Michigan Speeding laws???!? Help Please

[drivemusicnow]

Okay, so its 2 am, i'm coming back from a school trip to cedar point, (college) driving back to Flinttown on 96. I have cruise on about 90 MPH on the tach, road is WIDE open I think I passed like 5 cars in 5 miles. I'm driving quickly, however very safely as well. I see the cop, I immediately slow down and move into the slower lane, stay at 70 mph... they catch up to me, pull behind me and then turn the lights on and pull me over... This is in NOVI MI.

The female police officer writes the ticket for 91 in a 70, and basically says have a nice day.

I am an IL driver, and really need this to be reduced as much as possible, and if at all possible, not have it on my record. I'm a student, and I'm not have 1 previous ticket, also in MI that i couldn't fight whatsoever.

Heres the only things I can think of that might help me...

I'll ask for service records of teh vehicle, and the radar gun.
I did not see ANY lights on in the car, and this was at night.
The police officer turned onto the road without ANY lights on, then turned headlights on, must have had to speed to catch up to me, and did not have the flashing lights on while speeding.

Thats all I have... PLEASE help me think of ways to get this thown out...

 

[allgripnoslip]

A while back I got written up for a 91 in a 70, I avoided it by going to court and asking the judge to beeasy on me because it was my first ticket and such. He made me write a 3000 word essay, took the points off and made the ticket half price. Not sure If thats posible for you, but do you have a radar detector?

 

[Defiant]

So..... what's your defense? WTF

"She broke the law more than I did "

Best of luck with this. Figure on the thread lasting until I get back from work.

 

[dave99gst]

everything YOu listed is useless -

1 ) they dont need visible warning lights --
2 ) they dont need there warning lights on untill they pull u over --
3&4 ) there cops they can do what they want
5) the radar gun crap is old news and dont fly no more


just ask for it to be taken under consent -
mention your a collage student - and that YOu got a clear record.

 

[drivemusicnow]

No I do not have a radar detector. They really don't work that well in my SVX because of the windshield coating.

#2 is not true. It is most definitely illegal for a police officer to do ANYTHING against regular traffic laws unless their flashing lights are on. Speeding included. typically cases can get thrown out because of this one, however you have to somehow get them to admit that this is the case which is usually very hard to do in court because they'll always lie to protect themselves.

I'm thinking about buying one of those books that describes what exactly to ask in court. There are far to many little technicalities that you can get the case dismissed because of.

Defiant, I believe i remember reading that you are a part of the police force in California (dispatcher if i remember correctly??) And if so, you should know how the speeding ticket "BUSINESS" works. I'm sorry, but I'm taxed enough by my government, and will take advantage of any loophole possible. Speed limits do not help protect citizens. I am of firm belief that the approximately 1.2 billion dollar a day moneymaker that is speeding tickets should not exist as it does. If you have any good information to prove otherwise I'd be all ears to hear it.

 

[wannaspoolRS]

well no it is completely indirect of your arguement but here in carmel Indiana they had unmarked impalas and they tried to keep the lights as inconspicuous as possible and one cop pulled me over and said he had been chasing me for 2 miles...he didnt have a siren...so anyway the cops put strobing underbody LED kits on...they strobe red and blue. Make up a bullshit excuse that you just had it dynoed and had it checked out... i get mouthy with cops that i dont know. but never got a ticket. I used that excuse and he said well u might want to take it back, and i replied nope u can take back your radar gun

 

[gibby]

I have posted on several of these questions about the laws on speeding, accidents etc. your best bet is to ask the judge for same fine with no points. saves the insurance costs you a little. Take responsibility for your speed and stop trying to beat the system. or ask the judge to take the driver improvement calss it seems as if you could use it.

 

[drivemusicnow]

I have posted on several of these questions about the laws on speeding, accidents etc. your best bet is to ask the judge for same fine with no points. saves the insurance costs you a little. Take responsibility for your speed and stop trying to beat the system. or ask the judge to take the driver improvement calss it seems as if you could use it.

Are you Joking?? I've taken more defensive, track, and state driving courses than you would possibly know. I know my car, the limits, the abilities, and safety concerns more than anyone else. At 91 mph my car will still stop faster than MOST other vehicles on the road from 70.

