Your numbers are way off. I would say that you have it backwards.

 

Go ahead and go to court Duke. Court costs and etc not withstanding...if the cop doesn't show (for whatever reason) the judge will dismiss the case. If he does show and you know your going to lose, change your plea to no contest and ask if driving school can help get the points/fine dismissed. I've seen it work several times.

 

First thing.. When you first start to talk: announce yourself. Tell the judge how long you have been driving, what your job is, Etc.. You have to make yourself out to be really responsible. Don't be worried that it sounds stupid because the cops do the same thing.. They announce who they are how long they have been on the force, how many tickets they have written etc. Your just doing the same thing.

Second, can't you just go to traffic school and avoid the whole thing?

I'm all down for going to court but if you lose than your out a whole lot more than if you just go to the traffic school. You have to prove that the officer did something wrong unless you can prove this than you would most likely get screwed by the judge. I would mention that this officer had a problem because "he" said, and quote him: I followed you to the gas station. You need to show that this guy had it out for you and do this by mentioning what he did. At the least the judge will decrease your ticket on those grounds.

I once went to court and when it came down to me not having my current dorm room address on my liscense (becuase I only lived there during school) the judge asked the cop. The cops answer which later I found out was wrong and had never before even been done on a liscense or would even fit was to have two address on a liscense. Well the judge went with the officer so I got 3 points on my record for that.

Another time I got harresed by a cop told the judge what happened and she dismissed the ticket. It was cool when she asked the guy why he did what he did. He had no answer. The cop even plea bargened with another couple inorder to make it to my trial (schedualed at the same time).

Go to traffic school if you can.. If you can't then tell the judge who you are etc. Tell her howthe officer acted expecially the slamming on the breaks. This makes the judge question the motifs/ actions of the officer and makes his credibility the issue- not really your speeding.

Good Luck!

 

Good ideas. I don't think traffic school is an option in MN. I know when I lived in FL, it was, but I haven't seen that option here.

I will use those ideas though.

Duke

 

http://www.dmv.org/mn-minnesota/traffic-schools.php

I have a friend who has gotten out of SEVERAL tickets he deserved, by taking them to court. He does exactly what has been explained; ie. present a concise explanation of his version of what happened, admit to exceeding the speed limit, asks for dismissal of the points by attending court ordered traffic school with a reduction of the fine. Explains that he can't afford it, etc,etc; has learned from this experience, blah, blah. Somehow it works, and in lots of cases (as has been mentioned) the officer doesn't show, or doesn't have the proper docs updated re. calibration of his speed gun, and he gets off. I would think by now the court knows him, he's been in there so much.
Be careful also, about what you say in regards to the officer or the old lady, as it can sound a little too much like a lame excuse and/or defemation of character towards the officer.
Good luck!

 

In the 10 years I have been driving, I have gotten about 6 tickets. My last one was about a year or so ago, for which I went to traffic school and had it deleted off my record. Of all those tickets, regardless of the situation I have never once accused any cop of "screwing me." I realize I was breaking the law, so I took the ticket I deserved, and paid the fine. I have also gotten out of several tickets just with a little courtesy and respect. One time I was pulled over for doing 85 in a 55, and because I was respectful and polite to the officer (called him sir, the whole nine) he let me go with a warning. It is never anyone else's fault but yours that you got a ticket, period. That's my 2 cents...

Also, I dont hate cops. At all. I respect the fact that they have a job to do which may not be the most fun job in the world but they do it anyway so WE can be safe.

 

I have to differ with you there.

The last ticket I recieved was a bad one. It does happen police are not perfect and they can and do make mistakes. I got pulled over for going 65 in a 35. I found out at the trial that this guy said he paced me. Then I remember what street he was coming from (he was coming from a side street). When I figured out that he pulled me over in the span of one block or something like 1/8 of a mile I knew he was wrong. Basically coming from a stop (there was a stop light) he would had to accelerated to 65 in like 3.2 seconds and then only had 1 second to "pace" me and then pull me over.
I didn't think about this at the time (cause I didn't know were he said he followed me from) I was cleared because I told the judge; in a polite manner with respect to the officer (yet questioning his motifs) that I was stopped and the whole incedent took about 1 minute. The cop walked up to the car asked for my ID then my insurance and reg. I said I'm looking for it. He walked away filled out the ticket- walked back gave it to me and then took off, didn't see my insurance /reg. The whole process was 1 minute long. The judge thought this was strange as did I . By the way I wasn't speeding at that time of night that street has about 50 cops on it undercover and not just waiting for racers.
Also do show respect for the officer but point out his actions. You are totaly allowed to do that and if you present it in a good manner you won't look like your trying to smear him. Also ask for the record of the radar gun, usually they cannot find the records so you will win.

P.S. all of my cases the police did show up, I've been pulled over hmmm 10 times? All a ticket except 1.

Good luck

 

I agree- I too have had several tickets, of those, while I may have felt that I had circumstances that led to my disobeyance of the law, I STILL broke the law, thereby deserving the ticket. AND most of the time, they will let you go when you give them respect. I was once travelling down 231 in AL going about 90 in a 55 at 2am and got pulled over (duh), was very polite to the officer, explained that I was just trying to get home and had to be back at work at 10am the same day, and he told be to keep it under 80 (!) and let me go! So they are not all jerks, a-holes, and what not.
my .02

 

Listen fellas, I never said they're all jerks or a-holes.

I was extremely polite to this guy and used all of the courtesys everyone here has described. He never asked for my insurance or registration. He was rude to me and condescending. I could look past that, but to pull up next to me at a light, blare your horn, then call me a liar, and then pull in front of me and slam on your brakes, this seems over the top.

Not to mention when he pulled me over he stuck his head inside my driver side window and looked around inside the truck.

I just recieved a letter that the court date he wrote down was wrong and it's been moved to 12/13. I'm going to do a letter writeup for what I'm going to say as a statement to the judge. I'm very good at public speaking but with this I want to have a stated list of factual events and avoid here say, or prevent him from saying something that alters my train of thought and causes me to forget something he did or said.

Duke

EDIT: I'll actually post it here tomorrow too.