cantankerous Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 Last September I got rolled on my way to work doing 90 in a 55. I was a little late and usually don't see many popo's on my way to work. Anyhow, the popelian gives me a $427 ticket and sends me on my way. When I went to the court the one time told me to go to, the receptionist said she had no record of the ticket and that if they didn't receive the proper paperwork by the next day (my court date) then it would be dropped. I called the next day and she said she hadn't received anything and i'm off the hook! Fast forward 6 months... I get a DMV letter in the mail saying my license is going to be suspended for failing to appear! So I go back to the lady that helped my before...she says, "Oh the municipal court said you didn't appear, this is circuit court." So I went down to the courthouse to talk to the judge but he was busy dropping the hammer on some other unlucky sap. I explained the situation to the clerk and she said the po wrote the wrong court on the ticket and I don't have to pay sh-t! 90 in a 55...and I pay NOTHING! hahahaha! Can anyone top that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 I can't top that but I just beat a ticket about a month ago. A cop was hiding at the bottom of a short but steep hill. I coasted down the very short but steep hill and went up to about 55 mph at the bottom where it was posted 35 mph. Now there were no cars in front of me and no traffic anywhere to be seen so it wasn't reckless or anything. The cop gives me a ticket for 53mph in a 35mph. I tell the cop it is a speed trap hiding at the bottom of a hill and I'll see him in court. I went to court and he didn't show so the ticket was dismissed. It felt good to walk away with no ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevestojan Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 I can't top that but I just beat a ticket about a month ago. A cop was hiding at the bottom of a short but steep hill. I coasted down the very short but steep hill and went up to about 55 mph at the bottom where it was posted 35 mph. Now there were no cars in front of me and no traffic anywhere to be seen so it wasn't reckless or anything. The cop gives me a ticket for 53mph in a 35mph. I tell the cop it is a speed trap hiding at the bottom of a hill and I'll see him in court. I went to court and he didn't show so the ticket was dismissed. It felt good to walk away with no ticket. I'm never one to speak negatively about police officers, but seriously, don't they have anything better to do than sit in a spot where it is next to impossible to stay under the speed limit (at the bottom of steep hills) and give people tickets who are ONLY speeding at that particular moment? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 I'm never one to speak negatively about police officers, but seriously, don't they have anything better to do than sit in a spot where it is next to impossible to stay under the speed limit (at the bottom of steep hills) and give people tickets who are ONLY speeding at that particular moment? You obviously don't know how small municipalities fund a lot of things. It isnt't really a bad thing, because either all the locals taxes go up, or the police write lots of tickets to fund themselves. If they didn't police and fire departments would be a lot smaller in those tiny areas, and then people would B word that there isn't one around when you need one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantankerous Posted May 3, 2008 Author Share Posted May 3, 2008 I went to court and he didn't show so the ticket was dismissed. It felt good to walk away with no ticket. Same thing happened to me about a year and a half ago. I got a $300 ticket for failure to obey a traffic control signal (stop sign). I plead not guilty and the po didn't show up. There were about 20 other people there that day with tickets from the same cop. We all left extremely happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodBye Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 Just stay out of Portland. If my sister catches you speeding she won't make a mistake in the paperwork. I can guarantee that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ans4e64 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 You obviously don't know how small municipalities fund a lot of things. It isnt't really a bad thing, because either all the locals taxes go up, or the police write lots of tickets to fund themselves. If they didn't police and fire departments would be a lot smaller in those tiny areas, and then people would B word that there isn't one around when you need one. Oh okay, that makes it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Don't go in the carpool lanes with less than the minimum # of people (2 -or 3 on the bridges) here in Cali.The fine is $271 and I have heard of $371 in some areas. I worked with someone who got a ticket for it on Christmas morning. The cop pointed out that the sign says Mon- Fri and does not say anything about holidays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VABills Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Oh okay, that makes it right. For certain places, yeah it does. It is a way to control revenues for those counties and only "taxes" the speeder/bad drivers. So overall it does help control the law breakers and provides a source of funding to places that may not have the income otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullim4 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 I'm never one to speak negatively about police officers, but seriously, don't they have anything better to do than sit in a spot where it is next to impossible to stay under the speed limit (at the bottom of steep hills) and give people tickets who are ONLY speeding at that particular moment? mmm... Every time I've gone down Stevens Pass heading east on US 2, there's been a state patrol cop clocking people on the way down. I guess the People's Republic of the Puget Sound needs additional funds to continue its socialist browbeating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 ALWAYS go to court (well if you can)! I had a number (actually 2... ) of them thrown out because the officer failed to show up... Seemed the person representing the village (prosecutor I take) was irked when the officers didn't show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 mmm... Every time I've gone down Stevens Pass heading east on US 2, there's been a state patrol cop clocking people on the way down. I guess the People's Republic of the Puget Sound needs additional funds to continue its socialist browbeating. It is a double edge sword... I suppose the cops love it too! I take they get more funding and keep the patrolmen working and their ranks up! Kinda like a toll booth, they always never come down... The "war on drugs" is SORT OF the same thing... I wouldn't mind if I was a cop, got overtime and was guaranteed a steady customer! I am very pro union... But you gotta love the police unions, they know how to stay in business and keep the rank and file working (even working OT) and their numbers up! You can always find something to do under the heading of safety... It is a great catchall! