Ridiculous Tickets...

[KingCobra2001]

So I went 8 years without getting a single ticket, and then I bought my Cobra...

Since last June I've gotten 4 ridiculous tickets for things that 90% of the traveling public does on a daily basis:

1. $100 - Going 36 in a 25. Honestly, who goes 25 mph in a 25 mph zone?
2. $100 - Not using my turn signal for a lane change. No one was around except for a cop on a motorcycle 100 yds behind me. I tried reasoning with him saying that no one was around that needed to know I was merging into their lane. I was being 'efficient'.
3. $42 - Following too closely. This was in bumper to bumper traffic. I figured that since it was the end of the month, the cop must have just been trying to fill his quota. I cant think of any other reason besides singling out 'the little punk driving a cobra'.
4. $400 - Passing in the shoulder twice. I was behind other cars that did the same thing. He singled me out on this occasion too. This just happened a couple days ago. I was 100 ft from my work. Everyone I work with passed me. The embarassment alone was enough. I tried reasoning once again...to no avail.

Not once have I ever received a warning. Always maximum fine, maximum points. As of now, I'm 2 points away from losing my license in the state of CO. Its not like I evaded police, or got a DUI, or ran red lights, or went 125 in a 65...GOD im frustrated. Sorry to vent here.

Anyone else have some good stories on getting ridiculous tickets/fines???

PLease tell me I'm not the only one...

 

[magnum347]

Good Cops Bad Cops...

I don't hate cops so let me make that my first sentence.

Some are jerks that became cops to fullfill their need for a sense of Power/Authority. Their unhappy existence makes them pick on some drivers out there... for example mustang owners. Don't feel bad cuz your not alone, they'll pick on similar type vehicles too.

A State Trooper the other day swung a U-turn, only to follow me for miles waiting for me to screw up or something (thank God nothing). Harrassment.

We need them when we need them but many of them have no business representing the Law. Too bad we can't do anything about it. That's life...

 

[V8MstngPwr]

Was that 125 in a 65 about me? Just kidding man. I got way lucky that time but I know what you mean when you talk about cops being total jerk-off's. I've been followed again and again by cops waiting for me to screw up. Just gotta be way careful. Usually if some cop does decided to follow me and I'm in no big hurry, I'll just go to the nearest grocery store 'til he leaves.

 

[01TrueBlueCobra]

Let me quess you paid the fines no questions ask. You can fight the ticket in traffic court. It is said that majority of people get off , because the state doesn't expect you to fight it .

 

[KingCobra2001]

Fighting my Cause

I want to fight it so bad...the only thing is that if I fight it and lose, I'll have 11 points thus far; not to mention $400 for the ticket + $50 in court fees to pay. 12 points in 12 months in CO = license suspension. One more ticket and I'm done. I really can't afford to have a red license where I can only drive to work.

 

[ABH]

Alot depends on how you talk to the cop. I got pulled over in NJ for failing to signal. He asked why I failed to and I said "Utter stupidity." Let me go with a warning. I suspect my clean driving record helped. He did ask me about it.

Pulled over one night. He comes up and I said "What stupid thing did I do?" "Your lights are off." D'oh!!! He let me go.

Got a ticket for a burned out light. The cop said I had three lights out. Didn't know that foglights are headlights Anyway, beat that in court after a lecture from the judge about how I was in court. Kind of hard to not look bored and inattentive when the time for the court appearence is my normal wake up time.

As for 36 in a 25, they normally allow 5 over. And I *do* 25 in a 25.
The signal thing. Have to use it when you change lanes. It isn't an option.
The shoulder thing. That isn't allowed. Period.

It doesn't matter if everyone else did it. You were not singled out because you have a Cobra. You got *caught* doing it. If you don't break the law, you don't have to worry about it.

And yes there are power tripping cops too. I had one pull me over because I was just driving around in a somewhat seedy area. He just busted my chops for awhile, whined about the cold, and promised me $1,000 worth of tickets if he saw me again. Been down there 2-3 times a week since.

If you think you got picked on because you drive a Cobra, why encourage it by breaking the traffic laws?

