Letter to the Judge

[OsoVerde]

If you want to toss out excuses, just saying you were unfamiliar with the area and didn't know what the speed limit was along that particular stretch of road because you were lost and trying to find your exit/turn/whatever and the speed limit had been changing etc. is a bit less incriminating than basically admission you were speeding and weren't watching the road. :light: Still doubt the judge will be impressed, but less likely to p!ss him/her off.

If you happen to be in college, most schools have legal advisors free to students that can give you better advice than ATOT.

Good luck.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Fatbuddha
sure, judges have heard every excuse in the book. DUH! but the whole point of going to a court hearing and pleading your case is to try to lessen the ticket or get it thrown out. Otherwise, people would just pay the fine. but as i am 13 HOURS away from the court, i can't go there for one day to plead my case. So one option that has seemed to work for many people is writing a letter to the judge instead of actually going to the court.

So if anyone has any ACTUAL advice on this, besides you're screwed, pay the fine, then please let me know.

ACTUAL advice? What do you think people have been giving you? Do not send that letter. It will not get you out of the ticket. In the letter you admit to something WORSE than what you got a ticket for.

Since your ACTUAL reason for speeding will not get you out of the ticket, your only options are to pay the fine or to lie. You won't get any help from most people here on the lie.

My ACTUAL advice for you is to sell your car and use the proceeds to pay the fine. You're dangerous.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Fatbuddha
sure, judges have heard every excuse in the book. DUH! but the whole point of going to a court hearing and pleading your case is to try to lessen the ticket or get it thrown out. Otherwise, people would just pay the fine. but as i am 13 HOURS away from the court, i can't go there for one day to plead my case. So one option that has seemed to work for many people is writing a letter to the judge instead of actually going to the court.

So if anyone has any ACTUAL advice on this, besides you're screwed, pay the fine, then please let me know.

ACTUAL advice? What do you think people have been giving you? Do not send that letter. It will not get you out of the ticket. In the letter you admit to something WORSE than what you got a ticket for.

Since your ACTUAL reason for speeding will not get you out of the ticket, your only options are to pay the fine or to lie. You won't get any help from most people here on the lie.

My ACTUAL advice for you is to sell your car and use the proceeds to pay the fine. You're dangerous.

he is also stupid. telling the judge the reason he was speeding was because he was not paying attention to the road? BWHAHAHA yeah great idea.

I so want him to send that letter. well long as he updates us on what happens.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: sixone
Gee, your Honor, at 55 mph, I was looking at my map instead of the road. So this speeding ticket is completely unfair, and I hope you'll tell me not to pay it.

:roll:

Seems reasonable.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Judges view their time as very dear and demand respect for their office. The FIRST thing the judge will think is "wait, this joker sent me a letter instead of coming in person?" STAMP...Fine of $$$ due by mm/dd/yy.

 

[Greenman]

The judge won't buy that story, I was lost/confused gets used a lot.
I think you should tell the judge you dropped your beer while while lighting a joint and missed the sign. I'll bet that one doesn't get a lot of play.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Greenman
The judge won't buy that story, I was lost/confused gets used a lot.
I think you should tell the judge you dropped your beer while while lighting a joint and missed the sign. I'll bet that one doesn't get a lot of play.

ohh i think thats even better then his excuse! hey op i think you should use thisw! its a sure fire way to get out of teh ticket!

 

[tfcmasta97]

Originally posted by: Fatbuddha
I received a speeding ticket in South Carolina almost a week ago and wish to write the judge a letter in response to the ticket and the fact that I don't have time to drive 13hrs each way to attend a court date.

I would ultimately like this letter to get me out of the ticket.

Let me know what you think of it and what can be revised. Thanks in advance.


Dear Honorable Judge,

My name is Michael . I have been a safe responsible driver with a clean driving record for a little over five years now. On March 17th, 2007 I received a traffic ticket (Violation Section # xx-xx-xxx) for speeding in a 35 mph zone.

I wish to explain why I was moving at the speed I was clocked at. I had been driving at a steady 55 mph for a couple of hours and decreased my speed several times while passing through towns. But for a reasonable amount of time I was lost, driving in the complete wrong directions. Even when I was pulled over the office told me I was once again going the wrong way. I?d had stopped for directions several times but I could still not navigate the area. I proceeded to view my own maps and figure out my own directions but while looking down at my map I completely and honestly missed the speed limit posted and proceed to accelerate to the 55 mph speed I had been at previously. As I did, the officer pulled me over for speeding.

