Got A Speeding Ticket Today

[BLK6T]

Hi all,

In no way am I a big speeder and hate seeing idiots on the road, but today got busted. I live in the Hawkesbury north west of Sydney which is a rural area, hilly and good driving roads. I was approaching a large hill and ahead of me was 2 cars and a truck. My thoughts were "DAMN truck is going to crawl up the hill", anyways the road approaching was long, flat and legally safe to overtake. So I shifted back to 2nd and gunned it with a bit of wheel spin past all three vehicles very easily. I pulled in and started to climb up the hill, and was using the hill to slow down with a little brake also. Around the first bend I pass a red VE SS . Now, my area is full of under cover cop cars, very little marked. As I approached the car I looked at the dash and saw all the wrong things, radar, led lights etc. I gulped and once he passed on went his brake lights. I looked at the speedo and was doing 105km in the 70km area, again slowing down from overtaking and admit should have been going the limit. I slammed on the brakes and just pulled over and waited for him. There he was pulled in behind...a little amazed that I had already pulled over. I was totally honest with the cop and he said "mmmm 104km in a 70km zone, you should know better", I apologized and admitted I was wrong. He returned and quoted "you know 30km and over is suspension of license and a large fine?" I thought DAMN there goes my license, then he said "so I lowered it for you to 15km and over". I thanked him and took the fine. I am quite appreciative of his decision as there are ALOT of patrols out there that would have handed the 30km and over very easily.

Anyways that's the lesson of today...overtake and brake heavily until under the limit...haha

Cheers

[GR8XR6]

MOST coppers are pretty good when you do the right thing. I admit at times I push the envelope, however when an unmarked or marked car comes up I just pull over. If they move over to the same lane with you then that's it and I would pull into the emergency lane. Admit fault and coppers know for most of us we need a car and do the right thing by you! Very rarely will you get away with excuses unless you are a sassy female showing a bit of leg.

One occasion came out of Albury in a hurry, just wanted to get home to Melbourne. I was doing my share over the speed limit and there was a marked car in the centre reservation. He pulled out behind me with no lights on yet! I just pulled over straight away to a stop in the emergency lane knowing full well it may have been time to lose my license. As I pulled over he puts his lights on and then off and continued past me! Very lucky. I guess he figured I knew I had done wrong and I had learnt my lesson.

[ZAP]

Well done, I got a reduced from 96 in a 60 to 89 and saved my license.

It pays to be nice and honest to the police as they are usually pleasently suprised and will sometimes cut you a break.

It does show you that police are human as well....even highway patrol officers.

[tab]

Goes to show they can be fair and reasonable with the right attitude. Bad luck on the fine mate, but well done on not getting royally fcked over!

[NB4C]

Thanks for the heads, I too had a habit of occasionally doing full throttle overtaking, because back when I was driving my dad's Camry - it was absolutely necessary. With my '06 XT, it would be a bit reckless. On day 1, I got tail gated on my way out of a roundabout - so I floored it and went from 20-80 in 3 seconds ... way more than I expected from a 9 grand car from pickles.

Lets hope I can keep my license after I buy a T.

Edited 26/03/09 09:49 AM by never_buy_4cylinder

[tpinto]

I was totally honest with the cop and he said "mmmm 104km in a 70km zone, you should know better", I apologized and admitted I was wrong. He returned and quoted "you know 30km and over is suspension of license and a large fine?" I thought DAMN there goes my license, then he said "so I lowered it for you to 15km and over".

You should of told the Highway Patrol cowboy that he should go back to his to his station and read up on and learn the fine and demerit point system here in NSW. 30km over and under 45km is 4 points and $972, over 45km is 6 points and $1677 the exceptions being school zones with higher points and fines and on days with double demerit points. The other exception is speed limits posted at 110, anything over 140km will see you lose your license with a very big fine to go with it, that's were the 30km and over and loss of license rule comes into play.

Edited 26/03/09 11:05 AM by tpinto

[Honest Gaza]

I just find it refreshing that a driver is admitting he was at fault, and copping the fine accordingly (no pun intended). Well Done

[MYBAXRT]

I had the same thing happen to me a few years ago. I was driving down to vic for a holiday and I was overtalking a ute when coming the other way a high way patrol part me it was a 100 zone and I was 125 plus I was on my red P's. he put hes brakes on to turn around so I just pulled over and waited for him to show up. thankful he was a nice guy and because I pulled over and didnt bull sh*t him he put me down as only doing 109. and I can tell you I learned my lession that day and have never got a speeding ticket seance

[XR64LT]

hmmm consider you lucky mate, I got done on the great western highway 45 and over, no reduction, but I talked a some sh*t to him $1550 later and 9 months suspension, on my red P's then and in my vl hehe

[ZAP]

You should of told the Highway Patrol cowboy that he should go back to his to his station and read up on and learn the fine and demerit point system here in NSW. 30km over and under 45km is 4 points and $972, over 45km is 6 points and $1677 the exceptions being school zones with higher points and fines and on days with double demerit points. The other exception is speed limits posted at 110, anything over 140km will see you lose your license with a very big fine to go with it, that's were the 30km and over and loss of license rule comes into play.

Not entirely correct.

They removed the over 130km/h rule a while ago as it was unfair.

from below: "There are licence suspension periods, similar to the minimum disqualification periods applied by a court, for exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h (3 months), and by more than 45 km/h (6 months)."

RTA - License Suspension details

Points details