 

[ABH]

Oh, I don't know the laws in your area, but out here paying the ticket is an admission of guilt. If it is out there, you got nothing to lose by fighting it.

 

[Jgruggs]

The cops around here are pretty cool , at least now. They weren't when I just started driving, in the late 70's. Got pulled over the other day, on a long open back country road, no houses, or traffic, opened her up and at 150+ you cover some road quickly, coming up on a curve so I backed her down and entered the curve at a little over a hundred and what do I see. A county cop, I just pulled on over and got out. He asked all kinds of questions about the car and told me about his brother's car and then told me to watch out for the Highway patrols because they just love getting someone for over a hundred. He cut me loose! Real nice guy , really into Stangs. First, always be courtious, no smart mouth or looks. Remember, he has the power to let you go or walk around and "find things" to write up. I always get out and walk to the back of the car with my insurance card and license out. I don't ever ask what I did, I know already and I know that they know, just let them tell me. I know that there are some bad cops out there looking for any little thing, and if you think that you didn't do it (or even if you did) go see the judge. But don't tell him you plan on fighting the ticket, if you do he probably will be sure and be there at court that day, otherwise you stand the chance that he won't make court that day and the judge might just kick the ticket out without him there. Remember, be nice, be nice, be nice. Better to kiss a little cop a$$ than pay thru the a$$.

 

[squire]

Dude, you should NEVER get out of the car. At the very least it makes the cop nervous, but it can also piss them off. When you get pulled over, do the following:

1) Roll down your window (don't make him tap on it)
2) Turn the engine off (this serves dual purpose--he doesn't have to worry about you trying to run and he won't hear how badass your exhaust sounds )
3) Take your sunglasses off (if applicable)
4) Put your hands on the steering wheel so he can see them as he walks up
5) Be nice!!!

 

[cobra2798]

I got pulled over last week doing 53 in a 35. the cop took my license back to his car and ran it. im guessing that he saw that i already had 2 tickets in the past 5 months and also saw that i was in the process of taking the class to get the ticket off my license cause when he came back he said "slow it down im just gonna give u a warning". Then i was shocked to here him say" oh yeah nice car i have an 03' gt myself, mabey ill see u at the cruise next week" I was like Holy S**T! How often does that happen. Never the less the cruise was rianed out last week so if u come around these boards i want to say thanks again and mabey we wont get rained out again ( dam those daily florida summer rains)

 

[squire]

Yeah, I got pulled over doing 75 in a 35 two weeks ago. But the cop was a huge Mustang fan. Said he has a 67 Fastback and a 93 GT. Let me go! I guess that was my one freebie... Same guy waved to me in a parking lot the very next day. Good friend to have

 

[drewl]

I've fought and won or reduced every ticket I ever got except one!
It's called revenue generation.....took an 81 in a 55 to court, officer says to me before judge walks in "plead guilty to 5mph over and it will be 1/2 the fine and no points"
I said thank you and did what the man suggested.

 

[Jgruggs]

Didn't intend on hijacking the thread...just saying what has worked for me in the past. Been pulled over in just about everything that has wheels on it. Been driving for almost 30 years and have only gotten maybe 6 real tickets, lots of warnings. And the only time I ever went to jail was when I didn't get out of the car.(17 and ran from a cop, all he was going to do was give me a ticket for speeding) (sorry camaro wasn't fast enough) (young and dumb).I always get out and walk to the back, never had a cop tell me to get back inside the car. Just different cops attitudes for different areas I guess. Next time you get pulled over or meet a cop ask him what they prefer.

 

[shadowland2000]

The trick is to not stand out, or at least to minimize it. A flashy muscle car is a disadvantage right off, particularly if it's an aggressive color like red, yellow, or black. Also, learn where the cops like to hide. On the freeway, you will usually be cool if you stay steady. If you change lanes to pass people multiple times, you will attract the wrong attention. And lastly, the luck factor is very important. You have obviously had some just plain bad luck.