I understand it would be best to attend the court hearing but I am a little over thirteen hours away and am a full-time college student. I understand I made a serious mistake and apologize for carelessness which I assure you will never happen again. So from here on, Your Honor, I don?t know how to proceed with this ticket.

I look forward to your response
Thank you for your time,



(Signature)
Michael

So your excuse is that you had your eyes off the road and planted on a map?

OP deserves a higher ticket for stupidity

 

[jpeyton]

Here's the short version of a letter than has helped me dodge a lot of speeding tickets:

To Whom It May Concern,

I filed a motion for discovery on ________, which was delivered via certified letter to the police department. Attached is a copy of the letter and the certified reciept. As of ______, I have not received all the documents I requested in that motion. Because those requested documents are essential in my case to prove my innocence, and the police department is being uncooperative in providing said documents, I ask that you dismiss the charges against me.

Sincerely,
jpeyton

Remember guys, the police department wants to spend their man-hours writing tickets, not preparing paperwork and arguing cases in court for each ticket. If you hit them with enough paperwork, chances are they will ignore it.

 

[BooGiMaN]

why is it when people post looking for advice and they get it but it is not exactlty the one they wanted they get all pissy and bitchy..

send the letter as it is ignoring what everyone tells you..say high to bubba for me and make sure to purchase soap on a rope for the communal showers......

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Here's the short version of a letter than has helped me dodge a lot of speeding tickets:

To Whom It May Concern,

I filed a motion for discovery on ________, which was delivered via certified letter to the police department. Attached is a copy of the letter and the certified reciept. As of ______, I have not received all the documents I requested in that motion. Because those requested documents are essential in my case to prove my innocence, and the police department is being uncooperative in providing said documents, I ask that you dismiss the charges against me.

Sincerely,
jpeyton

Remember guys, the police department wants to spend their man-hours writing tickets, not preparing paperwork and arguing cases in court for each ticket. If you hit them with enough paperwork, chances are they will ignore it.

very nice, but how does this help OP? it doesn't seem like there is any discovery to be done in his case.

 

[jagec]

You're not going to get off scot-free without a real excuse, which you don't have.

Your options are either to hire a lawyer ($$$, not worth it for a speeding ticket), pay the fine ($, might go on your driving record), try to ask for a deferred finding/no contest/whatever they use in your state that would keep the ticket off your record but still issue you a fine.

Or you could go to court, where they'll find you guilty anyway and you'll have to pay the fine.

You're going to pay money no matter what you do. Try to keep the ticket off your record, that's all that matters.

 

[jpeyton]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
very nice, but how does this help OP? it doesn't seem like there is any discovery to be done in his case.

He was pulled over for speeding, so there's tons of discovery than can be done.

How did the officer verify the speed?

By radar? Request the officer's radar certification and calibration records, as well as departmental policies on radar use.

By laser? Ditto (just replace radar with laser).

Pacing? Odometer calibration records.

There's a ton that can be discovered in any case, and you have the legal right to ask and receive all of those records.

 

[MisterJackson]

Jesus man, I thought you were joking at first....but you're dead serious.

Listen to what I have to say....mt brother is a cop in a town here in SC, so regardless of if I tell you what you WANT to hear it's what you NEED to hear.

The bad thing is there's a good chance you'll send this in, and the judge will think you're trying to be funny and not only NOT laugh, but VERY likely suspend you licsense.

It sounds like you're not disputing the ticket, merely wishing to not pay a fine entirely??? Correct me if I'm wrong. It doesn't work this way my friend. You're either guilty or not guilty, period. guilty gets a fine. In some cases they'll waive it totally, but that's not likely in your case. 20mph over is only going to get reduced. NOW, what you need to do is scrap this stupid letter as it can only serve to make things worse, not better.

Call the clerk of court and ask if you pay the ticket in advance what they will do for you. Usually they'll reduce the fine and points over the phone then you pay with a CC or check.

If you wait till the DAY OF, or shortly there before and send this letter you're screwed.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Originally posted by: Fatbuddha
sure, judges have heard every excuse in the book. DUH! but the whole point of going to a court hearing and pleading your case is to try to lessen the ticket or get it thrown out. Otherwise, people would just pay the fine. but as i am 13 HOURS away from the court, i can't go there for one day to plead my case. So one option that has seemed to work for many people is writing a letter to the judge instead of actually going to the court.

