I just had a speeding ticket dismissed today!

[TXlib]

Yippee!

It would have been for $250 (not including the effect on my insurance), but for a $75 lawyer fee, and $5 in parking (and potentially no time off, if I make up the time later this week), it was dismissed.

The officer who ticketed me never showed. Apparently, this happens about 50% of the time.

The officer nabbed me for 85 mph in a 60 mph zone on the freeway; I contested because I was doing the speed of traffic, which was about 75-80 mph, and I was by far not the fastest car on the road.

Apparently, the trick lawyers use is to reset the court date at the arraignment; about 50% of the time, the ticketing officer never shows for the reset court date.

What am I going to do differently in the future to avoid speeding tickets?

Well, when traffic is moving 15-20 mph above the speed limit, I will stay in the right or middle lane, not the left lane, and I will keep to the lower limit of the speed of traffic.

For any of you who would denounce me for not pledging to stick to the speed limit, you try driving in Houston traffic at the speed limit, when everybody else is going a good 15-20 mph faster, and then tell me how safe that feels! :scared:

[GOPisEvil]

1. Always make sure you aren't the fastest car out there.

And don't draw attention to yourself by weaving through traffic.

Just stay with the flow of traffic, and let the maniacs whiz on by. I agree with you that driving the speed limit in Houston is a good way to get run over.

[TXlib]

I wasn't weaving in and out

I was in the left-hand lane, which is the one favored by habitual speeders, and therefore, it is the lane on which cops focus their radar guns.

[TX-RAT]

7. Left lane

It is now a fine in TX to use the left lane for anything other than passing.Stay in the right lane and always use a buffer.

[TXlib]

2. As a side benefit

I got to watch one traffic trial: a case of speeding and lack of valid inspection.

It wasn't Law and Order, and the prosecutor was no Diane Neal, but she still was cute (short and vietnamese, and very perky).

It helped pass the 4 hours I sat there, waiting for my case to come up.

[ScreamingMeemie]

3. Here I thought you were going to say that you entertained them

all with your poetic skills and they let you off...;)

Way to go TXlib. Drive safely. :hi:

[TXlib]

4. I was charged with a speeding offense

and hoped for a suspended sentence.
The cop never showed
but the long wait really blowed.
And my lawyer was not really dense.

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. ROFL.

:hi:

Really blowed?? hehehehehehe

[TXlib]

6. Yeah, well...

I had to sacrifice proper grammar for a rhyme.

[KissMyAsscroft]

8. All you had to say is Houston.

Nuff Said.

[adriennel]

9. 70 mph on the highway

in many places in MI the speed limit is 70 mph. Cops won't stop you unless you are doing 80+.
We like to drive fast. If you are going 70 mph, you will be the slowest car on the road.
I went to traffic court twice, once for a "failure to yield" ticket that was tossed out (the cop showed up but said it was his last day on the job before retirement so he was feeling generous) and once for a "failure to stop for school bus" (I did not get out of that one.) I'm batting 50/50!

[U of M Dem 07]

10. Yeah

I have to do 70 mph in the right lane practically... and cars still speed past me. It's crazy. And scary. :)

[adriennel]

11. at least you can count on...

there will always be someone else driving faster and crazier than you...I watch out for other drivers rather than cops!

[Ricdude]

12. Cruise Control.

In MD, if the speed limit is 50 mph or lower, you can usually get away with up to 10 mph above the posted limit. If the speed limit is 55 and above, you can usually do up to 15 over the speed limit. I've had much better luck since driving cars with cruise control and remembering to use them. It's also much better for your mileage (and lessens our need to import foreign oil, and cheaper, too) if you slow down a little at highway speeds. I get 42 mpg commuting at 80 mph, but about 48 mpg at 70 mph. That's almost another 100 miles every tank.

Sit down sometime, and figure out how much time you really save driving 5 mph faster than the speed limit, vs. 10 mph faster, etc. It's likely to be in the 5-10 minute range tops. Is it worth it compared to the fuel savings, in addition to the lessened chances of speeding tickets? And the increase in insurance rates that follows? \

You decide.

[amazona]

13. whoo hoo

I agree with you, it is unsafe to drive less than 80 in Houston traffic. With cops like that around, people must be getting rear-ended right and left. I wonder about people sometimes.

[SarahB]

14. I've never gotten a speeding ticket

I've been pulled over a number of times, but I never seem to get one. :)

[bigwillq]

16. It must be because you're so beautiful

:evilgrin:

[SarahB]

18. Either that or

The cop felt sorry for me because there were screaming kids int he car. :7

[bigwillq]

19. That could be it

He either felt sorry for you or for him. His poor ears!:evilgrin:

[bigwillq]

15. Thanks for the tips

I wish I knew this before I got my TWO speeding tickets. I knew sometimes that the officier doesn't show up but I thought you still had to pay a lowered rate.

My total ticket costs (excluding insurance): $431.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. TXlib, good going...

I for one have never been given a ticket. Was stopped once, given a warning, but I actually lied my way out of it. I can usually talk myself out of any situation. And I wouldn't ever promise not to speed either.
I never go the speed limit, unless I'm in town near a school or church.
And on the interstate, I pay attention to the trucks, and I'm usually going at least 5 miles an hour over the speed limit. You can go almost 80. Anything 80 or over and you get stopped. 70 just isn't fast enough.
Duckie