WHOOPS 62 in a 45=(

PJ Aspesi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:08 pm

Yup, a Moorisville mounty caught me.

Not sure if he actually clocked me but who knows.

It actually took him a while to cut through traffic to get me, so technically I was in Cary when he pulled me...any angle there?

Actually I have larger diameter tires than stock, so....

lastly, who knows a cheap lawyer?

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

Angle? Nope, you're still in Wake County. Durham County, you might have something there.

Your best solution is either to a) prayer for judgement and then don't speed at all for two years (get a ticket that is) else you get both tickets slammed against you at that time or b) take the morning off of work, head down to the Wake County Courthouse, wait on the second floor for the DA to come out of the courtroom (you'll be in line after getting your docket number at the big square thing), he'll sharpie your ticket at 9 over, and pay the government your $125 ish tax.

PJ Aspesi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:17 pm

i just did a tire diameter check online so actually i am going slower than my speedo.

I got a ticket back in march and a lawyer took care of it I just cant remember the website. IIRC he pleaded improper equipment.

He gave the THSCC tech sticker a look too, doh

So if I go to court and the judge doesnt like me I am screwed right?

Keith Vail · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:33 pm

Can't you question the last time the radar gun was calibrated. This will get you out of it sometimes, but being you were almost 20 mph over I am not sure it will work for you. Sorry PJ. I know several people that have gotten this to work for them but I believe most of their tickets were for about 10 over. Or you could be like my NY friend and get out of a ticket that was 120 in a 55. He knew a State Trooper who got the ticket disgarded. :lol:

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:12 pm

PJ, You want Marcus Hill. He is *the* man for this kind of thing in Durham, Orange, and Wake counties. Don't have a number handy, but you should be able to find it easy enough.

(Never used him, but I know a ton of motorcycle guys that swear by him. I seem to always get nabbed in some county other than the three I mentioned.)

--Donnie

George Bright · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:21 pm

I went to court and got the sharpie reduction fron 72 in 55 to 64 in 55. With State Farm it will not cause me any increase in insurance rate. I found out that I could have gone to the court room check in anytime between 8 and about 3 pm and gotten the deal. I went at 8 and had to wait on line for almost 2 hours. BTW this was also in Wake county about 4 months ago. So unless you plan on getting more tickets this is the cheapest way out. No lawyer fee and no increse in insurance premium. Just your time to go to court.

Also the assistant DA I dealt with was also a cutie.

PJ Aspesi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:30 pm

thx Donnie, email sent!

so if he says no to the sharpie what happens...is it too late for a continuance?

what do I say? "my bad, can you reduce it", "my thats a nice robe"??

George Bright · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:39 pm

The DA meeting happend in the lobby outside the courtroom on the other side of the check in desk. I never set foot in the courtroom.

The DA looked at my paperwork and said "You want a reduction?"

I would imagine you could ask for a continuance on the spot too.
Also for payment they are old fashioned. In God we trust, all others pay cash.

This was very different than the last time I appeared in Wake county traffic court many moons ago. Then you had to be there for role call in the courtroom at 9:00.

Chris Landi · **Joined:** Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:31 pm **Posts:** 579

I once got ticketed for 15 over in Sanford on my way to motocross. I received 6 letters from lawyers stating that they would get me off with no points. Took one of them up, paid the $125 lawyer fee and received my notation for 'improper equipment' in the mail a week later. Insurance was not notified. I'd recommend the same course of action..small fee and you don't have to take time off from work to do what he/she should be able to do better.

PJ Aspesi · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:58 pm

Chris Landi wrote:

I once got ticketed for 15 over in Sanford on my way to motocross. I received 6 letters from lawyers stating that they would get me off with no points. Took one of them up, paid the $125 lawyer fee and received my notation for 'improper equipment' in the mail a week later. Insurance was not notified. I'd recommend the same course of action..small fee and you don't have to take time off from work to do what he/she should be able to do better.

yeah I did that last time but the cheapest lawyer/court fee I found was $245

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 9:27 pm

IMHO, unless you *really* never speed and this particular ticket was REALLY bad luck (like you *really* thought it was a 55 zone, you were going downhill, yada yada), pay whatever it cost to get the lawyer most likely to get you off on improper equipment or the like. The reason is that a reduction to 9 -or- a PJC will both hit you if you get *another* ticket. I believe that if you get another ticket in a short period of time (like a couple years) that your 9 over gets you another insurance point. You may want to check on that to be sure. It may also be you only get *one* 9 over or something, I forget. Either way, it's better to save your one if you can.

