Court Date set for June 12th on Exhibition of Speed, any advice?

[Gerald]

I've gone to the intersection, taken photos of the grade that caused me to roll back when the E brake was released, Took shots of where the cops were. Took shots of the pavement (showed no burn rubber marks). Anything else you guys might know of that the judge might like to see?


Gerald

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

Gerald,

If you are having your day in court because you are pleading innocent to that which you have been charged, may I make a suggestion? Put the odds largely in your favor by getting a continuance for your court date. A good reason would be you cannot get off work, car maint., your grandmother is dying, you know...something legitimate.

Request as many continuances (extensions) as they will give you. I have gotten 2 before. What this does is substantially lower the chances the policeman will actually show up, leaving you free of any charges automatically.

Most policeman try to schedule their court appointments together, and most often NOT on a day off. If you extend enough (fully legal) you may catch him on on day off, and he will likely blow the entire thing off.

Call the issuing courthouse and get a continuance so you can "gather more evidence".

Good luck-

Rollo

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

In NY, many of the "excuses" such as gravel, wet roads, hills, etc, don't help because you are required to "maintain control of your vehicle" under all circumstances. You'd be better off saying things like "I started to leave the intersection and noticed that under the poor road conditions that my tires were beginning to slip and immediately left off the gas so as to maintain control of my vehicle..." or something similar.

Also in NY, when you request an extension, they look on the _cop's_ calendar to see when he/she is back in court and schedule you for that day.

 

[slaughterj]

Same in VA, they review the cop's schedule when you request a continuance. I always hear people talking about continuing and avoiding the cop showing, but I've never heard anyone succeed with that strategy, so for now I think it's an urban legend (or maybe just in places other than VA/NY that look at the schedule).

 

[Tom Friend]

Do not do this at home, but leave it to a professional. Attorney, attorney, attorney. Find one specializing in traffic law in your county. Worth the price of admission.

 

[Dion Fisher]

I'm still going to stand by my first peice of advice get the best traffic lawyer in your area, you'll save money and keep your peice of mind..

Going to court and representing yourself without witnesses is like fighting Mike Tyson with your hands tied behind your back, you're just not going to K-O him with your forehead and your legs will be too busy running;-)