Got my first ticket in my 'stang
 

Got a ticket last week and man I am still peeved about it. Thought I would share it with y'all and start a discusion about it and tickets you recieved that seemed unfair.

There is this section of interstate where I live that is under construction, they started on it about 2-3 years ago.

I drive this road everyday and they look to be completley done. About 3 months ago they removed all the construction barrels off the road and I have not seen one truck or construction worker on it. I mean it done. New level black top, clear emergency lanes etc... its looks like a normal part of the interstate now.. actually better..the only thing left there is a sign that says it still says its a construction zone.

The posted speed limit is 55 but since there is no work going on for the last several months peoples speeds have crept up to about normal highway speeds (70). Everyone including me was thinking they just havent taken the signs down yet.

Well I was traveling to work and was going with the flow of traffic, heck, I was being passed up at times. All of a sudden this state trooper in a unmarked charger flies in front of me hits me with his rear facing radar (found that out later) goes into the emergency lane then back into traffic behind me and proceeds to pull me over. Tells me I was doing 70 in a 55 mph construction zone, writes me a ticket and off he goes and I am left sitting there look at this ticket saying to myself "what friggin contruction zone?"

Well of course I am now driving 55 through there as no to get another ticket but its scary, there isn't one person, not one, that doesnt pass me up at about 70 mph. I am literally getting tailgated by friggin church vans!

Almost everyone that I tell this too says I was singled out of the herd because I was driving a Mustang. Maybe that is true but it doesn't make me feel any better.

I am concerened about what it will do to my insurance since the ticket says I was speeding in a construction zone (No workers present).

Darn.. talk about bad luck... and right before Chrstmas too.

You most likely were singled out because you were driving a mustang.
Out of all the cars on the road who do you think they are going to pull over a soccer mom in a mini van or a guy in a mustang? Its clear which one...it is sad cops judge by this but it is true. My brother got pulled over in his corvette for not using a turn signal when the car behind him didn't use theirs either. The cop sped up and pulled him over instead of the old raggity truck behind him.

ANOTHER reason why no matter is workers are present or not that construction zone sign holds the posted speed limit. Yes, it doesn't seem fair he pulled you over and no one else but I'm sure he is pulling over tons of other mustangs, camaros, and vettes.

Get a Traffic lawyer and fight it. My lawyer cost me 500 they settled my ticket. I had a 5point careless driving charge that they settled for 0point interfering with traffic. In the end it very slightly effected my insurance. The ticket was reduced from 400 to 200. That one paid 1/3 of the lawyer

this doesn't make sense to me. why would he get in front of you to hit you with "rear facing radar". its my understanding they can do it from the front too, at least the ones here can.

also in order for him to fly by you (who was going 70mph) he had to be going much faster and im assuming his lights weren't on when he got in front? then that was dangerous and illegal.

i would contest it and make the sob show up in court and explain his actions. also if you can find out and verify that construction is complete in that area and that the signs were merely forgotten that might help too.

His lights didnt come on until after he went into the emergency lane.

The only reason a can think of that he got me with rear facing radar was that I was near the front of a pack of cars.

I have thought about contesting it but all the judge will have to do is ask:

"Where you in a construction zone?"

"Yes..."

"Where you going over 55?"

"Yes..."

"Case closed."

I'd check every detail on the signs and anything else:
The fine is only double if the construction people where working.

(a) The State Department of Transportation may set the speed limits in urban and rural construction zones along state and interstate highways and the county commission of a county may set the speed limits in urban and rural construction zones along county roads or highways. The construction zone speed limits shall be posted on the department's standard size speed limit signs at least one hundred feet in advance of the entrance to a construction zone. Law enforcement authorities shall enforce construction zone speed limits. Upon conviction of a construction zone speed violation, the operator of the motor vehicle shall be assessed a fine of double the amount prescribed by law outside a construction zone. The fine shall only be doubled for construction zone violations if construction personnel are present and that fact is indicated by appropriate signs. The signs, placed a(a) The State Department of Transportation may set the speed limits in urban and rural construction zones along state and interstate highways and the county commission of a county may set the speed limits in urban and rural construction zones along county roads or highways. The construction zone speed limits shall be posted on the department's standard size speed limit signs at least one hundred feet in advance of the entrance to a construction zone. Law enforcement authorities shall enforce construction zone speed limits. Upon conviction of a construction zone speed violation, the operator of the motor vehicle shall be assessed a fine of double the amount prescribed by law outside a construction zone. The fine shall only be doubled for construction zone violations if construction personnel are present and that fact is indicated by appropriate signs. The signs, placed at the entrance of the construction zone, shall warn of the doubled fines for speeding within a construction zone. The signs shall also state that the doubled fines are applicable only when construction personnel are present.t the entrance of the construction zone, shall warn of the doubled fines for speeding within a construction zone. The signs shall also state that the doubled fines are applicable only when construction personnel are present.

