Experience fighting Clemson City traffic ticket?

[Mr.Rauq]

Got a ticket for 38 in a 35 (really?). I live in Chimney Ridge and turned on to Issaqueena Trail towards 123, cruising at the bottom of 5th gear, just under 40, saw a cop and hit the clutch to coast when he whipped around and pulled me over. We ended up stopping on the other side of 123 down a ways and he made a joke about how radar detectors don't work- I had tripmaster up on my TomTom, no radar on the dash.

I fought a ticket at home before on the grounds that the speed limit was arbitrarily low. Traffic code gives a maximum speed limit for all kinds of roads that can be lowered by traffic engineers' studies. The applicable code is here:

Quote:Except when a special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with subsection (A), the limits specified in this section or established as hereinafter authorized are maximum lawful speeds, and a person shall not drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed in excess of these maximum limits:

(3) fifty-five miles an hour in other locations or on other sections of highways and unpaved roads are limited to the speed of forty miles an hour...

Traffic engineers may have very well decided that the speed limit needed to be lowered but if I have the time to go to the courthouse and request documentation of that study I will.


I'm fighting this on principle and because I need that traffic ticket money to go to a new shifter... FUBAR'd it up going into first after the whole deal. Need a new shifter, might as well get a short throw while I'm at it, right?

[zps2004]

I have to ask how much that ticket will cost if you just pay it.

Everytime I see a cop I pit the clutch in as well to make my car quiet.

[jedimario]

This is pretty weak. I've driven by the Clemson City po-po setting a speed trap with my speedo at 55 in a 45 without realizing it and not a single anythings was given. I'm not sure what to tell you, but if you just show up to the court date I can't imagine a judge wouldn't let it slide. There may some 10% rule as well. That just sucks man.

[Clemsons2k]

I would definitely fight it. Even though you did technically break the speed limit, it was but such a small amount that it will probably get lowered or thrown out in court. Sorry that happened to ya

[Mr.Rauq]

$81.75, although I don't understand that either. SC law says 1-10 over is a $25 fine, an addendum says they can charge the fine plus 107.5% plus $25. That's $76.88. On top of the fine though I have to buy a new shifter, which is why I'd rather not pay the fine. I can get a new shaft for the same price and ship time of a short throw, about $250 and 3-4 weeks time, so that's my plan for now.

[jedimario]

I really don't understand the shift thing. Is that including the court charge? I guess Clemson could impose its own stuff too.

[JB]

Did you break the shifter after getting the ticket or did you get the ticket for doing shenanigans while breaking the shifter?

[Mr.Rauq]

Broke the shifter afterwards. I didn't think I hit it that hard, I know I've hit it harder racing.

[JB]

I have gotten out of a wreckless driving ticket by simply asking the officer to talk with me before court. I went up to her and asked in the most sincere way if there was anything she could do for me. I did not try to give any BS excuses, just gave her the doggy eyes and was very humble. Also, dressing nice helps because it shows them you are taking this seriously.

I don't even know why the guy gave you a ticket for 3 over. I could have sworn you have to be going over 5 over the posted speed limit to get a ticket, and even then they let you off with a warning. Did you piss the cop off or something? Or did he reduce it and thats how you got the 38 in a 35?

[Apollo]

If it is that close over the limit you might be able to play it off as speedo misreading. I know someone that got out of a speeding ticket going 36 in a 35 actually. Total BS ticket, it was 36 in a 35, 0 points, and $80. They were able to get out by just saying that the speedo was misread, or that if you put a different size wheel onto the car it slightly alters the speeds shown. Just ideas, but who knows. Good luck with CUPD, I have yet to have any run ins with them, knock on wood...

[Mr.Rauq]

Not CUPD though, Clemson city police. I'm definitely going to court, worst case I have to pay the fine, right? Nothing to lose, $81 to gain.

[kbrew8991]

Traffic courts are about more about revenue than safety. Fight it best you can, but it's going to be tough to get out of there for free... good luck!

[Clemsons2k]

(09-25-2011 10:41 PM)Apollo Wrote:  If it is that close over the limit you might be able to play it off as speedo misreading. I know someone that got out of a speeding ticket going 36 in a 35 actually. Total BS ticket, it was 36 in a 35, 0 points, and $80. They were able to get out by just saying that the speedo was misread, or that if you put a different size wheel onto the car it slightly alters the speeds shown. Just ideas, but who knows. Good luck with CUPD, I have yet to have any run ins with them, knock on wood...

I would play this card if you have no better options. Technically speedos are only accurate to within 5mph.

[straight four]

previous record?

if not, try for community service... (no record and maybe 10 hours service time...)

[Mr.Rauq]

"too fast for conditions" in a parking lot from CUPD freshman year, maybe 25 or 30 in the old R1 at midnight...

Nothing else in SC. I'm from Texas anyway so that was never reported home.