Not doing too good with speeding tickets lately

[Brent]

I don't know what the deal is, but I've been getting speeding tickets lately. I've got 2 speeding tickets within 2 months time. I just got one today. Was going 71 in a 55, yes 16 MPH over the speed limit. In my defense, I was in a rental car (use to driving an SUV) and I had a sports car for my rental (car is in the shop), and I was traveling downhill down the mountain today on a new section of road they have paved that is much wider and smoother now, and there was no traffic or cars around me. In that car, on that road, the speed I was traveling felt very comfortable, it didn't feel like I was going as fast as I was, and I wasn't even looking at the speedometer, and I didn't know that section was 55 MPH.


So, 71 I was going in that section, and there was a State Trooper on the other side of the road passing by me, he turned on his lights, slowed down and turned around in the road and as soon as he did that I knew my butt was his. I quickly pulled over and knew I had no excuses, he caught me fair and square.

Problem is, I just got another speeding ticket a couple of months ago, in a different county on a different road, but I wasn't going as fast, and so I'm kinda worried now about the points on my license. He didn't get me a "ticket" that I can just pay off. He said I have to go to court on October 18th and see what the DA says.

So now I have to show up to court on the 18th and see what is going to happen. Here in NC going 15MPH over the speed limit over 55MPH can get you your license taken away for 30 days. And, if I already have points on my license from the other speeding ticket, this one could add up to a high number that may require me to take some kind of class or have some kind of probation time or something.

I'm pretty worried about it. I think my last speeding ticket prior to these two has to be 10 years ago! So its been quite a while, but all the sudden I've got a couple in a short amount of time and the point system is pretty strict here.

 

[pork3]

Here in NC going 15MPH over the speed limit over 55MPH can get you your license taken away for 30 days. .

Really? Yikes. I can understand school zones and some other instances, but that seems harsh. Over here, in Ontario, the only time I ever had to go to court was for going 60kph above the speed limit on the 401, and that was when I was young and stupid.

Thanks for the heads up next time I drive through NC.
Good luck.

-Jamman

 

[Captain_Nick]

I'm just coming off a one month suspension for going thirty over the limit. I feel your pain.

 

[Amaris]

I don't know what the deal is, but I've been getting speeding tickets lately. I've got 2 speeding tickets within 2 months time. I just got one today. Was going 71 in a 55, yes 16 MPH over the speed limit. In my defense, I was in a rental car (use to driving an SUV) and I had a sports car for my rental (car is in the shop), and I was traveling downhill down the mountain today on a new section of road they have paved that is much wider and smoother now, and there was no traffic or cars around me. In that car, on that road, the speed I was traveling felt very comfortable, it didn't feel like I was going as fast as I was, and I wasn't even looking at the speedometer, and I didn't know that section was 55 MPH.


So, 71 I was going in that section, and there was a State Trooper on the other side of the road passing by me, he turned on his lights, slowed down and turned around in the road and as soon as he did that I knew my butt was his. I quickly pulled over and knew I had no excuses, he caught me fair and square.

Problem is, I just got another speeding ticket a couple of months ago, in a different county on a different road, but I wasn't going as fast, and so I'm kinda worried now about the points on my license. He didn't get me a "ticket" that I can just pay off. He said I have to go to court on October 18th and see what the DA says.

So now I have to show up to court on the 18th and see what is going to happen. Here in NC going 15MPH over the speed limit over 55MPH can get you your license taken away for 30 days. And, if I already have points on my license from the other speeding ticket, this one could add up to a high number that may require me to take some kind of class or have some kind of probation time or something.

I'm pretty worried about it. I think my last speeding ticket prior to these two has to be 10 years ago! So its been quite a while, but all the sudden I've got a couple in a short amount of time and the point system is pretty strict here.

You either need a parachute or a lighter pair of shoes.

 

[Captain Ice]

I'm pretty worried about it. I think my last speeding ticket prior to these two has to be 10 years ago! So its been quite a while, but all the sudden I've got a couple in a short amount of time and the point system is pretty strict here.

Have you been to court for the first one yet? Over here, you can wipe a ticket off your record entirely if you have not had one in over two years by just paying for and attending a defensive driving refresher course. Cost is usually about $110.

Oh, and with two tickets, your insurance is probably going to go up.

 

[Canadave]

Here in NC going 15MPH over the speed limit over 55MPH can get you your license taken away for 30 days.

