71 MPH in a 40 MPH Posted
06-10-2010, 04:06 PM
#1
1st Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 63
71 MPH in a 40 MPH Posted
Hey guys,
yesterday I got my first speeding ticket, ever. I had just gotten out of work(10am) and was trying to make it across town from Mesa to Phoenix to the VA hospital for a Dr Appt that was at 10:30. I wasn't paying attention to my speed as I was coming around the bend toward the turn to get onto the on ramp and there was 2 motorcycle Mesa cops sitting there clocking people with Laser. The first guy instantly got behind me and threw his lights on motioning for me to cross 4 lanes over and get off the road. I promptly pulled off the road, put it in park, rolled down my window and put my hands on the wheel. He came up and I greeted him and he asked me if I knew what the posted speed was. I said that I believe it is 45 in this area and he said no its actually a 40, do you know how fast you were going? I said I believe I was doing around 50 to which is said no you were doing 71. To which I didn't have much to say because I was kind of blown back by that. He then said give me one reason I shouldn't take you to jail right now for criminal speed to which I said "I apologize Officer, I'm trying to get to the VA hospital over in Phoenix and I was not paying attention to my speed". He glanced at my insurance card and took my license and temp registration back to his bike to run everything. He came back up and said, "I am cutting you two breaks right now, first I am not taking you to jail (criminal speed here is anything over 19 over the posted speed) and I am not giving you a ticket marked "Criminal speed" but instead of "Civil Traffic". He warned me that if he saw me going anywhere near that fast again that he would arrest me on site and said to drive safe. I thanked him and was on my way.
In Arizona you must have 24 months between the times you go to traffic school, I attended traffic school in October of 2008 for a "Failure to Control" ticket dismissal from an accident I was in. That was technically my first ticket but never went on my record because it was dismissed due to the school.
On the citation it says ;
SPEED- Approx 71, Posted 40, R&P 40 -- Speed Measurement Device; Laser
Violation; 28-701A ARS SPEEDING +31
So my two options are pay the ticket in the amount of $371.00 or go to the court date on July 6th and ask the judge to lower the fine due to this being my first offense. Some people say that it is worth it to goto court because sometimes the officer will not show and that is an automatic dismissal. My uncle who is a retired police officer said he thinks that going to court would be unwise because he believes that the judge can decide to change it to criminal speeding if he's having a bad day.
Bottom Line: I messed up, do not have $371 and would like some opinions of people who have been in similar situations before.
(I posted this on AFM as well)
yesterday I got my first speeding ticket, ever. I had just gotten out of work(10am) and was trying to make it across town from Mesa to Phoenix to the VA hospital for a Dr Appt that was at 10:30. I wasn't paying attention to my speed as I was coming around the bend toward the turn to get onto the on ramp and there was 2 motorcycle Mesa cops sitting there clocking people with Laser. The first guy instantly got behind me and threw his lights on motioning for me to cross 4 lanes over and get off the road. I promptly pulled off the road, put it in park, rolled down my window and put my hands on the wheel. He came up and I greeted him and he asked me if I knew what the posted speed was. I said that I believe it is 45 in this area and he said no its actually a 40, do you know how fast you were going? I said I believe I was doing around 50 to which is said no you were doing 71. To which I didn't have much to say because I was kind of blown back by that. He then said give me one reason I shouldn't take you to jail right now for criminal speed to which I said "I apologize Officer, I'm trying to get to the VA hospital over in Phoenix and I was not paying attention to my speed". He glanced at my insurance card and took my license and temp registration back to his bike to run everything. He came back up and said, "I am cutting you two breaks right now, first I am not taking you to jail (criminal speed here is anything over 19 over the posted speed) and I am not giving you a ticket marked "Criminal speed" but instead of "Civil Traffic". He warned me that if he saw me going anywhere near that fast again that he would arrest me on site and said to drive safe. I thanked him and was on my way.
In Arizona you must have 24 months between the times you go to traffic school, I attended traffic school in October of 2008 for a "Failure to Control" ticket dismissal from an accident I was in. That was technically my first ticket but never went on my record because it was dismissed due to the school.
