Speeding Ticket (want to contest)

[krynski]

I was in calgary last weekend driving down bow trail westbound. I was going to go up to crowchild, but decided last minute to go down bowtrail since crowchild looked a little backed up. I accelerated a bit to pull back onto bow, and as I did, got Lasered doing 70 in the 50 there (its 60 on Bow trail, up until after the exit from the greyhound area). A blue charger ghoster was sitting in the pulloff lane there, with a camera set up in the front.

I'm not living in Calgary, and the roads are not the most familiar to me. My Gal didn't see the 50 signs either. I was ticked I got pulled over, and went back around to look at how the signage was. From my perspective, the signs were poorly placed and somewhat hidden on the left side. There was a big sign about 20-30 yards in front of the posted limit, and a sign above the speed limit.

My ticket was $124. I have a clean drivers abstract otherwise. It should have been double, considering it was a construction zone.

Are there any tips you guys have for fighting the ticket? I'm willing to go through a third-party representative. So basically, any advice would be helpful.

[DownhillGoat]

I'd suggest going thru Points. They seem to have better results than others, but the prices reflect that.

Alternatively if it's your only ticket it's not the end of the world either.

[Jacks]

You can also go down to the courthouse anytime before your trial date and plead your case to the judge they have on duty (I think they are judges?). They may not let you off but they'll usually let you plead down if you have a reasonable story. You might get the ticket cut down to 10 over if you admit to doing 60 with poor signage. Doesn't hurt to take a few pictures of how the signs are placed, best not to take the pictures while driving

[krynski]

Originally Posted by Jacks

You can also go down to the courthouse anytime before your trial date and plead your case to the judge they have on duty (I think they are judges?). They may not let you off but they'll usually let you plead down if you have a reasonable story. You might get the ticket cut down to 10 over if you admit to doing 60 with poor signage. Doesn't hurt to take a few pictures of how the signs are placed, best not to take the pictures while driving

I don't think I could decrease the amount of demerits though. It's already lower than what it should be ( 124 instead of 248 b/c its a construction zone), so i'm not sure arguing myself would provide a result in my favor.

I did actually take a couple pictures.

[Jacks]

You might be surprised, if you're convincing you can sometimes get them to drop the demerits by paying the full fine. I had the points dropped on a ticket before, at the time I drove for a living and had a clean license. I explained to them how I didn't intend to speed and that I was willing to pay the whole fine but please don't ruin my insurance record (only works once I think). They usually care more about the money than anything else. Unless you are planning to plead innocent and fight the charges that is your best outcome.

Edit: Don't go into it aggressive claiming to be innocent, be apologetic and play on their mercy. You will also have to lie, if you admit you knew you were doing 70 in a 50 they aren't going to be very helpful. And really really don't mention the construction zone.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by krynski

I don't think I could decrease the amount of demerits though.

If they cut it from 20 over to 10 over, I'm pretty sure that's one less demerit.

Also, the double rule is only in effect if there's workers present. Not just because it's a construction zone.

[malcolmk14]

That location is a gold mine for cops. 15-20% of the time I come into downtown that way they're parked there with 2-3 cars pulled over. I always come off Crowchild and slow down to 50 and have cars zipping by me at 70 or faster. Usually they don't get pulled over though cause the cops are already writing tickets.

[freedogger]

I got a ticket the other day. Crappy signage too.

Every time I get a ticket I go through this process. I go all Matlock in my head for hours, sometimes even days. I dream up my defense. I could go on about it, really its quite brilliant. But in the end, I just pay the ticket and get over it.

I really ought to try defending one of these tickets. Just getting my arse kicked would force me to wise up and drive slower. Instead I scheme up these defenses and then justify just paying the fine "cuz it ain't worth my time"

And lets be honest here, you will do the same!

[Rutuu]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

That location is a gold mine for cops. 15-20% of the time I come into downtown that way they're parked there with 2-3 cars pulled over. I always come off Crowchild and slow down to 50 and have cars zipping by me at 70 or faster. Usually they don't get pulled over though cause the cops are already writing tickets.

