How to Handle a Speeding Ticket: The Gentleman's Protocol

They got me...I got stopped by a cop. First speeding ticket ever. For years it was a mild sense of pride that even though I have a heavy (read: lead) foot I've never received a ticket. So in the great irony of it all I got a speeding ticket for going 35mph. Yes...35. Apparently the copper told me that the street was 20 mph. Tomato tomato (I suppose that expression loses it's meaning on here).

Anyway, like all problems, I saw this as an opportunity to figure out how to handle myself in this type of environment.

The Gentleman's Ticket Protocol: 

Step 1: Pull over immediately, don't try to run, just get over now. They are already upset with you, why exacerbate the situation?

Step 2: Be pleasant. No one has ever evaded a ticket by being rude. If anything you just lost the ounce of sympathy they may have had.

Step 3: Admit to it being your fault. "I didn't realize I was going 105! How awful! My apologizes." Not "your speed gun isn't working, YOU AINT GOT NO PROOF! DO SOMETHIN!" The more you fight it the more they are going to fight back. You don't have to admit to everything just be cordial and accept some blame because you've already been caught doing something wrong. But if you clearly weren't wrong, it's best to stay quiet then get a lawyer after if you want to fight.

Step 4: Take the ticket and drive off. Keep the discussion to a minimum. Unless of course your passenger is bleeding to death and you need a hospital, then some talking may be necessary to speed this all up.

Step 5: The aftermath is the trick. Make sure you decide if you are going to pay, or fight it. Sometimes it is better to take traffic school and pay and other times you just want to get a lawyer. But do your homework and research when selecting a traffic attorney.

Step 6: Cross your fingers you don't get caught again, because I am guessing that the ticket isn't going to deter you in the future. But if you become a more conscious driver because of the ticket, then you will benefit your fellow drivers...but I wonder how many people actually change their driving because of a ticket. 6 tickets maybe, but just one ticket?

So don't do what I do and drive 35 on a 20...especially when they have those big electronic signs that tell you how fast you are going. It makes it much harder to say you didn't realize how fast you were going...

-The Young Gentleman