Got my first ticket in the 355 today. 80mph in a 65 zone.... I am lucky he got me only going 80. Although I am not happy about getting a revenue generating ticket, I am happy cause the officer lowered it to only show 74 in a 65 or 9mph over which should keep insurance happy. The officer told me that normally he doesn't lower the tickets for anyone doing 80mph or higher but since I immediately pulled over he was cutting me some slack. I had started to pull over as soon as I went past him. He didn't even have to get out on the roadway he just pulled ahead from where he was sitting. Glad I made it easy on him. Also nice enough to let me get a picture with him and my car. I only wish you could read my plate "guilty" in the pic. He told me dispatch made a comment about the plate when he radioed it in. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Erick, First off, sorry for the ticket, man! I hate those days... and thankfully they're few and far between! But I will admit, with a license plate of "guilty" and a bright yellow Ferrari, along with a pic, you made that officer's day! You KNOW he's telling the story of pulling you over later to his wife and buddies. 9 mph over hopefully shouldn't be much. And yes, I've found that when you're polite and go out of your way to make it easy on the officer, they return the favor. My last speeding incident ended in only a failure to produce proof of insurance (didn't have the ID card on me) - a $109 ticket as opposed to probably $300+ had he kept it a speeding ticket... all for just pulling over quickly, getting far enough off the road to make it safe, etc, and just being polite. Great picture, BTW - the car looks very nice!
... also, out of curiosity, how do you approach the subject of, "may I take a picture of this?" to a cop??
Erick, At least he lowered the speed on the ticket, although how fast someone should be allowed to drive should factor in: 1) the vehicle capabilities (Ferrari) or lack there of ( American/Korean) 2) Driving skills 3) Past ticket/accident history = your speed to safely operate a motor vehicle!
When he handed me the citation I asked "now that you caught me will you do me the favor of letting me take a picture of you and my car together?" He said "sure just sign the citation first." He even wanted to see the picture after I took it.
Another thing they like is when you pull your keys out of the ignition and put them on the dash in plain sight. Makes them feel like you won't run!
Welcome to the club. Momma said, "Ya gotta be willin to break a few eggs if yer gonna make an omlette." She was right. Keep playin hard and safe.
When he asked to see the photo, you could have quickly pulled up this photo instead... Photo "Really officer, that's the way the photo came out and my recollection of the entire event!" Just kidding, of course... seems like he was a nice guy!
I make it cordial and safe for the officer. I say nothing, admit nothing, comment on nothing, ask for no warning. I Just sign the paper and leave. I fight every single ticket in court. Appeal every one I lose. I win more than I lose. When I lose, i just write it up the cost of driving. I teach my family and co-workers how to fight their tickets. They win too. Sorry about your ticket. Fight it.
I can't believe he let you take the pic....he could probably get his ass ripped for doing so...nice cop for sure
Your first ticket? Cant you go to traffic school and get it dismissed? The pic may be worth the price of a ticket, but your insurance will go up 40%... NOT worth it! If traffic school is not an option, fight it, if that was a state cop, there's a 90% chance he wont show up for court and it'll be dismissed.
I had an incident where a cop pulled me over to look at my car (in this case, not the F355, but my Shelby Cobra). Sunday evening cruise through East Texas (yes, Carroll Shelby territory) to give her some exercise. Going 45 in a 45 zone, cop sitting on the shoulder of the road. I think the rumble woke him up. Lights go on and I think "that can't be for me". He doesn't approach very fast, but he doesn't pass me either. At this point I'm about furious so I pull into a closed gas station parking lot and, sure enough, he pulls in behind me. He walks up and says "I had to check out the car - I hope you don't mind". I offered him pictures in the car, but he had his 'tool' belt on and was 'on duty' so he declined. His buddy was riding with him (not another cop - keep in mind this is a tiny little town in East Texas), so he took me up on the offer. I figured those 30 minutes of talking cars and taking pictures earned me a "get out of jail for free" card if I ever needed it in that little town.
+1 Not sure I would have the balls to ask for that should I be pulled over. Might try it just the same now
I was working a graveyard shift in the middle of the SoCal desert years ago when a flatbed with a Countach pulled into a gas station. Being a good cop, I had to investigate and started up a conversation with the driver. He too offered to let me sit in the car (wasn't his, so what the hell), but I declined because I didn't want to gouge the nice leather seats with my gun belt. But I do believe that that would be my first inkling of the love I would have for exotic cars. I went through a few muscle cars along the way, but ultimately landed here. Good times...
Nah, small town. I used to work with most of the guys in all of the law enforcement agencies around here, so they break balls once in a while and pull me over to see how my retirement is going. Of course everyone driving by thinks I got one.
Sorry to hear of your ticket and a pretty cool picture, too. Isn't there a country somewhere in the world which combines all the advantages of your home country (the US) and mine (Germany)? I'm quite jealous on your fabulous mountain scenery and the beautiful weather nearly all year long but in terms of "spirited progress" you just can't beat the german Autobahn. Had to go from Aachen to Frankfurt and back today and it just took me 90minutes for 240 kilometers to get there... Max speed 285km/h on the three lane A3, all perfectly legal and always keeping a safety margin. What a nice day. Unfortunately in the wrong car, an Aston V8 Vantage, still saving money for one of my two last dream cars, a 355 Challenge. One day... What a great bunch of petrolheads here on FC, by the way, my favourite chat room and I don't even own the F yet.
Even though I drive a F355 in Southern California, I am jealous of your driving the Autobahn in an Astin. It really sounds like a beautiful country Marius and I hope to visit in the next year or two.
You're more than welcome anytime. Takes me just 1 hour to Spa, The Ring and Zolder from my home. Probably the reason I still live here. Just been to Miami a few weeks back and wished so badly I would have had my toys with me. Sorry for thread hijacking...
