I got pulled over for speeding. Tho I wasn't. Can I beat it?

Question

Today I got pulled over (a highway in San Mateo CA). The Police officer told me I was going 90 on a 65. I was not speeding as I was along a flock of like 7 cars. The fastest I could have been going is 65.
He gave me the ticket anyways. I will plea no Guilty, but I dunno how to go about it.

Is it my word against his? How do I beat this ticket?

Answer 1

Any professional on this forum will not give advice on how to beat a ticket. It will always be your word against the Officers. You don't beat it. You will either be found innocent, or guilty.

Answer 2

Do you have a court day? Show up in court and ask the judge to mitigate your ticket. Usually that means a reduction in the ticket, up to half it's value. Then if it's still a lot, they may put you on a payment plan. Ask them to work with you on the amount to what's comfortable to you. Unfortunately, that's how government agencies make money so they will make you pay something. Always, remember not to be arrogant, the courts don't like arrogant people and they may not indulge them as much. Ask for options, what are your options, and what else can you do. Sometimes they will refer you to a driving school and the ticket is not going on your record, and may actually erase the fee. Down side is, you have to pay for the driving school. But! Most importantly, have an insurance by the time you show up in court. That will help tremendously with mitigating that ticket. There's some really cheap insurance you can get online, esurance. Hey, you can always change it to a good insurance company, or whatever, just make sure you have some to show the judge. And don't fret. It's not a capital crime. :) It happens to anybody. You will have to be more careful, but don't let that make you feel like you're some criminal that broke the LAW. :) Everybody goes over the speed limit. You just have to learn how much over the speed limit you can go without giving the cops a reason to pull you over. Ask people in your area, they'll tell you what you can get away with. I live in AZ and usually 10 miles over the speed limit is not enough reason to get pulled over, but 11 MPH over the limit is. Every place has their own little secrets. When I lived in Ohio, if you went over 5 miles you got pulled over, and also if it's a rural area or a small town. The main thing is not to panic. Stay in one lane and don't do any weaving. That attracts cops. Also, if you can, drive a white or gray tone- color car. Red ones, neon, bright yellows are cop magnets. I hope I have given you enough to start on. Ask some friends around. They will know what goes. And relax,.... everybody and their grandmother speeds at some point. :) Good luck!

Answer 3

Just because you were in a "flock of like 7 cars" doesn't mean there was no way you were speedng. Maybe the six others cars were speeding too? One officer can only stop one car at a time, guess he picked you out of the flock! You plead not guilty by telling the judge "not guilty" when he askes you to respond to the charges. And when it's your turn to provide your side of the story, better known as your testimony or as I like to call it when most defendants "testalie", the excuse you provided above will not fly, I guarantee you it won't. And, the fastest you could have been going is as fast as your car is manufactured to go, right?

Answer 4

I have never seen a flock of 7 cars going only 65 in a 65, especially on Sunday, unless there was heavy traffic or a funeral or something. I do not know if you were going 90, but if you maintain that you were going the same speed as the rest of the flock, almost no one will believe that you were going only 65.

Answer 5

Just some points that I have seen work,first as one person said reschedule your court date as many times as you can,if by chance the officer appears in court plead not guilty and ask for trial by jury,you will be told that you do not have a right to trial by jury but inform the judge you intend to have a attorney present as you intend to make a legal case to recommend prosecution of the officer on the charge of perjury,this will usually result in a small fine and no points as most traffic citations are beaten when taken to trial,and they know it,also ask to see evidence of calibration on the date you were given the ticket if the officer cant produce it the ticket will be thrown out.

Answer 6

Dont worry for every problem there is a solution just be positive. You can write a Written Declaration which is better than showing up in court . In the back of your ticket it says you have a right for a written declaration.I did my declaration and i got my money back from the ticketand no point in my licence . Just follow the instructions in the written declaration. Just go to the court cashier and ask for a Written Declaration form. Fill it out and turn it in good luck.

Answer 7

Yes, it will be your word against his. Maybe the whole group of cars was speeding, so your argument won't hold up. Go to court anyway and just deny you were speeding, without giving them that argument. If the cop doesn't show up to testify against you, the charges are usually dropped. That way you have some chance of beating it v. no chance.

Answer 8

Always dispute every ticket you get. Even the ones you are guilty of. A buddy of mine was always getting citations in his Mustang, and 6 tickets later he didnt have a single point on his license.

Forget about that retired cop who says otherwise. They live in a law-abiding bubble, whereas we live in the real world. Now excuse me while I smoke cannibis illegally.

Answer 9

Sure, the cops have nothing better to do with their time than pull over someone who is going the legal speed limit and hassle them.

NOT.

If he says you hit 90, he can prove it. They have radar readings and pictures.

Just pay it. You were speeding and you know it.

Answer 10

you can plea not guilty the judge will not believe you.your fees will reduce that is all,you still have to pay a little money for charity.