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I got a speeding ticket while trying to get to my mother in the hospital.
- Thread starter Ray Wonder
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hockeypuck
Member
The OP didn't have a dying person in his vehicle.
SteveWinwood
Member
So he talked to the emts and you knew the exact condition. That is not like the op's example, and something I even said would change the situation.
hipbabboom
Huh? What did I say? Did I screw up again? :(
He was already dismissing me before he talked to the EMT.
EDIT: I see your distinction on me knowing her exact condition. I didn't know her exact condition, just that it was critical enough to call 911.
I think the craziest part of that story wasn't that the cop pulled me over and let me go asking me for an ambulance and telling me to go slower (dropped down to 80). The craziest part of that situation was the pure adrenaline pumping through my body. I didn't realize I was going 110 or that a cop was behind me until I randomly heard the speaker of him telling me to slow down. It was really surreal. I was just trying to get my friend to a safe place. Shoot, I was driving a Kia rio 2006. I didn't even know those things could pass 100
Nah, I meant the first time I totaled a carI'm up to 3.
You should just be glad you're alive. That first one sounded really serious.
ersocaster
Member
I don't think they'll throw out the case, but if it is your first ticket and you explain everything to them, they might knock it down for you.
I was in a situation where I received a ticket for parking in a handicap spot. When I went to park, the signs were put in backwards (so instead of the two arrows pointing inward to each other, they were pointing outward). I had a lapse in judgement and thought that I was parking in the only non-handicap spot on the street. It was stupid. I took pictures of the signs and decided to argue my case anyway just to see what would happen.I explained myself to the judge and he dropped the ticket from $250 to $50 and told me not to be an idiot next time.
Some judges will understand, others won't. If it won't require you to miss work or anything, you might as well fight it just to see what happens.
I was in a situation where I received a ticket for parking in a handicap spot. When I went to park, the signs were put in backwards (so instead of the two arrows pointing inward to each other, they were pointing outward). I had a lapse in judgement and thought that I was parking in the only non-handicap spot on the street. It was stupid. I took pictures of the signs and decided to argue my case anyway just to see what would happen.I explained myself to the judge and he dropped the ticket from $250 to $50 and told me not to be an idiot next time.
Some judges will understand, others won't. If it won't require you to miss work or anything, you might as well fight it just to see what happens.
Yeah like I said not some crusade I'm on. I just don't get angry if cops follow procedure more often than not; I don't think letting people go in this situation is necessarily "good" or "bad." There's different ways of looking at the enforcement of laws.
Considering the particular issues we seem to have with biased police forces in this country I tend to think we should just be training our cops to follow the letter of the law as often as possible without exception.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
I can't even imagine.
I've never even been pulled over before this.I'm not sure what to expect. We'll see I guess.
Right on, good tip!
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Sorry about your mom, but being in a rush doesn't make it legal to speed (except maybe if you're transporting a very ill person...?). You were putting both yourself and others in danger, which is what those laws are there to prevent. I'm not saying I don't understand why you did it - many of us probably would have done the same - but it is what it is.
hipbabboom
Huh? What did I say? Did I screw up again? :(
All fair points.
I've never had a speeding ticket but I completely understand going a little faster due to an emergency. BUT, 70 in a 40 is a little TOO fast (and makes you too conspicuous). A police officer isn't going to instantly know why you're speeding.
Hopefully you'll get the fine reduced/thrown out. I think the circumstances justified it. If I were the judge, I'd reduce it.
EDIT: Good to hear that your mom is doing well, also.
Hopefully you'll get the fine reduced/thrown out. I think the circumstances justified it. If I were the judge, I'd reduce it.
EDIT: Good to hear that your mom is doing well, also.
TimeEffect
Member
Sorry to hear about your mother, but you are not in the right state of mind to determine your own speeding limits. I can understand going 10-15 over the limit, but 30 is just too dangerous for yourself and others.
Overconfidence on the road is just recklessness, and even though I would not know what to do in that situation if it was my mom, it is definitely very selfish as it puts the lives of others at risk.
