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ok, i left my house to get some food, and took the freeway. when i exited, i took a left and continued. i drove w/ traffic (but i read somewhere this isn't a good argument in court), and this cop pulls me over for driving 62mph on a 45. i didn't change lanes or drive unsafely, i just didn't know the speed limit was so low.

now, i have to wait for a courtesy notice, and set a court date. what should i do? how should i prepare for court? i went to http://www.stantheradarman.com and he mentions "speed trap laws" can help ppl w/ my violation (22350), and most ppl who use this law are dismissed. does anyone know what that is? its something about unlawful speed limits that don't agree w/ traffic surveys. how bad do u think the fine would be?

 
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If the officer was shadowing you to determine your speed, then the speed trap defense likely isn't going to work.

VC40802 includes a section about the speed limit justification requiring an engineering survey within the past...7 years, it seems.

So, if you're certain such a survey has not been performed recently enough, you can give it a try in court. However, if this is your first ticket, I'd go ahead and pay the fine and attend traffic school to keep the point off your record.

If someone else wants to chime in with any corrections, go right ahead, I may be interpreting those sections incorrectly.

 
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I agree with change, if it's your first offense, then I'd just pay the fine. It's not worth fighting for unless you decide to contest the violation. If you're lucky and go through with the contest process and the officer does not show up to court for some unknown reason, the judge dismisses the case in your favor.

 
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the cop did not follow me, he just waited there and determined my speed by laser (as the ticket says). does that count as an illegal speed trap? there were two cops, but only one signature. can that be a fatal error

 
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not an illegal speed trap...not a fatal error

1st ticket? pay it...save the court fight for the next one

 
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I've had more than my share of tickets here in Cali, and my suggestion would be to pay it and go to traffic school to keep it off your record. Fighting a ticket is hit and miss and if you lose the fight you can forget about traffic school. I've beat some tickets, I've lost some and I always take traffic school if it's available.

 
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Since when can you keep a speeding ticket off your record? I don't know about Cali but WI I never heard of that or I would had taken it..Yup got my first ticket the other day and it was $230 4points off my LIC...well I paid it off because I didnt want to go to court there no point..

 
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Ponts on your record suck, especially when you're paying for it though your insurance for a few years.

I'd pony up the cash and go to school...


EDIT: As far as I know, your 1st offense the ticket/points can be kept off your record by going to drivers ed. If memory serves, subsequent violoations can be lessened by attending school.