Just got pulled over -Go to court or just pay?

Rickpatbrown · Apr 18, 2011

I just took the bike out after washing it and wanted to get some good wind velocity to get the water off. The Maryland State Police aparently don't approve of this drying method.

He claims I was doing 91 mph in a 50 mph zone and that I changed lanes without signaling.

He cut me a break, and only wrote the ticket for an unsafe lane change.

Should I go to court to try to not get any points on my license, or do they hate sportbike riders and I should just be grateful I didn't get a $500 fine and a bunch of points?

My father is an attorney, but I don't want to tell him. My parents hate the bike.

600k2 · Apr 18, 2011

is that a points ticket? if it is not (you said it was) then i would just pay the fine.

if you are going to get points show up on the court date and expect to pay more when you talk to the prosecutor before court begins.

TheGeek · Apr 18, 2011

Pay the unsafe lane change ticket and count your blessings. He cut you a big break!

100mph-wheelies · Apr 20, 2011

Case closed!

DurtyB · Apr 18, 2011

Definatley go to court if its a points ticket....they will drop the points down or the ticket will get dropped if the the officer doesn't show up. You might have to pay a few bucks extra for "court costs" but thats better then having your insurance go up due to the points.

gixrdeb · Apr 18, 2011

Well...were you speeding and did you make a lane change without signaling? If so, just pay it and be done with it. Nothing pisses a judge off more when someone goes into the court room to say "yes I did it but I dont think it's right I got a ticket", etc. You'd be wasting the courts time, officers time and the judges time which all amounts to you wasting the state and taxpayers money. It will only piss the judge off more and chances are it will increase your fine for the time and money you just wasted. Pay it and get it over with.

njracer · Apr 18, 2011

Rickpatbrown said:
He cut me a break, and only wrote the ticket for an unsafe lane change.

And if you go to court, he will make sure the judge or DA knows you already got a break.

I say pay it and move on.

Jimmy Jam · Apr 18, 2011

:thumbup

02ylo_gsxr6 · Apr 18, 2011

I'm with geek, why be greedy about it? You're lucky he didn't screw you with that speeding ticket; going to court is just ungrateful in this case.

txoutlawgsxr · Apr 18, 2011

+ 10000 pay it and go to the 99 cent store and pick up a towel.

Just be happy you didnt get a reckless driving charge and toss you in jail and tow your bike.

Thrusterboost · Apr 18, 2011

At least is the bike dry ?

fiftyfive · Apr 18, 2011

+1 :twitch

pearljam724 · Apr 18, 2011

You got off easy as hell. He could have stuck it in your ass big time. Pay the fine and plead guilty to the small lane infraction. It's a small fine and a few points, big deal. You're considering showing up in court and trying to fight the break you were given ? That's pretty much like spitting in somone's face after they have helped you. You have got to be kidding me ? 91 mhp to dry the bike off. What a retard. :suicide

bizak · Apr 18, 2011

Unsafe lane change it doesn't sound as a point ticket to me. By the way you are lucky he only gave you one ticket. I got pulled over in Cleveland, Ohio for not using my turning signal and I was put behind a police car for 30min while they made sure my motorcycle wasn't stolen and all the vin numbers were correct. Even though I told them I have my turn signals integrated in my tail light. :banghead

Wally Beast · Apr 18, 2011

:facepalm Count your blessings and just pay the damn ticket. AFter catching a break like that I can't even believe you'd ask the question.

And like NJ said, the judge will know all of the details if you decide to fight it and he/she will make sure you get thumped pretty fierce for wasting his/her time.

boomboom929 · Apr 18, 2011

The guy cut you slack, don't spit in his face over it. Unsafe lane change IS a points offense in Md. He could have impounded your bike and made it very difficult for you. I'd say pay and lick your wounds.

btech734 · Apr 18, 2011

here in Michigan anything over 20 is reckless driving 6 points, take the unsafe lane change

Mr645 · Apr 18, 2011

They don;t hate sportbikes, they hate vehicles moving 91mph in a 50mph limit zone.

pearljam724 · Apr 18, 2011

In pa, if you drive 17mph over the speed limit. It qualifies for automatic suspension of your license for a year. Plus the fine for that is rediculous. Not to mention what your insurance rates would go up to. If your lucky enough to find a company that will insure you after that suspension. Could have easily had your bike impounded on top of all that.

