I was pulled over for speeding in the City of Monroe about a month ago. I was in a group of vehicles and was cited for going 40 in a 25 mph zone near Wal-Mart. The citation was for four points off my license and a $160 fine. I have a vehicle with a "heads up display" which displays the speed on my windshield. In my defense, I was not going 40. The police officer stated he saw my vehicle going at a high rate of speed and his radar gun read 40 mph in a 25. Which was not me.
I proceeded to go to court for my initial hearing and pleaded not guilty.
Today, I went for my mandatory hearing with the judge. I first met with an attorney in an office at the courthouse. She proceeded to tell me that she could drop my citation to three points and $160 (that is the lowest they can go). So I said I did not want to agree with that, since I am not guilty. She said that if I did go to see the judge, he most likely would side with the officer because of his training and his ability to use the radar gun. So I said I was basically out of luck because it will be, "he said, she said" and the judge would side with the officer. She said, he still will listen to your case, but most likely will side with the officer. So I said that I basically wasted all my time coming here and will not get the citation lessened or dropped.
I think the City of Monroe should not let people fight traffic citations, because the judge only will side with the officer. I think it wastes people's time and money, and gives them the false idea they may get the citation dropped or lessened. I took time off work to be at these court dates, and got nowhere with them. I have bills to pay, day-care to pay and cannot afford to pay a ticket that was issued falsely.
I'd like to see if anyone else feels the way I do. I agree there are people out there who speed. But those who are issued tickets for error in the officer's radar gun and judgment should be given a fair chance, not just "take the officer's word over mine."
What do you think?
I proceeded to go to court for my initial hearing and pleaded not guilty.
Today, I went for my mandatory hearing with the judge. I first met with an attorney in an office at the courthouse. She proceeded to tell me that she could drop my citation to three points and $160 (that is the lowest they can go). So I said I did not want to agree with that, since I am not guilty. She said that if I did go to see the judge, he most likely would side with the officer because of his training and his ability to use the radar gun. So I said I was basically out of luck because it will be, "he said, she said" and the judge would side with the officer. She said, he still will listen to your case, but most likely will side with the officer. So I said that I basically wasted all my time coming here and will not get the citation lessened or dropped.
I think the City of Monroe should not let people fight traffic citations, because the judge only will side with the officer. I think it wastes people's time and money, and gives them the false idea they may get the citation dropped or lessened. I took time off work to be at these court dates, and got nowhere with them. I have bills to pay, day-care to pay and cannot afford to pay a ticket that was issued falsely.
I'd like to see if anyone else feels the way I do. I agree there are people out there who speed. But those who are issued tickets for error in the officer's radar gun and judgment should be given a fair chance, not just "take the officer's word over mine."
What do you think?
