My philosophy on tickets is pay it and move on with life. Even if you weren't in the wrong when you got the ticket (sounds like you weren't), certainly you've done something in the last year to merit getting a ticket and didn't get one. Call it even. Life is too short.

 

One time I got caught speeding in NJ (would have been a 4 pointer on my NJ license). I went to court, pleaded down the ticket to a no point violation, paid the local court 2x the 4 point speeding ticket fine and walked out smiling. But surprise - good ol' NJ -my insurance rates still went up. Apparently there are driver license points (I have none with the plead down) and then there are "insurance points" which don't disappear with the plead down. If you've never done a plead down before and you have a clean driving record, they'll take your money and let you go with no driver's license points (and you don't need a lawyer for that). To me, the only reason to get a lawyer is if you intend to plead not guilty (or if you have a bad driving record), because (at least in my case), I still got screwed on insurance rates.

 

Call your DMV and they will tell you. If NY doesn't have reciprocity I don't see why you would assume FL does. When I got ticketed in NJ and called NY DMV I was surprised at how nice and honest they were about how the system reports.

 

I looked it up (google) and found a website that confimed NJ/FL share traffic violation info. If I have a few minutes I will call NJ and inquire. Or should I call FL?

 

Your story sounds all too familiar. I was stopped with my GT3 because the cop said the car sounded like it was going too fast. Can you believe that? I told him it's possible to have a high pitched engine sound in a manual in any gear even 1st when you are only going 30mph. He gave me a "warning". No question about it, there are A- holes out there with nothing to do AND they are wearing uniforms.

 

Just as a quick counter point... most cops I've met were pretty awesome, and gave me huge breaks. Passed two gravel trucks and panicked when I heard rocks and pebbles hit my hood, so I floored it... state trooper was parked between the two moving trucks and clocked me going 120mph in a 55mph zone.

After he pulled me over and walked to my car I almost **** my pants. He literally had the 'WTF' look on his face, I explained to him that I panicked and wanted to avoid massive rock chips on my hood (and roof), he laughed, told me I now hold the record of the month, complimented me on my car, and let me go.

Most cops and troopers will give you a break if you are honest and if you don't give them an attitude. That approach served me well over the last 25 years, but I also consider myself pretty lucky.

 

This is interesting. Got pulled over recently for speeding - thought I was going to get a speeding ticket, instead got hit with "reckless driving" -- car was towed, got cuffed and thrown in slammer. Had to post bond, but as I had no prior - was let go on my own. Showed up in court - because I had no priors had to pay fine (to a charity) and case was dismissed - no points. According to Alan - my insurance may still go up? Does anyone know if a dismissed case is reported to insurance company?? Initially happy with end result - now I am wondering.

 

I'm a little confused also in that it's hard to do a burnout while reducing speed. If your lawyer can't handle this one I'd be surprised. In Texas we have lawyers that specialize in traffic cases by getting postponements until it all goes away. Maybe that's the strategy he will use. It reminds me of the time I got a ticket for driving with my bright lights on. I turned off a very dark road to a four lane lighted road and dimmed them within 100 yards. The cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket for having my bright lights on. I asked him if he didn't have any more pressing issues to be pursuing and he took it rather badly. I went to court and the prosecutor said the cop couldn't make it but that we just needed a postponement because this was a "very important" case. When the judge asked me if I wanted to postpone the case I told him I was here as notified and I thought the other side should be also. He dismissed the case.

Good luck with your case; I'm sure it will work out just fine.

ChuckJ

 

Did you make a lane change while speeding? That's what changes it to reckless driving as far as they're concerned.

I'm amazed at how it all seemed to just go away Unless of the course the charity in question was the judge's favorite pocket.

 

Sounds like you caught this guy on a bad day or he's always an a-hole and treats everyone the same way. I had a run in with a MA State Trooper last fall. Gave me the riot act for driving 75 in a 55 when everyone else was going the same speed. I had that one dismissed. Then proceeded to get one in NH for speeding in a construction zone. 85 in a 45 as I was getting around two RV's. Even though states say they reciprocate doesn't always happen. The NH ticket never got reported to MA where my car is registered. Good luck with the ticket. Hopefully the judge dismisses it!

To some the PSE makes the car sound fast. My elderly neighbor told me to slow down when I was driving 25mph down my street past her house.

 

WTF. Can you describe what you did to deserve getting cuffed and jailed? Also where did this happen.

 

When you are pulled over make sure not to even suggest that the cop is wrong. Do not dispute anything as the officer will most likely interpret such behavior as a challenge to his or her authority. Keep your hands visible - on the top of the steering wheel, answer all questions ending with, "yes or no sir (or ma'am)" be polite. they have a gun and lots of armed friends.

If you aren't hiring a lawyer for court (and I suggest that you do) prepare. When testifying, an officer must make a perfect recitation of the facts. I usually mess them up when they try to read the citation Reading is ok, but I stand, look directly at the officer, and say, "are you reading that? don't you remember what happened?" - ever time - ever single time over the past 33 years - the cop turns the paper over or puts it down and tries to remember the facts...they always screw up the facts...(btw, there is nothing wrong with a cop reading the citation to refresh their recollection, but they don't know that).

When they forget to include an element of the offense (like the "road was properly posted at intervals not greater than 1/2 mile" or some such other legislative nonsense) - I argue to the court that the officer has proved something other than a statutory offense.

Once a client was going through a posted work zone - after work hours - at more than twice the posted limit. When the cop neglected to testify correctly, I browbeat the Judge (a former hairdresser justice of the peace in some podunk Pennsylvania town) to "uphold the great tradition of law and justice" and set aside the testimony that my dope client was going 85 mph in a 40 mph work zone because the cop did not do his job properly - also told the Judge that she had to do her duty....she did and acquitted him.

When I was in law school a cop got me on a old Smith and Wesson radar unit...I was actually going about 25 mph in a 30 mph zone, I really was. I got the instructions for the unit from S&W and cross examined the cop about setting up the unit...the cop never calibrated it (you had to use a external device back then on these old units).....I was acquitted and the night court Judge (who an adjunct at my law school) was my trial methods prof. That was the good news...the bad news was that I was no long "invisible" in a class during my last semester of law school - he called on me every stinking day ....

Bottom line, be smart about speeding...get a Valentine or Escort, let the "rabbits" run ahead of you and watch your rear view mirrors. Don't shift lanes quickly, use signals and keep and eye out for unmarked cars....before the hearing, walk up to the cop and see if you can plead to a non point offense...in Pennsylvania that's 5 mph over the speed limit or "disobeying a traffic control device (section 3111)" pay the fine and drive another day....if you didn't **** the cop off he will most likely let you do it.

Do I speed...of course I do....

 

Great advice!! I hope if I ever need a lawyer, I can find one like you!

ChuckJ

 

Twice as loud as what?

 

truly sorry to hear that. i think he was just being an @sshole seeing you driving a nice car.