Another 'I got a speeding ticket' thread...

The day before Thanksgiving I am driving in West Texas on my way to New Mexico. Travelling up highway 85 I have my cruise control set at 77mph. Speed limit is 70.

Now, I have done this for the past 4 years and have yet to get a ticket on an interstate when this speed is set on my cruise control. So I am just buzzing along listening to some music when I spot a cruiser in opposite traffic across the median. As soon as I see him his partner points out of the vehicle for me to pull over. Lights come on, etc...

I am thinking, 'You have got to be kidding me, this guy is actually pulling me over, fantastic.'

I immediately put on hazard lights, pull over, roll down car windows, shut off engine, and await the inquisition.

Officer 1 strolls up to my window and says 'sir, we clocked you going 82 and this is a 70 mph zone.'

As I am looking up at the officer I have to stare straight into the sunlight. I respond with 'sir, I am not gonng BS you one bit. I had my cruise control set at 77mph which would make it impossible for me to be going 82 unless of course my speedometer isn't calibrated correctly, but I am quite certain it is.'

Officer 1: 'Well then why did you slow down the second we saw you??'

Me: 'By the time I saw you your partner was already signaling for me to pull over, so I immediately put on my hazards and proceeded to the shoulder'

Officer 1: 'Ok sir, I am gonna need you to grab your license, insurance, and registration and go ahead and come with me.'

Me: 'Sure thing officer, I have all of my info right here'

My tone of voice is very respectful and polite, I had my hands on the wheel at all times. Essentially I was trying to make him as comfortable as possible so as not to irritate him into totally driving in the nails.

I grab the info and step out of the car

Officer 1: 'Sir, I am gonna need you to go ahead and step on over to my cruiser where my partner is standing.'

So I walk on over to the cruiser with Officer 1 closely behind me.

This is when it gets absurd

Officer 1: "Tell me sir, I need to know the last time you smoked marijuana."

Me: 'Marijuana? Are you joking? The only thing I smoke is an occasional cigarette, of which you will see a pack of Marlboro lights in my passenger seat."

Officer 1: "Sir, I am only going to ask you one more time. Do you smoke marijuana?"

Me: "Officer, not a chance. But I feel I have to ask you why you are asking me so forcefully?"

Officer 1: "Sir, when I was talking to you while you were still in your vehicle I saw one of your eyes twitching."

Me: "You can't be serious? The only way for me to be able to address you eye to eye was to look directly in the sun, take a look for yourself and see if you can keep your eyes open without some effort'

Officer 1: 'Ok sir, then face me so the sun isn't in your face and look me in the eyes'

Me: 'Officer, whatever makes you comfortable'

So I turn, look him in the eye, and he says...

"Son, I am going to need you to close your eyes, tilt your head back and count to ten"

In my head I am saying "You have got to be f'ing kidding me. This assclown really thinks I am stoned. And what if he honestly thinks I am after all this? This guy could actually put the cuffs on me for NO GOOD REASON!!!"

I do as he says and count to ten.

Officer 1: 'Ok sir, tell me, when was the last time you let someone smoke marijuana in your vehicle?"

Me: 'Officer, I don't let anybody smoke anything in my car, let alone do drugs.'

Officer 1: 'So you are saying that nobody has recently smoked marijuana in your vehicle'

Me: 'Nobody has EVER done any type of drugs in my vehicle.'

Officer 1 to Officer 2: "Dan, go check and make sure this vin number matches his registration, I want to make sure the vehicle isn't stolen"

Me: 'So, what happens now?'

Officer 1: 'Sir, now I write you a ticket for speeding. What is your permanent address?'

Me: 'Well, that is a good question. Don't use the one on my license because I am not there due to the hurricane. But I suspect I will be moving back into New Orleans around Christmas time. I'll give you the address of my aunt so I can receive any documents pertaining to this'

Officer 1: 'Fine'

Me: 'So what are you writing the ticket for officer?'

