I guess there is a "Silver Lining"

[The emperor has no clothes]

A few weeks back I got a speeding ticket. 35 in a 25. I kind of put it out of my mind. Work has been kicking this old mans ass. Have today off and thought I'd better take care of it. Got to the court house about 8:30 and little business.  Walking in they have a couple security guards and a metal detector. The 23 year old kid tells me take everything out of your pockets and put it thru the conveyor. Walk thru the detector and beeps. I turn around and point to my belt. The 23 year old sarcastically informed me the belt was the first thing he told me to remove. Mind you, there is nobody else around except for the 60 year old 325 lb. sidekick, who could barely get out of the chair. I look at the young kid and tell him "excuse me I didn't hear you". Now, I'm starting to get a little irritated as I'm removing the belt. I'm sure I was shaking my head as I was mumbling curse words. By now the old guy has gotten out of the chair and tells me "Thank You". I respond "yeah, no problem" in my most sarcastic tone I could muster. Off to the next set of government workers. 3 booths open. One guy standing at one with no one present. The second booth has 2 gals bullshitting. The third has a sign saying they only do passports and such, no tickets. Little ticket dispenser with a sign saying take a ticket. I do, a roll of twelve comes out. I tear off the first. Sit on the bench and listen to the workers BSing for ten minutes. Finally walk up and say I've got a ticket to pay. Did you take a number ? Yes. Ok, I'll call you when I'm done here.  Go back to the bench. She looks at me and says I need to sit right in front of her.  Now, I'm starting to think these SOB's are just messing with me. First booth lady comes back, the huddle breaks up. She says what's your number ? I respond 37. The readout shows "now serving 34"  She looks disgusted and just responds ok come on.  ??? Takes my ticket and instead of looking on her computer walks back to a file cabinet.  ??? Comes back says $195, you want to pay it all ? Evidently thievery has become so profitable the government has mortgage officers waiting in the next cubicle.  I pay it all and walk away shaking my head.
  I guess the silver lining in my case is I've not been involved with the courts for long enough to be out of touch with the system. I guess it's a sign of old age when a 75 in a 45 felt like robbery at $40.
  I think I'll have a beer, watch John Wayne, and feel old and out of touch.

[Oss]

too late now but
this is what you do


Plead not guilty to the ticket
show up for court date
take the offer of no points and smaller fine

Thats what we do in the small towns of ny
In NYC all bets are off, its like your story   

[Serk]

Do me a favor...

Remember that experience the next time someone calls for government run healthcare.  

[Pete]

Aren't you just glad you are not getting all the GOV you are paying for! 

[The emperor has no clothes]

too late now but
this is what you do


Plead not guilty to the ticket
show up for court date
take the offer of no points and smaller fine

Thats what we do in the small towns of ny
In NYC all bets are off, its like your story   

I thought about it. But the prospect of it didn't seem worth it. Hopefully there won't be a next time soon. 

[Red Diamond]

Do me a favor...

Remember that experience the next time someone calls for government run healthcare.  

Remember what you just said Rob about there not being a next time. These are small things that you can control and be in control of most of the times. I haven’t had a ticket of any kind in about 50 years, don’t like speeding, not saying you are one either. That little lapse cost you time, money and frustration having to deal with arrogant people.

What in the hell does government run healthcare have to do with a speeding ticket.

[Jess from VA]

Unless fighting it (or trying for a good deal per OSS), I would never go to court on a simple moving violation.

I go online, click a bunch of buttons, and pay with a card.  Just a little harder than Amazon.

BTW, $195 for a 10 over sounds like highway robbery to me (even in expensive NoVA).

Unless that 25mph limit was a school or residential, they can get a little pissy about that.

Last (and only) time I showed at Fairfax County traffic court, there were 350 people and cases waiting, with Spanish translations going on for most of them.  It took all day long, and I'm never going back.... unless they insist.  I was afraid if I went to take a leak, I'd miss my case and get a bench warrant issued, so I sat for hours needing to drain the weasel in the worst way.  (no lunch break)

It's a three ring circus down there.  If I had a new 16yo driver, I'd definitely make him go down and spend a day watching before he got his license.  

Today if I had a 16yo at home, I'd just shoot myself and get it over with.  

[Serk]

What in the hell does government run healthcare have to do with a speeding ticket.

The bureaucracy, poor work ethic, inefficiency of the entire system he had to go through to take care of paying the ticket shows how poorly the government solution to..... anything... turns out.

[Jess from VA]

What in the hell does government run healthcare have to do with a speeding ticket.

The bureaucracy, poor work ethic, inefficiency of the entire system he had to go through to take care of paying the ticket shows how poorly the government solution to..... anything... turns out.

