What is the name of your state? Arizona
A couple of weeks ago I took my young son to the local Urgent Care facility for abdominal pain and nausea. They told me they couldn't handle his situation and he needed to go to the hospital Emergency Room. It would take 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, so I decided to drive there myself. The closest ER is about 15-20 miles away.
It was around 6:15 PM on a Saturday and the traffic on the divided 4-lane city street was light. Although the posted speed is 45 mph, I was apparently going 59 mph--and moving with the flow of the rest of the traffic. I received the speeding ticket in the mail about a week later (got caught by a camera). The citation is "ARS 28-701A Speed Greater Than Reasonable and Prudent." There is a video of me passing through the intersection, which I have viewed online. It shows that I am traveling at a speed consistent with other cars traveling in both directions, and there is even a police car pulling up to the intersection as I pass through it. The officer in that car did not even bat an eye at my speed.
I have responded to the citation by requesting a hearing, for which I am scheduled to appear on June 24 in Chandler. I am not represented by an attorney and do not plan to retain one.
I am contesting the "Speed Greater Than Reasonable and Prudent" charge based on extenuating circumstances: I was on my way to the Emergency Room with my son in the backseat crying in pain, having been told by another doctor (at Urgent Care) to go to the Emergency Room immediately because my son may have appendicitis. I believe that my speed was both reasonable and prudent under the circumstances.
[Not that it is an argument to take on at the hearing, but I doubt that a machine (traffic camera) has the reasoning capability to determine whether my speed is really reasonable and prudent! If I had been pulled over by a human being, isn't it likely that the officer would have given me a warning and sent me on my way?]
I have proof from the hospital that I was in their ER with my son a few minutes after the traffic camera "got" me.
Am I just being bull-headed here? Or is there a reasonable chance that I could win my case?
I had a speeding ticket in another state a year ago. If I just pay the fine it will cost me $190 plus points on my record (increased insurance). If I take the driving class, I won't get points on my record, but it will still cost me $135 plus about 4 hours of my time. I don't know how much it may cost if I lose my case at the hearing.
Opinions? Suggestions? Similar cases that could support mine at the hearing?
Thanks in advance for your greatly appreciated time and consideration.
~Christine
A couple of weeks ago I took my young son to the local Urgent Care facility for abdominal pain and nausea. They told me they couldn't handle his situation and he needed to go to the hospital Emergency Room. It would take 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, so I decided to drive there myself. The closest ER is about 15-20 miles away.
It was around 6:15 PM on a Saturday and the traffic on the divided 4-lane city street was light. Although the posted speed is 45 mph, I was apparently going 59 mph--and moving with the flow of the rest of the traffic. I received the speeding ticket in the mail about a week later (got caught by a camera). The citation is "ARS 28-701A Speed Greater Than Reasonable and Prudent." There is a video of me passing through the intersection, which I have viewed online. It shows that I am traveling at a speed consistent with other cars traveling in both directions, and there is even a police car pulling up to the intersection as I pass through it. The officer in that car did not even bat an eye at my speed.
I have responded to the citation by requesting a hearing, for which I am scheduled to appear on June 24 in Chandler. I am not represented by an attorney and do not plan to retain one.
I am contesting the "Speed Greater Than Reasonable and Prudent" charge based on extenuating circumstances: I was on my way to the Emergency Room with my son in the backseat crying in pain, having been told by another doctor (at Urgent Care) to go to the Emergency Room immediately because my son may have appendicitis. I believe that my speed was both reasonable and prudent under the circumstances.
[Not that it is an argument to take on at the hearing, but I doubt that a machine (traffic camera) has the reasoning capability to determine whether my speed is really reasonable and prudent! If I had been pulled over by a human being, isn't it likely that the officer would have given me a warning and sent me on my way?]
I have proof from the hospital that I was in their ER with my son a few minutes after the traffic camera "got" me.
Am I just being bull-headed here? Or is there a reasonable chance that I could win my case?
I had a speeding ticket in another state a year ago. If I just pay the fine it will cost me $190 plus points on my record (increased insurance). If I take the driving class, I won't get points on my record, but it will still cost me $135 plus about 4 hours of my time. I don't know how much it may cost if I lose my case at the hearing.
Opinions? Suggestions? Similar cases that could support mine at the hearing?
Thanks in advance for your greatly appreciated time and consideration.
~Christine
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