Going 37 in a 30 MPH Zone, Clocked at 45 MPH

[erbrill]

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Maine

I was driving down a road with a lot of traffic in Farmington and I was maintaining flow with the rest of the traffic, while going 37. I'm sure of my speed because I have a standard and didn't want to shift to 5th gear, which I would have done at 40 mph, so I maintained a lower speed so I wouldn't need to shift. I was pulled over and given a ticket for going 45 in the 30 mph zone, which is not true. When I asked the police officer, she said that her deputy officer was the one who had clocked it with his radar and that she was sure of the speed because of it. I want to contest the ticket, but I've never gone to court before, or had a traffic violation.

How should I contest it and will I still lose my provisional license if I lose? I have had my license for 1 1/2 years.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You contest your ticket by doing exactly that - contacting the court and requesting a hearing to dispute the allegation. I expect that you will find instructions on the ticket you received, or materials provided along with the citation.

If I understand your defense, you plan to argue that all of the cars on the road were traveling at 37 MPH, you were going at that same speed, and that the officer pulled you over for no reason and completely made up the claim that you were going 45 MPH. I think that's going to be a tough row to hoe.