What can you do?

[MizzouDad]

What is the name of your state? Missouri

What can you do when a St. Louis County officer gives you a speeding ticket when you were not speeding?

I had just entered onto I-55 north is south St. Louis county. As I moved off the entrance ramp onto the highway, I noticed a car parked on the shoulder about 1/2 mile ahead. Suspecting radar, I moved over a lane and leveled off my speed at 60, which is the speed limit. As I passed the car, he pulled out and pulled me over, giving me a ticket for doing 83 in a 60!!! I told him that I could not have been going that fast since I had just entered the highway.

During his interrogation, he asked for proof of insurance. Since my seat belt do not easily extend, I asked the officer if I could remove my seat belt to reach the glove box, in which he complied. Without telling me, he also flagged me for a seat belt violation!!!

What can I do??? I do not want to pay any expenses since I was not doing anything wrong. What can a person do? It is my word against his...

 

[seniorjudge]

Standard answer

Here are some hints on appearing in court:

Dress professionally in clean clothes.

Do not wear message shirts.

Don't chew gum, smoke, or eat.

Bathe and wash your hair.

Go to court beforehand some day before you actually have to go to watch how things go.

Speak politely and deferentially. If you argue or dispute something, do it professionally and without emotion.

Ask the court clerk who you talk to about a diversion (meaning you want to plead to a different, lesser charge), if applicable in your situation. Ask about traffic school and the ticket not go on your record, if applicable.


Here are five stories that criminal court judges hear the most (and I suggest you do not use them or variations of them):

1. I’ve been saved! (This is not religion specific; folks from all kinds of religious backgrounds use this one.)

2. My girlfriend/mother/sister/daughter is pregnant/sick/dying/dead/crippled and needs my help.

3. I’ve got a job in [name a state five hundred miles away].

4. This is the first time I ever did this.

5. You’ve got the wrong guy. (A variation of this one is the phantom defendant story: “It wasn’t me driving, it was a hitchhiker I picked up. He wrecked the car, drug me behind the wheel then took off.”)

https://forum.freeadvice.com/showthread.php?p=854687#post854687

Other people may give you other advice; stand by.

Saint Louis County loves to bargain tickets; get it toned down to a nonmoving violation (see above).

 

[Robbie0723]

What seniorjudge said -- stop by one of the traffic ticket clinics, give them a credit card and they will make this go away without even having to appear in court. The fine will double but you will receive a non-moving.