Laser speeding ticket at night

[jjtricket]

What is the name of your state? Georgia

A trooper and sheriff are sitting together with drivers door facing me. Trooper shoots 79mph in a 55mph. Tells sheriff, go get him. Sheriff has no line of site and takes about 4 miles to catch up to me. Pulls me over and says Trooper clocked me going 79 in a 55. I was in shock and before I knew it he was gone with my license and writing the ticket. Before I could ask or state anything he handed me the ticket and said they needed to get to an accident. The ticket shows the wrong color of my vehicle. No tag info. No mention on ticket that he did not run the radar. I was doing no more than 65. I have a state of the art detector that never went off. Cars were blowing me off the road. I will fight this to the death. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[JETX]

Based solely on the information in your post, there are some legal issues you could use. However, I would suggest you either obtain local counsel or take cash when you go to court.

 

[jjtricket]

Come on, is that it? Everyone is saying get a lawyer. Why? Its clear there are some identification issues and does a non laser ceritified sheriff have the authority to right a ticket in the first place. Seems to me that the Trooper should have made the stop. How could I have asked for an accuracy/calibration check? Also, in Georgia this a criminal charge. Would it be better to have a jury trial?

 

[JETX]

I suggested you get an attorney because you DO have a probable valid challenge to the ticket. And you are correct, one of the 'issues' to be presented is that the ticket was issued on hearsay evidence. The citing officer did not witness the violation. There are other issues also.
The non-laser certified sheriff and the expectation of an accuracy/calibration check are not relevant.

The fact that you thought they might be is further justiification for my suggestion.

 

[jjtricket]

Thank you JETX for a little more explanation. I guess my issue is the cost of hiring an attorney especially since I do not know anyone in this particular area. Does anyone else have any other comments or suggestions?

 

[rikers]

Thank you JETX for a little more explanation. I guess my issue is the cost of hiring an attorney especially since I do not know anyone in this particular area. Does anyone else have any other comments or suggestions?

Yes. Guess what? Some cops lie, and Judges listen to them. Get a laywer.

 

[lwpat]

You have several options. One is that both the state trooper and the sheriff would have to be present and testify. The trooper as to your speed and the sheriff as to the fact you were the driver. There is a good chance that the trooper may not show on your trial date since his name is not on the ticket. Also a good chance that the judge will ignore this and find you guilty anyway. Remember we are talking about GA.

If you could get it reduced to 68 in in a 55 it will not go on your MVR in GA. Given your speed this is unlikey. Most courts will only give 4 or 5 mph.

One place you might have some luck is in the color of your car. Since it took him so long to stop you you could ask the trooper to identify the vehicle. When he gives the wrong color you could present evidence to the color of your car and indicate the sheriff made a mistake.

Once every five years you can plead no contest and there will be no points assessed against your license. It will still show on your MVR for your insurance company to see if they pull your record.

If you really want to fight this speeding ticket retain an attorney. Otherwise just go ahead and bend over.

 

[JETX]

"One place you might have some luck is in the color of your car. Since it took him so long to stop you you could ask the trooper to identify the vehicle. When he gives the wrong color you could present evidence to the color of your car and indicate the sheriff made a mistake."
*** That is not a dismissable error. Simply having the right license plate number identifies the vehicle.

 

[jjtricket]

The license number is not on the ticket. It just has a line thru the space. Thats right wrong color, no plate info. BTW, what is everyones opinion about a jury trial?