Jack Faust
Junior Member
Writing from: Carroll County, Maryland
Hello All,
I recently received a speeding ticket and have decided to go to court, mainly to try to avoid the 2 points. This is the second ticket I've received in my 20 years of driving, the last being in 1995. I've done some research myself but would really appreciate advice from people who actually have some knowledge on the subject.
It appears that the best thing for me to do would be to request probation before judgment. Is this as simple as saying to the judge on my court date, "Your Honor, I would like to request Probation Before Judgment"? Or is there more to it? Do I have a good chance of avoiding the points by going this route?
I'm also considering submitting a discovery request, because the circumstances seem a bit fishy to me, for several reasons:
1) I know I wasn't driving the speed I was cited for when I passed the officer because we passed on a blind curve (the officer was not parked, but driving in the opposite direction) and I checked my speed prior to approaching it.
2) I know I wasn't speeding after I passed the officer because I had just checked my speed.
3) I know I wasn't speeding when I saw the officer I had just passed turn around and come after me with his lights on because I slowing down to pull over!
3) To my knowledge, current speed measuring devices used by police can't measure around curves.
4) I passed no other officers who could have radioed ahead, and there was no aircraft (although a few minutes later, another officer, coming from the opposite direction, pulled over directly across the road, apparently just to stare at me).
I'm thinking that something in the officer's report or some other document may get my case dismissed, but I'm not hopeful. Even so, I think it would be useful just to know how to submit a discovery request. So, my questions are:
What is the statute or code that entitles one to submit a discovery request? Do I submit the request to the District Court, the officer, both? Neither? Besides the officer's report and radar maintenance and calibration records, are there any other documents I should request? When and if I receive these records, will they be accompanied by a large bill?
Thanks and Regards,
Matt
Hello All,
I recently received a speeding ticket and have decided to go to court, mainly to try to avoid the 2 points. This is the second ticket I've received in my 20 years of driving, the last being in 1995. I've done some research myself but would really appreciate advice from people who actually have some knowledge on the subject.
It appears that the best thing for me to do would be to request probation before judgment. Is this as simple as saying to the judge on my court date, "Your Honor, I would like to request Probation Before Judgment"? Or is there more to it? Do I have a good chance of avoiding the points by going this route?
I'm also considering submitting a discovery request, because the circumstances seem a bit fishy to me, for several reasons:
1) I know I wasn't driving the speed I was cited for when I passed the officer because we passed on a blind curve (the officer was not parked, but driving in the opposite direction) and I checked my speed prior to approaching it.
2) I know I wasn't speeding after I passed the officer because I had just checked my speed.
3) I know I wasn't speeding when I saw the officer I had just passed turn around and come after me with his lights on because I slowing down to pull over!
3) To my knowledge, current speed measuring devices used by police can't measure around curves.
4) I passed no other officers who could have radioed ahead, and there was no aircraft (although a few minutes later, another officer, coming from the opposite direction, pulled over directly across the road, apparently just to stare at me).
I'm thinking that something in the officer's report or some other document may get my case dismissed, but I'm not hopeful. Even so, I think it would be useful just to know how to submit a discovery request. So, my questions are:
What is the statute or code that entitles one to submit a discovery request? Do I submit the request to the District Court, the officer, both? Neither? Besides the officer's report and radar maintenance and calibration records, are there any other documents I should request? When and if I receive these records, will they be accompanied by a large bill?
Thanks and Regards,
Matt
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