 

[squire]

Jgruggs, no problem. It sounds like you have the experience to back it up. It might have more to do with the location, the officer's preference, and how you handle yourself. A dangerous location, a nervous cop, or fast movements by the driver could make for a scary situation.

 

[rdefino]

I got a ticket for going 20 in a 37mph zone. I think the cop was drunk. I laugh in his face in court, just before the judge screamed at him for his stupidity.

 

[rdefino]

I got pulled over down at the beach and the cop, in front of everybody, he wanted to check out the engine. Then ask me to do a burn out, in front of everyone. I did, and was a hero for the day.

 

[Iwvustang]

I got pulled over doing 60 in a 55. Cop said, "you were going a little fast back there." Sigh...

 

[FangStang96SVT]

Yep , I've had my share of what's listed here too, but one of my all time favourites goes like this :

I was at a red light in the far right lane next to the sidewalk in the very first front row . Here I am in among this three laner FULL of tight trafic (all lanes filled and many rows to the back) .

I have on my left this old 90's Chev. Cavalier next to me with this boy & his girl in it . There looking at me and he's revving away at the light trying to tie me in a race (it's a no show - no go anyways) . I'm with my girl and son in back and I tell'em : watch this the cop in back is going to pull me over when this kid takes off (the cop is at least four to five rows back in my lane) .

Just as I've seen so many times with kids being intimidated by the sight of FangStang (my Cobra) .... he pulls a small fwd squirp of burn (if we could call it that) and takes off with the traffic while I purposely coast to make my usual point (YOU DON'T PICK MY RACE ; I DO !) and show the cop the bad guy's cars heading away .

Like I predicted , he pulls me on to the sidewalk and comes over to ask m'papers . I told him that I had seen him at the light when this kid was doing his thing and that I knew he would think I pulled the burn ...... and I finished by telling him that if it was me that would have done that burn there would have been thunderous noise and not a little squirp squirp and would have been long gone .

He never muttered a word after asking for my papers and listened , then took off for two short minutes over his c.b. and came back to say ''Have a nice day'' and that was it !

I got the feeling that he was only checking up on me like the time I imported her (FangStang) into Canada and was in Plattsburgh at my Hotel and some investigators came knocking at my door asking questions to see if I was very well the owner .

These kinds of cars do get attention from cops 'cause they do get attention from thieves and get stolen .... so I'm glad they're doing their jobs when they're just not curious to get a closer (fan) look and chat like a few times .

GroundHog

 

[KingCobra97]

This thread hasn't been active lately so i guess i'll enlighten it. It's kinda long, but funny. Enjoy!

Been pulled 5 times, well 6 if you count totalling a car being pulled over!

First-60 in a 45, driving my 93 ranger. cop was nice, still got the ticket. Paid a lawyer 220 bucks, got it dropped.

second- 66 in a 55, first day with my black 98 GT. on the way to school, pulls me right at the entrence to school. everybody saw me, I was so pissed I skipped school that day. Paid the same lawyer 200 bucks, got it dropped.

Third- 92 in a 55 and passing in a no passing zone, with my 98 GT. going home, passing a car, then relized the zone ended and saw headlights coming, so I dropped it into second and passed the car. The car I was going head on at, was the State trooper. he was pissed, 400 bucks to lawyer friend and DROPPED!

Fourth- driving my girls honda in mrytle beach. did a u-turn at a light, made it kind of wide, but nothing too bad. Biker cop pulls me and gives me a ticket for, no lie, "FAILURE TO CARE." the fine was $75, I paid it and never heard of it since. $75 because I didn't give a $hit.

fifth- for speeding, but didn't have his radar on, but just really wanted to tell me my tail lights were out.

and the last is so stupid- riding with my frind in his 86 acura legend. pulled in to a abanded runway and turned around and started to come back out, when a cop stops us, came up to us asked us for all our license(there were four of us) and walk back to his car to do a check up.Then 3 other cops came flying in with lights going and spot light on us. four cops there, all lights on us, the first cop comes back and says, "Try not to be so obvious when you pull a fat U-ey. Have a good night." and all the cops leave.

those are just some, cuz i have alot more, but I saw this thread and new I had some funny stories!