Overconfidence on the road is just recklessness, and even though I would not know what to do in that situation if it was my mom, it is definitely very selfish as it puts the lives of others at risk.
hockeypuck
Member
Yet you also said this
Dr Peru and I don't understand why you would even bring this up when your story doesn't even parallel the OP's. And it's already been explained multiple times that speeding to see someone at the hospital can only serve to make matters worse. And if public safety is trumped at the expense for concern for a family member and it wouldn't even have mattered as to when the OP ultimately saw his mother, all criticisms to him are justified.
If anything, let this thread argue to reason that speeding to see someone at the hospital (edit: someone you think is dying) will never result in a better situation for you.
OK that is fast. There is no excuse for that.
jamesinclair
Banned
RE: But the road conditions, you dont know what they were! Im an excellent judge of safe speeds!
Actually, OP, we have a damn good idea about the safe operating conditions. We know the road, this straight and flat road, was designed for 40mph operation.
How do we know that? Because speed limits are not set through a lottery, theyre set based off design.
At BEST you can argue 50mph, as roads are actually designed to be safe for 10mph above the posted limit.
70mph is negligent, reckless, and WRONG.
Actually, OP, we have a damn good idea about the safe operating conditions. We know the road, this straight and flat road, was designed for 40mph operation.
How do we know that? Because speed limits are not set through a lottery, theyre set based off design.
At BEST you can argue 50mph, as roads are actually designed to be safe for 10mph above the posted limit.
70mph is negligent, reckless, and WRONG.
Mechanized
Member
Hard to say what someone would do unless they were put in that situation. Easy to sit back and judge others with a rational mind. When you think someone you love dearly is on their death bed and ready to go rationality might just abandon you for a bit. From the perspective of the cop he has no reason to believe you. Maybe your girlfriend just kicked you out and you have a death wish. Maybe you're on drugs. They probably get the "family member in hospital" excuse 10 times a day. I think he was justified, fucking sucks though no doubt.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Please do, this is probably what was going through my head the most. When was the last time I told my mom that I love her.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
I should have thought of this earlier, I just grabbed a screenshot from google maps of the road. I know this still doesn't make it ok, but I just want you to know I wasn't swerving around corners driving like a maniac.
I'm not sure what you guys are getting hung up on, I don't disagree with either of you.
Speeding under some stress of anxiety or general tension will invariably lead to putting yourself and others in danger. The only thing I'm pointing out is that common sense flies out the window in many of these cases when family was involved. Regardless of whether the emergency is right there sitting next to you or out of your hands miles away, it's at least understandable that people will sometimes fly off the handle and do unreasonable things.
Does that justify the act? Of course not, if you get caught and the judge or officer sympathize with you, great. If not then pay up, take your lumps and be glad you're not dead too. I said as much earlier and recounted that my own friend still got hit with a ticket despite the urgency of the situation.
As for why I brought up my story. The OP asked for similar stories about people taking their case up to the courts. Our friend arguably had a better justification and still failed to get it tossed. If you feel that's unreasonable to share then I don't know what to tell you.
Well, your mother would 've suffered a heart attack if something had happened to you.
Zoe
Member
I should have thought of this earlier, I just grabbed a screenshot from google maps of the road. I know this still doesn't make it ok, but I just want you to know I wasn't swerving around corners driving like a maniac.
You're not helping your case. Roads with no median or barrier are already fairly risky.
PseudoKirby
Banned
quote said:here is the road I was driving on
probably still wouldn't get any sympathy
Nealand Liquor
Member
Sorry OP I realize this is very traumatic for you; However the ticket is justifiable as an ambulance should have been called for three reasons.
1) Paramedics on scene can stabilize your mother should she have needed it. You can't/don't have the training or equipment had she needed it before and after you arrived.
2) You could have killed yourself or another person driving at such excessive speeds. Ambulances have sirens and can alert those around of their potentially high speeds. You were unsafe and in the wrong.
3) Your mother is more important than someone else only to you. You put other peoples loved ones in jeapordy for driving 75 in a 40.
