Speeding ticket in Washington! Help!!

[Cool Texan]

Good news....got a car today for my wife.

Bad news...got a ticket on the drive home! :grin:


Anyone know anything about an Oregon driver keeping a Washington ticket of their record?!?!?!?

[Stratocaster]

Hey CT, how fast, how much and where? Tell the judge it was a new car and you werent used to the power. :grin: Hey never know. If its your first ticket or only one on your record your insurance may not go up, mine didnt. But the second ticket it sure did. I wish the police would go after the real criminals like the pot heads. Oh that thats the other post.

[Silver Hilton]

I think you're hosed. The computer systems between the DMVs are pretty tightly linked. I've lived in both states, and the records follow you very quickly.

I must say, however, that in my own experience, it is relatively hard to get a speeding ticket in this state. That new car must want to go pretty fast.

[24 on/ 48 off]

It'll follow you.

--spud-- :smile:

[1pump]

I got one near Tacoma last year, 79 in a 60. Cost me $65 in court, and it did some damage to my record, 'cuz shortly thereafter my car insurance went up. Luckily, it happened before October when the well-meaning DOT geniuses decided that personal and CDL tickets should all be on one record. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]
I'm under the impression that a ticket is a ticket, no matter what state you were cited in. Once upon a time, this wasn't true, but I think all states now have reciprocal agreements.
The Evel Knievel (bike cop) who popped me was using a laser, and the judge wasn't hearing any arguments about it's accuracy or the competence of the operator. :depressed: I wouldn't try that.
My girlfriend got nailed doing 84 in a 70, but she just batted her eyes a few times and the cop let her go.
There ain't no justice in this world, I tell ya. :tongue:

[Bendman]

Sorry Cool Texan, Oregon and Washington share records. Not to make anybody from washington mad but I don't like the Police up there. I had to go up ther to pick up some material and I got lost in Auburn. Long story short I got a speeding ticket (36 in a 25) Expired tags ticket by one day. And no insurance ticket because I had new insurance. Which I had a card for but The cop said everyone has those "fake" cards, then gave me ticket for that also. All were Droped but Speeding. I hate Auburn Cops!!

[fish_on]

See if you would have been driving a domestic car you would have gotten away scott free :grin: jk. I know your pain got caught in a wa speed trap a few years back.

[Cool Texan]

Its actually pretty funny. I drove the new car to Kelso, then we switched. My wife had been driving it for MAYBE 5 minutes, with me following in her BMW...BAM, ticket. D'oh!!!

We'll try for deferred adjudication or something...or just hope Mr Insurance gives us the first one free since neither of us have had a ticket in 9+ years.

[Straydog]

Whaddya mean "help"???? :whazzup:

You broke the law! You're no better than the loser pot smokers you don't want running around.

I make my living on the road. I don't want somebody in a hot new car they are unfamiliar with breaking the law and making my life more dangerous.

Buck up, pay your fine, follow the law and take your consequences like a man. :grin:

[ 07-20-2003, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[Cool Texan]

Nah, I'll just find a way to skirt the system.

Besides, all those commercials tell me that my new (used) car is the safest on the road and wont spill my latte in an accident. :grin:

[Straydog]

Now you just gave me an idea!! [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img]

Spill the Latte. Burn the 'lap'. Then, sue Toyota for not warning you their car would create a zipper zapping from the spilled Latte. Sue Starbucks for making the coffee too hot and then go buy a NEW Lexus for the little lady, a new Beemer for those weekend get aways and a boat or two for the man of the house!! :shocked: :grin:

(If you ever need an agent, let me know........ :grin: )

[ 07-20-2003, 10:15 AM: Message edited by: Straydog ]

[Martin85]

Hey Cool Texan I heard that if you get a speeding ticket you can call the county or city they work for and ask for a " rit or rite of discovery" and if the cop has not got all his certs. up to date and the radar gun checked out once a year then you can go to court and get the ticket thrown out. I'm not telling you to avoid or get around laws but If you have a CDL with the new rule changes I would do what I could, Its your right.

[Cool Texan]

Stray, I like the way you think!! :grin:

We'll probably pursue deferred adjudication if they offer it. If not, hopefully State Farm will give us one for free. We're going from a 2 door BMW to a 4 door Lexus, so hopefully our rates will go down (more doors, more airbags, more safetey, etc). If not, they'll go down in 7.5-8 months.

[lost_sailor]

Were Rasheed and Damon in the back seat?

Here's an idea - SLOW DOWN

[Seefood Man]

[img]graemlins/1zhelp.gif[/img] Heres your help SLOW DOWN!!!! I drive about 1000 miles a week. I can't tell you the times people almost cause accidents cause their in a hurry, just cause they can't manage their time.