Rickpatbrown · Apr 18, 2011

My thought was in line with most of yours. I fell the judge and officer would not be happy to see me in court. I realize how lucky I am to get off with that lesser charge.

pearljam724- I'm just gonna ignore the retard comment.

obc · Apr 18, 2011

its your call.
waste your day at court to lower the cost of the lane change, or accept the ticket and slow down.

nico · Apr 18, 2011

whats your time ad effort worth to you?
I think i would rather pay the $500 and get it over and done with.

hitmanchronicles · Apr 19, 2011

Dude, GO TO COURT!!!, i got the similar type of ticket as you last month and my court date was last wednesday. I was doing 75 on a 50mph. The cop that pulled me over drove an unmarked Mustang. He was nice and gave me a ticket for "not obey highway sign" (3 points for 3 years) here in Virginia.

I decided to go to court instead of paying for the ticket and really hoping the cop wouldn't show up, and guess what?? the cop didn't show up

If the cop do show up just plead guilty and tell the judge that you know what you did was wrong and would take a driving class for it. In reality, 1) you might get lucky as i did 2) the judge might be in a happy mood that day and give you a lesser sentence since you are willing to take a driving class for it 3)or lose a few extra bucks in court cost :dunno

Fuller · Apr 19, 2011

I know you're parents hate the bike but your dad is a lawyer. If it's a points ticket, talk to your dad. If it's not, shut your pie hold and pay the fine.

jahlov420 · Apr 19, 2011

pay it. cops will tell a bowled face lie to the judge and they aren't going to believe you

jZampage · Apr 19, 2011

Go to the DA's office and see if you can get it changed to a non-moving violation. It will cost extra, but nothing will affect your license or rates. Don't go to court unless you intend to proceed with diversion hearings and frankly - they are a fucking trick, I'm convinced.

I've got too many points on my record to do either anymore, so I have been trying to keep it slow :shifty

It's difficult...

WhiteBike · Apr 19, 2011

If you make a court date and make the police officer show up he can have the power of ammending the original speeding ticket so does the judge(adding the speeding back on and have you fight both). pay it and run

I'm a little BITCH! · Apr 19, 2011

Even though I'm not proud of it, I'm almost dead certain I have the worst driving record on this forum (been arrested multiple times, impounded, impounded, impounded, impounded, suspended, revoked, etc. etc., my full driving record is over 6 pages long) and I'm from Baltimore so I'm quite familiar with the maryland state police and county cops. I been in traffic (and criminal) court so frequently I can almost be my own attorney (maybe I should try taking the bar lol). I learned my lesson the hard and expensive way. My advice to you is this: DO NOT go to court for this bullshit ass citation. Illegal lane change is 1 point, pay the fine and accept the point. He already cut you MAJOR slack for not breaking it off in your ass with a 5 point over 30mph speeding charge (and potentially a reckless driving charge). I really hope you thanked that trooper. If you do decide to schedule a court date, chances are that you will piss off the trooper and judge and you will get screwed big time. Don't be a dumb ass like I was and take it easy out there on the public highways, unless you enjoy paying thousands upon thousands for legal representation so you can keep your license. At least you did one thing right, you didn't try to run, so at least be proud of yourself for making the right choice in that respect (whats better, death and dismemberment, or 1 point?).

Rickpatbrown · Apr 19, 2011

Yes, I thanked him.

Gosu-Vu · Apr 19, 2011

Just phone a free lawyer for advice and see what they say, tell them the situation and what happened. As for your farther, just tell him that they pulled you over for a lane change.... if the cop cut you a break he has no proof anymore of what happened and how fast you were speeding, if the court finds out he was cutting you a deal they would favor you in the first place, especially if your dad is an attorny.

Just got pulled over -Go to court or just pay?

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