Needsleep259’s Weblog

Did you know if you ask for a trial for a speeding ticket, you could be liable for a $5,000 fine and a  YEAR in prison? Yup, that’s right, which is exactly why dh pleaded no contest and paid the $200 fine when he wasn’t guilty. I’m still mourning – both the loss of money and the unfairness of it all.

My dh was slowing for a red light when he saw a police car tucked away to the right and up the hill from the light. As the light changed, he saw the car pull out and follow. BAM! The lights and sirens come one, to my dh’s amazement. The officer told him he got him on radar doing 65. Only it never happened since my dh SAW the car behind him and was careful – the man is no fool. The officer claimed it was after the light changed, while he was following him. So my dh does the only thing advisable; shuts up and takes the ticket.

My dh waits patiently for his day in court. It finally arrived today and he got dressed ever so nice and left. Now the only southern court I have been in was quite surprising. A sign was prominently displayed stating no cell phones, sandals, shorts, men must have their shirts tucked in and no male earrings. The security was as rigorous as any airport too, with a metal detector, wand search, xray machine and handbag search.  But I digress……

The judge is not without sympathy and tells my dh that it is very difficult to beat the radar gun, to which dh points out they are not flawless. He is asked to sign a waiver for a trial, when he gets hit with the liability clause  – a possible penalty of $5k and 1yr if found guilty. Now it is hard to hide how unreasonable he finds this, but he tells the judge he is not signing or risking a year in jail for a speeding ticket! He has a clean license and this just seems unreal. So the  judge cuts him a deal – plead no contest and they would waive court fees, not give him any points on his license. Pay the $200 and go home. So he does. Most unhappily.

What a welcome to our new county. What an eye opener regarding the profitability of traffic violations. I guess the officer had to make a quota, since this happened on Memorial Day weekend. I know he has a job to do, but next time maybe he could pull over someone who is actually speeding, because there are plenty of Nascar wannabes around here!!!!