[Okie]

Seefood Man,
I couldn't agree with you more. I have driven millions of miles. Drove one vehicle 450,000 miles before I sold it. Have traveled every state, every Province of Canada and all the roads of Alaska. And believe me if there is one piece of good advice for the road it is "SLOW DOWN".

But being in the real world, I am sure this will fall on deaf ears. We live in a fast world where almost every body in in hurry and late for something.

[Cool Texan]

We werent in a hurry or running late for anything. Just enjoying the new(er) car. :grin:

[Cool Texan]

Just spoke with my friends at State Farm. A ticket will have no impact on our insurance rates. 4 tickes would have no impact. I love State Farm!!!

She recommended sending in the fine along with a note about how it was a new car for us, not used to driving it, in the flow of traffic, etc, didnt realize, apologies, yadda yadda yadda. She said there is a good chance they might knock some % off the fine....supposedly happened for her a while back. We'll see. Its only $105 for the fine, so its not the end of the world.

[k9jeff]

Be honest, appear in person if you can and explain to the judge face to face. Explain that it is not something that you do all the time, it was a new car ect..... they will look at your driving record make a decision.
The reality is that you were speeding, and in your line of site was your spedometer which tells you that.

Just think of all the times you got away with driving over the speed limit. :grin:

[Baskett-o-fish]

a letter with explination works just as good as appearing in person. Most times they will reduce the fine with a brief explination why you were speeding. Admitting you did speed and are taking responsibility for it goes along way in the courts. Its rare people step up and say yes I did speed so it may confuse them and get them on your good side.

[Cool Texan]

It was in Kelso...we'll just pay it and send a letter and see what happens. I'm not going to drive all that way just for this.

And the speedometer wasnt in the line of sight...apparently my wife was adjusting the mirrors when she was clocked. :grin:

The funny part was that I pulled over behind the cop since it was a new car for us, no plates, and only paperwork, most of which I had signed. I explained to the cop that he pulled my wife over, new car etc...he said, "Oh, if you were following her you must have been doing 84 also. I'll be right back with your ticket". I just gave him the finger as he walked away (his back was to me, dont worry) and laughed, knowing full well there was NO WAY he could give me a ticket.

Essentially we just ran into some young punk of a cop on an ego trip. My wife told me later down the road that he was extremely rude during the whole thing. Oh well...hope Mr Tough-guy feels better now. :grin:

No worries...insurance wont go up, and we get to help Kelso budget a little.

And yes, it equals out for all the times we didnt get caught....like 45 minutes earlier when I was driving it and hit 100. WOOHOO!!!

[Stratocaster]

Essentially we just ran into some young punk of a cop on an ego trip.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">The ole WSP, they are a cocky bunch,(i was related to one) but their stuff dosent stink(in Cowlitz Co.) when it comes to tickets and such. Very hard to get a reduction or dismissals.

[ 07-21-2003, 05:40 PM: Message edited by: fisherdan ]

[1pump]

Just spoke with my friends at State Farm. A ticket will have no impact on our insurance rates. 4 tickes would have no impact. I love State Farm!!!

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">What?!?!?!? :shocked: I'm with State Farm, and my insurance just went up by roughly 40%! And I only have the one ticket a year ago! No claims, or anything else.
I'm not married (at the moment) so at this point I'm gonna assume that's to blame, and the fact I've only been with SF for a year and a half.
That's the reason I left Allstate after 15 years. Big rate hike for no apparent reason. [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[GutshotApe]

CT - As a Cowlitz County native and former resident, I can tell you the locals enjoy nothing better than seeing WSP writing up an Oregon speeder on I-5 . Just be thankful you didn't get a ticket, too. Sounds like you earned one. :shocked:

[drhall99]

1Pump,

SF raised all of their rates. They had big losses over the last few years and UP went the rates.

D.

[Mr. Carp]

They're from Oregon so they deserved a ticket... To many crazy Oregon drivers driving slow in the fast lane in good ol' Washington already. SLOW TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT!!!!. Just Kidding CT [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] :grin:

Besides, I don't think driving slow in the fast lane was your problem according to the thread.

[Okie]

CT
It's easy to drive to fast with a new car that runs very quiet and has lots of power, and the sensation of speed isn't there because it runs so good. But as much as we don't won't to admit it, it was probably exceeding the speed limit by a considerable amount. It's easy, been there done that.
If other cars were passing you on the highway then it is a different story. They should have stoped them before they stoped you.

[Cool Texan]

I have a 16-17 year old policy that is something kinda different...I forget the name (wallet is upstairs) of the type of policy. THey dont do them anymore, so I'll never leave State Farm. Thus the no rate increase.

As for a ticket for me....did I earn one? Technically, no. He did not clock me speeding....he is just ASSuming I was speeding, which I was, but he cant prove it. Ironically, the address on my drivers license did not match the address on my insurance, nor did it match the address on my wifes license (he knew she was my wife). Seems we moved a couple years ago and I havent changed mine yet. Idiot didnt even mention it. Thats ok though...I had a story ready for that one.

