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+--- Thread: Fighting a Speeding Ticket in Fairfax (/showthread.php?tid=1620)
Fighting a Speeding Ticket in Fairfax - Ginger - 01-21-2005
Specifically a 75 in a 55, 3:15am, on Rt. 66 just before the Rt. 123 exit. Registered on radar.
I've never had a ticket that I felt was silly before, I always figured that I deserved what I had gotten, but this time I think this one is pretty lame. I regularly see traffic do 75 there during the daytime (although I realize this isn't really a supportive argument) and at 3 in the morning I don't really see any big safety threat in it. Of course I can't really stand up in front of a judge and say that: I'd be guaranteed to receive a full fine. Repentence is the way to go, I've heard, but I wonder if the judge would question the validity of such a plea after the ticket I received last March in Fairfax.
Does anyone have any good firsthand tips, or know any good lawyers in the area that would charge me an arm and a leg? My insurance companies would really love to see this... I'm sure.
- BLINGMW - 01-21-2005
man, I'm not from around there, and I know the area you're talking about... kinda like, damn, it's 55 here?! :? I'm sure they LOVE nailing people there. I'm not a big fan of lawyers for speeding tix, I can't see how that pays off for such a minimal thing. Did he write you up for wreckless? If it were me, I'd show up, plead for a reduction, just see what happens. Traffic court is such a crap shoot....
- JohnC - 01-21-2005
Pleading is your best bet. Regardless of how stupidly slow the limit might be, you were exceeding it - sorry :?
- CaptainHenreh - 01-21-2005
Were you on your bike? Did the officer drop it any at the scene?
Repentance is the way to go. If people routinely do 75 there, then people routinely get tickets for it, and the Judge is aware of that. Ask for a driver improvement course.
No matter what the judge will drop your fine. How many tickets you have on your record, of course, will influence this.
- Dragon - 01-21-2005
Sure people routinely do 75 there, however as you said that's in the middle of the day, lots of traffic, and keeping up with the flow of traffic, not at 3 am where there are very few cars on the road. You had another ticket just over a year ago, sorry to say but you're prolly gonna get bent over on this one. You already lucked out by him just charging you with speeding because IIRC anything that's 20 over is automatically wreckless driving.
I know it sucks man I drive that stretch all the time, but you never see my speedo over 65 unless there's lots of cars around me.
- Mike - 01-21-2005
def sucks, but you're guilty, not gonna get out of it unless the officer doesn't show. i'd recommend taking a defensive driver course BEFOREHAND, admitting you were at fault, and apologizing profusely when you're there.
the online dd courses are pretty nice, if you're interested i can recommend the one i took (have to look it up), i actually learned a lot from it and it changed the way i drive on public roads.
- Feersty - 01-21-2005
I got a speeding ticket for 65 in a 45 coming back from VIR. The court date was in Prince Edward County when school already started. I just paid the $140+. It wasn't reckless because again there were no other cars on the road.
- Mike - 01-21-2005
the reckless charge is not dependent upon the number of cars on the road.
- Dragon - 01-21-2005
Exactly, it's the officer's choice, once you're at 20+ over or 80mph+ it's automatically the officer's option to charge you with wreckless (I think that's the #'s). It looks as if in this case he lucked out, 20 miles over, but the officer didn't charge him with wreckless therefore the judge can't hit him up with it.
- Mike - 01-21-2005
reckless.
- navin - 01-21-2005
You can only hope you have the same judge I had for my car accident hearing..
He was giving people $150 fines for wreckless driving, even some lady that had 3 prior!
- Mike - 01-21-2005
reckless.
- JohnC - 01-21-2005
I'm with Mike on this one. I'd think you would get a big pat on the back for wreckless driving. Insurance folks probably like it too...
- CaptainHenreh - 01-21-2005
rhechleiss.
- Ginger - 01-21-2005
Everybody's pointed out now that I screwed up. And you bet, I sure did. It was a totally avoidable ticket. I used to go through there at 70-80 all the time. I guess when you play the Numbers Game you eventually pack it in and lose. Oh well, lose and learn.
I was in my car, for those that asked, and I was written up as 75/55 non-reckless. The officer didn't feel that I was really being dangerous (he just had to turn in a ticket). Fairfax doesn't have a quota system, however their officers are "strongly encouraged" to make a number each cycle.
I think everyone that has suggested taking an improvement course before I go to court has hit the nail on the head. Mike, I'd be really interested in knowing about the e-course you took. At this point it seems like a lawyer would be throwing money away, so I'll just go in wearing my Sunday best and plead my case..
Thanks for all the responses... I've got a little hope, at least.
- Mike - 01-22-2005
Lawyer? Definitely no, money down the drain.
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I did the point reduction one.
- Andy - 01-23-2005
that's bullshit. I go 75 all the time on 66. everybody does. honestly, it seems pretty random, he was probably trying to see if you were drinking or the like. Hopefully the judge will just slap you on the wrist. Sorry man.
- Sijray21 - 01-24-2005
sorry to hear about the ticket man. Usually they won't pull you over there either, they'll just flash their strobes real quick to get you to slow down. Like everyone else said, just apologize and hope you get a nice judge or the officer doesn't show up.