30 in a 25

[3E8]

It's strange that people wouldn't be willing to buy front plates. Is it just that you don't want people reading it as you drive? For the inconvenience it will cause with the police, I would think having a plate on the front of your car wouldn't be a big deal.

I do not attach the front plate because it detracts from the beauty of my car

[DrunkBomber]

It's strange that people wouldn't be willing to buy front plates. Is it just that you don't want people reading it as you drive? For the inconvenience it will cause with the police, I would think having a plate on the front of your car wouldn't be a big deal.

Its not buying them, they come with them. Its just that some cars dont have brackets for them because not all states require them. I prefer not to put something on my car that isnt made to go there when the only purpose it serves is income for the state.

[knightni]

I don't have an area for one and Michigan doesn't require them.

[NorthSideSox72]

Also just so you know, there is no way theyre going to throw it out when you walk up there. They will give you the minimum fine and a short supervision period if you plead guilty. If you plead not guilty they will give you a larger fine, and if you try to explain yourself he will enter a non guilty plea and tell you to sit down and choose between a bench trial after all the cases have been called or a continuance for a jury trial. If you dont have a clean driving record, I would get a lawyer for a couple hundred bucks so they dont suspend your license. Thats only if you have 2 or 3 tickets on your record in the past year or two.

 

If its in Addison, pay it and get it over with and be warned that the deputy will ask people to pull their cells out of their pocket and prove theyre off randomly and if theyre not he will throw you out.

 

Asking to see the radar? Might have well told him you pay his salary.

Apparently you had some issues in Addison with tickets (which you seem to have gotten a lot of). But your experience is not my experience, at all. They throw out stuff all the time, though you may have to still pay court costs in some cases, or go on probation/supervision. And giving a reason why the ticket is wrong will not make things worse on you, that I have ever seen.

 

[Steve9347]

Is it in Addison

DuPage County

[Texsox]

Apparently you had some issues in Addison with tickets (which you seem to have gotten a lot of). But your experience is not my experience, at all. They throw out stuff all the time, though you may have to still pay court costs in some cases, or go on probation/supervision. And giving a reason why the ticket is wrong will not make things worse on you, that I have ever seen.

 

Court costs go to the courts, fines go to the writing jurisdiction. (at least in Texas) Court costs are usually more than the fine for speeding tickets. So they may reduce or eliminate the fine with supervision, and "just" hit you with court costs. Which are still close to $100.

[zenryan]

As a general rule, anything less than 5 MPH over won't hold up in court, because it is considered within the margin of error of the radar device. So if I were you, I'd go to court and simply say you were doing 25 according to your speedometer, and you think the radar may have gotten it wrong. I'd be shocked if you didn't get off, or get probation or the like at least.

 

 

 

I've heard a police officer say that the unwritten rule is anything above 10% of the posted speed. I live in Florida so who knows what other states "unwritten rules" are.

 

 

I got ticketed for 97 in a 70. It was only a $155 ticket. I was actually relieved when the cop handed it to me.

[EvilMonkey]

I've heard a police officer say that the unwritten rule is anything above 10% of the posted speed. I live in Florida so who knows what other states "unwritten rules" are.

 

 

I got ticketed for 97 in a 70. It was only a $155 ticket. I was actually relieved when the cop handed it to me.

My one speeding ticket was for 74 in a 45, and I too ws relieved when I got that ticket as he could have added an extra 20 mph. I was pissed, however, that he took the easy mark that stopped when he saw the lights instead of the guy that kept going even faster. I went to court to plead guilty and try and get supervision, there were so many people there for speeding tickets, the judge told everyone at the start that if they plead guilty to speed thigs up, and the prosecutor had no objections, half fines and supervision for all. He flew thru the cases, maybe a minutes per person! Good luck.

[StrangeSox]

Apparently you had some issues in Addison with tickets (which you seem to have gotten a lot of). But your experience is not my experience, at all. They throw out stuff all the time, though you may have to still pay court costs in some cases, or go on probation/supervision. And giving a reason why the ticket is wrong will not make things worse on you, that I have ever seen.

 

Yeah, I had my only ticket thrown out of court (held in a 4-H barn in New Lenox ) simply for showing up. And I was a dumb 16 year old doing 50 in a 35. There was some probationary period.

 

I've been pulled over 3 or 4 other times but was always let off without a ticket. Even when I was pulled over on rt 53 doing 55 in a 45 in the rain. The cop asked if I knew the speed limit on the road and I said "its 55 here, right?" He just started laughing. It wasn't until he walked away that I realized I pulled over right in front of a speed limit sign. Still didn't get a ticket, though.

