zzzzzxxxxxr12
Expert Class
Posts: 214
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posted May 29, 2004 01:11 PM
 Edited By: zzzzzxxxxxr12 on 29 May 2004 22:24
Can't you Write it for 99
Well got busted by chips this morning. Headed out to Angeles Crest,with a buddy that just got his first bike(04 busa), and wound up getting cited withing 15 miles of the house. 7:30am no traffic to speak of , toottling down the 605 frwy doing about 70, my buddy following about 1/8 mile behind, clear road ahead, i decide to do a quick roll. I check my mirror again, my buddie rolls on as well. Well roll for about 1/4 mile, i back out of it down to about 80. I look in my mirrors and see my buddie still about 1/8 mile behind with company, blue and red lights hangin all over him. Since this is his first real ride i decide to pull over to the side and wait. He pulls in right behind with mr Chips on a Bmer. Dude does the ritual( license , reg, insurance). He asks Whats your hurry, typical. We tell him no real hurry at all, just did a quick roll on and off the the throttle. He Says "You know how fast you were going?" I say no sir, i had my eyes on the road not on the speedometer. He informs us we were radared at 112, but dropped quickly to 102. Then he proceeds to write us up for 100+ which, as he informs us is a non traffic school offence, and 2 pts. I felt so bad for my buddie on his new( and his first) Bike. Now the worst thing of all, I am going to have to sell the bike. I am going to lose my license on pts because Mr Chips would not just write it for 99. You know what pissed me off about this is a couple of things.
1. We never changed a lane, or passed a car.
2. He could see that all we did was a short throttle roll, no racing of any kind.
3. I pulled over and waited on them, I could of just continued on, its doubtful that he would of gotten both.
4. We never gave him tough time, was only cooperative and polite.
5. He could of written it for 99, instead of acting like he was getting off on giving us a 2 pt ticket.
Other than that, we did a 200 mile run through the Los Angeles forest, great day for it.
Seriously though My 2000 with pipe and 4700 mile is now for sale. Its in excellent condition, hell still has the original tires on it.
  
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beansbaxter
Needs a life
Posts: 5911
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posted May 29, 2004 01:27 PM
Wow a Busa for a first bike. My 12 was my third bike, had to build up to it haha...
Dude GET A LAWYER. What was the citation for? If you look at a thread of mine from a while back, I got wrote up for going like 106 in a 55 or something like that, and for 200bucks a lawyer got the prosecutor to dismiss the ticket. I'll see if I can find the thread again and bump it up.
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frEEk
Administrator
ummm... yeah
Posts: 9660
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posted May 29, 2004 01:34 PM
definitely sounds like a lawyer may be worthwhile. i'v heard of so many people getting even clearcut tickets reduced or dropped, it ought to be worth a try, specially if the consequences are so serious in your case.
but perhaps more to the point, i fully agree it was unnecessary. i know u simply can't say this in a court without being scoffed, or to 90+% of the population who have been converted by the nazi-like propaganda that tells tehm speed=murder, but by your description it definitely sounds like there was nothing dangerous or "wrong" about what you did. most the people i met simply dont understand the distinction between teh spirit of the law and the letter of the law tho. unfortunately that is true of many (but defintiely not all) police officers too 
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beansbaxter
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Posts: 5911
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posted May 29, 2004 01:47 PM
Speed = Murder....hmmm I dont think you could prove that using physics....I wonder if Speed(bar) = Murder?
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harryzx-12
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Posts: 3643
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posted May 29, 2004 01:58 PM
Bad news. Definitely get a lawyer.
That's why I don't stop anymore. I don't speed in town or residential areas so when I am going fast it's in a rural area.If I get caught out of my area then I will just pull over.I've lived in this town for my whole life (except for the 21 years I was in the USAF).
I also don't go fast for very long. I accelerate to 150-170 and then get on the brakes. I have passed cops after doing this I don't know how many times (I was doing the speed limit or 5 over when I passed them).
____________
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways- Body thoroughly used up, totally worn out...Screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride !!!"
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Michael Lee
Zone Head
Purchase Ivy
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posted May 29, 2004 04:24 PM
hate2hear
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BA
Pro
Posts: 1592
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posted May 29, 2004 09:36 PM
ya know, while a lawyer is a very very good thing and well worth the money, you could also call the prosecuting attorney, be all polite and stuff, sir this sir that, and try to plea bargain.
offer up alternatives, this helps. Volunteer for the school thing, volunteer for fines with no points. Hell, volunteer to park it for a month, OR, hey, do that City Service/Community volunteer thing for like, I dunno, 10 hrs or 2 weekends. Be flexible for the city's or prosecutor's benefit as long as it doesn't cause the points.
it's worked for me. 
