got a driving award

Back in '09 I was stopped for a red light violation on an early Sunday morning heading to work in my personal vehicle. I am positive I did not run the light, but it was the Florida state troopers word against mine, like you I had an impecible record and did not want this to hinder me. Now I don't know if Florida is any different than North Dakota, but I just ended up contesting it to the court and explained my position of my good driving record and the judge ended up enforcing the fine and nothing more, no points. I don't know if your journey will be as easy, but maybe this will help a bit.

 

Just adding to the rage...

I always fight tickets... it's gonna cost me anyway so why not inconvenience the cop and the courts too? Oddly enough, they usually do reduce the ticket if you're reasonably adept at parliamentary procedure.

I don't know where your cop was sitting but I can say that in most states, you do have what is presumed to be a 'reasonable distance' from seeing the sign to reaching the changed speed. If your cop was at the sign, you have a good case against that ticket.

Just sayin'

'Bigfoot'

 

Shortly after I got my CDL I was driving a roll back tow truck in Texas. Same as your situation, the speed limit dropped from 70 to 55. I never saw a sign stated the speed limit change. Got a ticket for 15 over. I called the city attorney and spoke with him. He let me do a thing that was just like deferred adjudication but they called it by a different name. It cost me the price of the fine plus court cost and as long as I didnt get another ticket in the state of Texas within 90 days it was dropped off of my record.

Dont know if that is an option with you, but certainly worth a try.

 

Wait...the cop pulled you over....in a tow truck? That's pretty bad in and of itself...but he wrote you a ticket too? Back when I drove wreckers, we could pretty much get away with murder. I've rolled up on state bears with a capture I was going to tow running 84 mph in a 55 mph zone (thought they were on the opposite side of the highway) and they didn't say jack. We helped the 18 year old g/f of one of our drivers avoid a DUI by showing up and promising the cop the car would remain in our custody for 24 hours...she had hit a curb and blown out a couple tires and had already parked in a parking lot when the cop showed up. I used to smile & wave at the city cops all of the time in my pickup...running 70 in a 45 right past the cop shop (on my way to get the wrecker to do a police call). Hell, the day the company was bought out, I got pulled over on my motorcycle running 98 through a 20 mph zone...after splitting the lanes to get passed what I didn't realize was an undercover cop....and got off with a verbal warning to "slow it down a little" because of where I worked. I kinda miss those days...don't get away with much anymore.

Then again, we towed for 5 or 6 different city departments, the county sheriff, and 2 different state police districts...and we had a pretty good reputation for getting the job done quickly.

 

^^^ Gota love trucker stories. All that's missing is black helicopters and US Marshall's.

 

Yeah, this was in a little corrupt east Texas town called Cuney, TX. I could understand being pulled over and given a warning but they apparently didnt see it that way!

We pulled for several PD's around Ft Worth and most would look the other way although we didnt do 70 in 20's or anything like that.

Although one of our trucks was on his way to an accident on I-20. He was going around 10 or 12 over and was within sight of the accident when he got pulled over by Ft. Worth for speeding. He told the cop that he was going on a pd pull and it was right in front of them 1/2 mile. The cop told him they they could wait and wrote him a ticket. He told the cops at the accident what had happened and they were very pissed!

 

Call Jeff and James at Roadlaw. They deal with these questions all the time and are familiar with most states. They are attorneys, not truckdrivers. (Get my drift?).
http://roadlaw.net/

 

You will deff want to get a lawyer and get this knocked down. You will also want to get a local lawyer, as they are already certified to practice in your state and area. And more times than most, they have a repoor already with the prosecutor and judges, so you will not even need to show up most times. I'm sure it will run you about $500 for the lawyer, but I don't see why you wouldn't wind up with just probation for a year and 0 points. Worht the $500 if you ask me.

Also, I'm guessing that since you were in your POV, you will not get any CSA points, but you might want to clarify that with someone. Maybe call OOIDA for help with this and locating a lawyer.

 

I had to call one of the lawyers 10 years ago or so and they asked what the ticket was written for and I told them it was 69 in a 55. He said that he had a lawyer that would represent me for x amount of money (forgot amount) and gave me the win versus loss ratio in that county and state. Did not have to go to court just pay fine within 10 days of receiving fine in mail. Just my 2 cents worth. You can call and ask for advice and a win loss ratio.