SPEEDING TICKETS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY OF ROADWAY USERS!!!!!!!!

and why would i possibly just pay it and "take responsibility for my speed" when the system is unjust?

I cannot believe I'm hearing these hypocritical things from an performance car forum. To actually think that ANYONE would believe someone looking to make there car faster has never gone above a posted speed limit is asinine.

Haha... i think i figured it out... You're a police officer... Ever see how its always the people that don't really have to worry about getting a speeding ticket that are the ones that say "oh just pay it".

 

[gibby]

you try to say that i do not have to worry about getting a ticket when i did. my friend aslo works for a sherrifs dept. and got a ticket yesterday from florida highway patrol. he was doing the same speed you were and in uniform and got a ticket so don't say that we do not have to worry about getting a ticket. the fact is that the speed limit is what 60-70mph and you were going how fast??? you broke the law. granted the officer may not have done a textbook traffic stop but that does not change the fact that you broke the law.

i do not even tell officers who pull me over that i work for a police dept. it is called ethics. i will take a ticket if the officer so chooses to write me one.

 

[autronicDSM]

Law is the ####ing law. Nobody cares how fast your car stops, 70mph speed limit means you go 70mph. What's so hard to understand about that? Pay the ticket and quit whining.

Are you Joking?? I've taken more defensive, track, and state driving courses than you would possibly know. I know my car, the limits, the abilities, and safety concerns more than anyone else. At 91 mph my car will still stop faster than MOST other vehicles on the road from 70.

People get tickets and pay them all the time. I got speeding tickets before, you don't see me whining on here trying to win some sympathy. You brake the law, you pay. I'm not a cop, I'm just sick of people doing something wrong, getting caught and then whining it's unfair.

I cannot believe I'm hearing these hypocritical things from an performance car forum. To actually think that ANYONE would believe someone looking to make there car faster has never gone above a posted speed limit is asinine.

 

[99gst_racer]

I cannot believe I'm hearing these hypocritical things from an performance car forum. To actually think that ANYONE would believe someone looking to make there car faster has never gone above a posted speed limit is asinine.

HAHA, we all speed from time to time; well I know I do at least. But when I exceed 70 mph, I am willing to accept the consequences of getting caught. That's something you have to accept also.

If this really concerns you, try doing what allgripnoslip did. Just beg the magistrate for lesser punishment. If you act courteous and professional, he will take you much more seriously. (trust me it works - I've contested 2 tickets before a judge now, and I've never lost)


::waits for defiant to get back from work::

 

[Big Woo]

If you are going to use the analogy that the cop was speeding, then you are also admitting that you were speeding, and that may not help your case.

Besides admitting and atesting to on a public forum (such as this one) is a public record, and most likely admissible as evidence. Also not a help to your case.

I tend to agree with 99gst-racer in that if you are speeding, and you know that you are (set the cruise at 90) then you have to be willing to accept the consequences.

Additionally if it is so imperative to you that this is reduced or deleted then you had prior knowledge of your situation, and thus should not have chosen un-wisely. It's like premeditated self destruction.

 

[drivemusicnow]

When I got my previous ticket, (also in Michigan.. only other ticket I've ever received) I knew i was in the wrong, seeing as how I was driving faster than i should have been. I payed a 245 dollar ticket without contesting it.

Yes i know the law says 70 mph is the limit. However I am a firm believer that conditions should rule speed rather than a number that a state decided to pick arbitrarily. I guess I just wish that we could pay police officers to do their job, rather than paying them to tax the citizens even more.

Oh and if you don't believe me, research how many insurance companies help governments with the costs of speed detection equipment. They just love when they get to hike your rates for 3 years for a minor moving violation.

I don't know how many of you actually drive on our nations highways everyday, but I do. Typically (in Chicago) if you're not going at least 75 mph you will have semi trucks blasting past you. the speed limit on all highways around chicago is 55. Same thing in Michigan, during the day, its typical for all of traffic to be moving at 85-90 mph. What is stranger is that semi trucks are never pulled over (I think I've seen about 3 in my lifetime vs countless passenger vehicles)

I'm not a whiny SOB who screwed up and won't face the consequences. I just don't believe that the current traffic ticketing system is just. HDT says " Under a government that imprisons unjustly, the true place for a just man is in prison".