*does some math*

So, you can lose your license for doing 112 km/h? Most people around here tend to do at least that on the highway...

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I'm not sure that was the interstate he was on. Plus, he was in a mountainous area, which may indicate particularly dangerous road conditions.

 

[Venardhi]

I seem to have the mutant ability to sense cops coming from a mile away. Some have speculated that I was bitten by a radioactive highway patrolman at some point during my childhood. I don't drive dangerously fast, but I speed consistently and have avoided even a minor ticket for nearly 10 years of driving now. (no accidents either)

Awareness is very important when driving, both in safety and avoiding tickets for such meaningless things as going a little too fast in a coupe that can stop quicker going 80 than an SUV going 40.

With the situation you describe though, as long as you haven't already fessed up entirely and given them a "yes, I was going this fast" at any point on the record, you should be able to plead ignorance of your speed and since they would have no hard evidence and be going just on the estimate of the cop (since he was coming towards you, he has no way of knowing how fast you were going via pacing you to his own speed) and possibly the very flawed reading of the radar gun (which are often badly calibrated and misread within a 5 MPH range even in optimal conditions) you could probably talk your way out of it or at least down to a lesser charge.

Good luck.

 

[RoJoHen]

2 tickets in 2 months? I'm pretty sure that's enough to get your license suspended in Illinois these days.

 

[Canadave]

I'm not sure that was the interstate he was on. Plus, he was in a mountainous area, which may indicate particularly dangerous road conditions.

Doesn't 55 mph imply a highway?

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm not sure that was the interstate he was on. Plus, he was in a mountainous area, which may indicate particularly dangerous road conditions.

Doesn't 55 mph imply a highway?

Not necessarily. It could also just be a random country road.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

2 tickets in 2 months? I'm pretty sure that's enough to get your license suspended in Illinois these days.

Has it changed here? Used to be 3 moving violations in any 1 year period would get you a 6 month suspension.

Also, in Illinois, 30+ over can be written as reckless driving instead of a speeding ticket, and that can get you some kind of automatic suspension.

I used to get a lot of speeding tickets, usually in bunches, and was suspended for a while.

The last 10 years, I still get 'em, but infrequently enough to be able to get supervision and therefore no insurance increase.

Not to mention (in Illinois) they increased the "court costs" portion of your fine. A $75 speeding ticket used to total out to maybe $100, now it's more like $175.

 

[RoJoHen]

2 tickets in 2 months? I'm pretty sure that's enough to get your license suspended in Illinois these days.

Has it changed here? Used to be 3 moving violations in any 1 year period would get you a 6 month suspension.

One of my co-workers got her license suspended because she got two tickets in the last few months. She's only 19, though. I think there might be different laws for people under 21.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Are you sure those weren't tickets #2 & #3 for her?

But you may have a point on the under 21 thing.

 

[Pingfah]

I don't know what the deal is, but I've been getting speeding tickets lately.

Could the deal possibly be that you are driving your car too fast?

So, 71 I was going in that section, and there was a State Trooper on the other side of the road passing by me, he turned on his lights, slowed down and turned around in the road and as soon as he did that I knew my butt was his. I quickly pulled over and knew I had no excuses, he caught me fair and square.

Had he clocked you officially with a radar unit?

 

[iguana_tonante]

I drive in Italy. It's like the jungle over here.

 

[Pingfah]

^ Personally I like the Italian tendency to abandon vehicles in the middle of the pavement, or anywhere happens to have a car or bike sized gap available.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Heh, it's just five minutes. Time for an espresso. Or buy the newspaper. Maybe say hi to a friend. What's with all the hurry? Take it easy.

 

[Deckerd]

I watched a documentary about the French traffic police working the day they call Black Friday, which is the last weekend in July. This is the weekend the whole of Europe drives through France. It was utter mayhem but one of the most interesting things was what the cops had to say about European drivers. Apparently, and I didn't believe this, the Germans are the worst, followed by the Italians and the French, second equal*. The best drivers in Europe are the British, who are the most disciplined and the most law abiding. So there.

*Actually now I recall it was the French who far and away the worst, with the Germans and Italians being second equal. The bit I didn't believe was that the Germans were some of the worst drivers.

 

[Kestra]

I'm not sure that was the interstate he was on. Plus, he was in a mountainous area, which may indicate particularly dangerous road conditions.

Doesn't 55 mph imply a highway?

No, a lot of the roads out by where I grew up have a 55mph limit. It's rural and flat, so it's not uncommon.