Here is the kicker.....

Officer 1: 'Well sir, since you were honest I am going to cut you a break and not write the ticket for 82. Instead I'll give you 78'

This guy was acting as if he was doing me a favor!

Me: 'Well officer, in all fairness, had you written me for 82 it would not make sense considering the fact that I was never travelling above 77. Now I was honest about my speed, which I take full responsibility for, but writing me a ticket for a speed I could not have possibly been traveling would be unfair. So to say that you are giving me a break for 'being honest' proves to me that you knew I was never going 82 in the first place, otherwise you wouldn't 'cut me a break' for telling you exactly what I was doing.'

Officer 1: 'Well sir, signing the ticket is not an admission of guilt. Have a nice Thanksgiving'

Me: 'Happy holidays officers, enjoy the kindness of the season'

Officer 1: 'Enjoy those Marlboro Reds'

Me: 'Sorry officer, Marlboro Lights, as I said.'


Now, somewhere throughout our lovely conversation he asked me 4 seperate times where I was going. Each time I responded to him that I was going to Albuquerque to have Thanksgiving with my sister and parents. Yet the officer felt compelled to try to trip me up by asking me 4 times.


I know this was long, but I thought some might enjoy the way our highway's finest can get under your skin. I know they are just doing their job, but the accusations were uncalled for. Especially had he decided to cuff me.

Anyway, I do think it is stupid for pulling someone over for going 7mph over the limit in the middle of West Texas, but I'll pay the stupid fine, pay some attorney to get it knocked down to a non moving violation, then proceed to purchase that V-1 I have been putting off for quite some time.

It just stinks to have 77mph being the reason for me getting a ticket for the first time in 4 years(although I must admit I have done much faster speeds many times in those years, heh).

One quick question to you guys. I noticed on the ticket he wrote my license plate down as being a Texas plate. But, I have a Louisiana plate. Is this enough of a technicality to get it thrown out? I doubt it, but it is worth asking. I'll see if I can take a pic of the ticket so we can see if there are any other mistakes the officer made in my favor.

 

I understand your frustration because it is so crappy when a few make a bad name for the many. Case in point being the New Orleans Police Officers who stayed to help maintain whatever order they could with the limited resources they had.

THe deserters and TWO who looted made the whole force look like criminals in the minds of many Americans, but the truth is the opposite. Those who stayed were heroes who deserve recognition.

And it is true, they had me on speeding. I can take responsibility for it, no prob. My gripe is that they took a situation where someone was going only 7 mph over the limit as an excuse to mess with me for whatever reason. It makes you want to have the ability to pull that same person over a week later and give them the same treatment

 

The reason I set my cruise at 77ish is because I got a ticket 4 years ago by a Louisiana State Trooper for going 82 in a 70. The guy was nice about it, but I still got the ticket. But he did offer this, 'tell you what, all of the Troops here in Louisiana won't pull you over on the interstate unless you are going 10mph+ over the limit. So if you want to cruise at 77 the rest of your trip feel free, we have bigger things to worry about.'

I asked around, and apparently a few other officers I asked in Louisiana concurred. So I have been doing it ever since and will pass officers countless times going 78 in a 70 with no trouble whatsoever.

My mistake was that I assumed West Texas would be similiar. Oops!

 

I was waiting for it, no joke!

 

This is what I had thought was the case. Funny, because as soon as I got into New Mexico the limit went up to 75mph! Go figure

 

Hey, at least I didn't tell them I had been getting all of my 'stuff' from you

 

This is correct. I think the drive into that part of Texas would cost me more in gas than this ticket will. Not to mention the hassle.

I got all of the County Info online yesterday and will be giving them a call tomorrow to see what course of action I can pursue. If I can just have it knocked down to a non-moving violation(so insurance isn't notified) I will be more than happy to pay the fine and forget about this nonsense!

Now, I am about to get into my car and drive back from NM to Ft. Worth, so I'll report here if I get another ticket