Anyone fight a speeding ticket without an attorney? Or rather just check options

[sauerkraut]

Many roads are underposted- anyhow, I can't see any harm in getting the case  delayed, you at least have a better shot of getting it tossed out the window and saving some money & points if the cop fails to show up, it's imprtant that you don't forget to show up though, the date can slip your mind. However if the cop still shows up you'll be no worse off than you were at first, I'd say it's worth a shot..  I had a ticket  in Texas tossed out the window  back in the 1980's because the cop failed to show up and I did not even have to delay anything the court date was the date they set for me, they called his name a few times but he was not there- the DA said something to the judge and the judge turned to me and just dismissed it.

[Ed W]

Legal advice from Sauerkraut. Yeah, I'd go with that.

[Hoss]

Legal advice from Sauerkraut. Yeah, I'd go with that.

I'd place that right around with getting driving lessons from Ray Charles.

[Red Arrow]

I'd place that right around with getting driving lessons from Ray Charles.

Ray Charles trivia from IMDB:

Hired for a car commercial, he actually drove a car without assistance
in the Death Valley desert. He said that it was one of the most
exciting experiences of his life.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0153124/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

[dbacksfan 2.0]

Do you realize that that line right there undermines everything you've said?  I was just trying to see if there were any options or programs in place, you bashed on me for not just paying the fine and moving on, suggesting that I didn't want to take responsibility or that I did not feel responsible. 

And then you drop that gem on us.... So what you didn't think the law applied to you??  Taking your advice why didn't you just "pay the fine and shut up"...  "it sounds like you don't want to take responsibility for it." Did you not "want to own up for it."

Clearly when you learned you had that option you should have done the right thing and said no thank you, I will take responsibility!

Wow, first time it was offered to me in 34 years of driving, sure I did use it. Growing up in Oklahoma it was never offered.

[Townsend]

Have you tried calling the city attorney for a deal?  He/she will give you a prosecutor's recommendation that you hand to the judge, plead no contest, pay the fine and bob's your uncle. The point being to lower the speed on the summons of course.

[tulsacan]

That's what I'm gonna do Monday, go talk to the traffic DA. Thanks for the input!

[heironymouspasparagus]

That's what I'm gonna do Monday, go talk to the traffic DA. Thanks for the input!

My last ticket was in 1984 in Broken Arrow in a speed trap where the cop had a reputation of getting the number he wanted to see on the radar gun, then stopping people for the rest of the night on that reading.  Talked to the City Attorney asking him the options like you are talking about.  He was very helpful and since I had a witness riding with me who testified, I won since it is criminal court and there is a "beyond a reasonable doubt" level to be exceeded.  City attorney's can be helpful (just not that much in Tulsa...)

[patric]

My last ticket was in 1984 in Broken Arrow in a speed trap where the cop had a reputation of getting the number he wanted to see on the radar gun, then stopping people for the rest of the night on that reading.  Talked to the City Attorney asking him the options like you are talking about.  He was very helpful and since I had a witness riding with me who testified, I won since it is criminal court and there is a "beyond a reasonable doubt" level to be exceeded.  City attorney's can be helpful (just not that much in Tulsa...)

Dont want to upset the unions.

Somewhat related:
ST. LOUIS (AP) — It's a common practice among drivers who pass through a speed trap: Flash your headlights at approaching cars as a warning to slow down. Now, a federal court judge in Missouri says penalizing drivers for the headlight flash violates their First Amendment right to free speech.

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Monday issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the citing and prosecuting drivers who flash their lights to warn of radar and speed traps.

Autrey said in his ruling that the flashing of headlights was essentially a good thing, sending ''a message to bring one's driving in conformity with the law — whether it be by slowing down, turning on one's own headlamps at dusk or in the rain, or proceeding with caution.''

[nathanm]

Wow, it's only been 20 or 30 years since the first court decision on that point.

[sauerkraut]

This reminds me of an old saying "Anyone who acts as your own attorney- has a fool for a client". Wise wordz.

[patric]

"...When the law is used as a means to create revenue, traffic offenses are often exaggerated and lead to illegitimate traffic stops and the issuance of citations that cause financial hardships upon the motoring public and violate the constitutional rights of all those detained..."

Retired cop writes up small town, calls it a speed trap; state investigating
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/retired-cop-writes-up-small-town-calls-it-a-speed/article_0f975993-5f34-53fa-8919-a5e7670f1c82.html