Speeding ticket. What can I request during my hearing?

[LawIntoThyHands]

Hello,

I was pulled over today for speeding. This is my first speeding ticket ever since I got my license 3 years ago (when I was 17).

Anyway, the speed limit was 35mph. The officer clocked me at 57mph. Hopefully, I may be able to get the fine reduced.

I have 2 questions:

1. What's the difference between clocked and radar?
2. Do judges often give first time speeders warnings or reductions?

My transmission stalls (that may not be the right word) and to "fix" the problem, I must step hard onto the pedal which causes a burst in speed. The other option is to slow down to about 20mph which I couldn't do because a car was tailgating.

I was between 35mph and 38mph when it stalled. My V8 engine did the rest.

[LawIntoThyHands]

EDIT:

56mph...not 57.

[retdetsgt]

Clocked is where the officer follows you and clocks your speed. The way I used to do it was get to the point that it appeared we were going the same speed, I'd let off the gas and as you just started to pull away, I'd "get the clock". That would give you the benefit of any doubt in court as to your speed.

And yes, judges will often reduce fines if you go to the trouble to appear in court. I'd get a hearing, pled guilty and then explain about the transmission.

[acreature]

Technically clocked could be vascar... but typically, it's the same... RADAR, just a figure of speech ("Clocked")

You can speak with the DA prior to court, if allowed.

You can speak with the Judge at the time of the trial.

You can hire an Atty and he/she does all necessary leg work.

First offense, typically works in your favor in Court, but 56/35 isn't just "speeding"..... It's an arrestable speed here in NC.

[LawIntoThyHands]

Clocked is where the officer follows you and clocks your speed. The way I used to do it was get to the point that it appeared we were going the same speed, I'd let off the gas and as you just started to pull away, I'd "get the clock". That would give you the benefit of any doubt in court as to your speed.

And yes, judges will often reduce fines if you go to the trouble to appear in court. I'd get a hearing, pled guilty and then explain about the transmission.

I thought clocked and radar was the same thing....thanks for the info!

I'll be heading to the courhouse this week...

[LawIntoThyHands]

First offense, typically works in your favor in Court, but 56/35 isn't just "speeding"..... It's an arrestable speed here in NC.

Yeah. It's always best to do the speed limit, but some states are tough!

[acreature]

Yeah. It's always best to do the speed limit, but some states are tough!

VA is worse :eek:

[scott715us]

"clocked" when I use the word is the speed I locked on the radar. If I get behind you and maintain the same speed, it means I "paced" you. We have both "radar" and "pace" on our tickets. First time offenders in our jurisdiction usually get traffic school. 20+ over will not look good and the judge may be a little harsher. I don't think the "transmission error" is going to fly. Just because you had to step harder on the pedal would not cause you to go that much over the limit.

[LawIntoThyHands]

"clocked" when I use the word is the speed I locked on the radar. If I get behind you and maintain the same speed, it means I "paced" you. We have both "radar" and "pace" on our tickets. First time offenders in our jurisdiction usually get traffic school. 20+ over will not look good and the judge may be a little harsher. I don't think the "transmission error" is going to fly. Just because you had to step harder on the pedal would not cause you to go that much over the limit.

The ticket has clock and radar seperate.

Normally, I would step onto the pedal then immediately slow down once the transmission acts normal, but again, a car was on my tail. I wanted to put some distance in between the tailgater plus unstick the tranny.

[acreature]

Screw the tailgater. Mak'em wait. Had you been doing the limit, the cop woulda probably picked him out instead ;)

[R1364]

Deleted by poster

[Old Trooper]

IMHO, "clocked" ,"paced", etc. are just semantics and would have no bearing on a case, especially when an officer is testifying to the facts. The transmission problem tells me that you were knowingly operating an unsafe vehicle. The fact that you had to stomp on the gas pedal to "fix it" says the car should have been on a lift being repaired, not on the highway! Pay the fine....next case!

[Deputy757]

Yeah...if you start throwing in a lot of qualifiers (meaning...my transmission slips so I have to stomp on the gas sometimes AND by the way, there was a tailgater behind me so I kept it stomped for a while...etc, etc.) the judge is not going to be nearly as inclined to cut it down as opposed to just being honest and saying...I was speeding!

[lindat2957]

Yeah...if you start throwing in a lot of qualifiers (meaning...my transmission slips so I have to stomp on the gas sometimes AND by the way, there was a tailgater behind me so I kept it stomped for a while...etc, etc.) the judge is not going to be nearly as inclined to cut it down as opposed to just being honest and saying...I was speeding!

Yup, just remember judges hear excuses all day...some excuses can burry you deeper...The ooops sorry, any way I can go to traffic school, method is always best. In Ca. they will give extensions or payments if you need more time to pay the ticket.

[GoDirectly2Jail]

IMHO, "clocked" ,"paced", etc. are just semantics and would have no bearing on a case, especially when an officer is testifying to the facts. The transmission problem tells me that you were knowingly operating an unsafe vehicle. The fact that you had to stomp on the gas pedal to "fix it" says the car should have been on a lift being repaired, not on the highway! Pay the fine....next case!

I would also like to add to Old Trooper's excellent post that noone determines the speed of your car but you, and that includes the tailgater. If another car wants to be on your ***, there's nothing you can do about it. Don't speed and you won't be pulled over for speeding.