SPEEDING TICKET

[smooth operator]

  I was doing some home projects lately while work is slow. Tring to get my wood all stocked, buttoning up the hatches befor the winter sets in. I had to make a run to the hardware store, and took the Bandit. On the way back,I came around entring a 4 lane "Bayfront conector"  not racing or anything but just went through the 1st few gears probably taking it up to around 6K. Then I noticed my speed and started backing off (around 70mph),light was red up ahead anyway.(speed limit is 45) Then I look in my mirror and see another bike catching up. Turns out as it gets closer as I uproach the red light, its a cop with his lights on. So I signal to him to follow me to a parking lot off the road,he nods OK. I take my helmet off and get off the bike. Tells me to stay on the bike, my cards are under the seat. So I get the OK and then back on the seat. When he gets done running everything he still stands behind me like I'm going to pull a gun or something. VERY formal and cautious! I ended up with a 63 in a 45, $154. fine and worse of all,4 points. Now I really have to be carfull! Can't afford any more tickets,6 points and your lisence is revoked. Pa has ongoing "Operation Smooth Operator". Well "Operation Smooth Operator" just put this Smooth Operator back a few $.   Dan

[smooth operator]

 Oh ya, while telling me that he is also a motorcycle entusioust, but has to give a ticket anyhow do to "operation smooth operator" He asked me if my bike was a Hyabussa.

[mademiriam]

he is also a motorcycle enthusiast,... He asked me if my bike was a Hyabussa.

I'm sorry most enthusiast I know can spot the humpback, stilling of the busa a mile away!
sorry to hear of your fortunes, could so easily have been anyone else here I'm sure.

[Have Blue]

Its the luck of the draw.  The same thing happened to me about two weeks ago.  The difference being, after calling in my tag and DL number, the deputy
put down his ticket pad and told me to ease it off a bit, and have a nice day.

[Blade]

4 points for only 18 over, sounds a bit much.

[skibum]

4 points for only 18 over, sounds a bit much.

Exactly..............and I thought the People's Republic of Massachussetts was bad. 

[Red01]

Bummer!!

Does PA have any kind of deferral process?  If not (or if you've already used up that option), perhaps you can beat it by lawyering up.  It'll probably cost more to beat it with a lawyer (it costs $250-500 around here), but your record will stay clean and keep insurance rates from going up, so may end up being cheaper in the long run.

[mademiriam]

4 points for only 18 over, sounds a bit much.

well if that had been here...that would have been 29km over...which would have been 'lucky' 30 and over can land you a criminal record, 29 over would get you $270 roughly and your license gone for two weeks (regardless of previous tickets) if you had previous tickets, it could be ever so much worse. Its all relative.

[smooth operator]

Bummer!!

Does PA have any kind of deferral process?  If not (or if you've already used up that option), perhaps you can beat it by lawyering up.  It'll probably cost more to beat it with a lawyer (it costs $250-500 around here), but your record will stay clean and keep insurance rates from going up, so may end up being cheaper in the long run.

   I have no funds for a layer at this time.Havn't had any good work in over a month. You either plead guilty or not guilty. He didn't have radar,he was a city cop and I was clocked.But it might be worth going to the district Magistrate,plead no contest, and see if I can get the points knocked down. Even if I only get 1 point knocked off,3 would be better than 4.

[PitterB4]

Dan at the very least, plead not guilty and go to court, tell your story, be nice and respectful with lots of "sorry" "sir" and "thank you."  You'll at least get it reduced and maybe to the "Pitter Special" of "failure to obey posted regulations (or something like that)".  I got pulled over dragging the track bike in the trailer in PA doin' like 14 over but was already in a bad way in terms of points.  I told the cop that and he said he HAD to write the ticket but to go to court and he'd make sure I got no points.  They gave me the failure thing and I ended up with less than $100 in fines/court costs and no points.  Then back in June, I pulled on the only local expressway and wound it out up to 4th (oh... 110 or so) and thought, this is stupid and backed off.  By the time I passed the cop, I had my left elbow on the tank just cruising in 6th.  When I saw him, I looked down and the speedo still said 90.  I figure I was fooked.  I pulled right over and by the time he caught up to me I had my helmet off and my papers out.  83 in a 50mph zone.  The guy was funny.  In PA more than 30 over and they can charge you for wreckless driving which is a criminal offense plus all the other BS traffic stuff - vehicle impoundment, license suspension... the whole thing.  The guy was into bikes.  I got the same "i'm just gonna charge you with 'failure'" line.  WHEW! 

Hope it works out for you, brother.  But definitely go to court.  It will get reduced. 

[Red01]

Sounds like some folks are slow learners, eh Rob... 

[PitterB4]

Sounds like some folks are slow learners, eh Rob... 

Ya think?  Hows this for a slow learner:

The reason I had all those points a couple years ago was because on my way to the same fishing trip, the same night of the year, the same time of night, driving the same Jeep Grand Cherokee, I got nailed doing 74 in a 55 at the bottom of the same hill 3 out of 4 years.     Different cop all 3 times. 

[Red01]

On that one year out of four, were you doing the speed limit, or was the LEO MIA? 

That's a little better than a friend of mine whose mother got nailed for speeding by the same motor cop (on a new KTM 990 Adventure), on the same spot of road just outside a little podunk rural village 3 times in three weeks.

[PitterB4]

On that one year out of four, were you doing the speed limit, or was the LEO MIA? 

Honestly, I think he had just left.  I passed a LEO going the other way a few minutes before I got to that spot (which also reminded me to slow down).  It's the bottom of a huge hill (right next to a ski slope).  You have to brake hard to maintain 55...  I know... Excuses, excuses....

That's a little better than a friend of mine whose mother got nailed for speeding by the same motor cop (on a new KTM 990 Adventure), on the same spot of road just outside a little podunk rural village 3 times in three weeks.

Ok... THAT'S bad!!!!!!!

[r_outsider]

LOL. I got three speeding tickets in three weeks once (the only three I've ever had, actually), but at least it was in different spots and different cops!