Its not my fault the government makes it easy with lots of loopholes

 

[drivemusicnow]

If you are going to use the analogy that the cop was speeding, then you are also admitting that you were speeding, and that may not help your case.

Besides admitting and atesting to on a public forum (such as this one) is a public record, and most likely admissible as evidence. Also not a help to your case.

I tend to agree with 99gst-racer in that if you are speeding, and you know that you are (set the cruise at 90) then you have to be willing to accept the consequences.

Additionally if it is so imperative to you that this is reduced or deleted then you had prior knowledge of your situation, and thus should not have chosen un-wisely. It's like premeditated self destruction.

Lets do a bit of physics... Cop is at 0 mph, I'm at about 80 after i see them and slow down... I then slow down to 70 mph and hold.... Cop pulls behind me about 20 seconds later... hmmm 0-70 is going to leave them significantly far behind me down the road. I'll actually do the math if you'd like.

I'm really not too worried about this one considering how many tickets they hand out a day, Its just not likely that they're going to research this particular case and find me on this particular board... seriously. when they're handing out about 115,000 tickets a day nationwide, I just don't see them taking the time to see if they talked about them online first.

read post above^ about accepting the consequences.

It is only imperative because I have one other speeding ticket that I received slightly over a year ago. I'm sorry I'm not as patient as you are to be able to wait the 2 years or whatever for it to be off my record before I go over another speed limit.

However I'm not the one driving drunk down the highway like a guy i called in about an hour previously to my ticket.
AGAIN... Open 3 lane highway with a speed limit at 70... no construction, no traffic.

As it is, please do not close this thread, I will not post until after my court date to either tell you that I was able to have the case dismissed, or that i am paying more than the ticket in court fines. Right now this is more a matter of principle to me rather than anything else.

 

[autronicDSM]

That's asinine. How is he ever going to catch you if he doesn't go faster then you?

 

[Big Woo]

Thats OK I know a little math. Mu point was that officers are permitted to exceed the speed limit to enforce the law. So it would not be a creditable argument to make. You will just end up looking like a whining kid in front of a judge.

I was also suggesting that you take a little responsibility for your actions, if that you knew your situation, chose to speed anyway, and got caught. Now don't get me wrong I speed plenty also. I have fought tickets in the past won two lost two. What is interesting though is that the two I won, I won by default, in that the tickiting officer did not show for the hearing. Claiming that the officer was speeding, or questioning the service records, may not be relevant or useful.

So what is wrong with standing up like a man, and admitting what you did was wrong. You seem to be taking the approach that, your pissed that you got caught and can not afford it. Now after the fact you are trying to justify it by situational circumstance, and questioning the legitimacy of the officer and equipment.

Good luck, I am looking forward to see how this turns out for you.

 

[Defiant]

#2 is not true. It is most definitely illegal for a police officer to do ANYTHING against regular traffic laws unless their flashing lights are on. Speeding included.

Yeah, but try to find a judge (or whatever they call the bandits in your area) to go for that. In California, it's 21055.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21055.htm

Defiant, I believe i remember reading that you are a part of the police force in California (dispatcher if i remember correctly??)

I'm a CHP Dispatcher --oh, they changed the name to "Public Safety Dispatcher"-- which is a civillian position. I'm not a cop, I just tell them where to go.

And if so, you should know how the speeding ticket "BUSINESS" works.

Only too-well. I take all my tickets to court.

I'm sorry, but I'm taxed enough by my government, and will take advantage of any loophole possible. Speed limits do not help protect citizens. I am of firm belief that the approximately 1.2 billion dollar a day moneymaker that is speeding tickets should not exist as it does. If you have any good information to prove otherwise I'd be all ears to hear it.

Not from me.

 

[Strm Trpr]

I take all my tickets to court.

Damn, so even the all knowing Defiant gets tickets from time to time.

To the original guy, man, just suck it up and go to court.
Or pay the fine and go to traffic school.
You got caught, deal with it.

I once got a ticket for 100 in a 70, I went to court, pleaded not guilty, got a court date.
I bought a book on how to beat my ticket, went to court, and the CHP didn't show up...... CASE DISMISSED!!! Hell Yeah...
That ticket would've cost me $419.75, not to mention it would've been on my record for 7 years.

