Need advice, unsafe start

[brezzy]

What is the name of your state? TX

Hello,

I need some advice. I received a citation for "unsafe start from parked/stop/stand".

The cop told me he heard my tires screech as the reason for him stopping me.

Here is the thing.... My truck is a modified performance truck. If has something s known as a "shift kit". It's purpose is to cause a quicker gear shift, like you could do in a manual transmission. The reason for me doing this is not only for better performance, but it is MUCH better for the transmission itself... it will last longer.

I got a ticket a little over a year ago and I did a 3mo. probation thing, which I think ended up clearing up the ticket from my record.

I want to know what chance I have at getting off from this citation. I happened around 10 at night, in a "backroad" behind a subdivision and there was very few cars on that road at the time. I explained to the cop about my shift kit and he basically said that he understood what happened and that it was, more or less, the trucks "fault", but I would still have to explain it to the judge.

So, would I be able to get off from it or could I do the 3mo. probation thing again? I'm a real good/safe driver and all. I do drag race with my truck, but on a race track ONLY. But on this occasion, I was merly test driving my truck, on a back road with very few cars and at night, and thought I don't recall the speed limit, I know I wasn't going very fast. I was, however, doing it very quickly. During "normal" driving conditions, my truck will shift gears rather quickly and it results in the tires going faster and therefore having traction problems, or squealing the tires, for about a second. Minutes before my "test driving", I had finished installing a traction device which is meant to help to keep the tires on the road, resulting in better traction, performance, and a safer truck.

Any opinions/suggestions...? I still got a few weeks before having to appear in court and I want to consider my options.

Thanks,

[racer72]

My truck is a modified performance truck. If has something s known as a "shift kit". It's purpose is to cause a quicker gear shift, like you could do in a manual transmission. The reason for me doing this is not only for better performance, but it is MUCH better for the transmission itself... it will last longer.

I would like to point out an inaccuracy in your statement. Shift kits do not make transmissions last longer. In fact, they generally reduce the life of a transmission because the parts wear out quicker. I have installed shift kits in many of my vehicles, I currently own a 66 GTO and 69 Ford Torino and both transmissions were rebuilt with shift kits and stall torque converters. I expect both transmissions to last a long time because each vehicle is driven only a few thousand miles a year. But in everyday driving, I would be replacing the valve bodies and clutch packs every couple of years. That nice crisp shift equates to someone that drives a manual transmission vehicle and pops the clutch each time they start from a standing start. I rebuilt my first transmission at about 14 (a Fordomatic 2 speed) and I just did the Torino's last fall. Between that time I have been inside a few hundred transmissions. That is a benefit of having a step father that owned a small chain of transmission repair shops. I have no problems driving either of my cars without chirping the tires, even during the occasional spirited driving, so your excuses appear a bit lame to me. The GTO is a mild 400 that puts out about 350 horsepower but the Torino has a 429 Cobra Jet and with the modifications of the engine, puts our a conservative 450 horsepower. Maybe you should consider driving a more mundane vehicle, it will probably save you lot of money in traffic tickets and the police officers won't know you on a first name basis.

[brezzy]

Originally Posted by racer72

I would like to point out an inaccuracy in your statement. Shift kits do not make transmissions last longer. In fact, they generally reduce the life of a transmission because the parts wear out quicker... Maybe you should consider driving a more mundane vehicle, it will probably save you lot of money in traffic tickets and the police officers won't know you on a first name basis.

Well, thanks for pointing that out.
In most cases, you would be right... but, your statement does not apply to my truck. The valve body I upgraded too was designed by one of the best transmission guys on the nation specifically for my type of truck. But no need to get into details.

When I purchased my truck I knew what I was getting. That's a choice that I made and have to live with for the next few years. Just like corvette and cobra owners etc. have to make. Driving a vehicle that is faster then the average car on the road is not the problem. Any spirited driving is done on long wide open texas country roads. Sure, I do occasionaly get up to speed limit a little quicker then I have to, but nothing that would put other drivers in danger. Besides, how many corvette or cobra owners that have gotten a ticket for similar, or worse reasons, decided to trade it in for something more common. I learned a quick lesson that test driving is best left done at the track, no matter how significant. But that doesn't help me with my problem.

Getting back on topic... can anyone provide some suggestions?
Can I do the 3mo. probation and get it cleared from my record?

[racer72]

Originally Posted by brezzy

But no need to get into details.

Please go into details, in fact, the more detailed the better. I would like to know of a valve body of which you described, I would be interested in one for my vehicles.

[You Are Guilty]

Point of clarification: your tires chirped off the line or on a shift while moving?

[BornAgainPagan]

If it is the truck's fault then I guess legally it still might be your fault...a la defective equipment. Perhaps you can get an atty to reduce to defective equipment as it is a non moving violation.

[You Are Guilty]

Originally Posted by racer72

Please go into details, in fact, the more detailed the better. I would like to know of a valve body of which you described, I would be interested in one for my vehicles.

Racer, you might want to check these out: [url]http://www.lentechautomatics.com/rwdmodels.html[/url]

Originally Posted by BornAgainPagan

If it is the truck's fault then I guess legally it still might be your fault...a la defective equipment. Perhaps you can get an atty to reduce to defective equipment as it is a non moving violation.

If the driver is the one who deliberately increased the line pressure to get faster shifts, it's rather difficult to argue that the equipment is "defective". But I guess it never hurts to ask.

[brezzy]

I am pretty sure it was during the 1st->2nd or 3rd->4th gear shift.
I did NOT slam on the gas at the stop sign. The officer came out of nowhere and got on my tail. He kept a good distance and tailed me for about a 1/4 mile. I did realize he was in back until the lights came on after I turned into a sub division. I don't see how they can say that it is defective.

I'm not expecting to get out of it, I just wanted to get some suggestions on anything that might help. At most, I hope to be able to do the 3-month probation.

Will I be able to explina/argue my way out of the ticket or will it be one of those things were everyone is crowded in a room waiting for their name?

Thanks