And I will add another small caveat:  The more complicated and expensive the government program is, the more screwed up it is.  It's guaranteed.

[The emperor has no clothes]

What in the hell does government run healthcare have to do with a speeding ticket.

The bureaucracy, poor work ethic, inefficiency of the entire system he had to go through to take care of paying the ticket shows how poorly the government solution to..... anything... turns out.

And I will add another small caveat:  The more complicated and expensive the government program is, the more screwed up it is.  It's guaranteed.

I will add a caveat to your caveat. There are many big government plans that run well. There are even many small government plans that run well. The court systems and law enforcement of Arizona mostly seems geared to fiscal enhancement. They run that program well. Hence the employment of Barney Fife and Jackie Gleason as security guards making $15 an hour. It was not a school zone. It was a main artery thru a residential area at 9 pm after putting up lights at my Inlaws. Tucked off a side street plucking off dumb old men.

[oldsmokey]

I'll go with the beer and John Wayne. 
And do my best to forget about that pound flesh they just tore off my butt.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

By paying is a admission of guilt and probably means nothing to you but the points that come with it are job killers for CDL  .You got points by paying and not the good kind of points.  Very possible you will see a insurance hike as well.

[NewValker]

There are many big government plans that run well. There are even many small government plans that run well.

OK, I’ll bite....after 10 years working for the State of Massachusetts & 12 years working for the DPW in my town, I can’t name one.
Please name some for us...

Craig

[Hook#3287]

There are many big government plans that run well. There are even many small government plans that run well.

OK, I’ll bite....after 10 years working for the State of Massachusetts & 12 years working for the DPW in my town, I can’t name one.
Please name some for us...

Craig

Ha!  Good one Craig.

But, come to think of it, if your a recipient, welfare, food stamps, rent subsidies are GREAT gobment programs that work well.

[Mr Whiskey]

By paying is a admission of guilt and probably means nothing to you but the points that come with it are job killers for CDL  .You got points by paying and not the good kind of points.  Very possible you will see a insurance hike as well.

Yep!

too late now but
this is what you do


Plead not guilty to the ticket
show up for court date
take the offer of no points and smaller fine

Thats what we do in the small towns of ny
In NYC all bets are off, its like your story    

This is what worked for me, & I had a 77 in a 50 with construction barrels!
Cost me $270 in fine & cost + a days pay to go to court,
but no points on my Commercial.
Worth every penny

[98valk]

is that town controlled and run by democrats?

[The emperor has no clothes]

is that town controlled and run by democrats?

Nope, probably about the most conservative county in America. 

[art]

A few weeks back I got a speeding ticket. 35 in a 25. I kind of put it out of my mind. Work has been kicking this old mans ass. Have today off and thought I'd better take care of it. Got to the court house about 8:30 and little business.  Walking in they have a couple security guards and a metal detector. The 23 year old kid tells me take everything out of your pockets and put it thru the conveyor. Walk thru the detector and beeps. I turn around and point to my belt. The 23 year old sarcastically informed me the belt was the first thing he told me to remove. Mind you, there is nobody else around except for the 60 year old 325 lb. sidekick, who could barely get out of the chair. I look at the young kid and tell him "excuse me I didn't hear you". Now, I'm starting to get a little irritated as I'm removing the belt. I'm sure I was shaking my head as I was mumbling curse words. By now the old guy has gotten out of the chair and tells me "Thank You". I respond "yeah, no problem" in my most sarcastic tone I could muster. Off to the next set of government workers. 3 booths open. One guy standing at one with no one present. The second booth has 2 gals bullshitting. The third has a sign saying they only do passports and such, no tickets. Little ticket dispenser with a sign saying take a ticket. I do, a roll of twelve comes out. I tear off the first. Sit on the bench and listen to the workers BSing for ten minutes. Finally walk up and say I've got a ticket to pay. Did you take a number ? Yes. Ok, I'll call you when I'm done here.  Go back to the bench. She looks at me and says I need to sit right in front of her.  Now, I'm starting to think these SOB's are just messing with me. First booth lady comes back, the huddle breaks up. She says what's your number ? I respond 37. The readout shows "now serving 34"  She looks disgusted and just responds ok come on.  ??? Takes my ticket and instead of looking on her computer walks back to a file cabinet.  ??? Comes back says $195, you want to pay it all ? Evidently thievery has become so profitable the government has mortgage officers waiting in the next cubicle.  I pay it all and walk away shaking my head.
  I guess the silver lining in my case is I've not been involved with the courts for long enough to be out of touch with the system. I guess it's a sign of old age when a 75 in a 45 felt like robbery at $40.
  I think I'll have a beer, watch John Wayne, and feel old and out of touch.

