Call PETA...I just screwed the pooch!

I started my season off with a real nice move today. The weather was finally conducive to some riding, but it hasn't been sustained long enough to get onto the untraveled mountain roads that I'm so fond of. Instead I chose to ride the mountain interstate (I-70) which I knew would be free of snow, and free of snow it was. Free of cops was another story.

I ride up going west at a perfectly legalish speed, inorder to spot the east bound lanes for any cops on my return. Everything looks good and I turn around going east. For whatever reason there was a ton of traffic, so I'm taking a relaxed ride regardless of any law enforcement. Then my big break...I finally see a gap that will allow me to get past a few dozen cars with everything clear ahead once the passing is complete. I make my move, not looking at my speedo. Keep in mind that it was not a weaving in and out of traffic manuever, the slow lane just happened to be unoccupied. So all looks fine for a few minutes untill a LEO catches up and pulls me over. As I'm stopping I see about a half a dozen other cars pulled over 1/4 mile in front of me and another rider in the process of being pulled over. A speed trap that wasn't previously there. Bad decision and bad timing I guess.

He tells me that it took him some time to get to me. So I'm thinking "shit", he gunned me at my quickest. I wasn't wrong. 105mph in a 55mph zone with wreckless driving, he explains, is the ticket he's going to write. After a brief discussion about the way I was riding he, thankfully, decides that he's not going to issue the wreckless portion of the ticket. No help on the 105mph. As it turns out, that in and of itsef is a 12 point violation (a fucking DUI has the same points penalty). By far the biggest speeding ticket I have ever received. By the way, when the cop got to me, he gunned me again to see if I was going any faster. At that time I was in a 65mph zone doing 72mph. This he says is "why he's giving me a break. It was an obvious passing move, then I slowed"

I know that this is certainly going to affect at least this riding season in terms of being frozen with paranoia. I know that I violated a dog today and that I should have exhibited more patience, and I know that my insurance is going to remind of how badly I f'd up for years to come.

My question is: how bad is this? Have any of you dealt with this type of a ticket before?

 

Beat Your Speeding Ticket

Why pay for your speeding tickets? You could've been using that money for gas, tires, etc... :-D

Seriously, I've never paid for a speeding ticket I've gotten about 3-4 so far.

 

Talk to the judge, can't hurt worse.

 

I'm not too sure this could work, the cop made a point of telling me (even wrote it on the ticket) exactly what type of laser he was using. which makes me think that maybe the cops/courts are on to this. What do you think?

I'm going to have to. The LEO said no mail-in on this one. Unless there is some sort of way to fight this, I am assuming that taking this down to an eight point violation is the best that they'll do, maybe six, I don't know.

 

The last 2 tickets the cop wrote down the serial #, make, model and what type of device... I still WON!!

 

There are lawyers who specialize in alleged traffic violations. A hundred bucks says you can find more than one in less than ten minutes on the net. First question to ask is what is this lawyer's win rate.

All you lawyers and jailhouse lawyers who think this type question is unethical should chip in to help this guy pay off his fine and his increased insurance premiums before getting all righteous and pissy.

 

It's time to lawyer up.
I got one like that about 6 months ago - the lawyer cost 1500, but it was reduced drastically, and was 4 points instead of 12.
I had to sign a plea agreement, and have to drive like an old lady for another six months, or it all goes back on.

 

Well as a LEO, I can tell ya how it can be here. If you can talk to the local procecutor who is handleing the court your in, you can talk to him about a "deal". He may allow you to plead guilty to a "non-moving" violation with a heavy fine.

 

Colorado Speeding Ticket

 

Thanks for the link Joey, but based on what Billy just posted it looks like the Colorado courts have succumbed to the insurance industry and basically stripped my right to defend myself in any meaningful way. In fact, based on Billy's link, it looks like CO may very well be the worst state to live in when it comes to a speeding violation. Especially one of this nature.

I hear what you guys are saying in terms of hiring an attorney. I've always avoided that in the past, but in this situation I wonder if I shouldn't re-think my position. Like VFRhubby said, maybe I should just show up and see what they'll do. If it's nothing than maybe I can ask for a continuence and hire an attorney in the interim. If that's even possible.

I feel so incredibly stupid...this is one of the reasons why I don't ride on the interstate. I am at fault here, but that is the last time I allow desperation to tell me to go for a ride in a spot that I know is wrought with one risk or another.

 

I produced an invoice for an instrument cluster, and gave that and the dysfunctional cluster to the attorney.
Reduced to defective vehicle. $200.

Sure beats the high insurance and the rest.

 

I'd listen to the experts advise, go with what Badbilly recommends.

BZ

 

Illinois is trying to pass a law that more than 30 over is a felony, punishable up to 1 year in jail & 2500 fine. Ouch!

Some states (don't know about Colorado) also have a plea where it doesn't show up on your record if you be good for so much time and pay a hefty fine. Illinois is one of them. Not for IA.

 

it's called a deferred sentence.
You plead guilty, and are sentenced to the max, which is suspended on the condition you don't screw up again.
A judge in our area used it on domestic abuse and drunk and disorderly offenders.
if you could stay sober and behave for five years, you were good with no conviction.

 

Sorry to hear this, Havcar. Good luck and good on ya for manning up.I wish you nothing but the best outcome.

 

Hee hee
I get to "donate" $145 to a nice little Indian Reservation in central Nevada for some "charity work" I did on their highway last Monday.
Oh well. I deserved it. At least he got me at 94 and not the 104 I was going when I spotted him.

 

Ahhh, the old dysfunctional cluster defense.. I am liking that one..

 

Dang, CO likes to rape. 55 over on a 2-lane highway in hick ville, Michigan gets you 4pts and $180 fine if you're lucky enough to not get charged with reckless.

 

The faulty speedo defence might work for 10 maybe even 15 over. But 50 mph over will get you a BIG laugh and perhaps a perjury charge. Remember, you are under oath. The judge might overlook a little white lie, but a big whopper like this might land you in the "Stoney Lonesome"