Ticket Advice

So I just got back to school but got a ticket on the way. I was going the speed limit behind a big tractor trailer but his tire spay was obscuring my vision, even with the highest wiper setting, so I decide to pass him. As soon as I passed him, i slowed back down to 70ish. Then an unmarked car pulls up behind me and pulls me over for going 77 in a 65. The cop wrote my ticket and was gone within 2 minutes, already had someone else pulled over before I even got back on the highway. I don't think I did anything wrong, I was looking out for my own saftey. But I don't think the trooper did anything wrong either by pulling me over. My question do you think my sob story will tickle a judges generous side or no?

 

I'm guessing no- The speed limit is 65...that means the HIGHEST you can go is 65....but you can go slower than that.
Most cops won't pull your card for 5-7 over...so I'd say busting 12 over was asking for trouble....especially if the weather was bad.

Good luck tho!!

 

Yeah if the speed limit was 65 and it was wet out to the point where the truck was wetting your windshield with tire spray, Id say speeding to pass the truck instead of slowing down won't appeal to the judge. Sorry.

 

I agree with Brunes. and luk.

A judge might also tell you that if the spray was a problem, then you were not at a safe following distance.

edit: kinda what luk said......little slow here.......

 

Nope... SLOW down... especially during inclement weather.

 

figured! the thing on the highway was that I was 2 seconds behind him, what the Driving course i took to get positive points on my license says and the spray was still effecting me. If I slowed down any more someone would have cut me off and i would have had to fall back further falling into a vicious cycle. I hate drivers around here

 

adverse conditions will change the standard 2 sec rule. And I have tested that vicious cycle theory you mentioned. It is true, as people cut you off, and you fall back to give safe distance, yet another will see it as an opportunity and cut in.
Harbor the right attitude, and drive defensively so you will make it safely to your destination. Your family and friends are counting on it! Getting upset or disturbed by these drivers will make you the unsafe driver that they are. Just my 2 cents.......

 

Pay it, get traffic school if offered to keep it off your record, and learn from this mistake.

 

Pay up sucka!

 

If you want to keep it off your record, I would have an attorney take care of it. It wont cost much more than if you were to pay the ticket out right, and will save you the cost of insurance, and the possibility of being denied a position that requires being insured under a company policy.

Two years ago I got a 77/50. Faxed the ticket over to the attorney, and 400 dollars later the ticket was dismissed with no differed adjudication. The original ticket was for a little over 300. Plus time is usually money, and you wont have to take off work/school to go downtown.

Good luck with the ticket!

 

Unless he received another citation for driving to fast for conditions, it cant be much more than 'just a ticket.' Even if so, many Judges will let this slide with a 90 day deferred adjudication. (I'm not sure of your particular states laws, but if this is not available, a similar deferment is likely available)



I guess it comes down to whether or not you mind a violation being on your driving record, and giving the county/city/state a couple extra dollars. Personally, I would rather not do either. I give them enough money as it is from property and sales taxes.

When the OP asks for advice on his predicament, why not give some helpful advice on curing the situation? To not speed is quite evident. So I figured going a little beyond that might help out a bit.

 

Thank you ALL for your responses! Worst case scenario I eat the ticket (not literally) and lose the 5 points I accumulated from a driver improvement course! And SC4333 Thank you for giving the one optimistic reply hahaha. I'll look into it!

 

Traffic Judges hear 50 excuses every session and become somewhat immune to them. State Troopers are sticklers on court appearance since disciplinary action is usually tied to a 'no-show', making a dismissal on this factor slim. Attorney usually handle minor traffic offenses as busy work. There is not a lot of money in it. You are not going to get a well prepared defense by any means. You can accomplish the same end result with simply attending drivng school (if offered in your state)
In IL the officer usually hands the citizen the driving school application along with the ticket. You should be able to sign on to the SOS website at your location to obtain the protocols, application fee and location in your area. Just my .02 worth