Darn you got screwed. I lived in Prescott Valley awhile back an got a ticket for 35 in a 25. Went to court, nobody there but me, talked to the judge an found out he was a biker. Got off with a reduced fine and a nice conversation with him.

[98valk]

is that town controlled and run by democrats?

Nope, probably about the most conservative county in America. 

they knew u weren't a conservative and gave u the higher fine. 

[Jersey mike]

WOW $195 for 35 in a 25, that's really breaking the sound barrier, bet the cop was real proud of himself all day for that one. I bet he went home and even told the wife and kids too.

This is one reason I'm no big fan of LEO's. Whatever happened to cops showing some discretion on the spot, you're obviously not a kid racing through a neighborhood or blowing through a school zone with little kids out walking. They can see your driver abstract when they punch in your license ##.

If you're clean a simple warning "Sir you're in a 25 zone watch your speed" would be sufficient, but that help bring in revenue.

[Oldfishguy]

A few years back I picked up a ticket for 73 in a 55 on the bike.

My high school lawyer friend told  me to take a biker safety course first and then we went to court; I paid a $42 administration fee and was done.

Except I owed my lawyer friend a favor and installed a new hydraulic door closer at his office door after I noticed the old one was wore out..

A barter system at its best.

[cookiedough]

yah, what the heck is this world coming to.  When my dad got drunk downtown (often), the local cop on same street we lived on would drive dad back home.  Those were the good old days.   ???

Now, the fuzz stops people for supposedly not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign in this one horse town..

I still remember my older brother in teh 1980s coming home drunker than a skunk and heard on police scanner dads car license plate.  My brother fell asleep at the wheel age 19 or so and flipped dads car into a ditch.  Local cop in next county my dad knew told us we could check him for drinking vs. just inattentive driving but will let it go this time. 

Now,  local police in next town will ticket you EVERY time (as evident by all the tickets written in the local newspaper) for doing 41 in a 35 mph speed zone on the major hwy. 69 that runs thru their town.   All they do is sit there and nail people all day long for speeding. Personally I think it should be 40 mph thru there NOT slow speed of only 35 since is a major hwy. since our town speed limit is 50 mph on same hwy. 69 but is not as populated intersections with less businesses on each side of the hwy.  Our hwy. 69 should be 45 mph not 50 since every year 2-3 major accidents resulting in deaths happen within 300 yards of my house.

I would take off work and go to court if it meant NO points off my license so my insurance rates do not go up hopefully.

[3fan4life]

Times certainly have changed.

My brothers and I were talking at Christmas about how dad used each one of us as his designated driver.

I was 12 yrs old and driving him home from the bar.

[Jersey mike]

the high cost of tickets and the points that with them are a HUGE reason I used my cruise control in my vehicles ALL THE TIME, especially in the low speed areas. It keeps the foot off the gas in low speed zones especially when the road is empty and it looks like "I can get and extra 10mph or so over and no one will notice." Usually in low speed zones i'm 4-8mph over set on C/C, except in school zones and I see kids. That's one of the few things I can say good about where I live, the school zones are really wide open and have excellent field of vision. if kids are out, there's no missing them.

I've been trying to teach the kids to use their cruise control as much as possible too, it just takes away that urge to be a little heavy on the gas. Plus once it's set you know your speed is good to go. Many, many years ago we had a car that had a buzzer or something that my dad would set on the speedo if it went over the set limit.

[Gavin_Sons]

Recently one of the roads on my way to work changed from 45 to 25, that is coming into town on a 55mph highway. I kept wondering why cars were being pulled over then one day i finally spotted the new signs. It use to to from 55 to 45 then to 35 then a stop sign, now it is 55 straight to 25 then stop. I see cars get busted every day on that little 1 mile stretch. Luckily i have not been caught yet.

[98valk]

Recently one of the roads on my way to work changed from 45 to 25, that is coming into town on a 55mph highway. I kept wondering why cars were being pulled over then one day i finally spotted the new signs. It use to to from 55 to 45 then to 35 then a stop sign, now it is 55 straight to 25 then stop. I see cars get busted every day on that little 1 mile stretch. Luckily i have not been caught yet.

that town is most likely breaking state law which requires speed limits to drop gradually like it did until they wanted a speed trap to increase their salaries, etc., etc.

