racing ticket, need advice
 

got a ticket for street racing...spent the night in jail. need advice on how to get out of this ticket. there is not speed listed on the ticket, and i was not dui. any ideas? shit is gonna cost me 1000 bucks and maybe my license.

ben

Nothing you can do.

Judge won't even look at the case usually.

Shouldn't be street racing like that. Hard lesson to learn.

ADVICE....get a lawyer.....listen to him/her.....if you got caught redhanded.....probably not much you can do.....but for REAL legal advice....talk to a REAL lawyer.

yeah, i would rather pay a lawyer than the damn county.

ben

well good luck...you may end up paying them BOTH. :(

Speaking as someone that holds a commercial drivers license, I suggest getting a lawyer. Find one in your area that concentrates on traffic law. We used to have prepaid legal for traffic defense. Make sure you get someone that is VERY familiar with traffic law. I suggest someone that deals with DUI cases and severe traffic infractions. Call the large trucking companies in your area and see who they use. We were always clean, but there are cops out there looking for revenue which is why we had the prepaid plan. We had a bad cop in the Chicago area write us a ticket that was completely out of line. THe lawyer got us off without even a fine. Even if you did something wrong you still can have your day in court and should be able to get a light sentence or much smaller fine and maybe traffic school but you do have to have competent legal counsel.

this is a bad example.But I got 2 tickets last year.One for speeding,the other one for trying to get away from the cop.I paid the speed ticket.A few months later I went to court again,facing a charge that could have cost me 5000$,6 months in jail,or 3 years without licence.I invented a nice story and got dismissed.Without any lawyer or outside help.Now please dont ask any questions about how I got so convincing.I think I should be a lawyer.A well paid,semi-human lawyer.:eek:

Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

You Deserve it!!!! Grow up!

I had a friend that was speeding and ran from the cops. They set up a road block and he ran it. Denied the Breath test after finally pulling over and he had to pay $500 in fees and that was it. Besides the night in jail. He used a good lawyer that specialized in traffic law. Go that route.

wow mopho, thanks!
 

thanks for the great advice! ill be sure to heed it.

dumbass.

ben

Re: Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

Hey he knows he screwed up ok, lets not all pile on the guy, he is a real racer not a fake ass that is all talk and looks but no action like many i know.

Re: Re: Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

What makes him a real racer? Does he race on a track in properly prepared car? If so he should know better! I am not trying to preach, but if you are going to do something stupid and dangerous, you have to be responsible for your actions. He could have killed someone, then he will really need a lawyer. This forum shouldn't be promoting this kind of stuff. When I was in highschool my friends sister was killed in a street race, her boyfriend was racing and sideswiped a guardrail on the passenger side and took her head off! The boyfriend did a good stint in jail. So don't take street racing so lightly, it should only be done in controlled (i.E. closed roads)areas. I did that kind of stuff when I was 17 or so, but now I look back with the wisdom of driving for 18 years (I was driving karts at 12) and think about what a fucking idiot I was for the $400 ticket I once got, and all the times I used to drive at 90- 100mph+ with my friends in the car. (I have never once driven drunk, I am proud to say) I still drive fast, but I have much more experience with car control and have taken some driving school and I am better at judging the conditions.
Apologies to Benf000 for being harsh, but somebody had to do it, if this makes me an asshole, so be it

Couldn't really say what you can do...I guess talking to a lawyer who knows traffic laws is the best way to go...

But the only thing that you can probably do is try and learn from this... maybe invest in a membership at a track, or something, spend your racing time off of city streets.

Good luck with the case.

Re: Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

Don't see the point of your post. The guy was asking for help.

I don't care what anybody says, but if you're comfortable on the road, you'll find yourself exceeding the speed limit every now and then.


Ben, how did the cop catch you, how fast were you going, and does he know for sure how fast you were going or does he just know that you were 'speeding'?
Hope you weren't street racing since authorities around here have no compassion for those.

