Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Got a Hall of Fame level Chickenshit ticket last week

I haven't had a ticket since 1982. Been pulled over several times since but never got a ticket. I think maybe it's the crying that works.

In all seriousness, if you have the time to do it I'd ask for a jury trial. Explain to six regular people that you're sorry but can't afford a big fine. I've seen juries fine people $1 instead of several hundred.

I'm not sure they could change the charge to keep it off your record though.

The worst is seatbelt tickets. Good gawd what a joke. Though a good runner up was getting pulled for having a tow ball. It made it "difficult" for her to run my plate. I laughed and asked why are you running my plate? Then I had to do a field sobriety test. I don't think she thought it was funny.

My experience with tickets are the opposite. Before I was a more clear thinking man and before the Lord touched my heart I got a couple of tickets for minor infractions and was relieved. I had made a right on red at an intersection that is infamously unsafe. Cops saw me and wrote me up. I was thankful and relieved because I had just left a dinner gathering at a club and had approximately 12 vodka tonics while there. A 100.00 ticket was way better then any DUI would have been.
One night after work I got a speeding ticket for 48 in a 35 zone. That 140.00 fine was a blessing also as me and a coworker had just recycled a case of MGD's while doing some quick fix stuff on our personal vehicles.
Any traffic tickets I get from now on are just make up for the times they missed the actual crimes before. Those DUI's I should've had would have landed me in jail for elevated alcohol levels and their closeness together.

A few years back, I got 8 citations for various driving offenses in a 12 month period. Matter of fact, I was taking a driving class because of a ticket and the 2nd day of the class, I got another ticket. I managed to keep all but 2 off my record. Ask for a jury trial. If the officer doesn't come in, you'll probably walk.

Got a ticket once for doing 54 mph in a 35 zone around a sharp curve.....I was driving a '79 Ford Fairmont. The rear tires were admittedly bald...It was raining...my then wife was watching the speedometer like a stinkin' hawk.

When the officer pulled me over and asked if I knew why.....I had not a clue.

He told me I was going 54 mph around that bend. I kinda chuckled and said "There is absolutely no way that this car with these tires can make that turn at that speed"

He said "you wanna see the vascar readout"

Nope. Just write the ticket.....Thank you for keeping me safe.

I don't know what I'd do about a seatbelt ticket.

At least now that you can ride motorcycles wihtout a helmet. Hell you can ride em without seatbelts too.

I'd have to go to court on that one.

Luckily I quit being stupid and mostly have one on, in fact the female end died in my explorer, and cost me 170 to have it replaced... but it was worth it IMHO.

You kinda change your mind on a lot of things at times, when you are often first on scene....

Taking a shytt on the seat next to you, and be consentrating on "stirring" with your finger works too.
But they back off from you with their hand on their gun....

friend of mine is an expert.
go to the prosecuting attorneys office the day before your court date, and ask for a " continuance for dismissal", pay probably double the fine, and keep it off your record.

Don't break the law, and you won't have to pay for "extortion."

I got one of those years ago. They are CS.

If you go to traffic court, know that the judges are not really interested in you arguing the point. IF you take to court, go with a lawyer or you will not get results. Lawyers know how things work, you don't.

Getting a lawyer for a simple ticket is overkill and will cost you more than your rates will increase. I'd either 1.) ask Isaac or 2.) beg the judge. Maybe both.

I have had more than my fair share of tickets over the years. I can only remember one ticket that I got, that I did not deserve. I fought that one and won. Most all the others I paid up and moved on.

However, a couple times I contacted the county attorney, or city attorney, depending on the situation, and asked about showing up for my court appearance rather than paying.

I was asked, are you going to contest? I responded, no, I just want to know what my options were as to mitigating the negative effects on my record. Both times I had the attorney give me an option to avoid the points going on my record. One time was an option to go to a defensive driving course. Another time I had to pay what would have been the fine amount to the county and they simply dropped the speeding. Another time, I had the option to pay extortion money (did I say that out loud?) above and beyond the fine and court costs and, as long as I did not get another moving violation in that county for a year, the violation would be deferred and no points.

What I'm saying is, There is no harm in asking.

My TX CHL has gotten me out of several speeding tickets with just a warning from TX DPS Troopers. Haven't had a ticket in years.

Yep, just do as you're told, mind your P's and Q's, etc.. It sticks in my craw. Stupid laws deserve to be broken. Like gun laws...I totally disregard them...and I don't much give a rats a$$ what 'the system' has to say about it. Same goes for emissions stickers and expired license plates...it has nothin' to do with safety and is ALL about generating revenue for the government. The same government that nearly everyone here gripes about. One that really takes the cake is to get a seat belt citation from a motorcycle cop. Talk about hypocritical bullSch!t designed to do nothin' more than generate revenue...!

unless you roll through a stop on a decently well travelled road, then a ticket is Barney Fife looking for something to do.

On the other hand, think of all the other times you probably deserved one and never got caught!

Got one about 8 years ago for 50 in a 35. Sounds bad, but it is a divide 4 lane, and from the traffic light you accelerate up hill at first then it levels out. A modern car with 5 or 6 speeds trans will jump to 35 in 2nd, then shift-shift-shift as you let off the gas and voila, you're at 50! I was streamed to get nailed, but what was I to say when the dude said "I would have given you 10 over"? I paid.

Willie T got stopped in Mississippi by state patrolman. LEO walks up to the vehicle and taps on the window with his baton. Window down...asked Leroy...."Know why I stopped you?" Reply is "Naw suh" Cop tells him "You didn't make a complete stop at the stop sign!" Reply back was "But I slowed down...it's the same thing!" Cop replied and told him "No it's not!" Again...cop tells him "No it's not! Get out and I'll show you!" Willie T climbs out and when he's clear of the vehicle the cops starts whipping his azz with his baton and hollers "Now...you want to to STOP....or SLOW DOWN?"

I've heard that one about three times in the last two days....but thanks!

I got a seat belt ticket once.

Just got done doing roadside clean up and was taking a load of [bleep] to the dump.

Approaching a stop sign I slowed down and noticed my tarp was loose and some trash fell out.

So I got out, secured the trash and some other stuff, put it in the truck, fastened the tarp better, got it the seat and put it in drive as I buckled up.

The trooper saw that and swung around to come back.

He was nice enough to hear the explanation, which was plausible considering the trash. After a small condescending dissertation about how I should have buckled first then placed it in drive, he gave me a choice.

The seat belt ticket, or the $1,000 fine for littering - which I had stated during my explanation.

Dick.

I took the seat belt violation, and $50 later, my hitman at the courthouse had it tossed.

In spades...!

Takes a special kinda miserable prick to do $ch!t like that.

Too many small towns rely on citation revenue to help balance the books - they call it "traffic safety". Too many supervisors look at your ticket book activity as a means for evaluations. Good activity with verbal warnings can go a long toward getting the public to correct bad driving without hitting their wallets.
Your demeanor at the stop can help your "cause" immensely.