DO appear in court, if you and the judge are members of the same fraternity :-)

good luck,
Matthew Z.

 

I get pretty tempted to have a lead foot when grandma in front of me is going 52 in a 55. Sure it's the LIMIT, but can we try and GO the limit? There are alot of people that go JUST under the limit to drive me crazy. Because of this, i can tell you were each and every passing zone is, every open area for passing on 4 lane roads start, and what landmarks people typically drive a certain amount over or under the limit.

All that being said, i usually hold my speed at 4-5 over the limit when no one's in front of me. Just to push it a LITTLE, but not noticeably to po-leese men. Anything more just feels too fast. Again, up until the last mini drive, i never took my car over 70 mph, even in a 65. I'm a big chicken.

Side note: there's a new highway entrance and COMPLETELY open, empty road that leads to it that feels like it should be a 55... but marked it a 35. Can we say speed trap? There's also a road in Beaverdam that drops from 55 to 25. It hurts to go so slow, so fast. You gotta hit your brakes hard to slow down in the itty time they give you from "REDUCED SPEED AHEAD" in the 55 to the big 25 mph sign. I thought it was a joke the first time i saw it.

 

It's amazing but I find the easiest way to really **** some one off is to go the speed limit.



Art

 

Amen, brother!

 

I got a nasty speed contest in my Mustang. I did speed, 35 in a 25, but that was about it. I found that my particluar version of speed contest was 24 hrs in jail, $1000 fine, and 6 months suspension, all minimums. My laywer cost 2 grand, but I got a limit line (tires over the white line on a stop) violation for 1 point and $110 court fees.
I live in CA, but make sure you know how the locality works. In CA, we get HOSED on insurance rates if we get bad tickets etc. The lawyers fees are small compared to what the rate jump would be. It MAY be that you can do OK there on your own, but you should know before you go there.

Matt

 

I second that. And I know from personal experience. A lawyer is worth the price in this kind of matter.

 

It's pretty simple...

National Motorists Association.

http://www.motorists.org

If you're not a member, you should be. They are tirelessly campaigning for the rights of regular drivers like us, against the kinds of legal abuse that the policitians throw out just to make more money for their town/city/county/state.

They may occasionally support a position you don't agree with (I have found that), but the vast majority of their causes are noble and worthwhile. I was so impressed at what they are trying to do that I signed up as a lifetime member, years ago.

Check them out, at least. They're non-profit too.

 

I agree that these speed laws are a complete joke - essentially a form of taxation without representation. I was recently popped in Georgia for 84 in a 65 by a female Barney Fife at the county line on an empty interstate. My new wife and I were in our rented Caddy with "Just Married" paint everywhere and flowers in the car. Mrs. Fife didn't even mention that fact as she "welcomed" us to her county. We must have looked like Bonnie and Clyde because she wouldn't turn her back to us as she walked backwards to her cruiser. Lucky for us, the fine was only a $100 bucks. I guess the local authorities in Valdosta haven't gotten too greedy yet - or else are on too much of Jethro's moonshine to figure out how to swindle turistas!!!

Soofle, I'd recommend vacationing in Montana. Back in '89 I got a speeding ticket on a back road from a local constable. He politely asked me if I would like to pay him the fine of FIVE dollars!!! At that time the speed limit in Montana was "reasonable"! The feds made them change that to get highway money, but "reasonable" is still the de facto limit. That Montana ticket was one of five I got on my 18,000 mile backroads trip around the U.S. That was back in the good 'ol days when other states couldn't affect your state's records. So those five tickets only cost me five dollars. Things have apparently changed for the worse . . .

Unreasonable speed limits are simply un-American!

Good luck beating your bad rap!!!

 

I got an 82 in a 55 in VA. Got an attorney, it didn't go as smoothly as hoped, but with an online traffic school and court costs, he got it dismissed! This was outside of Richmond.

When I say it didn't go as smoothly as hoped, he mostly expected that since I had a clean driving record (had to send him the info) he'd be able to get it dismissed with driving school. Came upon the wrong judge and got it reduced, with driving school. He offered to try again and hope for a different judge but wasn't optimistic. For the little bit extra he charged it was worth a shot to me. Got it dismissed on the next try, but due to my stepmother being terminally ill and bedridden I didn't get the school done in time. He actually got them to extend the time for me to another month, no extra charge from him.

So basically, he's a good guy who seems to have a decent relationship with the powers that be in the Richmond court system. He helped me and I'm pleased. PM me if you'd like his info.

 

BTW, I never did have to show up in the Richmond court.

 

Get a lawyer who the judges in the jurisdiction are familiar with who deal with those cases where it will be tried. That's what I did in a similar situation and got my sentence significantly reduced.

 

Virginia is still very much a good-ole-boy state. Lawyers and judges go fishing or hunting together on the weekends, and plenty of things get decided outside the courthouse. Drsms22 makes a wonderful point.

 

note to self: never make vacation plans for VA.

sorry, but that is just insane. I will stay clear from that state

 

Note to self - don't even DRIVE THROUGH such a ****-state!

 

That's OK, I've driven to Chicago, and after suffering the out-bound traffic for 3 hours, I'm not convinced that you could ever successfully make it to VA. I think you'd either die of old age (or frost-bite) in traffic on the way to Gary, or get raped by the tolls of the Indiana/Ohio turnpike, or have your teeth rattled out on the PA turnpike, or fall off a huge bridge in W. VA, or ...

No state is perfect. I like the quirkyness of VA.

 

If I lived in VA I'd drive a motorship like a Lincoln or Caddilac.
Cruise control, speed limit.
I would have to fight my anti-authoritarian urges.
Not go fast.
Chill out.

 

Hmm, so much for your "public apology" just a few days ago.

Don't ever call anyone or anything "****" while I'm in the room. To me, with Jewish heritage, it's the worst possible insult and unacceptable.

I'm also a Virginian. But, I guess I should be glad you won't be "driving through" the state, though.

 

You can't please everybody, and my apology still stands. There is always *someone* that will be offended by *something*. If you want to over-react to that sentance, be my guest, but in no way is it anything against you, nor could it be construed by a reasonable person.

 

I am also of Jewish heritage, but find nothing offensive when the word "****" is used to describe tactics, or behavior that warrant it.

 

OMG, Kenchan called VA insane! ahamos said it's a "good-ole-boy state"! I can only imagine how highly offended you must be at those too!!


LOL

 

Thanks for the friendly and considerate input, Kaelaria. No need to apologize for being sarcastic or offensive anymore, we all know what your word is worth now.

 

No one will be offended if we don't post things that are always considerate and unoffensive.

Give it a try

 

I know there's no need - I didn't say anything I need to apologize for! LOL

The only way to be ALWAYS unoffensive is to say nothing. The world is a big place, and you don't run it. Deal.

 

You might want to rephrase that one. "No one will be offended if we don't post things." True statement, regardless of any other stipulated condition.

 

Vagt6:

Seems like you are being too thin-skinned for this topic. Anyone who would only post overly PC drivel would never drive a MINI. I find it hard to believe reasonable people would take offense to Kaeleria's "****" reference in this context - It would be almost impossible to post anything if we follow your extreme posting rules. Kaeleria, maybe you could edit your post to change the reference to Klingons, but that could upset a Trekkie.