[majhate]

Hello,

Unfortunately this morning I was going on I-5 North in California and I was pulled over for going 100 mph. The highway patrol car was actually in the other lane and made a u-turn in the grass center divider and then pulled me over. I actually started slowing down before the cop car even made the u-turn. The lady then asked me if I knew what the speed limit was, I said 70 and then she asked me if I knew how fast I was going and I said I don't know. I thought I was going somewhere around 90 but I wasn't sure. She then replied I got you going 100 on my radar.

Now my question is. She gave me a "Notice to Appear" ticket, saying that I have to show up in August on a certain day and time in fresno! I live 4 hours away in Irvine and I am a student and I have no means of transportation (I was driving my girlfriends car) Is there any way where I can just pay the ticket and now show up?

Also, I was driving my girlfriends car, will her insurance be notified and her insurance go up?

Thank You!

[Fr_Chuck]

No her insurance is not notified but if you are a listed driver on her policy they will see it when they do a regular drivers record check.

And yes you will have to appear. You were going too far over the posted speed, so the penality goes up and you are required to appear. I guess you will have to borrow her car, rent a car of take a bus

[JimGunther]

I was a military and civilian police officer for a long time and, in addition to all the above, the ticket itself should be real specific about what you have to do. If it says you have to appear, you have to appear. Its your responsibility to get there any way you can. Also, I hope you understand that whether you slowed down or not, or the fact that you slowed down before the officer made a u-turn, has nothing to do with a charge of speeding. Once you are "clocked" its too late to slow down to avoid a ticket.

Tickets are issued to drivers, not vehicles. The driver's insurance will go up if anyone's is.

[Fr_Chuck]

Jim is correct, the radar ( or laser) works for cars going the same direction or the opposite direction, the computer takes the current speed of the police car and figues your speed.

The reading would have shown up long before you ever saw him most likely

Also I would check the penalty for that high rate, you may want to hire an attorney for this

[Stringer]

Just a thought... can he appear and plead/ask for 'court supervision?'

[JimGunther]

Well that would depend on the laws of the state. In my state it is not serious enough for the court to spend its money on some sort of supervision (something like probation). Only "jailable" traffic offenses, such as fleeing and alluding, reach that status in MD.

[Fr_Chuck]

Normally the only "probation" or supervisiion is done to allow you time to pay the ticket and add of course a lot of extra charges for probation