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
Expert Class
Posts: 214
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posted May 30, 2004 03:36 PM
Well called a lawyer and just got off the phone with him. The good news is that he believes that he and get it reduced to a 1 pt account w/ possibly Traffice school. The bad news is that he respectfully requested a modest sum for his representation, Like $3000.00, OUCHIE. Damn
On the other hand he said that if i plead guilty that i would be looking a 30 day suspension, 2 pts and up to $1500.00 fine.
Sure was an expensive ride.
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beansbaxter
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Posts: 5911
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posted May 30, 2004 03:50 PM
Call around...ask friends if they can give you a recomendation, but mainly call around...and I wouldnt pay for a consultation.
Another thing, before I called around, I went down to the courthouse (dont file your ticket) but ask for a copy of the front and back of the citation. Also ask for a copy of the police report, basically get it all in order. Then just goto a lawyer, show him the stuff, dont tell em anything, just ask them if they can get you out of it.
I gave up trying to explain everything to a lawyer, just went in with any paperwork, and said what can you do.
Hope that helps some.
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BA
Pro
Posts: 1592
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posted May 30, 2004 04:00 PM
agreed. consultation should be free. $3000 for a retainer is an ass-raping.
I like to look in the phone book for someone who has been a past prosecutor or a past judge. those boyz have alllll the contacts!
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EastBayDave
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Posts: 2245
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posted May 31, 2004 06:55 AM
Edited By: EastBayDave on 31 May 2004 07:56
800MOTOLAW
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Enjoy the ride!
02' ZRX1200
00' ZX12R sold
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
Expert Class
Posts: 214
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posted May 31, 2004 01:12 PM
Hey Dave, that number dont work.
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Connman
Zone Head
Posts: 506
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posted May 31, 2004 06:35 PM
Dayyyyum $3000 to represent for a moving violation!!!!?????
I got a wreckless for doing 69 in a 20. (College campus=school zone)
Cost me $400, 10 hours community service (working at GoodWill),
and now, officially, it never happened.
I was in the same boat as far as losing the bike/license,
which made me feel better about spending 10 hrs at GoodWill!!!!
____________
Any 12 people who can not get themselves out of jury duty are not my peers.
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beansbaxter
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posted May 31, 2004 09:49 PM
dang you sound like a conman
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deathpulse
Pro
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posted June 01, 2004 05:36 AM
ALWAYS fight the ticket zzz. Because:
1. It can't get any worse - the citation is already written. The only thing that I have seen that can happen in addition to the already pending fine is that addition of "court fees". This depends on the state, but in the cases that I am familiar with, the fees are usually reasonable (40~50 bucks) and ONLY applicable if you loose the case. Most states do NOT have this "tax" - check Cali law to see if it does.
2. Generally the courts will cut you some kind of deal. In my neck of the woods, the courts are FULLY aware of the insurance issue with pts on your license. Most courts don't really care about the points (of course i'm not sure on a higher speed ticket) they just care about revenue that you just generated for their town, so they will allow you to plea down to a non pt ticket for a similar fee. (Can you tell I've done this a few times?)
3. For a high speed ticket GET A LAWYER. Even at 3K (which sounds a tad high) that fee will be less than the insurance increase over the next 4 years or so.
4. Shop around a bit for a lawyer - don't go the cheapest, but don't pay the most expensive either. Remember, they represent you at YOUR request. 3K sounds high - I would think 1K or so is the max I'd want to invest in this type of service.
5. GET ALL THE PAPERWORK (supporting deposition etc). This will REALLY help a lawyer get you off. Case in point - I just got out of a ticket because there were a TON of "mistakes" on the supporting deposition, and the cop didn't show up to represent the infraction. Under law in the state I was nailed in, he was not required to but I was able to argue with the judge that wuth so many "mistakes" how could I trust his representation of speed on that day? - Judge gave a call to the cop, who didn't show within an hour and I was again able to argue that the timei was getting rediculous and I was missing work . I was luck on that one - I argued mysellf (without a lawyer). The reason I went alone on this one was that it was only 78 in a 55 (work zone) so the fine wasn't so high - for a bigger/more important fine, I'd get a pro.