If you don't have the money to get a lawyer, try and appeal the fine, and tell them that you're a student, or that you need the car to go to work to live off of it, etc. In Canada they usually lessen the fine if you say some stuff like that.

Re: Re: Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

That's not really an excuse. If he's into racing then he should go to the track, and do his racing from 0-speed limit on the streets. ;)

Re: Re: Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

Heh...unless you're in Vancouver. All the cops are going hardcore on street racing.

and i was...
 

i do race at a strip locally, but this was just a quick little red light rumble. (just to clear anything up about "street racing".)

i never got above 45 mph (the speed limit on the road) because i never even got into third gear before i saw the cops and laid off. i was arrested with no explanation, other than "you were racing" after telling them they did not clock me for speeding, and if so, i wanted to see it. no explanation. i was completely truthful with the officer, told him i took off fast, might have laid drag, but i was not "racing". i also let him know that i did have a few beers much earlier that night. he immediately ran to the car, got a breathalyzer test and shoved it into my mouth with no reasoning, not telling me i had a right to deny it. (i passed it fine).

i was then handcuffed and taken to jail. told the fine was $1050. i am getting a lawyer.

ben

Yeah... if that's the real story
 

Dude,

If they didn't clock you, and you never went over the speed-limit, then they really can't do anything about it... It's your word against there's. Tell them you weren't even paying attention to the car next to you... tell them those beers had finally gotten to you and you romped on it because you had to take a piss. Say that you knew you couldn't exceed the speed limit, so the only way you could get to your toilet faster was to accelerate quicker.

Do you have a copy of ticket? That seems like a pretty steep fine. If you don't have it, get a copy of it... now exactly what you are being charged on.

Crap, if they can't pin you for more than "quickly accellerating to 45 MPH" then you'll get all your other fines waived based on the fact that you spent a night in jail when you shouldn't have.

If they are going to pin you for actually racing, a good lawyer will be able to play the fact that you gave up immediately, and were completely cooperative with the police. He will have no problem working the fine down because it is completely excessive.

Good luck... and never do it again.

One question I have though... your story leads me to believe you were racing someone and never even got to 45 MPH before the cop pulled you over. That leads me to believe that a) your lying or b) you were racing in the immediate vicinity of a police officer. As you have no reason to lie to us, I have to ask... did you look around the intersection for some law enforcement before you went WOT off the light.

Don't know about Ga....but in texas you don't have to exceed the speed limit to be charged with racing.....in fact they can even get you if there isn't anyone next to you at all....all they have to do is witness you "burning rubber" and taking off....its officially called "exhibition of acceleration".....in other words RACING....its their word against yours....and it sounds like to me from your last post...that you ADMITTED to the cops that is exactly what you were doing.....

don't hesitate.....get the lawyer.....one that specilizes in Traffic Law......

at least if you come out on the nasty end of the stick....it won't be because you didn't give it your best shot.


mopho, if you will read the discription below this forums listing...you will find that it reads "Protege Club does not endorse Street Racing"...... :{D

well...
 

this is true. but i would take an exhibition of speed ticket. that's fine. or a laying drag fine. but what i was charged with was "racing". i am fighting it though. we'll see. my lawyer is out of town for a week, so i will see.

ben

Same thing here in NC I believe, on the day my husband graduated (before I ever met him), he was driving a friend's SS Camaro and leaving the highschool spun his tires a little bit... Officer Eudy more than likely was the cop that pulled him and gave him a warning, luckily no ticket. That's all it takes to get a ticket around here though! They really don't play.

I'm not taking anyone's side here.. but I agree with what Mopho is saying. Street racing IS dangerous. I guess people don't realize how bad it is until something wrong happens. I agree that racing should be done in closed areas!! I also lost someone close to me as a result of careless driving.

But as for you Ben, I'm just glad you didn't hit or killed anyone and I do hope that next time you'll want to race, that you'll think twice!! You're lucky you only got a fine a one night of jail.. could have been much longuer (for killing someone).

