Speeding Ticket

[Aunt T]

Before I start my rant, let me just say that I do recognize that I was in fact speeding.

I was greeted on my way to work yesterday by one of our men in blue. And although I am in fact guilty as charged, I am fuming mad at receiving a speeding ticket. I was moving with the flow of traffic, actually trying to move from the outer lane to the far right to slow my speed down (I had moved over earlier to allow oncoming traffic to merge). As soon as I got into the right lane, the man jumped into his car and flipped on his light. Cars sped past me as I searched for a place to pull off.

It seems that going with the flow of traffic does not constitute speeding, however if I were to slow down to the posted speed I would surely be trampled. So I am faced with breaking the law or defending my life. Law/life. Law/life.

Am I completely wrong and just cranky that I'm the one that got caught?

I don't even know the cost of the ticket yet. I have to call in to find out then either obligingly pay the fine or go to court.

[HairBall]

Why would you go to court? What would your defense be? You admitted you were speeding. Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn't mean you should too....and that's generally not acceptable as a defense in court. Of course, you could go to court and hope the cop doesn't show up, in which case you win. Otherwise you just waste a couple hours of your life and wind up paying the same fine you could have just mailed in without wasting those hours. But, on the other hand, maybe the cop needs the overtime by appearing in court........

Cops consider it to be "fishing in a barrell". You're the "lucky" fish they happened to catch. Some refer you (being the one who's caught) as "winning the lottery".

Don't be mad at the cop for ticketing you. If you need to be upset with someone, be mad at yourself for not controlling your own speed. Your life wouldn't have been in danger had you been travelling at the posted limit.....although I'm sure you would have been the target of a few crude gestures. You chose to speed because you thought you could get away with it since everyone else was too.

These are just my opinions, but you did ask people's opinions.....

[Aunt T]

Ah, the voice of reason. Guess I needed a good dose. I do agree with each of your points, and yes, I am mad at myself. I do however feel unsafe driving the posted limit when traffic is moving 20 to 25 mph over (I wish I were exaggerating). So, I am resorting to surface streets.

What is the saying "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"

Thanks for the vent!

[ex_cdr]

Is defensive driving an option in the state where you live?

[marinnat]

Aunt T- I feel for you! I think you stood out in the crowd because you were trying to move over and get out of the way of the moving traffic. Had you just kept going, you may not have caught his eye. I always try to 'go with the flow' because it's less noticable - any faster or slower and you get nailed.

On a side note - while in Los Angeles once, I was going the speed limit (because I didn't want a ticket and didn't quite know where I was going) and had cars passing me left and right. I mean ZOOMING past me! A CHP pulled ME over and gave me a ticket for having my windows tinted! I told the officer I was just passing through his town on the way to San Diego, I was going the speed limit, and how come he didn't pull someone else over for speeding? He said my red car caught his eye and he noticed me because I was going slower than everyone else! I had to remove the tint (which was slightly darker than allowed) and pay a fine!

[Aunt T]

Marinnat - your story sounds like a classic case of "danged if you do and danged if you don't!" I know removing the tinting must have cost a pretty penny, with the ticket on top of that.

The laws also seem to be subjective where I live. I have been very careful about doing the posted speed limit. I have been the receiver of honks, nasty gestures, vocal abuse, etc. But that's ok. I'm abiding by the law. But what gets my goat is when I'm passed by a police officer, in a marked car, with no lights or siren to indicate that he/she is on the way to an emergency. This has happened three times in the last week.

I've almost resolved to the error of my ways. I'm still irritated, but what's a girl to do?

I have not checked out defensive driving. Would taking this class remove the ticket from my record?

[Luna Sea]

Aunt T, I don't know how they work these things in your neck of the woods but my hubby got a ticket here in Florida last year. He opted to go to driving school for 4 hours on a Saturday morning and the "points" were wiped from his record.