or so the propaganda would have us believe. we all understand that it's not speed that kills. it's riding above your skill level or for existing conditions (speed differential).
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red2kcbr
Well-known member
Thank you, Bounce! That's exactly it! I was trying to find a way to say it, but you got there first. Were you speeding? 
It's about the REVENUE!
I'm coming across wide open prairie, top a little rise and bam, Texas DPS Crown Vic looking at me. Lights go on, he turns around, and then I have a decision to make: Stop, or pin the throttle? Well, I stopped. Wide open prairie, remember? Can't outrun Motorola.
I get a citation for 96 in a 55 (this was a LONG time ago). The troopers were nice guys, because I could have easily wound up in the back seat, my '76 Honda 750 cafe racer on a tow truck.
Well, fast forward a week, and I'm standing in front of the local JP. He looks at the documentation, looks at me, and says, a direct quote, I **** you not, "Son, if you're gonna learn, it's gotta hurt. That'll be $150" This was back in 1980 or so. I only made $150 a week! I had to borrow 50 bucks to pay the fine.
But I did. And I learned. I learned to watch the **** out when I go that fast! I'm very particular about where I speed. Never in town, never in residential areas, (I don't like it when people speed in my neighborhood), but in the right situation, in the right place, I might bend the speed limit a little...
It's about the REVENUE!
I'm coming across wide open prairie, top a little rise and bam, Texas DPS Crown Vic looking at me. Lights go on, he turns around, and then I have a decision to make: Stop, or pin the throttle? Well, I stopped. Wide open prairie, remember? Can't outrun Motorola.
I get a citation for 96 in a 55 (this was a LONG time ago). The troopers were nice guys, because I could have easily wound up in the back seat, my '76 Honda 750 cafe racer on a tow truck.
Well, fast forward a week, and I'm standing in front of the local JP. He looks at the documentation, looks at me, and says, a direct quote, I **** you not, "Son, if you're gonna learn, it's gotta hurt. That'll be $150" This was back in 1980 or so. I only made $150 a week! I had to borrow 50 bucks to pay the fine.
But I did. And I learned. I learned to watch the **** out when I go that fast! I'm very particular about where I speed. Never in town, never in residential areas, (I don't like it when people speed in my neighborhood), but in the right situation, in the right place, I might bend the speed limit a little...
Windjammer
Well-known member
One thing to keep in mind is that hiring an attorney may have nothing whatever to do with actually contesting the case. Many moons ago, in another life, I was a pretty bad boy from a traffic perspective. So I had ample opportunity to be represented by public defenders (the worst), myself, and attorneys I hired. Many times the attorneys bought me off the ticket, even got bought out of a DUI once (crooked judge played golf with my lawyer, and gifts were exchanged) - remember, money talks, ******** walks, and it's all about paying them and protecting your driving record. I've also gone it on my own, with mixed success - sometimes coming out golden and other times taking it up the ***. It really is all about revenue gathering, but I'd rather pay the court once than pay the insurance company for years on end. I just looked at it as "Speeding Tax". These days I drive as part of my job so I can no longer afford the hijinks of my checkered past.
exskibum
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Just a note of clarification. In California, at least, traffic school only removes the ticket from the index that the insurance underwriters get to see, and you get to report honestly to the insurer that you did not pick up that ticket when asked at time of renewal or when getting a new policy. However, it does not actually remove the ticket and points from your DMV and law enforcement record.
At least, that's what we were told by the ex-CHP officer that taught the traffic school I attended in February 2005.
Still, avoiding the insurance issue is the biggest part of the problem. I have CSAA auto insurance, and with my car, driving record and high liability coverage limits, I pay roughly $1000 a year in auto insurance. Before being acquitted of a traffic infraction that would have gone on my insurance record (since I was ineligible for traffic school due to having gotten a previous ticket too recently that I did go to school for), I asked my insurance underwriter what effect one speeding infraction would have on my premiums. She told me that my rate was based upon my good driver discount, and that one moving violation infraction would make me ineligible for that discount for three years. So what's that cost? About $400 to $500 a year. Multiply that by 3 years and that adds up to some nice farkles, not to mention what effect that ticket might have on the insurance premiums for my two motorcycles.
Good on ya for avoiding three years of **** by insurer! In 18 months, you'll be eligible for traffic school again, so really watch your speed for at least that long.
At least, that's what we were told by the ex-CHP officer that taught the traffic school I attended in February 2005.
Still, avoiding the insurance issue is the biggest part of the problem. I have CSAA auto insurance, and with my car, driving record and high liability coverage limits, I pay roughly $1000 a year in auto insurance. Before being acquitted of a traffic infraction that would have gone on my insurance record (since I was ineligible for traffic school due to having gotten a previous ticket too recently that I did go to school for), I asked my insurance underwriter what effect one speeding infraction would have on my premiums. She told me that my rate was based upon my good driver discount, and that one moving violation infraction would make me ineligible for that discount for three years. So what's that cost? About $400 to $500 a year. Multiply that by 3 years and that adds up to some nice farkles, not to mention what effect that ticket might have on the insurance premiums for my two motorcycles.
Good on ya for avoiding three years of **** by insurer! In 18 months, you'll be eligible for traffic school again, so really watch your speed for at least that long.
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throttlejockeyTJ
throttlejockeyTJ
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I got a ticket in CA. I kept it off my record with (on the ) Net Traffic School. TJ
