Speeding

Speeding and driving out of class on a motorcycle?

I had a little speed fever and decide to go a little to fast on the highway in NY. I got a 90 in a 65 speeding ticket as well as a driving out of class because I only had my bike permit. What is the estimated damage to my wallet? THANKS

Go to court.

Depending on your record, and your ability to reason with people, you can probably get it lowered.

Plead ‘not guilty’ (which will require them to bring in the ticketing officer). If he is unavailable, they will reschedule your court date (which at least pushes back having to actually pay them) – and most importantly, if you show up again, and the officer is still unavailable, you will walk.

I’ve gotten out of one ticket like that.

If the officer does show up, be ready with some questions for him:

Start by asking when the last time his radar gun was calibrated (assuming he clocked you). They will almost always respond ‘at the beginning of my shift’.

Point out to the officer (without being too much of a smart-alec) that he does not have the necessary equipment in his cruiser to actually calibrate the radar gun, and that the procedure he goes through (using tuning forks of varying pitch depending on what speed range they are looking for) is just checking to see if it is in range.

If they cannot provide documentation showing that the radar gun was calibrated – in a lab, by someone who is qualified to do so, within the last 30 days, then it cannot be brought as evidence against you.

(I’ve never actually had this succeed, but I’ve had a few judges lower my fine considerably just to shut me the f**k up).

Not sure what they do for the ‘driving out of class’, I had a 175cc limit license when I was 15, and got the full blown one the following year.

Maybe feign ignorance (although ignorance of the law doesn’t let you off – sometimes if you act really earnest, you can convince a judge to let it slide).

Good luck!!

Bandit the Biker Dog, a Boston Terrier, riding with Niece