I received a ticket on a clear morning. I was traveling a highway that I haven't driven on before. I was heading to an appointment & was running quite early. As I was driving along the 3 laned highway in the left lane (for a short amount of time) & I saw signs that the lane was ending in 100'. There were a few cars to my right & I figured the lane was going to end soon, so I speed up to pass the cars to my right so I would be able to merge without causing any problems. Right as I was making that decision, a black car (looked like a taxi) roared up to my bumper. I got really scared. I could barely see the headlights. Since I got scared of what might happen, I hit the gas & quickly got over. The car followed me over into the lane & I freaked out. As soon as I was going to get over to the right lane, the unmarked cop car's lights went on, which surprised me, I was 100% positive it was a cab. Ticket was for "65+" in a 55. Was having car problems(fuel injectors were BAD)at the time.
2007-01-20 07:53:56 · 9 answers · asked by SnowInSummer 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I had to use my over drive to get up to a speed to be able to get over when he got behind me, since fuel injectors were bad & the car didn't have any oompf. My car's engine light was on for the past 24 hours & went into the shop the next day. My driver's record has been clean for 10 years.
2007-01-20 07:56:33 · update #1
Nope, you're guilty. Scared or not, you were speeding.
2007-01-20 07:59:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
speeding is speeding. Period. Did your car at anytime exceed the maximum posted speed limit. If yes, then how can you say you are not guilty? The excuse you sped to pass is not acceptable. People seem to think that is OK. Its not. Why not slow down and merge in? Anyway, you technically don't belong traveling in the left lane anyway, except to pass. Thats the law in most states. Also, signs for lane endings on major highways are usually posted much further than 100 feet. Much further. Like upwards of a mile and then varying intervals. The hundred foot mark is for the last clueless people who insist on riding in the left lane until the last second. The cop probably patrols that road regularly and thats his pet peeve. People who stay in the lane til the last second, then roar ahead of everyone else. Some advice... don't use this story in court. Judges love it when the person admits to breaking the law in their story trying to justify why they where doing whatever it is they got ticketed for. Its actually kind of funny to watch people admit, under oath, that they did what they are trying to say they didn't do.
Save your money. Your going to be found guilty and have to pay a fine. Sorry...
2007-01-20 09:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well first off, you are guilty of speeding. You'll have to pay the ticket, regardless of "injector problems"
Secondly, if you take the time to present any of the above argument in court, the Judge will be laughing his butt off in chambers.
Because.... State and Federal requirements for traffic signs...(google them) There is no way in *&^% that the state/city waited until the LAST 100 ft to post a merge sign. On a city street with speed limits below 35...yes...Highway speeds...NO
It may very well have been the last in a series of signs, but not the first.
Personally, I see this "common" violation a 100 times a day...it's called speeding and aggresive driving...trying to get one more car behind you before the road narrows.
By your own statement, you have pled guilty...in any court.
2007-01-20 08:06:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your car's condition and your situation makes no difference. The officer shouldn't have been right up on you, but that happens sometimes. However, you are not made to speed up, that was your choice, regardless of other cars on the road. Also, in that situation you have 2 options, speed up without breaking the speed limit and get over or slow down and get behind the other car's in the lane you're trying to merge into. I'm sorry you were scared, but you're still at fault.
2007-01-20 08:00:48 · answer #4 · answered by J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
go to court
hopefully the cop will not show up
if he does say you were just trying to get out of his way because it looked like he was in a hurry. you moved to the first available space, it happened to be in front of you
tell the judge you were scared when a black car roared up behind you and tailgated you. (didnt know it was a cop car at the time)
go to the area and note where the speed limit signs are and if they are hard to see. maybe you got on the freeway AFTER the sign so you thought it was 65?
2007-01-20 09:13:07 · answer #5 · answered by brainiac 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first of all, I want to thank all of you that suggest the person go to court and hope the officer doesn't show up. Overtime is nice, and some officers get overtime to go to court, so there is no way they are going to miss it for ANY ticket... keep it up, hopefully more will start going to court. besides, the officer doesn't have to be there for first appearance. you plead not guilty and they set you ANOTHER court date and then you and the officer have to come. you miss a day of work and the officer gets overtime - SWEET!!! Ok so secondly, hey, you were speeding, pay the fine. third, when did we stop being responsible for our own actions? Did your mother ever wean you from her tit? grow up and realize that you and only you make decisions on your own actions. no one else can MAKE you speed.
2007-01-20 19:11:43 · answer #6 · answered by MissCan'tBeWrong 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just plead not guilty...show up on the court date....if the cop shows up and has the speedometer...you might be guilty...if he don't show up....you're not guilty.....take a chance at that, i did once and it worked cause i was 2 feet past the marker at a quick red traffic light and it turned from green to red so fast i slammed on my brakes....he gave me a ticket for passing a red light when i really didn't.....and i wasn't in any traffics way cause it was a "T intersection" and no cars were there.....the cop was just looking for trouble cause there are too many of them overpaid pigs in town
2007-01-20 08:21:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
sorry pal. speeding is speeding. by the way, what is "quilty"? do you mean "guilty"? if you feel it was mechanical, bring your mechanic's statement to court. plead guilty with an explanation but otherwise, "ttthat's all, folks".
2007-01-20 08:30:46 · answer #8 · answered by blackjack432001 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
fight the ticket and the cop might not show up
2007-01-20 08:14:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