Got a ticket last night 85 in a 55, cop says I ran from him. *HELP*

[vipermike2002]

Well I was going down the Elgin O'Hare Expressway at about 12:00am last night, no one was on the road so I guess I was doing between 70-85. My escort 8500 went off, I gradualy breaked because the 8500 ussually gives me plenty of warning before I pass a cop. I slowed to like 70. I see the cop coming the other way, he turns around (drives trough ditch) and comes after me, I dont run but I keep my speed like 60-70 (I didnt know he was after me) and I get off the expressway (we had to get off anyway), I get off and drive like 30 sec, the cop flashes his lights and pulls me over I hid my radar. It was IL State Police. He comes to my car and asks the ussual questions, then he said "why did u try to run from me?" I told him "what? I wasnt running". He said he has a video of me "running" but how could I I was gradualy getting off the highway driving normal, If I was running I probably would have stayed on the highway and did 100+. He also said "where is your radar" I told him I didnt have one and he told me I was lieing because I breaked even before he got a speed reading on my car. So the cop was a total dick and gave me the speach about how he can arrest me for running from a police officer, and he gives me a ticket for "speeding 85mph in a 55mph zone, and "Inproper diplay of registration plate (no front plate)". In the "notations he wrote "lane 2 moving, tryed to run". What does this mean? I have to goto court cuz its 30 over. What can they do to me? How can I prove I wasnt running from him? Il admint that I was speeding but there is noway he clocked me at 85. Any suggestions?

*I HATE that instant on/pulse radar!!!*

[origyns973]

Can't you just view the tape that was recording in his car? It will show you that you were at a constant speed never running and you can explain how you didn't think he was going after you.

[BavarianWheels]

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You're probably pretty screwed for the +30 ticket...fine may get hefty.

I'd say you have nothing to lose by being honest (if in fact your story is correct) If he turned around through a ditch, you need only say that you did feel you were caught, but couldn't know for sure if he was going to stop you or just tail you to "scare" the speeding out of you. If it was 30 seconds after exiting the highway before he flipped the lights on, then all you need to say is you were following your intended path.

I wouldn't worry about that part too much. If you try and lie and talk your way out of it, you'll only piss off the judge. And if you're a young "punk", it'll only worsen your penalty.

Bottom line...just be honest. If the cop is concerned about you trying to run, he'll bring the video tape to court.
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[vipermike2002]

But the thing is, I wasnt trying to run I just exited the highway because I was going to get off there anyway, I saw cop turn around in ditch but didnt see anylights so didnt know if he was after me. If I was running I wouldnt just drove normal off the highway.

[Iron Chef]

Don't worry about the 85 in a 55. Just call around for a traffic lawyer and he'll get you off. I recently got a 95 in a 55 out of state and the trooper told me I had to come back for court. I called a lawyer and everything is fine, I'm just out 900 bucks.

[BavarianWheels]

Originally posted by vipermike2002
But the thing is, I wasnt trying to run I just exited the highway because I was going to get off there anyway, I saw cop turn around in ditch but didnt see anylights so didnt know if he was after me. If I was running I wouldnt just drove normal off the highway.

Exactly. It really doesn't matter which road you took...running and direction is relative. Just prove that was your exit...and that his lights didn't come on right away and you should be fine.

Oh...and be respectful and non-confrontational. Admit to the judge up front that you were speeding. Admit to seeing the cop and him turning around. Admit to being nervous and unsure what was going to happen. If you do all the above, even if you did hint of running (which I'm not saying you did) it may be overlooked in light of your honesty.
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[eric06303]

You might even be able to get out of the speedinging ticket cause he said that you breaked before he got a speed reading on your car. so when he got that reading, it most likely wasn't even 85 especially if you said you were doing 70-80. did he write down what he clocked you with or was the 85mph just an approximate speed that he put down?

[vipermike2002]

I dont really know how he clocked me. I guess he was coming at me going the other direction he saw that I was speeding and clocked me. My radar went off and I slowed down . My friend said I was only doing 70 when my radar went off so idk how he got me at 85. When I was pulled over the cop told me I was doing 81 or 83 somthing like that in a 55, he wrote me a ticket for 85 in a 55, 30 over. If was only doing 81-83 he still wrote me a ticket for 30 over (85) probably just so I have to goto court. About the breaking before he got a reading, he said "you have a radar, you breaked when I clocked u". (I took my radar down and hid it)

[dr_kno]

Haha.....that happened to me about a month ago...the cop rang up about 1200 in fines, including "running," even tho i didn't...drove for extra 5 seconds to turn off the main highway, and pulled over right after turning...Turns out he was just trying to scare me though...

[533i]

Always ask to see the radar reading!! If he didn't get a "good clock" it'd be hard for him to give you a ticket. If you just take it, its kinda like admitting you were caught doing the speed he wrote down.

And if he didn't turn on his lights until just before he pulled you over he can't call it running, because he made no signal for you to pull over. But if his lights were on when he was turning around.. then its questionable.

[Zor]

well was it come on at you head on? because if he was the radar reading will be off by alot, secondly where you around people i.e. SUV's and other car. because with that you can say "I was getting off the highway and there were many people around me so that can not be my speed your honor. taking an exit ramp at 85 mph? I maybe young but I'm not that stupid.

[vipermike2002]

I wasnt doing 85 on the off ramp but on the highway in the left lane and there was no traffic. The cop did clock me while he was driving towards me, could the radar be off?

[BMW Roundel]

WHEN YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN IN FRONT OF A COP, USE THE E-BRAKE, SO THEY DON'T SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS....works for me all the time.

[Kompressor]

Originally posted by BMW Roundel
WHEN YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN IN FRONT OF A COP, USE THE E-BRAKE, SO THEY DON'T SEE THE TAIL LIGHTS....works for me all the time.

[Scorp965]

Roundel also has his silver headlight cloaking shields to further avoid being caught by the police...