Good Luck

I would think they would settle to avoid court time. You might be surprised. I would go with the arguement that you thought construction was done because it was all cleaned and you were going with the flow of traffic which was 70mph. However if you were infront of a pack that always looks bad.

Call a traffic lawyer. He will tell you what he can do. Mine had a contract saying my points would be reduced to 0 points or i woldnt be charged by the lawyer.

I don't know about where you live, but, where I am, if you can't see the sign, it isn't posted properly and you don't have to follow it. Of course, if the sign wasn't posted properly but what it said was pure common sense, they'll still slap you with a fine.

In your case it sounds like you could say, since the roads were 100% clear, that you didn't see the sign.

I have the opposite issue. My road is under "construction" and they DIDN'T mark it as a construction zone. I found out the hard way. I was driving 50mph (40 zone but it's an unspoken rule that you won't get ticketed for speeding on a back road unless there's traffic) and all of a sudden it sounded like someone was shooting a machine pistol in my trunk. They had the road COVERED in pea gravel. Thankfully the wheel well took all the flak and there is no visible damage.

Yeah sounds like you were singled out for your car. Others will argue with you on that to their last breath but it's more than likely that he saw you at the head of a pack (big no no), and saw the shiny blue sports car and said "there's my target".

His pull over method sounds aggressive at best, and downright irresponsible, dangerous, and unnecessary at worst. Take it to court. You may not win, but at least you can try.

My mother took a ticket to court about my little sister not being "fully restrained" in her booster seat once. My mom was running late one day, forgot to bolt down the third strap (on the left) and she left her driveway.

Motorcycle cop pulls her over after following her out of the subdivision and actually passing her on a one lane road (dotted line, but still dangerous considering no one usually does the passing thing around that road). IMO it was strange behavior and he did it because he wanted an inside view of her car so he could find SOMETHING to pull her over for.

i haven't it found it for alabama but heres an excerpt from colorados law

42-4-614. Designation of highway maintenance, repair, or construction zones - signs - increase in penalties for speeding violations. (1) (a) If maintenance, repair, or construction activities are occurring or will be occurring occur within four hours on a portion of a state highway, the department of transportation may designate such portion of the highway as a highway maintenance, repair, or construction zone. Any person who commits certain violations listed in section 42-4-1701 (4) in a maintenance, repair, or construction zone that is designated pursuant to this section is subject to the increased penalties and surcharges imposed by section 42-4-1701 (4) (c).



i would suspect that Alabama's laws may differ somewhat but should be similar. need to find it to be sure, but if it is like Colorado's law then you can make the case that it WAS NOT a construction zone.

I was near the head of the pack, I was not the lead car. there where to cars to my right that where ahead of me. That is why he suprised me because He just bolted around the front of the lead car (actually it was a work truck).

I agree that he was agressive... I even moved over a lane to get out of his way. He wanted to pull me over bad.

I guess I can say he was driving much more dangerously than I was but I really have my doubts about that working in court.

Maybe he drives a Camaro when he's off duty...

Honestly, I view tickets as my semi annual fee to drive the way I like to drive. Sux but it is what it is.

My experience is that 2 places cops never mess around are school and construction zones. And they ALWAYS go for the flashy car. Its not that youre going faster it just looks like you are.

its total bull**** that cops work for us...but give us **** when we arent being wreckless. If youre going 15 over on a highway, i could care less. As long as you arent cutting people off or weaving in and out of traffic, youre not dangerous. im sorry that happened. you werent endangering anybody...which is the only time police should ever pull you over

My state speed limit is 55mph :icon_frown:

I have no legal advice to give unlike the others, I'll just give you a song you can listen to while planning your court strategy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M8vei3L0L8

Your age had a lot to do with it in addition to the car, I'm sure.

Understand that 55 MPH was the PSL regardless of what others are driving and if the road is "finished" or not. It sux that he singled you out but a judge may not budge on that.

I know this doesn't help, but unless I'm on a trip of over 2 hours (at the PSL) or 100+ miles, I'm within 5 MPH of the PSL. I don't give a ratz azz if people are popping me the finger. Matter of fact, I find it entertaining to see people foaming at the mouth, red in the face and eyeballs popping out because I'm "in their way". Well, f**k them.