[RockRaines]

It's strange that people wouldn't be willing to buy front plates. Is it just that you don't want people reading it as you drive? For the inconvenience it will cause with the police, I would think having a plate on the front of your car wouldn't be a big deal.

I have a plate, its just not installed i.e: DRILLED into the front bumper of my car. If there was a plate there, or it was an SUV I would probably put it on, but there is no way I am going to drill holes in the bumper of my car because I MAY get a parking ticket once a year.

[DrunkBomber]

DuPage County

Theyre making you go to Wheaton for a speeding ticket? That sucks.

[DrunkBomber]

Apparently you had some issues in Addison with tickets (which you seem to have gotten a lot of). But your experience is not my experience, at all. They throw out stuff all the time, though you may have to still pay court costs in some cases, or go on probation/supervision. And giving a reason why the ticket is wrong will not make things worse on you, that I have ever seen.

I havent gotten a moving violation since I was 16 and Ive gotten a few bs things like front plate. Addison is where one of the courthouses is and a lot of west suburban traffic cases go there. One of my friends has worked there for a few years and has seen everything you could imagine in there. Another one of my friends brother in law is a defense attorney and does a lot of cases there as well. If you walk up to the judge and say anything but guilty or not guilty they will ask you again or tell you to wait for after the cases are called.

 

Also, if you are saying going up there and saying why the ticket is wrong with out pleading not guilty is A. not going to make things worse for you or B. going to do anything to help than that is comically wrong. This isnt a sitcom, they dont let people explain anything before pleading not guilty.

Edited October 21, 2009 by DrunkBomber

[Dick Allen]

I think they will throw it out if you use the speedometer might be off. It depends on the judge. A few years ago, my sister rear ended a car at a stop light on a rainy day. They gave her a driving too fast for conditions ticket. She pled quilty in court, but the judge was pissed off at the prosecution that day and told her to change her plea. She did and they threw it out.

[iamshack]

Yeah, plead not guilty and claim your speedometer said you were going 25. You can also argue that the radar gun was innacurate, as others have said.

 

Honestly, 4.7 mph over the limit is ridiculous, especially since cops ride your ass if you actually drive less than the speed limit.

 

This is just a bunch of horses*** to raise money for the county. The way our traffic laws are designed to work is a complete joke. You can drive like a complete idiot and not get ticketed but be an excellent driver and get these foolish tickets all day long.

[Texsox]

Yeah, plead not guilty and claim your speedometer said you were going 25. You can also argue that the radar gun was innacurate, as others have said.

 

Honestly, 4.7 mph over the limit is ridiculous, especially since cops ride your ass if you actually drive less than the speed limit.

 

This is just a bunch of horses*** to raise money for the county. The way our traffic laws are designed to work is a complete joke. You can drive like a complete idiot and not get ticketed but be an excellent driver and get these foolish tickets all day long.

 

Are there any other reasons, besides raising money for your county, that there are speed limits? Safety perhaps?

[NorthSideSox72]

I havent gotten a moving violation since I was 16 and Ive gotten a few bs things like front plate. Addison is where one of the courthouses is and a lot of west suburban traffic cases go there. One of my friends has worked there for a few years and has seen everything you could imagine in there. Another one of my friends brother in law is a defense attorney and does a lot of cases there as well. If you walk up to the judge and say anything but guilty or not guilty they will ask you again or tell you to wait for after the cases are called.

 

Also, if you are saying going up there and saying why the ticket is wrong with out pleading not guilty is A. not going to make things worse for you or B. going to do anything to help than that is comically wrong. This isnt a sitcom, they dont let people explain anything before pleading not guilty.

Whats comical is that, apparently, you managed to find the one judge who belongs in a sitcom. Seriously, I've never heard or seen such a thing as a judge giving worse penalties or the like because you plead not guilty. I'm sure it exists, but, its got to be a very small minority. Read the other posts here - people get out of tickets all the time, on all sorts of excuses. And yes, you usually do get to explain your side, because if you couldn't, then the ticket itself would be illegal.

 

 

[DrunkBomber]

Whats comical is that, apparently, you managed to find the one judge who belongs in a sitcom. Seriously, I've never heard or seen such a thing as a judge giving worse penalties or the like because you plead not guilty. I'm sure it exists, but, its got to be a very small minority. Read the other posts here - people get out of tickets all the time, on all sorts of excuses. And yes, you usually do get to explain your side, because if you couldn't, then the ticket itself would be illegal.

