Hi, I got a ticket on my way home to NW IN last week on I94. Here is the scenario: Traffic was fine all the way from downtown until I was less than a half mile away from my exit (394). Then, traffic came to a dead stop. I was sitting there for about 5 minutes not moving. However, i was running very low on gas. I had three miles left in the tank, and i honestly did not think i would make it to the next gas station if i stayed in this line of traffic. Therefore, i decided to drive on the shoulder to get to my exit and hopefully find a gas station. When i was doing this, a cop pulled me over and gave me a ticket. Do you think this ticket would be able to be fought in court? Or should i just go to class? I have never gotten a ticket before. Also, i took pictures of the gauge showing how i had no gas as well as the digital readout that states 0 miles before i run out of gas. These pictures are dated and timed in my phone (so they coincide with the time on the ticket). Is this enough evidence to fight it? Let me know what you think. Thanks, Michael BTW--I was driving a minivan, not an exotic car or anything.
Take the punishment! Being low on gas is not an acceptable reason to break the law. Go to court and beg for mercy. If you get the judge laughing, you will get a fine, but will probably get the offense expunged from your record if you don't get another violation within 6 months.
Just take the fine, show up at court and they'll reduce it a bit or give you a just as annoying alternative like driving school. You will notice your pics, pleas, letters from Mom will not help you as you don't really have a chance to explain yourself. The only time showing up at court did me good was way back in high school. I got caught doing 55 in a 45. For those who are familiar with the area, this was in Northbrook in front of the Allstate campus which looks to be like a 55 zone. 2 days before my court date I decided to just show up at the court ( was it a Saturday?) and plead my case to anyone who would listen about me going off to school. At the time I was enrolled at a military academy and I was more nervous about the image I would present to the academy and my rank about having to take time off from school rather than just paying the fine out of my own pocket. By some miracle the clerk was my nationality, recognized my name, after a few pleas from me she smiled, said I reminded her of her son, and scheduled a court appearance for the next availible time: 1 hour! Amazed I gave her a kiss on the cheek and knew I just won one battle. I decided to change into my military uniform for the court appearance. Full dress gear, medals polished, American flag patches colorful. I thought if I got some senior aged war vet judge I was home free. As they announce our judge, my mind went blank as a very large and angry looking black lady judge with a thick city accent stepped up. She started barking orders to the clerks and it didn't look good at all for RocketBoy. They called my case up first, just 10 seconds after she yelled at someone for not knowing their job, and I seriously thought I was toast. A clerk explained how my appearance in court was bumped up due to enrollment at a military academy and the whole time their reading my case this judge is just staring down at me, never blinking for a minute. After the details are read, the judge smerks, asks/states: " Military school?" Then smiles and this is how it goes because I remember this exchange like yesterday... Judge: " Now Lieutenant, you didn't really mean to be speeding were you?" Me: " Oh no your Honor." Judge: " I didn't think so. You look so sharp in your uniform. Im sure you didn't mean this." Me: " Thank you your Honor, I will be more careful from now on." Judge: " Now you be careful on your trip back to school." turns to the clerks, " No fine, case dismissed." The judge smiles at me and then booms out in an angry voice, " NEXT!" Im not using this as an example. Im not saying how I cheated the system or that I really care if I got out scott free or not. As stated by Burgess Meredith in Grumpier Old Men, " I just like that story, " and I think it shows some compassion in figures we don't usually think of. RocketBoy
I'd fight it. I've never heard of anyone going to court and getting a stiffer fine, so what can it hurt? I would be prepaired for the "you should anticipate needing gas when driving on the xxx" comment.
Ever heard of the novel "Der Hauptmann von Koepenick"? About a down and out guy who buys a captain's uniform and turns his life around into a dream come true? Heinz Ruehman stared in the movie version of it. Brilliant comedy. You deserve at least a cameo in that one... As for the ticket: I'd accept it. I only had to go to traffic court once so far because they had me go there and it was so routine I don't think I wouldn't have gotten any time to make my case. It's not like a trial on TV, it's more like the food chain at Burger King.
Pay the ticket, you don't have a good excuse. Then do the on-line version of traffic school; if you're quick it takes about 2-3 hours and and be done at any time of the day or night.
Hi Mike, I think that it would be worthwhile to make a court appearance, this is a moving violation. There is always the chance that the officer will not show, especially if you request a continuance or two (think up good reasons before making the requests). There is also the chance that with a reasonable defense you may prevail. First question that I must ask..... How fast were you going while on the shoulder? If you were going slow, you could try claiming that you did not want to run out of gas while in the lanes of traffic, compounding the traffic congestion this would also present a safety issue. Second question, were you exiting to go south on 394? Regards, Bill
Many years ago....MANY....I was in Court,(not a vehicle type incident.....) And,there was a guy that had received a speeding ticket in his Mid 1960's Corvette. His argument,(He did not have a Lawyer with him),was that his Car came equipped with Factory Side pipes. And,that the Car "Sounded" like it was going Faster than it actually was. The Judge must've been a "Car Guy" because he bought it,and let him off!
I was definitely going under 10 mph, and i was exiting for south 394. Ferrarifrank-if i had waited in the line, everyone else would have been waiting a lot longer once i ran out of gas. Also, before traffic became congested, i was sure i'd make it to the gas station. But once it came to a stop, it was a DEAD stop.
Oh,I know. If it's an Emergency,there's not much you can do. But,the Law's the Law. And,nothing Frosts my Arse more than when some (Fill in your favorite expletive here) decides that he/she is just too darn important to wait in line like everyone else. (And,I'm not saying that regarding you,BTW....) But,I'm sure that everyone has encountered it. But,hey,I've been driving for 30 Years. Drove Big Trucks,too. (LONG WAY between Fuel Stations sometimes....) So,I guess that I had already learned my lesson regarding unreliable,congested Traffic in the Chicagoland Area,and having enough Gas before partaking on my venture..... That said. It certainly can't hurt Trying to "Tell it to the Judge"....But,Judges normally get more P/O'd when they think someone is trying to tell them something that they've already heard a Thousand times before.....Good Luck!
None of this would have happened if you had been driving a Ferrari: Those fuel gauges are so unreliable, that you're fueling up every time you get a chance too.
I think the states of Illinois and Indiana should pay for this ticket, for F-ing up the roads so much. I drove 94 to 294 from Michigan yesterday.... No need for the miles and miles of construction. Concentrate on one area, fix it, move on, not tear it all up.
I would explain this to the judge, let the chips fall where they may. It's worth a shot simply because of it being a moving violation. Where do you live?? Southbound 394 leads to my neighborhood.