TAKE IT EASY OUT THERE AND DRIVE SAFE!!!!! (gosh I'm sounding like my mom!!)
:rolleyes:

Re: Re: Re: Re: racing ticket, need advice
 

If the fucken cops to like it so much they should use all those exessive fines to build a track near by. Don't take this as a personall attack makavelli but some of us do not have the privillage of having a strip in our home town so we make our own, keeeping in mind the safety of innocent people.

Guys i agree that racing is dangerous, but the fact is that is is dangerous at the track too, i mean racing and daily driving is dangerous also. the only reason i get worked up soo much on things like this is because some people pass judgement on street racers, i don't like shit talking so i wont do it. But morpho should not be talking shit like that he dosent know the circumstances that ben was in so just zip the shit and we will all get along just fine.

jaydx
 

preciate the backup man.

ben

yeah
 

long, but well said. i guess some of us are really lucky to have a track to run locally. 12 bucks and you can race til close here.

and for those who keep talking about speeding...if you read the post, i was not speeding.

ben

In Canada they call it "stunting" Which can be spining tires, chirping tires, doing ANYTHING that can distract another driver. And here the odds of getting off are slim. A ticket for "racing" is another story, they burn your butt hard here, and you dont have to be speeding, just racing.

Don

Re: jaydx
 

Anytime man, just sticking up for a brotha.

Wil, there is only few problems with just going out and building a strip to get the street racers OFF the street and on to a track.....for starters, how many parents do you think KNOW their sons/daughters are out there street racing and condone it....I bet the number is VERY VERY small. That track WILL belong to someone....or at a minimum the City/State/County....there is a little matter of liability.....NOW, if you have the land....private land, build a track, MAN the track (someone is certainly going to have to get paid to do upkeep and run it) collect money....presto chango you got a business....there is still liablility issues....yes you CAN have everyone that sets foot on the property read and sign releases for all damages/injuries.....but you can bet your last dollar that some kid will be there WITHOUT their parents permission...will get into the wall and total their PARENTS car or worse get hurt....and you will find yourself in court. THOSE are the things that Cities/Counties/States are not willing to do.....its EASIER to use NEGITIVE reinforcement by just fining the crap out of those that they can catch. Does it solve the problem? nope....not even close.....but when has government EVER come up with a good answer for this kind of problem.......NEVER that I can remember. Its just their way.

I’d get yourself a lawyer for starters, many lawyers will try to cut deals with the arresting officer before you see the district judge. I had my lawyer get my speed dropped from 86mph to 65mph. Doesn’t seem like much but in PA anyone going over the given speed limit by 31mph can loose their license. And on the other side of the story the year before that I had a Zx-7 before they redesigned them, State police clocked me on radar @ 136mph, lost my license on that one, 5 points & had to take a logic test to keep my license. The officer wouldn’t drop the speed @ all. After looking back since its been 10 years, its rather stupid to do that crap on a public highway!

I understand what you mean by real racer
 

Ok, i'm young and stupid and reckless and I am I deserve every fine and ticket and mean remark anyone has to say, but thats only cuase the street racing game is different then track or some event. Its spontanious and a adrelaine rush, becuase its ileagal and breaking the law, doing what you want is what kids do. I agree anyone who gets cought street racing deserves but they most likely are gonna stop. Its like a drug, speeding at 70+ trough down town streets whipping around corners at night when no other cars around. The only bad thing, besides breaking the law, is the danger to yourself and others. No one can ever judge how much of an expert driver they are until they prove themselfs, and this is a scary thing cause people who don't know what there doing or there cars limits get themselve's in trouble, I mean I got a ticket for 60+ at midnight on the main road trough my town, and i deserve it I was being reckless. But that done mean I will stop. I just try to live by my rules for the road, Don't speed, like that with pasengers other cars on the road, Residencial areas, or in the day in traffic there are more. All I can say is never puch everything to to limits unless where your gonna be is so safe that the only injuries that could come of it are to yourself, because you except those risk, and the other racer, he needs to except these risk to. I'm the worst I'm awonnabe racer, I got a 9 sec, stock 1.6, thats like racing a MiniVan, in terms or performance.

