don't ever say you haven't had a ticket in years

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:37 pm

because it will bite you in the ass. That's exactly what happened this weekend at the rallyx. Ol Rodney had to say I hadn't gotten a ticket, blah, blah, blah. Well today that changed. All things considered I got lucky. Basically got busted for exceeding a safe speed that wasn't considered prudent for existing traffic conditions. Nothing else. Said his radar was off and didn't clock me. I wasn't that much over the speed limit, but whatever. Ticket lists GS 20-141(a) which doesn't really read much over what I've listed.

So, the situation is I need advice. Do I just call the DA on this one or get a lawyer? Dealt w/ Marcus Hill years ago, but he was rather abrupt w/ me and that didn't set a good tone as someone to go back to.

OK, let the abuse begin.... BTW, I'm looking for an alchemist to convert my lead foot into something lighter

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:38 pm

I don't ever see an Exceeding Safe Speed unless there is proof you were exceeding safe speed by hitting something. What prompted him to give this to you did you almost run over a little old lady? I do not think they can give you one with out some evidence, if his radar was off what was he using his eyeball gun? I would cal the DA and dispute it, ask him where the evidence was? sounds like profiling to me!

clinehall · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:39 pm

BTW the Exceeding Safe Speed is 1 point on your insurance unlike a 10 or less over the speed that is waived if you don't have any other convictions

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:19 pm

clinehall wrote:

I don't ever see an Exceeding Safe Speed unless there is proof you were exceeding safe speed by hitting something. What prompted him to give this to you did you almost run over a little old lady? I do not think they can give you one with out some evidence, if his radar was off what was he using his eyeball gun? I would cal the DA and dispute it, ask him where the evidence was? sounds like profiling to me!

I may have accelerated up to speed quickly, but not speeding. Nothing in my way nor was there much in the way of surrounding traffic. No danger of hitting anything. I'm thinking he was a little perturbed because I got into the gas in front of him.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Nov 09, 2010 11:30 pm

clinehall wrote:

BTW the Exceeding Safe Speed is 1 point on your insurance unlike a 10 or less over the speed that is waived if you don't have any other convictions

ugg.... need to fight this one. W/ 5 cars, can't afford an increase.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

What I did for the last 2:

Wait for all the letters to arrive this week. Toss anything that's sketchy or uses scare tactics. Call all the ones that you feel good about and ask questions, take notes. Eventually you will learn what's possible and what's not. Pick the guy who's related to the judge or has been working the courts for a long time, and cross your fingers.

I dunno what it will cost in Raleigh but I paid like $170 and $220 for the last two ... each saved me $2k+ in insurance increases (NO points, just from losing "discounts")

Once you find out what is possible it can be tempting to try to do it yourself, but for me at a 10:1 risk to reward I was happy to hire a pro.

jakepressley · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:17 am

talk to the ADA

As its been stated above there is no real proof that you were speeding, no gun... no read out.

Chances are that they will plea it down to traffic school.

late edit... where you in Orange County? Statey or County Mountie?

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:34 am

RodneyWright wrote:

don't ever say you haven't had a ticket in years because it will bite you in the ass.

lol, I hear ya Rodney. I have that feeling all the time since I've not had a ticket since 1983. Of all places I did get a speed camera ticket in Germany this summer (for doing 28mph in a 19mph zone). You can (and I did) blast by a Polizei car on the autobahn at horrific speed differences, but the Germans are serious about limits where there are limits.

After dealing with the 1970's and 55mph everywhere (which I never accepted), etc, being able to run 75 in 65 and 79 in 70 zones is fine with me. I just get sick of having to deal with SUVs/trucks that are running those speeds or higher, all the idiots on our roads that tailgate (lose your license for 1 to 3 months in Germany for tailgating), all the idiots texting, etc. Sigh...

JamesShort · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:16 am

Get your official driving record and go to your court day and watch the ADA chuckle as he looks at your record and the ticket with no evidence.

When I got my 61 in a 35 and had no history in 11 years, the Durham ADA laughed: "Wow, I probably won't see a driving history like that for a few months, how does 44 in a 35 sound?". Suffice it to say I took it

.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:18 am

RodneyWright wrote:

I may have accelerated up to speed quickly, but not speeding. Nothing in my way nor was there much in the way of surrounding traffic. No danger of hitting anything. I'm thinking he was a little perturbed because I got into the gas in front of him.

...lesson learned: check rearview mirror prior to--cough, ahem-- "accelerating up to speed quickly"

Hope it turns out OK.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:14 am

Steven Carter wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

I may have accelerated up to speed quickly, but not speeding. Nothing in my way nor was there much in the way of surrounding traffic. No danger of hitting anything. I'm thinking he was a little perturbed because I got into the gas in front of him.

...lesson learned: check rearview mirror prior to--cough, ahem-- "accelerating up to speed quickly"

Hope it turns out OK.

exactly.... eyes up, scan more.....

Chuck Branscomb · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:20 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Steven Carter wrote:

RodneyWright wrote:

I may have accelerated up to speed quickly, but not speeding. Nothing in my way nor was there much in the way of surrounding traffic. No danger of hitting anything. I'm thinking he was a little perturbed because I got into the gas in front of him.

...lesson learned: check rearview mirror prior to--cough, ahem-- "accelerating up to speed quickly"

Hope it turns out OK.

exactly.... eyes up, scan more.....

Rodney,

I assume this was in the Mustang? The guy probably assumed he was pulling over a 18 yr old... :lol:

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:05 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

...lesson learned: check rearview mirror prior to--cough, ahem-- "accelerating up to speed quickly"

Or making a pass.. cough..cough :wink:

Bummer. Good luck getting everything taken care of Rodney. I just went through my first ticket experience in 15 years behind the wheel.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 2:58 pm

Laura and I both used Season Atkinson for our run-ins with radar. Flat rate, for speeding tickets at least, included fine, court and her fee. If she doesn't get the fine reduced she loses her share of the payment and/or eats the fine. Mailed a check and a form to her then a month or so later I got a letter saying I got a 9 under PJC. (My ticket was pretty significant so I'm happy I got that)

For Laura it was a no-brainer since Season had lunch with the cop/judge/da a few days before. I was pretty low effort at the time.

[edit]
both of us were ticketed in Wake co.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:09 pm

JamesMilko wrote:

Laura and I both used Season Atkinson for our run-ins with radar. Flat rate, for speeding tickets at least, included fine, court and her fee. If she doesn't get the fine reduced she loses her share of the payment and/or eats the fine. Mailed a check and a form to her then a month or so later I got a letter saying I got a 9 under PJC. (My ticket was pretty significant so I'm happy I got that)

For Laura it was a no-brainer since Season had lunch with the cop/judge/da a few days before. I was pretty low effort at the time.

[edit]
both of us were ticketed in Wake co.

Was this in the 6 inch fury?

I remember Les telling me about talking his way out of a ticket because he was in a miata and "there was no way I was going that fast". I don't believe the officer knew about the SC under the hood at the time.

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