Input on a speeding ticket

girlfriend got a speeding ticket last week. state trooper got her for "69 in a 55". His patrol car is setup so that he can print tickets instead of writing them. Here's the catch (IMHO)....He wrote the ticket for 69mph, but the system added the reading from the radar on the ticket as well, which stated she was only running 65.

Now i'm not asking for advise just so she can get out of the ticket. Just whether the ticket can hold up if she fights it because technically it was written for a speed other than what was recorded by the radar in the patrol car.

any thoughts???

 

either way..she was still over the posted speed limit.

 

true that. the angle i see it from is that most likely the 69 was a typo, but that typo could be helpful if she fights it.

Disclaimer:she will not likely fight this as it is not her nature. she didnt even notice the issue til i pointed it out.

I guess my point is why have the radar if you gonna write the tickets the way you want to

 

go to a county office and ask one of the people there thats what i would do? i think she could maybe get out of it i had a buddy have the same problem and he fought it and it was dropped

 

Even if you don't 'fight it' I'd still see the judge to get it adjusted to the correct speed. Depending on the fines, that could mean a few hundred bucks....

 

might as well pay it. court costs by pleading not guilty are going to add up to more than the fine on the ticket. that is the reasonable approach. if you are willing to spend more money than the ticket is written for, fight the hell out of it. gov't is already taking too much of our money as it is. probably could get away with it on the technicality.

 

It doesn't cost anything (at least in AZ...) to see the judge. If you want a lawyer that's a whole different deal...

 

My guess is that with 10 over, you don’t lose any points (if such system exists in your State). Anything over 10MPH, you lose 3 points and the insurance company finds out about your speeding ticket and your rate is adjusted accordingly. Should this be the case, the cop did your GF a favour.

This is the first I've heard of someone wanting to fight a cop who took a leniency approach or, for being charged with a lesser charge.

 

ah alabama state troopers. I got out of one of them tickets before.. 79 in a 55. it was christmas ever. guess he was feeling kind. Such a nice fellow he was. Now as for the ticket. Go to the country clerk and ask. if they cant do anything. just pay the fine and go on with her business. my .02. Or if it was in jackson county. give me a PM

 

He didn't do her a favor. Thats what he is trying to say. The radar read 65 and the ticket is for 69

 

Tell her not to speed anymore- Won't have to ask questions like this...

And I wouldn't hope she'll get out of it- Maybe catch the lower of the two fines- but getting it completely dismissed would be a stretch...She was speeding, be it 65 or 69...


And I'm not sure- but I don't think that the radar unit prints to the ticket- I think he has to put in both. Most state laws regarding radar/laser measurement of speed do not allow for "hold" or "store" features for speeds- So he sees you, estimates you speed, hits the trigger, reads the number, decides to stop you or not....but I don't operate radar/laser- so I'm not sure.

 

I see you are from Alabama; so am I. Due to the nature of my work, I am in court several times a week and see people try to fight tickets where there is a little discrepancy...it isn't worth it. Tell her to just request driving school and most judges will dismiss the ticket upon completion of driving school. She could also hire an attorney and demand a jury trial. It would end up costing the state far more than they would make off the fine.

 

The OP said she didn't want to fight it & is accepting responsibility. He also stated that she didn't even notice the difference until he pointed it out.

Is it unreasonable to want an accurate ticket reflecting the correct infraction?
The suggestion others made to speak to the officer is a good one and may save $.

I agree the best approach is not to speed, nor am I encouraging speeding, but I know I am a very careful driver and to say I have never, ever gone over the speed limit at all is certainly not true and, at times, challenging. I just got a ticket going 46 in a 35 on an unfamiliar 4 Lane state highway and took my lumps and paid the ticket pronto. I did not see the 35 mph sign indicating the speed changed from 50 to 35.. oh well....

Whatever happens I am sure your GF will be a little more careful.. good luck in getting it squared away.

 

thanks everyone. best constructive information i've seen on here in a while. i will let her know what the TW tribe has spoken and she can go from there. just told here that i would ask here first.

Oh and simons mom....not speeding is almost out of the question for her. she can get road rage before she makes it to the end of her driveway, then add in the fact shes driving a cobalt SS S/C. no chance she will slow down. saying she dont speed is like me saying i dont drive a 08 dbl cab TRD OR 4x4 in speedway blue.

thanks again

GotLift: tuscaloosa county, HWY 171S. very common spot. wasnt one of those "oh shit, cop" moments, more like she never paid him any attention til she passed by and he pulled out.

Master: not sure how they work the points down here. havent had a ticket in a long time. plus i have the best speed deterrent available....2 yr old in the backseat

 

My advice is always fight the ticket. Unless its a serious offense (reckless), most likely there is a deal to be made. Point out the error on the ticket to the officer at court, or the judge. States and municipalities just want the money, so you could plead to a lesser charge that comes without points.