or attorney who is somebody to talk to the solicitor. There you go.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 7:49 am to cantseefade1
Get the officers name. Google to get his address. Go by his house and sincerely apologize. Be sure to wear your "Guns don't kill people. I kill people" t-shirt. Ask about his wife. Tell him he has a pretty mouth.
Seriously. Go to court and plead Nolo. They will reduce the fine and limit or eliminate the points.
Seriously. Go to court and plead Nolo. They will reduce the fine and limit or eliminate the points.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 8:25 am to S1C EM
Just get an attorney and pay them to make it go away.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 9:02 am to S1C EM
I had a similar ticket in a speed trap in walnut grove ga a few years back. Took it to court and plead guilty, paid the fine and asked for insurance puposes that it be reduced given my stellar driving record and the officer and judge were good with that. Id go that route so you dont gef screwed on insurance premiums.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 10:45 am to S1C EM
I have a lot experience in this area. Where your GPS was showing 55 is not where you clocked it is where you stopped. Since the Trooper wrote polite as you must have been it is a signal to the court that he would not object to them helping you out by some means I.e. Reduction or driving school etc. go to court as I'm sure you are mandated to at that speed and beg forgiveness while remaining polite. It usually works unless you have a bad driving record. 
Posted on 10/18/14 at 11:29 am to RocketDawg
Thanks Rocket. I'm not saying he wasn't right and that there wasn't a 35 zone; rather, I never saw it and the GPS never showed it (and that's where my attention was since I was looking for an approaching turn). That said, I CAN pay the fine in lieu of court. An appearance is not required. I have gotten these reduced before by just speaking with the clerk by phone, so gonna try that first. I start a new job week after next and really don't want to have to ask off this soon to go to court. I also have a fear that they might tack on more if I go that route just for wasting their time. Is that likely?
Posted on 10/18/14 at 11:34 am to S1C EM
If you can get it reduced by phone that's the way to go, however where I'm at any change or reduction requires the defendant or an attorney with a signed release to act on the defendants behalf to be present. Anything 15 over the speed limit here requires an appearance so good luck.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 12:46 pm to S1C EM
According to DDS you are right, although I think the laws have changed on this matter. I don't think there is a good chance you get off this one but as far as the suggestions I gave earlier I was simply trying to give you any advice I could think of. Was it radar or laser? Was he moving or stationary? Remember GSP also play by different rule that city and count police. Hope this helps.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 1:06 pm to Georgiaman228
It was laser and I assume he was stationary. I literally never saw him....couldn't see anything on his side of the road.
Don't want to get off on it, just get it reduced. I'm hoping the fact that he made the note on the ticket is a positive and will help that cause.
Don't want to get off on it, just get it reduced. I'm hoping the fact that he made the note on the ticket is a positive and will help that cause.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 1:07 pm to Georgiaman228
And I appreciate the advice, btw!
Posted on 10/18/14 at 7:51 pm to S1C EM
quote:
You'd recommend this even if it isn't a super speeder violation (it doesn't appear to be)?
Yes, you should definitely speak with a lawyer even if it's not super speeder. Like I said, the potential hit on your insurance will more than justify hiring representation.
quote:
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.
You're playing with fire. If you do get in an accident, or even if the insurance runs a random check when you renew (as some carriers do), then they'll find any ticket that was reported to DDS.
At the minimum, you should talk to a lawyer. The good ones will give you a free phone call and let you know what your options are, even if you ultimately decide not to hire them. And you might be surprised how little a lawyer might cost. I have some lawyers friends who do these in mass volume and can do them remarkably cheap because they set 10 tickets on one day.
This post was edited on 10/18/14 at 7:52 pm
Posted on 10/18/14 at 9:09 pm to S1C EM
The message he put on the ticket could help out depending on the judge. It was definitely stationary with a laser. Only the radar can be moving. Like I said, I don't know how all places work but I think going to court and explaining you are from out of town and showing them the GPS still photo of the speed limit may score some points with the judge and could get him to reduce the charge. No hurt in trying. And you could also go and speak with the solicitor or prosecutor in the case. Depending on who it is he/she may not want the headache if you go in with all your docs and tell him you just want it reduced.
Posted on 10/18/14 at 11:28 pm to AmericusDawg
Go to court and wear a coat and tie and don't be drunk.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 11:16 am to Georgiaman228
Georgiaman....what is the buffer they are supposed to give when moving into a new (lower) speed zone? Had to go into work for a few minutes this morning and retraced my route. Speed limit was posted as 50 three times in about a mile, then changes to 35 in one place. Had to have clocked me seconds after I entered it. The spot where he was parked was in straight view of the speed change area. GPS read 55 all the way down the road (and it was McEver Rd, not PIB). I took video, FYI.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 12:18 pm to S1C EM
I looked at it and the speed change restriction for officers is only specific for county and city officers. You can go to Lexius Nexius and look up Georgia code. Chapter 40 has to do with motor vehicle laws and what officers can and can't do. You will find a section called "speed detection devices" that may help you out. Let me know if you have any more questions and good luck! I am an officer but if someone makes an honest mistake and owns up to it than I have no problem working with that person. If it were me I would have likely cited you for speeding but reduced the speed.
Posted on 10/19/14 at 12:20 pm to S1C EM
The buffer is 300 to 600 feet though if you were wondering (only applies to local Leos)
Posted on 10/19/14 at 12:50 pm to Georgiaman228
Well, that pretty much kills me since he was GSP. I appreciate you looking at it, though. I think he might have reduced it, but I didn't have the chance to explain the GPS situation until he got back with the ticket. By then, it was written. It was after I explained it that he wrote the "polite" note.
I'll talk to the clerk and see where it goes from there. Thanks again!
I'll talk to the clerk and see where it goes from there. Thanks again!
Posted on 10/19/14 at 3:33 pm to S1C EM
No problem man! Let me know how it goes!
Posted on 10/19/14 at 4:13 pm to Georgiaman228
Locate the officers phone number. Call him on his cell 30 minutes before your hearing and tell him his wife/mother was seriously injured in a car accident and is at the hospital. Show up at the courthouse and plead not guilty.
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