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 I can't top that but I just beat a ticket about a month ago. A cop was hiding at the bottom of a short but steep hill. I coasted down the very short but steep hill and went up to about 55 mph at the bottom where it was posted 35 mph. Now there were no cars in front of me and no traffic anywhere to be seen so it wasn't reckless or anything. The cop gives me a ticket for 53mph in a 35mph. I tell the cop it is a speed trap hiding at the bottom of a hill and I'll see him in court. I went to court and he didn't show so the ticket was dismissed. It felt good to walk away with no ticket. See that is the thing FiSD... I had two tickets thrown out after being issued in speed traps... Both had the speed limit 35 going west and 45 going east... ON THE SAME FREAKIN' STRETCH OF ROAD! I am almost wondering if the cops knowit won't hold up in court and don't show... Maybe the town or village lets them issue the tickets hoping that people will plead guilty by mail and just pay? ?? That is why YOU ALWAYS GO TO COURT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generaLee83 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 You obviously don't know how small municipalities fund a lot of things. It isnt't really a bad thing, because either all the locals taxes go up, or the police write lots of tickets to fund themselves. If they didn't police and fire departments would be a lot smaller in those tiny areas, and then people would B word that there isn't one around when you need one. That may be true in Virginia but where I work as a police officer almost 90% of the fines collected on traffic tickets go back to the state in the form of surcharges and fees. I work for a 15 man department which runs a minimum of two officers 24/7/365. Last year our department wrote over 1000 tickets which netted the municipality a total of about $10,000 in fines collected, the state got all the rest. Apply this $10,000 to the cost of maintaining and operating a court (a full time court clerk who makes over $30,000 per year and a part time judge collecting $20,000) and suddenly one realizes that this municipality isn't making any money off of writing tickets which is a very good thing. I was trained to believe that issuing a traffic ticket is a means of educating the operator of their driving violation(s), not a means to collect money. I only issue a traffic ticket when I feel that a verbal warning and some discussion is not going to help coach the violator to become a safer driver. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
generaLee83 Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 ALWAYS go to court (well if you can)! I had a number (actually 2... ) of them thrown out because the officer failed to show up... Seemed the person representing the village (prosecutor I take) was irked when the officers didn't show. If you miss a hearing in my department you not only risk a tongue lashing from the boss man but also a suspension. If you write the ticket or make the arrest then you should be prepared to defend your accusations, it's justice on the most basic level. As for showing up to court I recommend it to everyone that I issue a ticket to, quite often the person will be able to take a plea bargain or a reduced fine. Simple atonement for ones actions almost always reduce the punishment where I work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 If you miss a hearing in my department you not only risk a tongue lashing from the boss man but also a suspension. If you write the ticket or make the arrest then you should be prepared to defend your accusations, it's justice on the most basic level. As for showing up to court I recommend it to everyone that I issue a ticket to, quite often the person will be able to take a plea bargain or a reduced fine. Simple atonement for ones actions almost always reduce the punishment where I work. And it is like the cop is gonna lose... But the speed trap thing (signage, etc.. etc..) has got to be a big money maker via mail! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 That may be true in Virginia but where I work as a police officer almost 90% of the fines collected on traffic tickets go back to the state in the form of surcharges and fees. I work for a 15 man department which runs a minimum of two officers 24/7/365. Last year our department wrote over 1000 tickets which netted the municipality a total of about $10,000 in fines collected, the state got all the rest. Apply this $10,000 to the cost of maintaining and operating a court (a full time court clerk who makes over $30,000 per year and a part time judge collecting $20,000) and suddenly one realizes that this municipality isn't making any money off of writing tickets which is a very good thing. I was trained to believe that issuing a traffic ticket is a means of educating the operator of their driving violation(s), not a means to collect money. I only issue a traffic ticket when I feel that a verbal warning and some discussion is not going to help coach the violator to become a safer driver. On a speeding ticket in NYS... The state surcharge is 55 bucks... The ticket (depending on speed) is around 165 bucks... That is not 90%. I should know, I just got one in Westfield, NY (82 in a 65 with the children in the back!)... First one in +15 years driving back and forth to BFLO every 2 months! Of course I couldn't drive +400 miles to make court! Cheaper to pay the 165... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExiledInIllinois Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Maybe the surcharge was 110... I can't rememeber... Still that is 66% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 Best ticket I ever got away with was the one the NY State Trooper didn't write. I used to have a client in Cortland and would try to make the 4 hour drive back to CT in closer to 3 1/2 (3:20 was the all time record). So I was doing 90 the whole way down I-81; probably slowed to 85 as I went around the big curve in Binghamton. The trooper was behind one of the little hills in the median and pulled out immediately after I went past. I slowed down to about 65 or so and he rode my bumper for about 2 miles (obviously calling my plate in), and after he got his answer, slowed down and pulled off the road. Phew! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 See that is the thing FiSD... I had two tickets thrown out after being issued in speed traps... Both had the speed limit 35 going west and 45 going east... ON THE SAME FREAKIN' STRETCH OF ROAD! I am almost wondering if the cops knowit won't hold up in court and don't show... Maybe the town or village lets them issue the tickets hoping that people will plead guilty by mail and just pay? ?? That is why YOU ALWAYS GO TO COURT! You might be right. I guess I should get a ticket in the same place and go to court again to find out ? Ahhh, nope, just kidding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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