I'm in California
I was on my motorcycle, going north on highway 1 (55mph posted). I was pulled over and the officer said I was going "very fast", and that he "saw me passing four (not all at once) cars that were going the speed limit". Then he said that I "...was gone... I couldn't even see you until I caught up to you just now". He wrote me up for going an (estimated) 75mph in a 55 mph zone, and the ticket read violation 22350. He said something to the effect of "I don't know exactly how fast you were going, but you were flying".
I just got in the mail a notice of correction changing the 22350 to 22350 VC Unsafe Speed. My understanding is that the 22350 VC is worse than a standard speeding ticket, possibly a misdemeaner.
I'm not arguing that I wasn't speeding.. I definately was. I don't feel like I was unsafe though, the fastest part was while passing the cars (which was over a dotted yellow line). The officer didn't see me after that (I was over the hill), but he seemed to base the estimate of my speed on the fact that he couldn't see me when he came over the crest. I was driving the speed limit behind several other cars when he pulled me over.
So, anyway... any advice? I was going to just pay the fine or go to traffic school, but if it's a misdemeanor, or for multiple points, maybe I should contest and plead for something lower? If I don't have a case, is there any advice for trying to get the option to go to traffic school on a 22350VC? I have a clean record, btw.
Thanks for your time.
I was on my motorcycle, going north on highway 1 (55mph posted). I was pulled over and the officer said I was going "very fast", and that he "saw me passing four (not all at once) cars that were going the speed limit". Then he said that I "...was gone... I couldn't even see you until I caught up to you just now". He wrote me up for going an (estimated) 75mph in a 55 mph zone, and the ticket read violation 22350. He said something to the effect of "I don't know exactly how fast you were going, but you were flying".
I just got in the mail a notice of correction changing the 22350 to 22350 VC Unsafe Speed. My understanding is that the 22350 VC is worse than a standard speeding ticket, possibly a misdemeaner.
I'm not arguing that I wasn't speeding.. I definately was. I don't feel like I was unsafe though, the fastest part was while passing the cars (which was over a dotted yellow line). The officer didn't see me after that (I was over the hill), but he seemed to base the estimate of my speed on the fact that he couldn't see me when he came over the crest. I was driving the speed limit behind several other cars when he pulled me over.
So, anyway... any advice? I was going to just pay the fine or go to traffic school, but if it's a misdemeanor, or for multiple points, maybe I should contest and plead for something lower? If I don't have a case, is there any advice for trying to get the option to go to traffic school on a 22350VC? I have a clean record, btw.
Thanks for your time.