Even 15 MPH over the PSL doesn't gain you squat for a 10-20 mile drive (unless you think it's worth arriving about 30-60 seconds sooner is important).

Same, I always try to stay within 5 MPH of the posted limit. I'd rather have people fly by me while going a little slower and instead of passing me while im pulled over.

Unfortunately this is what happens when you drive a high profile car not to mention "speeding" through a work zone. It's not finished until they take the signs down or it says otherwise. You rolled the dice and that's how the game is played. Next time you'll know to look out for chargers, especially black ones. There is a good chance it's an undercover cop. I've had my fair share of being tailed by cops waiting for me to do something.

This thread needs more TEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!

+1 to what Nuke and 09cs said. I usually drive within 10 mph of the PSL (my speedometer is off a little, according to GPS, so it's really more like 5 mph). People pass me, but I don't care. I pay enough taxes. I don't want to give the government any more money. I do try to stay out of the left lane most of the time.

I stay within 5-10mph of the PSL - unless I'm on the back roads.

But I do change lanes a lot - however I use my signal WELL in advance of any lane change. People that go weaving through the lanes without signaling really grind my gears.

The cop singled you out because you were in a mustang, no big surprise. He was probably just mad because he spends everyday in a crappy charger. Fight it in court.

In my areas where I drive, something I found out about most cops: they will pull you over is you stand out. Sure, the car you drive being one (no matter whether you dive a Camaro, Challenger, Corvette, or Mustang).

Hell, the last ticket I got was in the middle of night, and there is no way the cop could tell what kind of car I was driving until he was close enough.
The reason why he singled me out was because I was stupid enough to drive with my fog lamps on. He probably clocked me over a mile away, and since he saw 4 eyes coming at him out of a pack of no less than 5 cars, I was the easiest to keep track of until I was close enough for him to light me up.
Lesson learned: I dont drive with my fogs on unless I actually need them.

Speaking of lights,: HID projectors with their blue tints are also easy to track at night. Out of a pack of cars that are all speeding, the car with the blue lames will probably get the ticked because he is so easy to track even if everyone in the pack slows down upon sight of the cop.

I do have to admit, I believe I actually talked my way out of a ticket because the cop who pulled me over was probably a fellow car guy. He wrote me a warning, and while we were on the side of the rode, we talked about cars for a good 20min or so before he said he had to get back to work. He probably would have gotten in trouble for sitting still when his duty for day required him to actively drive up and down the road.

My dads a cop and I guess he is different from most of them since he lets guys who are driving nice muscle cars or trucks off with a warning. Now he always gives the guy in a rice bucket a ticket though :icon_goofygrin:

Where in Alabama are you? Was this bull **** on 565? lol. My attorney got me off with court costs and traffic school. Didn't have to go to court and he got it off my record. Had to pay his fees, court costs, traffic school.

Sorry to hear about the misfortune OP. Hate to be the dick in the crowd, but fact of the matter is that you were still breaking the law. The fact that other people were doing it too makes you less likely to get pulled over, but doesn't excuse you (or them). It's the gamble we take when we drive fast cars fast.

The whole construction zone thing has become a scam. I have heard city council members debating designating an area a construction zone 2 years early so they can "collect the enhanced fines". It's all about revenue, nothing to do with safety.

Cop driving in an unmarked charger explains everything. He's such a hater! But on a serious note, if you are able to, do what others have mentioned. Hire a Traffic Lawyer and see where it goes. Best case, everything gets swepted under the rug. Worst case, fine cost is reduced and you get a small slap on the hands.

Who knows, maybe the cop had a bad week. Drove home from work, saw a blue mustang drive out of his drive way. Walked in the house and his wife was walking around smiling and glowing bright like a Grabber Blue Mustang. Who knows, lol.

Good luck bro ;0)

I hate to be a debby downer too, but when I want to go fast, I take it to a track. Safe, and no cops. And its not just about you, its the other people on the road.

My question becomes this: At which point could you state that speed was a mechanism of self defense? I have had multiple occurences where on the freeway, where I typically run within 5 of the limit, people will cut me off, slam on their brakes, try and force me to pull over, or throw **** at my car. My typical response being to drop a gear and pass them at 110-120 and run like hell for five minutes untill they are way behind me. I wonder how a cop would react to that situation...

I disagree. Two years may be excessive, but putting up the construction signs the day it starts doesn't get people in the habit of paying more attention BEFORE people are actually there working.

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

I am not trying to say I didn't legally deserve the ticket or that I wasn't speeding. It just peeves me at the reason I was pulled over to begin with. Just seems over kill.

