Ticketed for Speeding While Commuting to Work

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of:

Quote:

---

Quoting amber1970

---

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of:

---

Considering that we're not Miss Cleo, you're going to have to provide a smidge more information than the fact you have a citation from July 4th.

My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: CALIFORNIA. I was driving to work on the 4th of July at approximately 7:30 a.m, and the streets were completely empty. It was on Tampa Ave which starts at the top with a 45mph zone, but.the survey even shows the critical speed btwn 44-47 all the way till you cross Plummer it suddenly changes to 35mph because the Northridge fashion center starts.there, but itis just the parking area that of course was.empty since it was closed, and there us only one driveway btwn plummer and prairie where the second driveway into into the parkung structure which is controlled by a stoplight, and that's where the cop was and He.actually walked out intio the street to motion me over. Now I'll be honest, I wasn't paying attention to my speed, I just know I wasn't late and was just driving what I considered normal, so when I saw him, it didn't register what was happening, because the street were sooo empty, but I pulled over with no problem, and he said I was.going 56 in a 35 zone. I couldn't believe he was.out there, I mean there were literally 2-3 cars on the road behind me. Also Tampa is a wide 6 lane street and the residential side doesn't even have access from Tampa. So obviously I want to fight this because I was cited for vc22350, and there is no danger posed to anyone, and I feel it is like a trap that the cop is sitting right there after the speed limit suddenly changes.I mean, if anyone goes on Google maps to the spot I was cited, you can see how clear the visibilty is and the fact that the officer felt safe enough to walk right out in front of me, he obviously knew I'd have no problem seeing him or stopping safely like I did. The ultimate kicker in this whole thing is that I always take the Orangeline to work and the only reason I didn't that day was because the bus runs on the Sunday schedule, because hardly anyone is out and about! I'd greatly appreciate any advice on this. I'ce written a bunch of rough drafts of my TBD, aand I'm ready to lose my mind! (Sorry for any mistakes, I'm typing this.from my cell phone)

The lack of traffic never justifies an INCREASE in the speed limit over the prima facie limits. You'll not win on those arguments.

So What might a person use then?

Quote:

---

Quoting amber1970

---

So What might a person use then?

---

Traffic school is an option, I assume!

But before that becomes "my" recommendation, the survey is either good, or not, the speed limit is either justified or not... 4th of July, Christmas day or Summer Solstice... If the 35mph limit is justified, meaning that IS the "safe speed", your idea or presumption that you can convince the court that 56mph in a 35mph + a cop stepping out into traffic = safe speed; there is not a court in the land that will acquit you at that speed.

So as is typical in these threads, scan/upload (photobucket/imageshack)/post link and we'll go from there!

That Guy, Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry,for some reason I can't post from ny home computer, so I could'nt paste the link for traffic survey, so here it is: http://www.nowsaving.com/citation/ta...nia-080519.pdf -thanks for any input. this is a $360 ticket which is a huge amount for me, and I don't take this lightly. it's just that I Really felt him being out there with NO traffic whatsoever was a kind of trap, because I was not even late, but I think if everyone is honest they'll admit when street is so empty you might be a little freer with speed because on any other day, that speed might be justified, but only because of the mall parking lot people are slowing to enter. But everything was completely closed and I really don't think I was going as fast as he claims, but didn't even want to try and dispute that!

You may not have seen grandma crossing the street either. By your own admission you were not paying attention.

Quote:

---

Quoting amber1970

---

That Guy, Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry,for some reason I can't post from ny home computer, so I could'nt paste the link for traffic survey, so here it is: http://www.nowsaving.com/citation/ta...nia-080519.pdf -thanks for any input. this is a $360 ticket which is a huge amount for me, and I don't take this lightly. it's just that I Really felt him being out there with NO traffic whatsoever was a kind of trap, because I was not even late, but I think if everyone is honest they'll admit when street is so empty you might be a little freer with speed because on any other day, that speed might be justified, but only because of the mall parking lot people are slowing to enter. But everything was completely closed and I really don't think I was going as fast as he claims, but didn't even want to try and dispute that!

---

You really should just stick to the facts and leave all the fluff out... In most instances you're not helping your cause but you're also citing reasons which really make no sense or that are so overused by everyone they seem sort of worn out. In your first post you start with no traffic, the streets are empty, no one else is out there...... Well, except for the 2 or 3 cars that were behind you (probably because they couldn't keep up), and the officer who had to step out into the middle of the street to get your attention and get you to slow down to a stop (that is the counter argument to your suggestion that it must have been safe if he felt he could step out in the middle of the street)

All the reasons in the world why it was alright for you to speed and yet to be alright, you'd have to be 21mph slower which was predetermined as the presumed "safe speed" for that roadway under ideal conditions. All the reasons why you claim your speed was justified but then you throw in the old "Now I'll be honest, I wasn't paying attention to my speed"... And you then contradict yourself yet again, by adding in a comment that you don't believe you were going that fast.

That being said, your link does not work! And in all honesty I am apprehensive to use some of these unknown sites... while they may be indeed free, so are photobucket and imageshack. And those two work each and every time! So please re-upload but to a site we've heard of before. Thanks!

http://www.nowsaving.com/citation/Ta...nia-080519.pdf

- - - Updated - - -

That Guy;

O.k, Above is the link to the survey of the whole stretch of road I was on from the top of Tampa where I exited from the 118 fwy (I'm sorry, but have not used photobucket in a while, so am a little rusty, but this is straight from the link of another forum user: Limey & was downloaded onto my hard drive, so I assure you it's safe) I'm looking forward to hearing your thoughts after you look it over. This is the first survey I've ever even seen, as I've never gotten a speeding ticket for vc22350, and so didn't even know these things existed! So you'll have to excuse, what may seem to you as just another speeder trying to beat a ticket. I really feel this section of Tampa was completely safe for me to be going above the 35mph posted limit (I still do not think I was going as fast as the officer claims, but..) If you go to the Google street view & even just the map view, you can clearly see how first of all, none of the residential streets are accessible from Tampa most of the way down. That's why even in the legally zoned residential & business zones above Devonshire are still able to be posted at 50 & 45mph respectively. Not to mention that this street is on a long continous downward gradient, where you can pick up extra speed, just coasting down. But I bow to your expertise in these matters, and I greatly appreciate the time you've spent trying to assist me. I can't wait to hear what you think!

Thanks,

Amber