Re: I understand what you mean by real racer
 

No one can be COMPLETELY aware of their surroundings. The risk is lower, but it's not gone...and where lives can be lost, I'd rather not take that risk.

It's better to do it in a controlled area, where the risks are taken into account, and procedures are there if something did go wrong.

RISK is NEVER gone...minimized yes....gone...never. there has been many a professional driver killed ON a race track....

Even stepping out your front door, there is SOME risk, and god knows there is risk everytime you get on a highway at rush hour.

Don't get me wrong here....for YES....I agree....if you must....take it to a track.

What about Germany and their auto bahn? I think its a great idea, and we shoud have something like that here. A road that goes all the way through the USA with no speed limit. People who dont like fast drivers can stay away from it and people who want to get from point A to point B fast can use it.

I take 3 different highways to work every morning. If I take a normal drive, it's a 50 minute ride. If I weave in and out of lanes and try to get passed as many cars as I can, I get there in 45 minutes. If I stay in the "slow" lane, I get to work in 40 minutes.

The Autobahn for the US would not work because a majority of Americans are a.) clueless b.) completely self-centered and c.) completely clueless and self-centered.

There are plenty of people who would camp out in the fast lane doing 5 over the speed limit, and think they were going fast. What they don't (and never will) understand, is that you should move as far right as possible, and only move to the lane left of you in order to pass. I don't see the common American being able to grasp this concept before millions of people die in autoaccidents.

good luck man, :) keep your head up. things could always be worse.

also everyone that said the hyw was for driving the speed limit. look down at your speedo on the hyw next time your in the car.


;)

I'm almost goin throuh the same thing
 

What happened with me is that i was going to the bank, and forgot my wallet with my atm card. I had a few arguments earlier that really didn't effect my judgement until i noticed i didn't have my wallet. Now i'm a little mad at myself, and want to quickly go back home and grab my wallet and on with my plans. Well on the way home i take different streets just because i love to make turns and test my car out, no biggie, but as soon as i get on this one street headed towards my house a black tahoe(unmarked constable) pulls up behind as soon as i stopped at the red light at the intersection. I didn't think much about it 1 his lights weren't on and 2 his tahoe was unmarked. Anyway right before my light turns green a car turns right on red onto the street and direction i was heading. As soon as i the light turned green i took off, my tires did not squeal, burnout i just simply took off very quickly. So what i do is quickly pass the driver who just turned on the street, and got in front of him so that i could turn on my street.Well sure enough that tahoe is directly behind me with his lights flashin.I was pulled over on my street 6 houses from mine. He wrote me a ticket for allegedly driving 73 in a 30. So i'm angry, not really think too much about what just happened. Days later i notice the ticket said "allegedly" and under radar was nothing which led me to believe that what he did was guess according to fast he had to go in order to catch up to me. Now i was lucky that i didn't go to jail, but i don't want this on my record and really don't want to pay that much money. So what you guys need to know that from the intersection to my street is 2 blocks. So i'm thinking is this possible, so i test it and see if it is. same circumstances, i waited behind a car at the same intersection and as soon as it turned green i waited for the car to reach the same point as the other did that day. When it did i took off but i and my conclusion was that i could only make it to 55 considering that i had to slow myself down in order to make the turn as i was. So obviously i'm guilty of speeding and i admit that but 73 was very accessive all i want is to lower my charge so that i can reasonable pay the ticket and maybe have differed judification, so i'm going to fight it by bringin this up to the judge.

Ben good luck

oh yeah i did this in a 2002 standard protege es unmodified yet. 4 banger i mean come on;)