What is the name of your state? WV
Earlier tonight I turned onto a city road and began moving with traffic, at least 2 cars were going 55 mph in an assumed 35 mph zone (city limits I think are 35, and according to ticket they are)...
After doing this for a block, I thought, "hmm, am I speeding?" and I looked ahead of me to the left, and one of the cars I had been travelling with was actually a cop car, that I had not yet noticed. I presumed it was okay, since no lights were flashing, and did not want to seem suspicious, so, I kept up with this guy for a couple more blocks, and then the lights come on and I am pulled over.
The officers talk to me for a moment and I explain to them I was just following the flow of traffic, and that they were also going 55 mph in a 35 zone with no lights on, and they replied that for certain calls, they do not have to turn on their lights. These officers were stopping at all the stop lights (4) and I sincerely doubt that they were actually on such a call.
Is this worthy of mention when I am called, that I was essentially matching speed with the flow of traffic, which happened to be two officers? I have video evidence, because, upon noticing that they were cops, I used my cellphone to record a video that shows the officer driving in front of me and to the left at 55 mph (documented with my speedometer).
Secondly, they claimed that as I turned onto the street, I ran a stop sign. This would be extremely dangerous and unlike me, and IT DID NOT HAPPEN. Plus, these officers were driving at 55 MPH, how can they see, in the dark, whether a car came to a complete stop or not (which I DID).
I understand that I must plead guilty for travelling at 55mph. I did it, it was stupid, and I deserve the charge, however, can I have it reduced because I felt encouraged by the officers, was not 100% sure of the speed limit, and because I have evidence proving that they were in fact speeding without their lights on? Do I have to also prove whether they were on a call that makes it acceptable to do this or not? and how?
I absolutely did NOT run the stop sign. This charge made me incredulous because I felt as though they just tacked it on to be mean, and because they could and there's little I can do to prove that I did not. What do I do? I would be lying in court if I plead guilty to this part of the ticket.
My record is otherwise spotless, and I am typically a very safe driver... I felt like if it had not been for the officers, I would have never gone that fast, and I hope that this has some merit in the eyes of a judge.... or is he automatically on their side?
Furthermore, since I'm going to be losing points, and these officers should have really just let me go since they were speeding to begin with... should I report their badge numbers as speeding officers? Or does that really not matter at all?
Earlier tonight I turned onto a city road and began moving with traffic, at least 2 cars were going 55 mph in an assumed 35 mph zone (city limits I think are 35, and according to ticket they are)...
After doing this for a block, I thought, "hmm, am I speeding?" and I looked ahead of me to the left, and one of the cars I had been travelling with was actually a cop car, that I had not yet noticed. I presumed it was okay, since no lights were flashing, and did not want to seem suspicious, so, I kept up with this guy for a couple more blocks, and then the lights come on and I am pulled over.
The officers talk to me for a moment and I explain to them I was just following the flow of traffic, and that they were also going 55 mph in a 35 zone with no lights on, and they replied that for certain calls, they do not have to turn on their lights. These officers were stopping at all the stop lights (4) and I sincerely doubt that they were actually on such a call.
Is this worthy of mention when I am called, that I was essentially matching speed with the flow of traffic, which happened to be two officers? I have video evidence, because, upon noticing that they were cops, I used my cellphone to record a video that shows the officer driving in front of me and to the left at 55 mph (documented with my speedometer).
Secondly, they claimed that as I turned onto the street, I ran a stop sign. This would be extremely dangerous and unlike me, and IT DID NOT HAPPEN. Plus, these officers were driving at 55 MPH, how can they see, in the dark, whether a car came to a complete stop or not (which I DID).
I understand that I must plead guilty for travelling at 55mph. I did it, it was stupid, and I deserve the charge, however, can I have it reduced because I felt encouraged by the officers, was not 100% sure of the speed limit, and because I have evidence proving that they were in fact speeding without their lights on? Do I have to also prove whether they were on a call that makes it acceptable to do this or not? and how?
I absolutely did NOT run the stop sign. This charge made me incredulous because I felt as though they just tacked it on to be mean, and because they could and there's little I can do to prove that I did not. What do I do? I would be lying in court if I plead guilty to this part of the ticket.
My record is otherwise spotless, and I am typically a very safe driver... I felt like if it had not been for the officers, I would have never gone that fast, and I hope that this has some merit in the eyes of a judge.... or is he automatically on their side?
Furthermore, since I'm going to be losing points, and these officers should have really just let me go since they were speeding to begin with... should I report their badge numbers as speeding officers? Or does that really not matter at all?