On the citation it says ;
SPEED- Approx 71, Posted 40, R&P 40 -- Speed Measurement Device; Laser
Violation; 28-701A ARS SPEEDING +31
So my two options are pay the ticket in the amount of $371.00 or go to the court date on July 6th and ask the judge to lower the fine due to this being my first offense. Some people say that it is worth it to goto court because sometimes the officer will not show and that is an automatic dismissal. My uncle who is a retired police officer said he thinks that going to court would be unwise because he believes that the judge can decide to change it to criminal speeding if he's having a bad day.
Bottom Line: I messed up, do not have $371 and would like some opinions of people who have been in similar situations before.
(I posted this on AFM as well)
06-10-2010, 04:40 PM
#2
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 2,549
My opinion for what it's worth is to pay the fine. Your uncle being a cop has first hand knowledge and is probably giving you the best advice from experience. I just got one the other day. I was not paying attention and made a left turn on red in front of the cop no less. I do not know your situation but I would have lost more money by not working and going to court trying to get it reduced. I have been told, and do not know how true it is. If you lose your case you can be responsible for court costs also. You may also want to check on that. In your case the cop cut you a big time break. Not only did you not go to jail but I would have assumed they would have taken your license. If you take this to court and the cop shows up you are probably going to be royally screwed. Also you are not going to get it completely removed from your record. So you are in the same boat as I am being how much are the insurance rates going to increase?
06-10-2010, 04:52 PM
#3
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Arlington, Virginia
Posts: 1,305
First of all you are extremly lucky you are not in Jail right now, second don't count on the officer not showing up to court that day as it is his day to go to court. If you do go to court bring a good lawyer as your Uncle is correct. Find a way to pay the ticket. Its one thing to get caught intentionally speeding and another to get caught oblivious of how fast you were going.
About 11 years ago, I was running late and about an hour away from my home my wife was waiting for me for once (were going to a wedding). I had a 1986 Buick Grand National and I was Intentionally speeding, well above double the speed limit on the highway. I came flying around the corner and to my surprise facing me in the emergency lane was a Virginia State Trooper. I thought about running..but then thought better, I pulled over right away turned the car off and waited for the trooper to arrive. The trooper was pissed to say the least and the first thing out of his mouth was "Are you insane", and then "give me a good reason not to arrest you this moment!" My driving record was immaculate, thank GOD! It was the only thing that saved me that day...Went to court, paid the fines, went to driver course to reduce some of the 6-7 points I received, and its just came off my driving record this year.(Yes in VA wreckless stays on your driving record that long)
Sorry for the long story!
About 11 years ago, I was running late and about an hour away from my home my wife was waiting for me for once (were going to a wedding). I had a 1986 Buick Grand National and I was Intentionally speeding, well above double the speed limit on the highway. I came flying around the corner and to my surprise facing me in the emergency lane was a Virginia State Trooper. I thought about running..but then thought better, I pulled over right away turned the car off and waited for the trooper to arrive. The trooper was pissed to say the least and the first thing out of his mouth was "Are you insane", and then "give me a good reason not to arrest you this moment!" My driving record was immaculate, thank GOD! It was the only thing that saved me that day...Went to court, paid the fines, went to driver course to reduce some of the 6-7 points I received, and its just came off my driving record this year.(Yes in VA wreckless stays on your driving record that long)
Sorry for the long story!
Just fun-in. Really, I'd pay the fine. Since you were WAY over the limit....remember, the officer did give you BREAK in the first place.
06-10-2010, 08:23 PM
#8
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Buffalo, New York
Posts: 1,335
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nh5Lh...ext=1&index=17
Wow 19mph over I've been pulled over 40mph over not even a mention of this kind of law. $150 noise violation no driving school no points with a lawyer. I've had 3 tickets and always go to court. Twice without a lawyer still no points. However this is NY not AZ and I have no clue how your traffic courts work. Good Luck
06-10-2010, 08:29 PM
#9
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Acworth, GA
Posts: 12,260
+1, why you shouldn't speed around corners and where you can't see a good 100 yards or so ahead of you!
06-10-2010, 08:33 PM
#10
Lulz, pony up. You play the game and you got caught. Next time use that money to buy a Valentine or drive smarter. Being late is better than never getting there at all.
Last edited by alkemist; 06-10-2010 at 08:35 PM.