Anyway....no harm from the ticket. $100 out the door, but oh well.

[Fish_N_Russ]

Gee now I know why State Farm is the highest rates! You pay much more than any other company but can get multiple tickets before a rate hike..

[Cool Texan]

Actually, I've done the Geico comparison numerous times as well as Farmers and some others. They dont come close to my policy with State Farm. Been with them for 16+ years now. My rates are actually "cheap" in comparison to what other companies would charge me.

[big fishy]

Pay the ticket and move on, face it you got caught.

[happybrew]

Sounds like you've found the benefit to staying with one insurance company, instead of shopping around all the time for better rates. I've been with Farmer's for 19 years now, and nobody can come close to the rate I get, not State Farm or anybody else. They like customers who don't move around.

By the way, since speeding isn't addictive, everybody does it, and it does have significant benefits like getting you there faster, I say we legalize speeding! :grin: It doesn't hurt anybody! Crashing, not speeding, is what hurts people. And driver error, not speed, causes crashes. People crash in parking lots for crying out loud! Nope, speed laws are a government plot to restrict our freedoms, and created a bloated police beauracracy to enforce the laws and extort money out of people who are just trying to get somewhere quickly.

happybrew

[Killertraylor]

Hey Cool Texan - I'm a lawyer and would be happy to give you some advice. Although I don't handle any criminal or traffic matters, I used to be a prosecutor so I've seen everything when it comes to traffic court.

I've had about 7 speeding tickets in my life and I've been convicted of 3. 6 of them came when I was driving my wife's BMW. I normally drive the speed limit, but that car just had a mind of it's own. I therefore sympathize with you and the Lexus. Also, I'd be happy to help anyone out who takes the energy to battle with Straydog! :grin:

First, I suggest you plead not guilty and request a court date. In some counties (especially with the budget cuts and cops losing their jobs) the officer doesn't show up 50% of the time. If he doesn't show up, your ticket is dismissed (that worked 2 times for me). If the cop does show up for the trial, just tell the judge you want to change your plea to guilty or no contest. The officer is usually so relieved that he doesn't have to put on his case that he'll be very nice and resonable to the court when talking about your conduct.

If he's a young or inexperienced cop I'll make him put on his case. You can always change your plea to guilty after he does that. I had 1 ticket dismissed because the officer didn't establish venue (he never mentioned where it was that I was speeding). The court probably could have let the cop re-open his case in chief, but the judge granted my motion to dismiss to teach the cop a lesson. One time I got it dismissed because I actually wasn't speeding - I was coming around a corner and he radared the car on the right, but I was on the left - he just got it crossed up when the speeder passed me.

When the cop shows up and I'm guilty, I just give the judge a reasonable truthful explanation very politely and be courteous to the court and the officer and they usually reduce your fine significantly. Never be dishonest. Always be respectful.

And - I agree with you 100% about State Farm. They've been my insurer for 10 years and their rates are better than any other company I've compared them to.I think you and I are under the same policy - they can't cancel you once you've gone a certain amount of time without a claim - they don't do that anymore though.

Good luck! And, if all else fails, there are some great little books on Amazon. My favorite is "How to fight your traffic ticket and win".

[Cool Texan]

I already cut the fine city of Kelso a check for the fine. Once I knew that S.F. wouldn't increase my insurance rates, my will to fight went down. :smile:

[Conspiracy Theory]

As a resident of Cowlitz Co. I welcome all you Oregonians to come up here and speed. The more speeders from Oregon means our lovely police officers can give out more tickets. Since I'm sure a lot of you will do the same thing as CT, just send in the money, our County will receive more revenue. Since we have an extremely high unemployment rate we welcome any income we can. :grin: :grin: :grin:

Just kidding except about our unempoyment rate. One of the highest in the state.

[Cool Texan]

I was mad at first, but then I saw Kelso and figured they needed the money more than I did. :tongue:

Just kidding...sort of. :grin: [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img]

In Oklahoma they would have put your butt in jail, made you pay, then let you go Tex.

[Cool Texan]

Based on the year worth of experience I had living in Tulsa, I can say that is not true. Got a ticket there once. Mailed in my check. Actually, probably the nicest state trooper I've ever "dealt" with was in Oklahoma.

You got me. I was thinking you got one that did not like Baja Oklahoma. :grin: :blush: My mom lived in Shawnee for years. Very nice people, and yep, a State Trooper let me go there too.

Dang it though, I got nailed big time the same day in Wichita, Kansas. A total set up trap and I
set the hook in myself real deep. Pay before you keep goin' deal that time.



[ 08-01-2003, 05:52 PM: Message edited by: ****** ]

[Thumper]

I'm sorta surprised the Oklahoma cops even let a Texas speeder go. A bit of rivalry there.