My question involves a speeding ticket from the State of: CALIFORNIA
For my friends baby shower we decided to go on a drive. We all drive old cars. I have a 1970 bmw 2002.
We were on highway 152 in california. Posted limit 55 . Seems a bit high but thats what wikipedia says.
This is a VERY windy "highway". I would say 2 lane mountain road. I was going around 35-40 what I told the officer.
As I was making a blind right turn I see a slow down sign. A couple feet before the turn. I start slowing down and BAM!!
In front of me is a tow truck and squad car in the middle of the road stationary. Luckily I had just taken an auto safety course and slammed on the brakes (brakes locked up because I dont have abs)
managed to slide and avoid the shiny tow truck and hit what was left of a barbed wire fence. I get yelled at by the police officer "DID YOU NOT SEE THE SIGN!?"
I tell him "sir with all due respect I did but its just to close to the scene!" so I forgot exactly but he either gets one of the county workers to move the sign or he himself goes out and moves the sign farther and in the midle of the road where its
very visible. (the reason the cop and the tow truck was there was because A miata was totalled on the side of the road and destroyed the fence I had hit.)
He says " I have to write a report". Asks me how fast I was going for the report and what had happened.
I told him " I was going around 35-40 and didnt see the sign in time hit the brakes had a controlled skid to avoid truck and hit the rest of the fence".
He says okay and lets me go. 2 weeks later I get a ticket in the mail with 22350 DESCRIPTION Speed. SPEED APROX 45. P.F Max spd 35. Safe 20.
First of all, to go 45 on this road u must be a damn good race car driver let me tell you that.
He did not have a radar or anything .
I bet I cant fight this though because I did hit the fence and "endangered everyone around".
IT just feels unfair because I wasn't even going the speed he said I was AND he moved the fricking sign!!!!
I just got a ticket for an illegal you turn 4 months ago. (I was glad to pay that and admit guilt because it was a dumb decision).
On the other hand I feel this ticket is unfair. Should I pay it or do I have any chance to fight it?
PS: Is been ever sine 11/06/2010 and I have gotten the ticket in the mail but no courtesy letter yet.
I was thinking of doing trial by declaration. Using people I was driving with as a witness?