1) Paramedics on scene can stabilize your mother should she have needed it. You can't/don't have the training or equipment had she needed it before and after you arrived.
2) You could have killed yourself or another person driving at such excessive speeds. Ambulances have sirens and can alert those around of their potentially high speeds. You were unsafe and in the wrong.
3) Your mother is more important than someone else only to you. You put other peoples loved ones in jeapordy for driving 75 in a 40.
His mother was already in the hospital. He was racing there to visit her
Pops Maellard
Member
Wow, GAF really has a thing for speed limits.
David Incorporated Esq.
Member
People in general have a thing for speed limits, and law&order in general, and it takes a lot of work to convince them otherwise.
BossLackey
Gold Member
Hmmmmmm
You don't have to have "a thing" for speed limits to think 75 in a 40, while crying, is dangerous.
APZonerunner
Member
Somebody I once knew crashed and died in pretty much this exact same scenario. Also killed the passenger in the car they hit. The person at the hospital was in a bad way, but was operated on and was fine. I think the worst thing was having to tell them that their brother had died in a car accident while they were delirious on drugs and stuff.
Not worth it. Not unless they're in the car with you, or your being there is potentially going to save them in some other way.
Not worth it. Not unless they're in the car with you, or your being there is potentially going to save them in some other way.
So Mexico? But since everyone drives like that it's like no one is breaking the law! (No one is never breaking it, unless the cop wants money or it's school zone)
OP maybe they won't dismiss the ticket just lower it, take the hospital papers to them.
jamesinclair
Banned
I should have thought of this earlier, I just grabbed a screenshot from google maps of the road. I know this still doesn't make it ok, but I just want you to know I wasn't swerving around corners driving like a maniac.
You stated "there are no pedestrians"
The fact that there is no sidewalk means pedestrians will be using the shoulder, creating an extremely dangerous situation.
You dont know if there are pedestrians until youre there at that exact moment. if youre doing 70mph, youre creating an extremely dangerous situation.
I also see rocks on the side of the road, which I guarantee occasionally make their way into the roadway. Slamming into one could easily cause you to steer into oncoming traffic, or flip.
Congrats on making yourself look even less justified in your speed.
Jezbollah
Member
Sorry OP, any sympathy I had for you was lost by showing that pic of the road.
It's 40 there for a reason. The fact there was traffic and you were going almost double the speed limit means you were a massive danger to yourself and those around you.
What would you have done if someone had pulled in front of you, not expecting you to be doing 80mph at them?
You were lucky you didnt send yourself (or others) to the hospital in ambulances as well.
It's 40 there for a reason. The fact there was traffic and you were going almost double the speed limit means you were a massive danger to yourself and those around you.
What would you have done if someone had pulled in front of you, not expecting you to be doing 80mph at them?
You were lucky you didnt send yourself (or others) to the hospital in ambulances as well.
Pops Maellard
Member
It is dangerous, I'm not disputing that. That said, the reaction here is a bit surprising.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Ok, I'm done trying to convince anyone. It's clearly not going to happen. This thread wasn't to get pity. It was to see if anyone else has been in a similar situation. Which some of you have been, and your responses are appreciated. I've been driving for 7 years, I've never even been pulled over beside this. The vilification here is a little too much for me.
I've been driving for 7 years, I've never even been pulled over beside this. The vilification here is a little too much for me.
Ray Wonder
Founder of the Wounded Tagless Children
Trying to find my identity, or asking other people to is permabannable sir. Please don't say this.
AzureRonin
Member
Get the documentation, go to court. Don't make excuses, admit responsibility. Wear a suit. Judge will treat you right.
Edit: I stupidly ran a red light by not paying attention and got caught by a camera. I went to court, told them I was a student and had little money. They knocked down the fine and asked me how long I needed to pay it. It was intimidating but ended up a positive experience.
Edit: I stupidly ran a red light by not paying attention and got caught by a camera. I went to court, told them I was a student and had little money. They knocked down the fine and asked me how long I needed to pay it. It was intimidating but ended up a positive experience.
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