To the guy who asked. This is the construction on I-65 in pelham. Between the Tank farm exit and valley dale road.

There is still construction going on about 3 miles up ther road from there (459 - 65 interchange) towards vestavia. I guess that why they are leaving that 5 miles of finished road in the zone... which also means it will remain part of the zone for another year or so... though they should move the zone up to where construction is actually taking place but I guess there is to much paper work involved with that.

Anyone know what having a ticket like mine would to to my insurance? I thought about calling my agent but I am a little concerened that they may re run my DMV record and up my rates earlier than if I let it stay under the radar.

Also how much does it cost for a traffic lawyer?

Who says drivers need to be "in the habit"? That's a stupid reason to put up construction signs. People so stupid they need to be "trained" shouldn't be driving in the first place. Read the signs, obey the signs. What is so hard about that?

Yeah, believe me they do single us out! This is from about a year ago!

"I was on the way to work the other morning and had seen several state troopers, so I had the cruise control set on the limit (65). I had the Redline RD on and when it went off I looked down to make sure the speed was OK. There were 4 other cars in the group and I was bringing up the rear. When the tooper rounded the bend he hit the lights and made a U Turn. I figured he was after one of the other guys who were long gone. But sure enough he pulled me over and said he had me locked in at 76 mph. I said I didnt really understand why because my cruise control was set on 65 and I asked him if he could have locked onto one of the other cars. He said no he clocked me at 76. I stated again that I really didnt understand that and told him that he set my radar detector off and I looked down and made sure I wasnt speeding and didnt touch anything and was really shocked when he stopped me. He asked me why I had a RD if I wasn't speeding and then turned real nice and asked me where I worked and said I had a beautiful car. Then wrote me a warning ticket. I think he locked on to someone and stopped the fastest looking car and when I started talking logically to him (and I wasnt speeding) he decided it probably wouldn't make it through court. Anyone else ever have that happen?
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Mark"

That does suck. I've gotten a few tickets but I won't be surprised if I was singled out because of the car I drive. If I were you, I hire a lawyer and take it to court. I'm not sure but I don't think unmarked cars are allowed to pull motorists over. I'm sure that cop singled you out because of the Mustang that you are driving. Also, if you didn't see any constructuin signs up, then that's another good reason to fight that ticket.

I've been pulled over (all separate times) for 70 in a 55, 80 in a 65, tinted license cover, tinted windows, etc...and every time I do a couple things that have helped me get out of every ticket:

#1 - Dont be a dick to the cop, Use your "Sir" or "Ma'am" etc...
#2 - Pull over in a safe spot for them. If on a main road, look for a nearby side street, so they're not exposed to faster traffic (Put your hazards on as soon as they flash their lights though). If you can't get to a slower street, try and angle your car towards the edge of the shoulder, so you're almost shielding them from traffic.
#3 - Tell the truth, but only when asked. You don't tell him as soon as he walks up "I'm sorry I was doing 85 in this 65 zone".
#4 - You can always just not break the law, lol

Yeah, I was nice to the cop, said "good morning Officer", only said anything when asked, the only thing he said to me outside of Let me have your licence and insurance was he said, "You where going 70 in a 55" I said, "oh, it felt like I was only going 60. I am sorry if I was driving to fast" He walked away came back with a ticket printed out and said, "The radar says your where doing 70 but I know you where going faster." In the notes section of the ticket he put "*73" meaning He thought I was going faster. He then said "If you have any questions call the number at the bottom" then he walked off.

I actually leaned out the window and asked if this was a ticket. He said, "It is a citation" I then said. "Oh, The last time I got a ticket 10 years ago I actually had to sign the ticket so I was a little confused" He just turned around and walked back to the car.

THe guy was not very friendly at all.

@Mark, I've had the opposite happen.

I wasn't aware of the speed limit so I was accelerating to 65mph - and it turned out to be a 55 zone. Detector went off and a cop pulled over the guy I was passing.

Just wanted to share mine...Took the first road trip in the Stang last wknd. As we were getting on the hwy the wife tells me "NO speeding, I don't want any tickets" about 1/2 hr later a silver Subaru WRX and a bright yellow Audi S4 blow by maybe 90 or so. I look at them with longing wanting to join in but since I have company the answer was no. 15 minutes later I see both of them pulled over whew......

good one,

you reminded me of one in the same construction zone when there was actually work going on...

Three guys on crotch rockets driving the dashed lines between all us other cars sitting there...

about 15 minutes later I see them pulled over with two or three cops behind them...

could only imagine what kind of trouble they got into..

Sounds like he had quite the stick up his ass.