speeding question
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 321
Likes: 0
From: Orlando
speeding question
TodayI took a long ride out in a rural farm area and was enjoying the twisting roads and a clear day with my wife on the back for a rare 2 up ride. I wasn't tearing it up but got pulled over and ticketed for speeding. The cop gave me a break and put the speed at 9mph over instead of the 12mph I actually was going. This kept me in the 3 points and under 100 dollar fine range.
After contemplating the online traffic school, I decided to just write the check and consider it a learning experience since it is my first speeding ticket in many years and my record is good enough for my insurance company to consider me a preferred customer.
I'm certainly not looking for sympathy as I don't deserve it, but got to thinking how easy it is to drift a little over the limit when out on wide open roads with nobody around. (except Johnny law behind the sign.)
I am wondering how frequently, if at all, the members find themselves in traffic citation problems and if it's just a matter of staying aware of the speed limits at all times and not varying that needs to be the mindset?
I'm a really safe driver and guess it might have just been my turn to get burned for drifting away a little bit.
After contemplating the online traffic school, I decided to just write the check and consider it a learning experience since it is my first speeding ticket in many years and my record is good enough for my insurance company to consider me a preferred customer.
I'm certainly not looking for sympathy as I don't deserve it, but got to thinking how easy it is to drift a little over the limit when out on wide open roads with nobody around. (except Johnny law behind the sign.)
I am wondering how frequently, if at all, the members find themselves in traffic citation problems and if it's just a matter of staying aware of the speed limits at all times and not varying that needs to be the mindset?
I'm a really safe driver and guess it might have just been my turn to get burned for drifting away a little bit.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
RE: speeding question
Certainly easy to do!! Since I got my bike, I also find myself driving 5 or even 10 mph faster in my truck sometimes. Just doesn't seem like you're goin' that fast without the wind in your face, I guess.
Sorry you got busted, though.
Sorry you got busted, though.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
RE: speeding question
floyd, That's one of the reasons I got cruise control. I constantly drift over the speed limit. Whenever I am on a road that I know is closely watched by LEO's I set the cruise at the speed limit, or limit + 3. That way I can just enjoy the ride without risking a summons.
As for your driving record, too bad you went and paid the fine. There is a possibility that you could have gone to the Municipal court and talked to the prosecutor. As long as your record is clean they will usually cut you some slack that can result in just a fine and no points on your license. I got nailed for speeding a few years ago and because of my good record the prosecutor lowered the violation. But get this! When I went before the judge to plead guilty to the ammended charge, he decided to dismiss the charge altogether. No fine, no nothing. It always pays to try.
As for your driving record, too bad you went and paid the fine. There is a possibility that you could have gone to the Municipal court and talked to the prosecutor. As long as your record is clean they will usually cut you some slack that can result in just a fine and no points on your license. I got nailed for speeding a few years ago and because of my good record the prosecutor lowered the violation. But get this! When I went before the judge to plead guilty to the ammended charge, he decided to dismiss the charge altogether. No fine, no nothing. It always pays to try.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 13
RE: speeding question
Sorry you got pinched.....but you were at 12 over. The guy cut you some slack by only writing in for 9 over. I would have been inclined to talk to the local prosecutor before just paying it tho. Many times they will accept a plea to Inattentive Driving, which in some states is a non moving violation.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 13
RE: speeding question
ORIGINAL: WindowMan
Everyone I know that got a ticket for that much over got it dismissed.
I would go to court and chance it that it gets drop'd. my .02
Everyone I know that got a ticket for that much over got it dismissed.
I would go to court and chance it that it gets drop'd. my .02
Alot of Judges will then make a finding of GUILTY on the nine over, reasoning (correctly) that the driver was already given a break.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, so to speak.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: speeding question
The judge in our local court nearly always drops anything that is 10-19 over to 1-9 over for drivers that come in with a decent driving record and a good attitude. Occaisonally, he will dismiss a speeding ticket for 1-19 over. Generally, when he does that it is for an older person who has never had a ticket before.
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Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 321
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From: Orlando
RE: speeding question
Another factor in me just paying the fine was the fact that my insurance agent said it won't affect my insurance premiums since it's my first speeding ticket in over a decade.