[Gavin_Sons]

Recently one of the roads on my way to work changed from 45 to 25, that is coming into town on a 55mph highway. I kept wondering why cars were being pulled over then one day i finally spotted the new signs. It use to to from 55 to 45 then to 35 then a stop sign, now it is 55 straight to 25 then stop. I see cars get busted every day on that little 1 mile stretch. Luckily i have not been caught yet.

that town is most likely breaking state law which requires speed limits to drop gradually like it did until they wanted a speed trap to increase their salaries, etc., etc.

agreed

[old2soon]

NO/NONE/NADA guarantees but when you are stopped for speeding ask the L E O How you were clocked for speeding. Ask nicely. Then you ask the L E O to please seal the unit and hold it in evidence against you. Even Highway Patrol types do NOT wanna lose a revenue generator. Especially a small town with one or two squads don't wanna lose a revenue generator. Mostly when I have been stopped while exercising Phatt Ghurl long as it ain't near reckless I generally git a verbal warning. But I did in fact run up on a young M H P type tryin to make his bones. He called a supervisor when I wanted that unit sealed and held. The 15 minute wait was worth it when the supervisor told him I was perfectly within my rights to ask what I asked. NO ticket that day but when That cop sees me I duz git the ol evil eye thingy!  RIDE SAFE.

[98valk]

NO/NONE/NADA guarantees but when you are stopped for speeding ask the L E O How you were clocked for speeding. Ask nicely. Then you ask the L E O to please seal the unit and hold it in evidence against you. Even Highway Patrol types do NOT wanna lose a revenue generator. Especially a small town with one or two squads don't wanna lose a revenue generator. Mostly when I have been stopped while exercising Phatt Ghurl long as it ain't near reckless I generally git a verbal warning. But I did in fact run up on a young M H P type tryin to make his bones. He called a supervisor when I wanted that unit sealed and held. The 15 minute wait was worth it when the supervisor told him I was perfectly within my rights to ask what I asked. NO ticket that day but when That cop sees me I duz git the ol evil eye thingy!  RIDE SAFE.

Great Info. Thanks. 

[Jess from VA]

NO/NONE/NADA guarantees but when you are stopped for speeding ask the L E O How you were clocked for speeding. Ask nicely. Then you ask the L E O to please seal the unit and hold it in evidence against you. Even Highway Patrol types do NOT wanna lose a revenue generator. Especially a small town with one or two squads don't wanna lose a revenue generator. Mostly when I have been stopped while exercising Phatt Ghurl long as it ain't near reckless I generally git a verbal warning. But I did in fact run up on a young M H P type tryin to make his bones. He called a supervisor when I wanted that unit sealed and held. The 15 minute wait was worth it when the supervisor told him I was perfectly within my rights to ask what I asked. NO ticket that day but when That cop sees me I duz git the ol evil eye thingy!  RIDE SAFE.

That is interesting Dennis.   

I bet VA has a $1000 surcharge (or some such) for sealing the unit for evidence. 

[3fan4life]

NO/NONE/NADA guarantees but when you are stopped for speeding ask the L E O How you were clocked for speeding. Ask nicely. Then you ask the L E O to please seal the unit and hold it in evidence against you. Even Highway Patrol types do NOT wanna lose a revenue generator. Especially a small town with one or two squads don't wanna lose a revenue generator. Mostly when I have been stopped while exercising Phatt Ghurl long as it ain't near reckless I generally git a verbal warning. But I did in fact run up on a young M H P type tryin to make his bones. He called a supervisor when I wanted that unit sealed and held. The 15 minute wait was worth it when the supervisor told him I was perfectly within my rights to ask what I asked. NO ticket that day but when That cop sees me I duz git the ol evil eye thingy!  RIDE SAFE.

That is interesting Dennis.   

I bet VA has a $1000 surcharge (or some such) for sealing the unit for evidence. 

Probably but it can't hurt to ask.

[Jess from VA]

NO/NONE/NADA guarantees but when you are stopped for speeding ask the L E O How you were clocked for speeding. Ask nicely. Then you ask the L E O to please seal the unit and hold it in evidence against you. Even Highway Patrol types do NOT wanna lose a revenue generator. Especially a small town with one or two squads don't wanna lose a revenue generator. Mostly when I have been stopped while exercising Phatt Ghurl long as it ain't near reckless I generally git a verbal warning. But I did in fact run up on a young M H P type tryin to make his bones. He called a supervisor when I wanted that unit sealed and held. The 15 minute wait was worth it when the supervisor told him I was perfectly within my rights to ask what I asked. NO ticket that day but when That cop sees me I duz git the ol evil eye thingy!  RIDE SAFE.

That is interesting Dennis.   

I bet VA has a $1000 surcharge (or some such) for sealing the unit for evidence. 

Probably but it can't hurt to ask.

Well I'd sure as a heck ask FIRST. 

[Hooter]

Don't lose your receipt and keep it with you.