So if anyone has any ACTUAL advice on this, besides you're screwed, pay the fine, then please let me know.

I did give you actual advice. Just b/c it's not what you want to hear, doesn't mean it's not advice.

I even told you to call the friggin' court. I don't know which state you are in, but a lot of states offer a Defensive driving option which will erase your ticket from your record and/or no points on your insurance. Isn't that what you want?

Or do you just want the judge to completely throw out the ticket and let you go scott-free? You can't have it that simple dude. You will need to have some form of "punishment"

 

[gsethi]

I would PAY the fine rather than sending THAT letter.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: gsethi
I would PAY the fine rather than sending THAT letter.

NO NO he should send the letter. its great!

 

[quentinterintino]

www.tixnix.com

OR

Revise the letter as follows:

Your Honor,

My name is ___. Unfortunately, I was issued a citation for speeding. As I am a student at XX university, it would be extremely difficult for me appear in court. Are there any options for someone in my position?

Love,
Buddha

edited for spelling of Buddha.

 

[Shame]

Your letter requires the Wingding font.

 

[FallenHero]

add in there that you are gonna have the cops job and that the judge doesn't know jack sh!t.

 

[DigitalCancer]

Originally posted by: Fatbuddha



Dear Honorable Judge,

My name is Michael . I have been a safe responsible driver with a clean driving record for a little over five years now. On March 17th, 2007 I received a traffic ticket (Violation Section # xx-xx-xxx) for speeding in a 35 mph zone.

I wish to explain why I was moving at the speed I was clocked at. I had been driving at a steady 55 mph for a couple of hours and decreased my speed several times while passing through towns. But for a reasonable amount of time I was lost, driving in the complete wrong directions. Even when I was pulled over the officer told me I was once again going the wrong way. I?d had stopped for directions several times but I could still not navigate the area. I proceeded to view my own maps and figure out my own directions but while looking down at my map I completely and honestly missed the speed limit posted and proceed to accelerate to the 55 mph speed I had been at previously. As I did, the officer pulled me over for speeding.

I understand it would be best to attend the court hearing but I am a little over thirteen hours away and am a full-time college student. I understand I made a serious mistake and apologize for carelessness which I assure you will never happen again. So from here on, Your Honor, I don?t know how to proceed with this ticket.

I look forward to your response
Thank you for your time,

(Signature)
Michael

The bold sections..not sure i'd add that i was looking down at my map while driving, lol. Kind of a safety hazard, i do believe they rather you pull over instead.

G'luck with that though, but you'll prolly still end up paying the ticket. If its your first ticket, as about defensive driving...you can usually get out of the ticket going on your record at least, but the class is extra money, think like, $20-25.

 

[OsoVerde]

Originally posted by: Greenman
The judge won't buy that story, I was lost/confused gets used a lot.
I think you should tell the judge you dropped your beer while while lighting a joint and missed the sign. I'll bet that one doesn't get a lot of play.

:thumbsup:

 

[gsethi]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: gsethi
I would PAY the fine rather than sending THAT letter.

NO NO he should send the letter. its great!

LOL...he might end up paying double fine then...admitting to reckless driving to the judge + speeding FTW

 

[jiggahertz]

Originally posted by: waggy
ignore everyone. they have no fvcking clue.

that letter is fine. send it. it can only help you.

I ran a stop sign when I was lost in a city that I was unfamiliar with. Scheduled a formal hearing and told the judge I was looking for street signs trying to figure out where I was and didn't see the stop sign. Asked for leniency since this was my first offense. He dropped the points that would have gone on my license and cut the fine in half.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: gsethi

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: gsethi
I would PAY the fine rather than sending THAT letter.

NO NO he should send the letter. its great!

LOL...he might end up paying double fine then...admitting to reckless driving to the judge + speeding FTW

no no it will help! really it will!

Originally posted by: jiggahertz

Originally posted by: waggy
ignore everyone. they have no fvcking clue.

that letter is fine. send it. it can only help you.

I ran a stop sign when I was lost in a city that I was unfamiliar with. Scheduled a formal hearing and told the judge I was looking for street signs trying to figure out where I was and didn't see the stop sign. Asked for leniency since this was my first offense. He dropped the points that would have gone on my license and cut the fine in half.

see!? it works!