Fret not my friend! Get good representation, get all available documentation and go for it! Chances are good that your possition will turn out better than you expect!
BTW - I was pulled over in Nuke Jersey doing EXACTLY the same thing you described. I had JUST passed the break in period on my 2000 Green '12, so I NAILED it on a clear interstate. Apparently an unmarked trooper passed me going the other way - DOH! I didn't even notice him for 25 minutes (the time it took him to turn around and catch up wiht me ). Now keep in mind I got the '12 back down to 65~70 or so after my blip - I was MOVING for that short "blip" time. Didn't even notice him till he was RIGHT behind me - THEN he turned on his lights (slick - good trooper work!) so I couldn't run, he had my plates run already. I pulled over and basically thought "great - this is where I loose my license and go to jail to get ass raped by some prison inmate". Well, the trooper came up with the "license and registration" thing with the whole "reflective sunglasses" thing going on. I just smiled and complied - he let me sweat it out for about 10 minutes as he went back to the patrol car. When he came back he said "too damn bad that my RADAR wasn't on (wink wink) - I'll have to write you a written warning for wreckless driving. By the way - NICE bike, do you mind if I take a look at it..." It got better from there . He was a fellow riding, and we bullshitted about riding for another 15 minutes or so. On the way out, he asked "just out of curiousity and off the record, how fast WERE you going?" I said (weakly) "uh... 120 or 130 or so" (knowing FULL well I got up to 180 or 190 indicated). He laughed and said "RIIIIIGHT!! Keep the speed down, OK? I don't want to see you get hurt!". I think he asked that just to let me know that his RADAR was DEFINATELY on and he was cutting me a serious break. The point of this little story is that the letter and spirit of the law ARE two different things, and even in situations that you described, cops and judges CAN be reasoned with.
Take a deep breath - get all your stuff together and go fight for your '12 and your license!
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
Expert Class
Posts: 214
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posted June 01, 2004 03:05 PM
Edited By: zzzzzxxxxxr12 on 1 Jun 2004 21:01
Update, That lawyer that offered to defend my constitutional rights( as he put it) upped his fee to 3500.00 today. Grrrrrrrrrr
Now the better news, I found a lawyer( by way of referral). He did everything but promise that he could and would be abe to get it reduced to a 1 pt speeding violation, and thinks he may beable to get me into traffic school. I have to show proof of selling the bike( which is easy enough).
Now the not so good news:
$1500.00 flat fee, even if we go to trial. Of coarse that doesnt include fines.
If he gets me off with traffic school i will feel not so bad.
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Hells Dark Lord
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living life, and loving it.
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posted June 01, 2004 05:21 PM
good luck man....
____________
When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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worm~hole
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Miles to go before I sleep....
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posted June 01, 2004 05:24 PM
NO SPEEDING!!!...no speeding...just say "no"...good luck, man...
____________
“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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EastBayDave
Needs a job
Posts: 2245
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posted June 06, 2004 04:56 AM
ooops....I think it's 800-cyclelaw or something like that...I keep seeing the ad during the races on SpeedTV or two-wheeled-tuesday....
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Hells Dark Lord
Needs a life
living life, and loving it.
Posts: 7981
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posted June 06, 2004 05:46 AM
Worm, you have a 12, even being a cop you know its virtually impossible to NOT speed on teh 12......lol
____________
When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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beansbaxter
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posted June 06, 2004 07:48 AM
I dont understand how in WA here I was able to get a ticket similiar (if not worse) and take it to a lawyer who had it dismissed for $200, while in CA the range is $1500-3500...what's up with that?
Cost of living aint that cheap here haha...especially if it costs me near $11 to fill up the 12 every time.
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worm~hole
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Miles to go before I sleep....
Posts: 10623
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posted June 06, 2004 10:42 AM
quote:
Worm, you have a 12, even being a cop you know its virtually impossible to NOT speed on teh 12......lol
...uh....  ...
____________
“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those
who would do us harm.”
-George Orwell
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zxfingyz
Expert Class
Posts: 424
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posted June 08, 2004 09:33 AM
15OO might even be too much. Check around, in every town there is a guy or guys who specialize in taking money from us and giving it to their buddy from law school 20 years ago who is now a judge. Call around and around and around. Ask everyone. Hell ask the clerk at the courthouse.
There are people driving around who have 15 DUI's. You were just speeding. Heck it is the 10 yr anniversary of OJ. If he can get a break we can all get a break.
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