Things to do/say to avoid a speeding ticket
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Nyack, NY
Lots of variables. Start out by being as polite as possible. Say as little as posible. If he/she is a regular joe/jane and your paper work is in order and there is no standing order to issue a ticket with each stop, you may get a pass.
If you get the ticket, remain polite, say as little as possible.
Take the ticket and plead not guilty. Reason 1, the cop may not show up in court, Reason 2, some departments will let tickets accumulate for years until it is worthwile to pay the officers time in traffic court. This buys time and allows the case to get stale. Much easier to settle up then. Just make sure you settle up if you plan on moving. Imagine that ! you go to the court and ask to settle up an old ticket. Reason 3, Lets make a deal! The last two speeding tickets I got- which were 5 years apart- The judge would ask, or the officer would call you aside and review your case and present ( depending on the charges of course ) an offer to have you plead guilty to a lesser charge. That's where keeping your mouth shut and being as polite as possible pays off.
The officers write down what was said, where you were stopped, who was in the car..etc.. When it comes to make the deal, he/she will review thier logs, see you were co-operative and if the court
plays along, just want to extract some money from your wallet using the fastest, cleanest method possible. Do I hear deal?
If you get the ticket, remain polite, say as little as possible.
Take the ticket and plead not guilty. Reason 1, the cop may not show up in court, Reason 2, some departments will let tickets accumulate for years until it is worthwile to pay the officers time in traffic court. This buys time and allows the case to get stale. Much easier to settle up then. Just make sure you settle up if you plan on moving. Imagine that ! you go to the court and ask to settle up an old ticket. Reason 3, Lets make a deal! The last two speeding tickets I got- which were 5 years apart- The judge would ask, or the officer would call you aside and review your case and present ( depending on the charges of course ) an offer to have you plead guilty to a lesser charge. That's where keeping your mouth shut and being as polite as possible pays off.
The officers write down what was said, where you were stopped, who was in the car..etc.. When it comes to make the deal, he/she will review thier logs, see you were co-operative and if the court
plays along, just want to extract some money from your wallet using the fastest, cleanest method possible. Do I hear deal?
Member
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: south mississippi
This one didn't work for me.....
Officer, I was in a hurry because my wife here is pregnant.
She doesn't look pregnant to me. How far along is she?
I guess about twenty or thirty minutes.
Here you go.
Where do I sign?
Officer, I was in a hurry because my wife here is pregnant.
She doesn't look pregnant to me. How far along is she?
I guess about twenty or thirty minutes.
Here you go.
Where do I sign?
Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
Unfortunately, there isn't any great universal excuse that will get you out of a traffic ticket.
My best advice is to be polite and truthful. Police officers have an incredible amount of discretion. The only way you're going to get them to use a little on you is if you seem like a reasonable person. Most of the time, I know whether I'm going to warn you or write you before I walk up to your window. During the next 30 seconds, it's entirely possible that you'll change my mind. Some people redeem themselves and earn a warning. More people earn themselves a ticket. I write tickets to only about 10% of the traffic stops I make.
If I ask you how fast you were going, it's not only because I'm trying to record your confession of guilt on the microphone to my in-car camera. It's also because I'm trying to find out what kind of a person you are, and determine if a warning is sufficient.
Just don't attract attention to yourself. You're guaranteed a ticket if you have a "420" sticker on your car.
Don't drop names. We're not easily impressed. See "earning yourself a ticket" above. Being someone who might save my life always helps. Surgeons, doctors, nurses and firemen have one up on the rest of you.
If you're stopped by the California Highway Patrol, then none of this applies. You're getting ticket...period.
My best advice is to be polite and truthful. Police officers have an incredible amount of discretion. The only way you're going to get them to use a little on you is if you seem like a reasonable person. Most of the time, I know whether I'm going to warn you or write you before I walk up to your window. During the next 30 seconds, it's entirely possible that you'll change my mind. Some people redeem themselves and earn a warning. More people earn themselves a ticket. I write tickets to only about 10% of the traffic stops I make.
If I ask you how fast you were going, it's not only because I'm trying to record your confession of guilt on the microphone to my in-car camera. It's also because I'm trying to find out what kind of a person you are, and determine if a warning is sufficient.
Just don't attract attention to yourself. You're guaranteed a ticket if you have a "420" sticker on your car.
Don't drop names. We're not easily impressed. See "earning yourself a ticket" above. Being someone who might save my life always helps. Surgeons, doctors, nurses and firemen have one up on the rest of you.
If you're stopped by the California Highway Patrol, then none of this applies. You're getting ticket...period.
Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Northwest
I lost my licence twice when I was a teenager. I was always polite and cooperative, and none of my speeding tickets were for more than 15 mph over. Nothing worked for me.
So, I stopped speeding so much. No speeding tickets for 10 years now. I always stay within 5-6 mph of the limit, well within citation range around here.
So, I stopped speeding so much. No speeding tickets for 10 years now. I always stay within 5-6 mph of the limit, well within citation range around here.
Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
From: college station,tx.
I have to tell you I am new to this site but it is really nice to see that not everyone is bashing the Police. I am in law enforcement and a member of other sites that love to bash us all the time and it is hard to keep quiet and stay polite.
As far as getting out of a citation, the best thing I can say is be not only polite but sincere and admit your mistake. We get lied to so much out there that when someone is polite and honest with me I try to reward them by cutting them a break with a warning or a lesser charge.
Now I have to go find out if I'm getting a great deal on a left over 2001 Supercrew 4x4.
As far as getting out of a citation, the best thing I can say is be not only polite but sincere and admit your mistake. We get lied to so much out there that when someone is polite and honest with me I try to reward them by cutting them a break with a warning or a lesser charge.
Now I have to go find out if I'm getting a great deal on a left over 2001 Supercrew 4x4.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Morgantown, WV(college) OR Lusby, MD(home)
mine.... and it worked
"Sorry officer for speeding, I need as much speed as to get up the hill here. This little 2.9 engine won't make it up a hill."
A Bronco II, with the 2.9(140HP, 160lbs/ft... when running good) doesn't work really well in Western MD and West Va.
"Sorry officer for speeding, I need as much speed as to get up the hill here. This little 2.9 engine won't make it up a hill."
A Bronco II, with the 2.9(140HP, 160lbs/ft... when running good) doesn't work really well in Western MD and West Va.