I lived on 6th ave and 10st and always travelled that route to the NW; the cops are their often. Never got a ticket their but once I slowed down late but was still under 50km/h when I hit the speed sign, no problem however I got the no-no finger wave from the cop. I've never been in trouble with the law in my life but stuff like that made me really hate cops.

No big deal since I don't live in Calgary anymore but it is too bad the CPS gets such a free pass with their behavior/budget (not in reference to my specific experience above but in reference to my last 10yrs in the city)

[Slava]

If you go down to the courthouse you talk to a crown prosecutor. Basically they offer you half off and no demerits, as long as you have something to say (and its just speeding).

[Boblobla]

What Slava said, they might not completely remove the demerits but every time I have been in they have reduced the fine/demerits from a speeding ticket.

[albertGQ]

I got a ticket last week on my way to drumheller. I wasn't going to fight it because I don't want ti have to drive all the way there again

do I have any options than just paying for it?

[GP_Matt]

I successfully fought a ticket a few years ago in Calgary. I met the crown prosecutor and told him that I didn't deny speeding, I just didn't see the limit sign (merging into traffic and got caught speeding). I mentioned that as a young driver I really wanted to avoid the insurance hit if at all possible. He changed the ticket to a ticket for a faulty instrument and noted that the ticket couldn't be paid until I returned with proof that I had had my speedometer tested. The cost of the test and the ticket were the same as the original ticket but no demerits. In the end though the whole process probably took an entire day and saved my the demerits.
I got a similar ticket last year in Grande Prairie and tried to meet with the prosecutor to see if something could be worked out and he just laughed at me and told me to deal with the consequences of my actions. I am not sure if they are tightening up on the process or if it is just the small city attitude versus a big city.

[Muffins]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

That location is a gold mine for cops. 15-20% of the time I come into downtown that way they're parked there with 2-3 cars pulled over. I always come off Crowchild and slow down to 50 and have cars zipping by me at 70 or faster. Usually they don't get pulled over though cause the cops are already writing tickets.

I'm convinced that they left that little spot there after moving the road for the sole purpose of radar.

[Sopure]

Originally Posted by Jacks

You can also go down to the courthouse anytime before your trial date and plead your case to the judge they have on duty (I think they are judges?). They may not let you off but they'll usually let you plead down if you have a reasonable story. You might get the ticket cut down to 10 over if you admit to doing 60 with poor signage. Doesn't hurt to take a few pictures of how the signs are placed, best not to take the pictures while driving

What Jacks said. If you talk to the Justice of the Peace, they'll knock down the demerits and you can probably pay the full fine. When I was younger, I sped around a lot. I walked in with three tickets in the same day and I got all the demerits removed.

If they don't do anything to you, ask to talk to the Crown Prosecutor, I believe, and they'll generally do it. I think they're just looking out for the revenue dollars-- pretty sure they must not care about the demerits.

[Doodlebug]

I have often thought about fighting speeding tickets strictly from the point of view of costing the system more money than they will make from my paying. If I want to fight the ticket, will the officer who gave me the ticket have to appear in court?

[Sopure]

I think so. Would be a good question for the Points guys or something. I heard if the cop doesn't show up, it automatically gets tossed out.

[Nammer403]

Usually if you go down to the courthouse you can line up..and meet the justice of peace.

My previous tickets have been $130ish and 2 demerits for going 19 over...they have always knocked it down to 9 over and 1 demerit end up paying $70-80 dollars and I have done this twice

[Phaneufenstein]

Don't bother with Points or any company that fights tickets for you unless, it's a really bad one. They rip you off big time

[JonDuke]

I have a buddy that used to work at the court house, who has helped me before.
I had a $130 plus 2 points ticket for an illegal u-turn. He knocked it down to no points and $57. I didn't even have to go downtown to fight it. He just opened his own business dealing directly with this stuff as well. I don't know if I'm allowed to post his info here or not, so if anyone wants his number, shoot me a PM. He will take care of you for sure.