What Do I Do if a Cop Gave Me a Ticket for Something I Did Not Do?

My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of: California
I got a ticket for going 45 in a 25 mph scool zone. I am 17 years old. I left from my school and made a right turn. The cop said i went 45 "in front" my school. My school has one way to get in and one way to get out. Myy school address is 140 drummond. On the ticket he put the address of 200 West Drummond which is a church right next door to my school. It is impossible to got out the driveway, make a right turn, be at 45mph and be in front of the school. I took a picture of the address and it has a speed limit sign that says 35. My mom has been helping me find out what to do and she said that I should ask here so I am. The cop has it wrong. It was not me I was at school till the time I left. the school going to give me a letter telling that i had been at school all day and I going to get a letter from my teacher that I had spoke with her after school about my book report. I know i have to go to court. what else do I need to know?

First of all... you need to verify that the location as described on the ticket is NOT a 25mph zone. There can be a 35mph speed limit and then a 25mph school zone. Check it to make sure.

Second... the letters from you teachers are irrelevant unless you are trying to show that it wasn't you the cop pulled over.

Third, please provide all the details of the ticket. Who wrote it? What section of the vehicle code? Location? Is all of your info correct on the ticket? Time of day? Date? etc... Don't be afraid of providing too much detail.

Quote:

---

Quoting EWYLTJ

---

Third, please provide all the details of the ticket. Who wrote it? What section of the vehicle code? Location? Is all of your info correct on the ticket? Time of day? Date? etc... Don't be afraid of providing too much detail.

---

I'll toss some detective skills in here...

http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=57491

Are you sure that the school zone signs are literally located on the corners of the school property? Around here, it's not at all unusual for school zones to start and end a considerable distance before and after the corners of the school lot.

First of all it was not me that the officer saw. I was in school until about 12:15 by the time I make it to the street it would be about 12:20. Traffic when school is out is very congested . I got a letter from my last period teacher telling I was in her class till 12:15 and explaining how leaving the school is not done fast because of the traffic flow. So there is no way I could have been in front of the school going 45 at 12:20.
please provide all the details of the ticket.
Who wrote it? officer Keys id no. 9231 of Ridgecrest police department.

What section of the vehicle code? cvc 22350-unsafe speed children present
Location? 200 W. Drummond ?(but there is a sign exactly at 200 W Drummond that says the speed limit is 35. My school Mesquit is 140 W Drummond. By carriage inn there is a speed limit sign that is 25 school zone) I can send you pictures
Is all of your info correct on the ticket? yes
Time of day? I guess it was 12:22 when he pulled me over a mile away on Moyer
Date? etc... Don't be afraid of providing too much detail.
This is how i recieved my ticket
I stayed after school to talk to my engllish teacher, Mrs Johnson about my book report. I went to my car and waited for traffic to move so iI can pull out of my parking space. Then I pullled out of school after waiting in the line of cars. I turned right out of Mesquite's driveway onto Drummond. I took Drummon to Norma and turned right when the light turned green. Then iI went north on Norma and when I approached the light it was red so I slowed down and stopped. The light turn green. As i proceeded I looked in my rearview mirror and saw a cop apporoaching me really fast. The cop turn on his lights and advised me to pull over. I pulled over on Norma and then he told me to pull overe on the nest street. So I pulled over on Moyer and the officer took awhile to get out of his car.. Then he approached my car and asked for my license, resgistration, and insurance. I gave it to him and he asked if i know why he pulled me over and I replied no. He said I was going 45 in a 25 mph zone in front of Mesquite. Then he asked where I was coming from and I told him Mesquite High School. Then he asked why I was in a hurry and I told him I'm not I just got out of school. Then he said ok took my suff and left to his car fr awhile. He came back gave me my info back and made me sign the ticket saying i was going 45 in a 25 zone. When I told him how can I go 45 in front of Mesquite when thsts where i pulled out of he said I have to sign the ticket or else he would have to arrest me. Then I asked do I get copy of ticket or how much it cost and he said cost and he said both come in the mail. Then he went back to his car and I went home.

To AAron regarding signs
There is only one 25 mph school zone sign as a car approach Mesquite. Then directlt afterwards is a 35mph sign in front of St Michael's which is the next driveway over from Mesquite's driveway.I have picture I can email.

This is my son he came here after reading my posting to deal with it himself.

But I am wondering should the violation had been listed as Veh. Code §22352(b)(2) to be correct instead of 22350-with children present ????

(1) when passing a school, which is not separate from the highway by a physical barrier, with a standard "school" warning sign while children are going to or leaving the school or during school hours or (2) when passing a facility used by senior citizens with a standard "senior" warning sign. Veh. Code §22352(b)(2) & (3)

My son did not mention that there is a bright greenish color sign on the school property where the school is but it is not pass the property that is the school.

hi sonny!! I just had a question.

i found this and it is something u can do . It was on thi site.
http://www.expertlaw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47412
Blank Boxes On Speeding Ticket In California
Quote:
****the big question**** Radar Unit /Patrol Vehicle No. - BLANK!! Can I fight this in some way by saying that they have no documented way of estimating my speed?

Request the officer's notes and any and all records for the device or vehicle speedometer maintenance and calibration via discovery. This should obtain some information on the device or equipment used. Note that they can use visual estimation and even pacing to estimate your speed.

The gazillion posts in a row thing is as distracting in this thread as it was the last time around. One post at a time, please, and keep it clear and concise.

Given that you state that you were pulled over and the officer issued you a ticket, it's reasonable to assume that, letters from your teacher aside, you were driving your car at the time you were cited.

Speed limits change at the point of the sign, not before that point. If you think you were outside of the school zone at the point you were cited, take your pictures with you to court when you dispute the ticket.

If it really was a school zone, he doesn't have to justify the speed limit and speed trap laws don't apply. Your best bet is simply to show that from where you were at, you simply did not have time to accelerate to 45 at the location of the violation. Even if you did, the officer certainly wouldn't have time to pace you.

Do yourself a favor. Request discovery now so that you can tell if he paced or estimated your speed. You can get instructions here.

Make sure you send it to the DA and to the court... with a proof of service.