Also note that the fact that your tires make your speedo *wrong* is all that matters...it doesn't matter which way. You can argue that you *knew* your speedo was reading high but thought it was reading higher or whatever. They don't care which way it's wrong, only that it is wrong. That said, that defense only works in smaller jurisdictions these days, I believe. But I'd mention to the lawyer that you know it's off in case that does still matter.

The only time I've been to Wake County court was back around 1991. Long story but I got lucky that time. What's interesting is that my DA was an incredible hottie, too. I'd still go the lawyer route if you can afford it.

--Donnie

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 06, 2005 11:13 pm

We're not the experts- the lawyers are, and you'll be hearing from them aplenty in the next few weeks. Call some up and you'll find they charge widely varying amounts and may take different approaches to your case, but the results are likely to be pretty similar. NC traffic court appears to be largely a money-gathering, wrist-slapping organization, and the traffic lawyers know its workings by heart.

Folks I know who've gone in and represented themselves have all had just as good luck as the lawyer-assisted folks, but of course there's always the risk if you try it yourself that you'll put your foot in your mouth somehow and get a bad result. For the $50-100 premium (YMMV) over the ticket's face cost, I'll use a lawyer just so I don't have to take the morning off work.

My $0.02.

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

PJ Aspesi wrote:

thx Donnie, email sent!

so if he says no to the sharpie what happens...is it too late for a continuance?

what do I say? "my bad, can you reduce it", "my thats a nice robe"??

He won't .

Wake County has a court for just tickets. They've heard everything, and it isn't like any other jurisdiction that I have had the pleasure of dealing with. The date on your ticket is to go to court and either a) plead guilty or b) plead not guilty. The first means that you get the max fine for what's on your ticket (stupid) the second means that you get a court date set for when the cop shows up.

The smartest and cheapest thing is to talk to the DA. They're pissed off all the time that their three years of law school is to deal with a dipshit duty like traffic court, and they'll give any ticket for less than 25 over (where reckless begins) an automatic 9 over assuming no alcohol, seat belt, etc. violations.

You'll never set foot in the courtroom. They'll plead it down just to save paperwork.

Oh, and the lady behind the window takes cash only. No checks or credit.

Rich Anderson · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:55 am

I did in Wake County Court as Wes described just a couple of months ago. Very easy. Went to counter #1 said I wanted to speak to a DA. ADA comes out 15 minutes later and says "Hi, would you like to apply for a reduction in speed?" I say "Yes sir." He sharpies my paperwork, says "Is there anything else the state can do for you today Mr. Anderson?", to which I reply "No thank you." I go to counter #2, pay for my delightful conversation with officer revenue a couple of weeks previous and go back to work. I arrived at 10, left by 11.

The IRS could learn something from the efficiency of this form of government revenue generation, but I don't think I will tell them. Walk away happy because you paid less than you thought, but you are still paying. To quote Puff Daddy, Its all about the Benjamins Baby.

PJ Aspesi · **Posted:** Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:29 am

Wes Eargle wrote:

He won't .

Wake County has a court for just tickets. They've heard everything, and it isn't like any other jurisdiction that I have had the pleasure of dealing with. The date on your ticket is to go to court and either a) plead guilty or b) plead not guilty. The first means that you get the max fine for what's on your ticket (stupid) the second means that you get a court date set for when the cop shows up.

The smartest and cheapest thing is to talk to the DA. They're pissed off all the time that their three years of law school is to deal with a dipshit duty like traffic court, and they'll give any ticket for less than 25 over (where reckless begins) an automatic 9 over assuming no alcohol, seat belt, etc. violations.

You'll never set foot in the courtroom. They'll plead it down just to save paperwork.

Oh, and the lady behind the window takes cash only. No checks or credit.

so what happens when/if i get my next ticket....am I charged for both of those?

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