You cant go up to a judge and tell him an excuse without pleading not guilty and trying to do so will piss them off. The easier you make it on them the easier they make it on you. This is honestly some of the worst advice Ive seen given in this forum going on in this thread. The fine will be like $100 and there will be minimal court supervision. Its ridiculous to think the judge might just throw it out if you go up there and tell him your speedometer is broken. He saw the cops radar, whether its bulls*** to get a ticket for 4 over or not the cop proved that he was speeding to him when he showed it to him. Also, if you try and say the radar was broken you are taking the burden of proof off of them, because youre admitting the radar said you were speeding, and putting it on you to explain the gun was broken. Theyre not going to take your word for it.

 

They also arent going to "throw it out" and charge you court cost, because you dont pay court cost if you are innocent. This isnt from a lifetime spent in traffic court either, this is common sense. Anytime a judge throws a charge out it is normally because it is lumped with other charges as well. There is a room full of people and several of them were charged with the same thing. You think they will magically throw it out with 10+ people waiting to be called that have the same ticket?

 

The cop was a jagoff, you have to miss work for going 4 over and it sucks and its gonna cost you some money but the punishment is so minimal trying to pull a My Cousin Vinny is a waste of time/money and wont work.

[iamshack]

Are there any other reasons, besides raising money for your county, that there are speed limits? Safety perhaps?

 

Honestly, could you come up with more of a lazy response?

 

Obviously safety is a major concern in terms of policing driving behaviours. My problem is that the way our laws are designed and enforced, we've got asshole cops giving Steve speeders for driving 31 in a 25 while we simulataneously have incompetent retards being absolutely s***ty drivers and endangering my life a hell of a lot more than Steve is. But he is the one who gets the ticket and gets dragged into court to pay fines and waste an entire day of his life.

 

In your 78 years of driving experience, or however the hell old you are, can you honestly tell me that speeding violations are the worst dangers to your safety, as opposed to all the other driving behaviors you've seen people exhibit and NOT get ticketed?

[SouthsideDon48]

Ugh, getting ticketed for going 4.7 over is ridiculous.

 

Lemme see if I can remember my ticket history:

 

*First ticket was for going 60 in 45 in Orland Park in 2003 or so. Ended up just paying the ticket, I think it was $100.

 

*Got a ticket while my old 1990 Cadillac Deville was parked at work for not having a village sticker.

 

*Got arrested in 2006 for a road rage incident, threatened a old man with a baseball bat after he gave me the finger, but it turned out "he" was actually a very butch-looking woman. I got raped with tickets, among them was a ticket for no front license plate and failure to reduce speed. Also got 80 hours of community service, but got kicked out of the first place I was doing community service at for calling the woman in charge a d!ke. I was then sent to the forest preserve where I had to wear jeans in the hottest days of July picking up garbage at all the picnic areas, which I thought was actually kinda fun.

 

*I always have to park my car on the street at home, one time during the winter I got a $30 ticket for parking my car on the street in the winter of 2006 after it snowed overnight.

 

My driving improved in 2006 cause I was sick of getting pulled over, but I got a ticket in 2007 for not stopping all the way for a stop sign while leaving my college, but that was only because I didn't see the sign because I was paying attention to oncoming traffic from the left so I can quickly make a right turn. The cop was a greasy jerk in an unmarked SUV who was hiding in the campus parking lot somewhere.

 

*Got pulled over again in December 2007 for running a stop sign that EVERYONE runs at my grandparents' neighborhood (the intersecting street was a rarely-used alley-type street behind a car repair shop). This was before Christmas and before I was supposed to go to Vegas. I didn't want to waste money I saved up for Vegas on a traffic ticket, so I explained to the cop that I was heading to my grandparents' house and that I needed money to buy Christmas presents. The nice cop felt bad and let me off with a warning.

 

*In fall 2008, I got a $90 parking ticket for parking a little bit over the line in a bus stop zone in Chicago on Damon ave. I didn't even see the sign when I originally parked because it was completely obstructed by a tree and I couldn't read it without pulling branches down. I also didn't know the benches was a bus stop.

 

*In the winter of 2009, I once again got a ticket for having my car parked on the street after it snowed overnight, this time the ticket jumped up to $50.

 

*In January 2009, I found that my car had a flat tire when I was leaving the bar after playing poker, finally got the spare out of my trunk after it was frozen stuck, and started driving home around midnight. I was driving 5 mph BELOW the speed limit because I didn't want to drive fast on a spare, and I STILL got pulled over. I explained to the cop that I didn't want to drive fast on a spare, and he ended up "escorting" me all the way home. I still didn't know if he was genuinely helping me or if he still thought I was up to no good or something, so I ended up having to keep driving 5mph below the speed limit just to make myself look credible, which made the drive home even longer and nerve-wracking.

