Dealing with Traffic Fines: A Personal Experience

Every morning, the street I drive on in [location] is so congested that it’s nearly impossible to speed. One day, I was ticketed for 13 miles per hour above the limit, which seems implausible in such heavy traffic. This experience highlights the challenges of traffic enforcement and the importance of understanding the legal process.

A Traffic Incident on I-45

Many years ago, I was driving from Houston to Dallas on I-45 on a Friday night. The traffic was extremely heavy in both lanes, and we were all driving around 67 mph, which is slightly above the 65 mph speed limit. Suddenly, a cop who was driving towards me on the service road to my right flashed his lights and pulled me over. My initial thought was to question who he was pulling over, but it turned out to be me.

Following the typical “Do you know how fast you were going” routine, the officer gave me a ticket for 75 mph. I didn’t want to argue but asked if he was sure, and of course, he was! I was convinced that it was impossible to have been driving that fast, as I was closely following a long line of cars and had no way to pass anyone. I was pulled over in Wilmer Texas, a town known for its speed traps, where a substantial part of the city’s revenue came from tickets given to drivers.

Challenges of Contesting a Ticket

Feeling angry and frustrated, I decided to contest the ticket. I drove 150 miles to the Wilmer courthouse to arrange a court date. The process involved showing up in person, which meant driving back and forth, spending a considerable amount of money and time.

The day of the trial, there was another person contesting a ticket, and he brought his lawyer. This made me question the value of going through the legal process. However, on the trial day, the jury found me not guilty. The experience taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of evidence and questioning the facts presented during a traffic stop.

Lessons Learned

After speaking with someone in the audience, I discovered that the officer’s radar reading might not have been accurate due to the angle of approach. This experience reinforced the need for due diligence and the importance of understanding the legal process. While going to court to fight a ticket can be worth it in some cases, it’s crucial to weigh the costs and potential benefits.

My stubbornness resulted in my spending several times the ticket amount just to contest it, but ultimately, it paid off. Taking legal action may be necessary in situations where the evidence is questionable, and the defendant believes they were unfairly ticketed.