I Hate Lasers ****UPDATE*****

[Haloid95]

[Rant] By Laser I mean Laser guns . I just got a fuki*** $400 speeding ticket dropping off my sister to school. There was a 35 speed limit sign and then a 15 speed limit when flashing for school. I was barely passed the edge of the 15 sign going 30. My detector goes off for Laser, but of course its to late. A cop steps out from behind a tree and steps in front of me, he takes my license and tells me to go into the parking lot in front of his undercover charger. I then receive a $400 ticket for going 30 mph in a 15 mph school zone. I have no money to pay for this, and I dont want my license suspended because I need to go places. I just moved here like a week and a half ago. WTF..... [/Rant]

Any way to fight anything in court? If I go to court and they win they charge me extra for court fees... This is really when I start disliking the police...... :gun::gun::gun::gun:

 

[Jaseth]

Re: I Hate Lasers

You broke the law so I doubt you can do anything other than pay up. I don't know about Florida, but here in Denmark they are extremely strict about school zones.

Was it petty and unnecessary of the officer to give you that ticket? Probably, but the law is the law even if it is silly sometimes. You could have avoided it by slowing down before the sign. Most situations where you are punished for something ridiculous could be avoided if you put a bit more effort into sticking strictly to the rules and if you remain calm and polite when confronted.

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

I was polite to the officer, but the thing is. He was in between the 35 posted limit and the 15 when flashing. Another thing, it was a hour before school. There where no kids.
Can I use the fact that he took my speed before the 15 Mph school zone?

 

[Deleted member 22482]

Re: I Hate Lasers

You broke the law so I doubt you can do anything other than pay up. I don't know about Florida, but here in Denmark they are extremely strict about school zones.

Yeah.. Strict as hell here in Scandinavia. My dad lost his license for two months plus had to pay a fee 50SEK * 50 days for driving 82km/h at a 70km/h place...

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

Maybe I should of just ran the cop over? Just kidding..... Maybe :thinking:

 

[Jaseth]

Re: I Hate Lasers

"I was barely passed the edge of the 15 sign going 30."

If I understand that correctly, you were still going 100% over the limit when entering the school zone. I don't know how you would ever be able to prove that he measured your speed just before and not in the actual zone, unless his undercover charger has a cop cam, was recording his and your position at the time, and you can ask for them to look at the video. It's a lot of trouble to go through over $400.

Again, I don't know about Florida but here the school zone speed limit applies at all times, unless there is a special sign which is only lit during school hours. You never know if a bunch of kids are going to school early in the morning to go on a field trip or late in the afternoon for a school party or parent-teacher meeting. The idea is that the area is safe for kids at all times.

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

His Charger was pointing towards the area he was using the Laser, and all cops in the US have dash cameras. I have no money because I just moved here. I have no job yet, and no money saved up. (After all Im only 17). If I go to court I will risk $1000+ in court fees. I dont know what to do. I need my license, and don't have $400

 

[Brenner]

Re: I Hate Lasers

His Charger was pointing towards the area he was using the Laser, and all cops in the US have dash cameras. I have no money because I just moved here. I have no job yet, and no money saved up. (After all Im only 17). If I go to court I will risk $1000+ in court fees. I dont know what to do. I need my license, and don't have $400

Welcome to my neighborhood. Not the best welcome from police though.

Was the light flashing actually , and most important question: Did you see it flashing.

?

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

Yes it was, the thing is. I didn't see the sign at all. When I got the Laser alert on my detector I didn't even slow down :crackup: I thought there was no way I was speeding. After I was pulled over and he was writing my ticket I noticed where it was and where he was.

 

[bobhaha]

Re: I Hate Lasers

Does America have a demerit point system like Australia? Do you have a certain amount of chances until you loose your license? A lot of American movies and shows make it out to be like "Oh I was speeding... Now I just gotta pay this ticket and I'm good to go!"

 

[Jaseth]

Re: I Hate Lasers

I am sorry to hear about the clash with your financial situation.

I would contact the police, explain the situation and ask if they can go over the video for you. If they refuse to do this, explain that you are a minor and will not be able to pay for some time. It is quite possible that they will just tell you there is nothing to do, but it's worth a try.

Otherwise I am sure you have some family or friends who can lend you $400.
It sucks, but at least you learned something - those few minutes you lose by following the speed limit religiously can save you a hell of a lot of time, worry and money later.

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

Does America have a demerit point system like Australia? Do you have a certain amount of chances until you loose your license? A lot of American movies and shows make it out to be like "Oh I was speeding... Now I just gotta pay this ticket and I'm good to go!"

Yep, they are called points. But usually you have three choices when you get a ticket.

1. Pay the amount and get some points based on how serious the violation was.
2.Pay the amount and take a defensive drivers course for no points ( Have to pay for course)
3. Not pay and get points and your License suspended for a while.

Option #2 is the only one that wont higher your Insurance.

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

I am sorry to hear about the clash with your financial situation.

I would contact the police, explain the situation and ask if they can go over the video for you. If they refuse to do this, explain that you are a minor and will not be able to pay for some time. It is quite possible that they will just tell you there is nothing to do, but it's worth a try.

Otherwise I am sure you have some family or friends who can lend you $400.
It sucks, but at least you learned something - those few minutes you lose by following the speed limit religiously can save you a hell of a lot of time, worry and money later.

Ya If I have to pay Ill probably just borrow it. The thing is since we are moving, buying a house, my dad just bought a car, we don't have that much spare money. But oh well. Maybe Ill borrow it from a freind and pay it back.

 

[Brenner]

Re: I Hate Lasers

I hope you will not mention your signature "Street Racer"- just kidding.

Take your camera with you and go the same route. Why?

Police is usually waiting in areas where flashing light is hidden behind branches or trees.

If you see that is a case - record it, go to court- fight them.

Also, important thing is what he wrote in your ticket: if it is 15mph or more over the limit?

 

[Hiemal]

Re: I Hate Lasers

That's kind of funny, we don't even have school zones here in Buffalo NY...

The most they seem to ask of you is to just slow down out of courtesy and safety, but there's no actual posted "school speed limit" anywhere I've seen.

 

[Haloid95]

Re: I Hate Lasers

That's kind of funny, we don't even have school zones here in Buffalo NY...

The most they seem to ask of you is to just slow down out of courtesy and safety, but there's no actual posted "school speed limit" anywhere I've seen.

I wish. Here its nothing but money to them, there's no danger in the area I was speeding.

I hope you will not mention your signature "Street Racer"- just kidding.

Take your camera with you and go the same route. Why?

Police is usually waiting in areas where flashing light is hidden behind branches or trees.

If you see that is a case - record it, go to court- fight them.

Also, important thing is what he wrote in your ticket: if it is 15mph or more over the limit?

Thanks for the advice. Ill probably do that, he was behind a tree. He wrote on the ticket 29 in a 15.