 

*And lastly, just 3 weeks ago I went to my car at 12 noon only to find a $50 ticket on my windshield for not having a village sticker. After I got rid of my Cadillac in 2004, I never got a village sticker for my Toyota because I don't believe in it. I was able to go 5 years without a village sticker ticket, and I ended up saving money because village stickers are $30, and $30x5 is $150, which is what I would've paid for village stickers over 5 years, but ended up only paying $80 ($50 ticket + $30). So I saved $70. That's how you beat the system, folks.

[NorthSideSox72]

You cant go up to a judge and tell him an excuse without pleading not guilty and trying to do so will piss them off. The easier you make it on them the easier they make it on you. This is honestly some of the worst advice Ive seen given in this forum going on in this thread. The fine will be like $100 and there will be minimal court supervision. Its ridiculous to think the judge might just throw it out if you go up there and tell him your speedometer is broken. He saw the cops radar, whether its bulls*** to get a ticket for 4 over or not the cop proved that he was speeding to him when he showed it to him. Also, if you try and say the radar was broken you are taking the burden of proof off of them, because youre admitting the radar said you were speeding, and putting it on you to explain the gun was broken. Theyre not going to take your word for it.

 

They also arent going to "throw it out" and charge you court cost, because you dont pay court cost if you are innocent. This isnt from a lifetime spent in traffic court either, this is common sense. Anytime a judge throws a charge out it is normally because it is lumped with other charges as well. There is a room full of people and several of them were charged with the same thing. You think they will magically throw it out with 10+ people waiting to be called that have the same ticket?

 

The cop was a jagoff, you have to miss work for going 4 over and it sucks and its gonna cost you some money but the punishment is so minimal trying to pull a My Cousin Vinny is a waste of time/money and wont work.

Your first sentence confuses me. Obviously, if you have a reason to give, you are pleading not guilty. Who said otherwise?

 

Also, I never said anything about proving the radar gun is broken, as that is impossible. I was talking about the typically accepted margin of error of the instrument - and I have discussed this with traffic court folks before. There is fuzziness there, but, that (at least was) the magic number.

 

As for the rest, well... OK then. You are welcome to feel however you feel about it. Of course they like it easy - but also, of course, they have to follow the law, and also, of course, if you have a valid reason to present, then you have the right to show why you are not guilty. Saying those aren't true, as you are, is the bad advice here.

 

ETA: Oh also, about the court cost, that is not really true. If you actually go plead not guilty and make a case of it, and are found not guilty, then yes, court costs are not payable. HOWEVER, what I have often seen happen is, they will agree to what is essentially a nolo contedere (I may be misspelling that), and in exchange the ticket and fine go away, and you just pay court costs. Its not a NOT GUILTY plea in that case, its basically a compromise. Sorry I wasn't clear there.

 

[StrangeSox]

You can also ask for the calibration records of the gun.

[NorthSideSox72]

You can also ask for the calibration records of the gun.

You can ask, but I don't know any traffic cops who actually carry those around with them. Maybe, if they are unusually precise, they keep them in their car. If there is even a hard copy printed, which may not always happen (I don't know the new guns at all, and never had more than second hand knowledge of the old ones, I wasn't certified for it). But keep in mind that the cop not having them is not in itself an automatic dismissal. Might help though. Just don't get pulled over by that cop again.

 

[Steve9347]

Honestly, could you come up with more of a lazy response?

 

Obviously safety is a major concern in terms of policing driving behaviours. My problem is that the way our laws are designed and enforced, we've got asshole cops giving Steve speeders for driving 31 in a 25 while we simulataneously have incompetent retards being absolutely s***ty drivers and endangering my life a hell of a lot more than Steve is. But he is the one who gets the ticket and gets dragged into court to pay fines and waste an entire day of his life.

 

In your 78 years of driving experience, or however the hell old you are, can you honestly tell me that speeding violations are the worst dangers to your safety, as opposed to all the other driving behaviors you've seen people exhibit and NOT get ticketed?

29.7 in a 25. What do you take me for, a daredevil?

[kapkomet]

29.7 in a 25. What do you take me for, a daredevil?

Was it raining? I thought I saw that somewhere in this thread. I have heard that the radar guns don't work right in the rain.

[clyons]

FWIW, driving "too fast for conditions" can encompass more "conditions" than just weather i.e., the amount and speed of other traffic, whether the street is in a residential or commercial area, time of day, etc.