Talking your way out of a traffic ticket...

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

I don’t know that there is ever truly a way to talk yourself out of a citation, but you can definitely talk yourself into one. In my personal and anecdotal experience, law enforcers decide whether they will cite, tow a vehicle, etc. within the first 10 seconds of the interaction; sometimes the decision is made long before they’ve even approached the car. Many of my peers rarely ever give pretty women or people with money a pass because the presumption is they always get away with things because of their looks or their wealth. The perception of entitlement is a real phenomenon.

In addition, the fact that the public wants all of us to utilize body worn cameras and wants to micro-analyze every interaction we have makes giving people a pass an even less desirable alternative. Nobody wants to end up on TMZ or some other media outlet for giving the pretty woman/family member of a Chief/etc. a pass.

As a lawyer who interacts with law enforcement on a daily basis, the body cam thing is the first thing that came to my mind when reading these comments. I just didn’t post my thoughts because Sedan beat me to it!

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by sygazelle

Have you ever been pulled over for a traffic offense and talked your way out of getting a ticket?


Were you guilty?

What did you say to get by with just a warning?

Yes and yes.

I simply told the truth. I had just bought a Geo Storm and had come from a Mitsubishi Montero. I told the officer that I had just bought the car and came from one that it felt like I was doing 50 MPH when doing 25 MPH and this car felt like I was doing 25 when going 50.

He verified that the temporary registration was only days old and told me to pay attention to the speedometer until I got used to the car

[Lady Jane]

Ouch...!

[DocL]

I've been pulled over for speeding twice in the past year and have been given warnings. The last time was three weeks ago doing 63 in a 45.

[billnchristy]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Twisty roads in a Prius? What's the point?

Ever do 90 in a shopping cart? Way more engaging than a miata.

[vreihen16]

One of my siblings didn't even get the chance to talk her way out of a 95 MPH in a 55 zone speeding ticket...driving a beater Yugo GV. The officer didn't ask for her paperwork, just that she open the hood so he could look at the engine. Realizing that the judge would laugh him out of the courtroom for testifying that a Yugo with a stock engine could do 95 MPH, he cut her loose with those exact words and not even a warning.....

[dradernh]

Having already matched my age in movers in an earlier year without bothering to argue that I really and truly was an innocent, I subsequently made the effort only once. It was successful, but I think that was down to the officer and the type of establishment he had just left.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Llarry

My magic savior is my military identification card. Not 100% but works most of the time. I hand over my license and ID card.

Mine is my rear license plate frame, "Vietnam Veteran."

Never been pulled over.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

One of my siblings didn't even get the chance to talk her way out of a 95 MPH in a 55 zone speeding ticket...driving a beater Yugo GV. The officer didn't ask for her paperwork, just that she open the hood so he could look at the engine. Realizing that the judge would laugh him out of the courtroom for testifying that a Yugo with a stock engine could do 95 MPH, he cut her loose with those exact words and not even a warning.....

'75 Volvo 245 DL. Saw the officer on the onramp as I went by at 65 (posted) Saw him start driving, but I stayed at 65. Looked down to adjust my radio, back to mirror, and there are lights. Pull over and he asks if I know why?
No idea.
I didn't clock you, but I was doing 85 and you were pulling away.
No sir, I saw you on the onramp, I was doing 65 and never wavered. And this is a 4-cyl wagon, on a flat road.
Why are your eyes so red?
I just got done being the rescue dummy at a pool where I was taking my lifeguard training. The rest were teens trying to get a job, and instructor made them all rescue me (200lbs)
Oh, you're now a lg? People like you are the ones who arrive on scene and perform CPR before we ever get there
. . .
OK, have a nice night.