Not sure how other states work, but in Florida, you need to have 12 points in 12 months to have your license suspended and points last 3 years. If I get another ticket, I will consider court, but really hope it's an isolated incident.
That, and the court costs and time needed to fight it. I was about 40 miles from my house and it's really the boonies. Also, the issuing officer had sergeant strips and serice since 1974 on his badge and seemed to not like Harley's coming through town based on his comments. The road is part of a scenic highway and a couple HOG groups have it on their rides. It leads to Sugarloaf mountain, yes mountain. It's the highest point in Florida and is surprisingly hilly.
I politely appologized and drove home bummed a bit, but still had a great ride that i will repeat a little more wary of my speed.
Not sure how other states work, but in Florida, you need to have 12 points in 12 months to have your license suspended and points last 3 years. If I get another ticket, I will consider court, but really hope it's an isolated incident.
That, and the court costs and time needed to fight it. I was about 40 miles from my house and it's really the boonies. Also, the issuing officer had sergeant strips and serice since 1974 on his badge and seemed to not like Harley's coming through town based on his comments. The road is part of a scenic highway and a couple HOG groups have it on their rides. It leads to Sugarloaf mountain, yes mountain. It's the highest point in Florida and is surprisingly hilly.
I politely appologized and drove home bummed a bit, but still had a great ride that i will repeat a little more wary of my speed.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,129
Likes: 1,981
From: Ottawa, CANADA
RE: speeding question
ORIGINAL: floydpink
Another factor in me just paying the fine was the fact that my insurance agent said it won't affect my insurance premiums since it's my first speeding ticket in over a decade.
Not sure how other states work, but in Florida, you need to have 12 points in 12 months to have your license suspended and points last 3 years. If I get another ticket, I will consider court, but really hope it's an isolated incident.
That, and the court costs and time needed to fight it. I was about 40 miles from my house and it's really the boonies. Also, the issuing officer had sergeant strips and serice since 1974 on his badge and seemed to not like Harley's coming through town based on his comments. The road is part of a scenic highway and a couple HOG groups have it on their rides. It leads to Sugarloaf mountain, yes mountain. It's the highest point in Florida and is surprisingly hilly.
I politely appologized and drove home bummed a bit, but still had a great ride that i will repeat a little more wary of my speed.
Another factor in me just paying the fine was the fact that my insurance agent said it won't affect my insurance premiums since it's my first speeding ticket in over a decade.
Not sure how other states work, but in Florida, you need to have 12 points in 12 months to have your license suspended and points last 3 years. If I get another ticket, I will consider court, but really hope it's an isolated incident.
That, and the court costs and time needed to fight it. I was about 40 miles from my house and it's really the boonies. Also, the issuing officer had sergeant strips and serice since 1974 on his badge and seemed to not like Harley's coming through town based on his comments. The road is part of a scenic highway and a couple HOG groups have it on their rides. It leads to Sugarloaf mountain, yes mountain. It's the highest point in Florida and is surprisingly hilly.
I politely appologized and drove home bummed a bit, but still had a great ride that i will repeat a little more wary of my speed.
Score another one for the state/city revenue generation machine.Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 0
From: SW Corner of NW Corner
RE: speeding question
I am wondering how frequently, if at all, the members find themselves in traffic citation problems and if it's just a matter of staying aware of the speed limits at all times and not varying that needs to be the mindset?
The Sheriff'sin our county pretty much turn a blind eye unless the offense is rediculous. StateTroopers on the other hand are a bit more stringent. Fortuneately the Trooperspretty much stay out of the country backroads I like to travel. In town, the city police will pull you over for speeding if its more than +5 and that will depend on where youare ... in other words 30 in a residential 25 will get you a ticket, but 50 in a 45 blvd won't.
I would be surprised to get a ticket out in the country around SW Washington when doing +12, though I usually stay within +10. Once I get outside my county comfort zone, I will tend to dial it back a little. Within the comfort zone, you tend to know which roads you can open it up on and which ones you shouldn't.
I've never gotten pulled over on the bike, only in my car.. and only once in the past 15 years or so (I did get tagged by video cop once, they have no mercy whatsoever)