Appealing A Speeding Ticket In Michigan

[Silva]

I have a date with a judge tomorrow (wednesday) to appeal an earlier decision about my speeding ticket. I need some quick advice on how to approach this. I will lay it out as un-biased as possible.

I live in Grand Rapids, MI. This past July, I was on my way to my job/internship in the downtown area. As you approach the city, the speed limit drops from 70mph to 55mph on a downhill stretch of highway. Naturally, my ticket was written for 70/55. The attached map below will help illustrate the area and what I'm talking about. This is the same map that I've blown up to bring into court. From right to left across the map, the first mark along my route indicates where I first saw the officer. This mark is in the 55mph zone which starts about 1/4mi before it. He confirmed my suspicion in the first court date by saying that he merged on the highway behind me and "observed me traveling at a high rate of speed." The second mark indicates where the ticket states I was committing the offense. The third mark indicates where the officer pulled me over. Now between the first and second mark was a construction zone at this time. The posted limit was 45 when workers present.

In my first court appearance, I demonstrated everything I just told you. I also tried to convey the fact that I was in rush hour traffic with the 9-5 working class and was traveling with the flow of traffic. The officer claimed his rolling radar got me going 70mph. He also revealed that he changed the ticket after he handed me my copy and I left. He changed the location of the offense from the second mark to a spot dead in the middle of the construction zone. The judge therefore increased my fines and such from a plain 15-over ticket to 25-over in a construction zone.

So this is where I stand. I have the same judge again. I don't know what to say anymore because all my arguments were shot down. The pure fact that the officer changed the ticket after giving it to me is absurd. He even admitted it!

I really need some pointers here...Anything is appreciated.


Map:

[seniorjudge]

The pure fact that the officer changed the ticket after giving it to me is absurd. He even admitted it!

Quite legal.