[s-cars] Speeding ticket technicality

[Bob Frizzell]

Rich,
Recently I tried defending myself on a speeding ticket error (location) and
proved the old adage, "A person who defends themselves has a fool as a
client".  The location error (west of a certain street, not east) was not
considered significant and a clerical error so I had to pay the damn thing.
The date error on yours, however, I think will get you off.  I would mail a
copy (or the ticket itself) in with an explanation that you were not there
on that date.  Hopefully they will confer with the police officer and cancel
the ticket. If you have a friend who is an attorney to write the explanation
that may help but I don't know many attorneys who will work cheaply enough
to make challenging the ticket worthwhile.  I suppose that depends on how
valuable the demerit points are to you.  If things work the same there as
they do here I know if you appear in court you will be offered a reduced
fine or possibly no points.  Another defense that you and/or the attorney
should take is "If the police officer can make a mistake on the date and
location how do we know he didn't make a mistake on the speed or on
pinpointing the correct car.  Best of luck.  Let us know how it works out.
Bob
93 S4
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rich Assarabowski" <konecc at snet.net>
To: <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2004 3:44 PM
Subject: [s-cars] Speeding ticket technicality


> I got pulled over this past Friday in Vermont for speeding on Rt. 103 in
> Cavendish (near Ludlow).  The officer clocked me at 65 in a 50 with
> "moving radar".  I had just come around a corner and quickly slowed down
> for traffic at a railroad crossing, he was in the opposite lane and
> immediately flashed his lights, made a U-turn and pulled me over.  He
> said he clocked me before I slowed down for the traffic.
>
> Looking at the ticket when I got home, I see there are two errors -- the
> date is 3/11 when it was actually 3/12, the "Place or landmark" is
> written as "Green Mountain Produce" when in fact it was "Black River
> Produce" (close, but no cigar!).  Ticket was $125 (ouch!).  I'm not if
> I'll get points in Connecticut, if so, that would really hurt.
>
> Is there any chance that if I go to court the ticket will be dismissed
> on a technicality?  It's a long way to White River Junction to the court
> house from here...
>
> -- Rich A.
>
>
>
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