Speeding Ticket 22349(A)

[DriverAdvice310]

My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of: California, Los Angeles County. City of El Segundo. This is my first moving violation. I recieved 22349(a) and 22450 vc no lights to rear of vehicle.


I received the ticket on June 17th, early Wednesday morning. I played a league hockey game late Tuesday night at in El Segundo. Every week we go to a local sports bar / restaurant to unwind. Upon leaving my friends and I noticed my keyless entry would not work. After trying to start the car we figured it was the car battery. There were 3 of us with the hood open around my car and a Police SUV drove into the parking lot looking at us and then drove away. We push started my manual transmission car. Apparently also a fuse had blown and I had not noticed, this had caused my running tail lights to not work. When we started the car my gas light was also on, now because I was on a dying battery and low gas I was worried and this was the reason I was driving faster to get home. Driving down El Segundo Blvd the same officer in the SUV pulled me over.

He asked me if I was drinking and stated my tail lights were out and I was speeding. The tail lights were a surprise to me because the headlights worked. It was apparent that he thought I was drunk but then figured that I wasn't. After some time he issued me my ticket and then I left.

Please advise me of what I can or should do at this time. My court date is tomorrow.. Thanks in advance.



Edit;

my main concern is this effecting my insurance rates.. what is the best way to try to avoid this?

[Bubba Jimmy]

Well, you admit you were speeding. However, since you're going to court you must be intending to fight the ticket. All you can do is refuse to testify yourself (you'd either tell the truth and convict yourself, or commit perjury and lie) and attack the evidence against you. How did the officer measure your speed? If radar, you can attack his radar equipment, it's certification, etc. If he brings photocopies of the calibration reports you can attack that as not meeting the "best evidence" rules. Are there any mistakes on the ticket? You can point those out. But really, the night before going to court is not the best time to start preparing.

[DriverAdvice310]

I understand that this is definitely last minute and everyone has their own excuse and this I accept this is my fault.

Can you tell me if I go to traffic school will this still effect my insurance rates?

[HonkingAntelope]

Both of the VC codes carry 1pt each, and you can only go to traffic school for a single one. Your insurance will take a hit, but only a minor one.

Are you sure you got charged with VC 22450? 22450 is a code for running a stop sign, not burned out lights. But since your court date is today, good luck. I was going to suggest getting your lights fixed so you could take traffic school for 22349a and have the other charge dismissed with receipt.