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    Default Speeding Ticket Defense

    My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Colorado

    I got a ticket (75 in a 55) and I plan on fighting it in court. I've done a lot of reading around but I still have some questions. If you can answer any or all of them it would be a huge help.

    1. Is the date on my ticket the actual trial, or just an arraignment. And if it is an arraignment will the trial occur then, or will it be set for a future date?

    2. I need to question the officer, will I be able to do during the trial or do I need to arrange this before hand?

    3. During the trial who does the judge call on first to make their statement? I always thought it was the prosecution (in this case to officer), but I read a website that said in traffic cases it's the defendant that's asked to give his story first.

    4. I have pictures and video evidence I'd like to present in my defense, how would I go about that? Do I need to print out the pictures, or could I burn them all to a DVD or is there a projector where I could attach my computer?

    5. My ticket seems to be filled out very carelessly. First, the officer did not sign his name, he simply printed "Ellliot", which I assume is his first name. Is that even a legal signature? I was taught it had to be your full name, but I could be wrong. Even if that is acceptable, I'm sure that's not how he normally signs his name. In court, could I ask the officer to sign his name the way he would on a check or other legal document. If it doesn't match, would that alone be grounds for dismissal? Or better yet, could I ask to see his drivers license or credit card something that would have his signature already on it just in case he sees through what I'm doing and signs his name like it was on the ticket?

    He also got the model of my vehicle wrong. On the ticket it says Make: Saa (for Saab, which is correct), Model: Vig (for Viggen, which is not the model of my car). Viggen is the trim level, the model is 9-3. It would be like an officer writing Toyota LE rather than Toyota Camry. On my insurance card it says "Saab 9-3 Viggen", and on the back of my vehicle 9-3 is clearly the model.

    With these two examples of carelessness could I instill sufficient doubt to have the ticket dismissed?

    6. I'd like to grill the officer as to specifics and details of my vehicle/this case to prove he doesn't remember what happened very well since we all know it was just "a day at the office" to him and there's no way he remembers what happened during one of hundreds of traffic stops he's made nearly 2 months before. Should I ask questions about distinct features of my vehicle that he should remember? Such as the color, which is BRIGHT blue, the interior, which is black and blue leather, bumper stickers, what (if anything) I had hanging in the rearview mirror, the type of transmission, and even the location of the ignition (which unless he's familiar with Saab's, which most people aren't, he's not going to remember its in the center console). I think those are all details that he SHOULD notice at the time as officers are supposed to notice everything in case something is suspicious or, say, if I have a weapon or illegal substances. Basically, what's TOO specific.

    7. Based on those two arguments alone do I stand a chance at getting it dismissed? After I've given those arguments is there a way to figure out what the judge plans to decide before I give my main defense, which is necessity as I was speeding to pass an suv that was swerving for whatever reason (vehicle problems, drunk driver, whatever) because I didn't want to be behind it in case something happened. I have to admit to speeding so, so I'd like to not bring it up if things are in my favor and it will only work against me.

    8. As I obviously have no evidence of my story, how do I make the judge more likely to take my word? Like I already said I plan on questioning the officer to cast doubt upon his ability to remember. But is there anything other than that I can do?

    9. I also have hard, indisputable facts (a speed survey and data I've gathered from other sources that basically says the bigger the difference from the prevailing speed the more likely an accident is to occur) that the speed limit was too low for the given conditions and by following the speed limit it would actually increase the risk of an accident. Is that a legitimate defense on its own? I'm not using it as my main defense, but should I bring it up as well on the basis that the more reasons I have that this ticket should be thrown out, the better?

    Thanks!
    I appreciate every bit of help help.

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