I'd say either pay up and go to school, or bite the bullet and take a chance that she won't show up.

 

[selser420]

I don't know if you've gone to court yet, but in MI +5mph on the freeway is a no points violation. Go in, be cool, talk to the officer before going in front of the judge and see if he will change it to +5. You will still have to pay the fine, but your insurance won't get jacked. Trust me, I just did this 3 weeks ago in Farmington Hills.
PS....pray you don't go in front of McKenzie....I know hes a real D#$@head!!

 

[kristmen]

This is why I keep my insurance in my mommies name even though I'm almost 30... I get speeding tickets yearly and my insurance never goes up. Either does her insurance because its on my record and let me tell you, a 60 year old who has NEVER had a speeding ticket in her life or a accident gets CHEAP insurance.

 

[surel0ser]

Okay, so its 2 am, i'm coming back from a school trip to cedar point, (college) driving back to Flinttown on 96. I have cruise on about 90 MPH on the tach, road is WIDE open I think I passed like 5 cars in 5 miles. I'm driving quickly, however very safely as well. I see the cop, I immediately slow down and move into the slower lane, stay at 70 mph... they catch up to me, pull behind me and then turn the lights on and pull me over... This is in NOVI MI.

The female police officer writes the ticket for 91 in a 70, and basically says have a nice day.

I am an IL driver, and really need this to be reduced as much as possible, and if at all possible, not have it on my record. I'm a student, and I'm not have 1 previous ticket, also in MI that i couldn't fight whatsoever.

Heres the only things I can think of that might help me...

I'll ask for service records of teh vehicle, and the radar gun.
I did not see ANY lights on in the car, and this was at night.
The police officer turned onto the road without ANY lights on, then turned headlights on, must have had to speed to catch up to me, and did not have the flashing lights on while speeding.

Thats all I have... PLEASE help me think of ways to get this thown out...

Dude get yourself a lawyer, pay the $157.50 fee to get it moved to faulty equipment and then pay the lawyer her $150 dollar fee and call it square. As mentioned, none of your reasoning is valid on why they pulled you over. Either gonna have to take the 2 points on your license and suck it up or pay it off.

 

[gsx951]

The Novi court is one of four that my mother managed as Chief Admin. I have met and personally know many of the Clerks, Magistrates and Judges in this area's district court system and can state with absolute certainty that they did not create the system you've railed against. I can also say with pretty good authority that if you go in with the recalcitrant attitude that you've displayed in this thread, things will not go your way.
Being on a limited access road (freeway) is the only thing that has saved you from a reckless driving ticket.
Admit your guilt, show some humility, pay the fine and try to negotiate the points.
With your prior speeding ticket, they'll be doing you a favor.

 

[drivemusicnow]

Well the court date would have been set at a date where I could not have appeared. I "admitted responsibility with an explanation" The ticket was lowered to a 84 in a 70 with a lowered fine.

They did not however follow their own rule seeing as how in my written explanation I did not ever admit responsibility, however I stated that I would not have been able to attend the court date (along with several other bits of information). They say that if you don't admit responsibility in your written explanation they will give you a court date to appear anyway, but this works for me.

Pretty typicaly I guess. I still find it annoying that such a huge number of speeding tickets are given out when police should have many more important things to be focusing on.

 

[Defiant]

Pretty typicaly I guess. I still find it annoying that such a huge number of speeding tickets are given out when police should have many more important things to be focusing on.

Like most fines, they're taxes. What part don't you get?

 

[mem0rable]

I have been living in Michigan for almost 20 years (but not driving that long) and in Michigan you might as well pay it. Your an out of state driver so theyre probably going to be harder on you, just be glad she didnt decide to take you to jail. Some states (like ohio) will take out of state people to jail, until they can pay the ticket. My friend amanda ended up spending a night in a jail for doing 10 over in a little no stop sign town. If you plan on fighting i would take other peoples advice and explain that your a college student, this is your first ticket and you were on your way home from a school activity at 2am and trying to get home.

If it was during the school semester you could even say that you wanted to get home an study

Either way, you know you were in the wrong, you admited it.