Traffic Tickets and why going to court is the only thing to do
So I got a ticket maybe2 months ago.. I was clocked at 54 in a 45 zone.. The cop charged me
with 44 in a 35 zone.. I wasn’t sure if I could get off completely by proving the speed limit was 45 or not.. So I went to the GSO Department of
Transportation and got a map showing the speed limit was clearly 45.. I figured there was some statue or habeus corpus, something that would maybe keep
them from raising the charge back to the 54 they clocked me at..
So I went to court the first time about a month ago, plead not guilty, and got assigned a court date.. That took about an hour of my time.. I got to
sit with a bunch of people who had done everything from DUI to expired tags.. The best part was waiting in line outside the courtroom with the riff raff
asking “Yo man where I go for child support.. Dat hoe keeps tryin to say its my babay..”.. So I had my court date, and what I hoped would be my
defense..
I also got a ticket for 83 in a 60 zone in Charlotte a few weeks ago I have coming up so it became more imperative that I get this ticket handled
right..
So my court date arrives today.. I show up, plead not guilty again.. The cop is clearly there.. I have my evidence.. The DA tells me that he can
actually put in for a motion to have the chages raised to what I was clocked at 54.. It then becomes pointless what the speed limit is cause I was still
in violation of the law then.. 54 in a 35 or 54 in a 45.. (Hopefully you figured that out).. But then the (typically expected plea deal)..
“Well Sir.. You do have every right to a trial, and you can present whatever evidence you would like.. But to not waste the courts time I will let you
plead guilty to improper equipment which is 0 points on your license.. Not a moving violation”.. So I take the plea.. No points on my license.. The county
got what they wanted.. They got 135 in fines vs the 125 that was on my ticket..
So..In summary kids.. Always push for a trial.. They will always offer you something lower and lower and lower.. You don’t need a lawyer.. It just
takes maybe 3 hours of your time.. My insurance is clean.. There are still no moving violations on my record.. (Way better than a prayer for judgement
which some folks like to bargin for)..
So yeah.. $10 more now, and thousands less in insurance later..
Enough time slacking off.. I have homework to do..