Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Oh, SNAP!!! Speed trap last night.

So, I'm out trying to get used to my 'new' ride and full face helmet last night, and I was taking one of my favorite routes to ride. I crested a hill, and there's two cops both with radar guns and one is pointing for me to pull over to the trap site. I honestly did not feel as though I was speeding, and when he asked me if I knew how fast I was going, I said, "No, I was watching the road." He told me I was going 59 in a 45, and I was cited. Since this is the first citation I've had in 15+ years, I'm hoping for DA (deferred adjudication). Here in AR, if you have an otherwise clean record, the offense is within certain limits, and if there was no accident, you can request DA and if approved, you pay the full fine and the ticket is set aside for 6 months. If you stay 'clean' for that period, the offense is wiped clean, and it never shows up on your driving record. While it costs a little more by paying the full fine, the insurance company doesn't get to raise rates for coverage, since they are not advised of the offense. I did this on the last ticket I had, and it actually made me a better driver, since I was REALLY careful during that 6 months of 'get out of jail' time.

The cop was actually really nice and professional during the process, and he told me he had a Kawasaki Vulcan and complimented me on "The Beast." He asked me how I liked it, and I told him I was still getting used to it (and the full face helmet). I added that I actually feel more comfortable riding my Speedy right now, and I probably wouldn't have been speeding (as much... ) if I'd been on it instead of on "The Beast." While we were chatting (and while he was writing!!!), the other guy pulled over and cited about three other cars.

I'm embarrassed and angry at smudging my 15+ year record of no accidents and no citations, and I'll be keeping a closer eye on the speedo for the forseeable future - especially when riding "The Beast."

Ride safe, everyone, and stay alert for speed traps!

We have something similar here in NV JB. My son got a ticket for 55 in a 35 on his Daytona. Kid keeps forgetting to drop my name. Trooper who cited him is a long time friend who I taught in the academy. My boy met with the DA and they deferred the ticket. Nice because insurance for a 19 year old on a go fast bike can be killer.

Rick

We have nothing like that here in GA, as witnessed by my recent interaction with Deputy Ray in Ware county. Still have not seen what impact it will have on my ins. rates.

You are right that after such an incident one tends to wary for a good while.

I wonder if stretches of nice pavement could not be considered some kind of entrapment...

JC, you've seem to run into a patch of bad luck. Don't worry man... I'd give anything for just a speeding ticket. My last 2 times I've gotten the book. Number 1 pull over DWI, Speeding 81 in a 65, and Lane Violation. Number 2 was DWI, Careless Negligent Imprudent Driving CNI, and Fleeing the Scene. Trust me I'd love to have your record.

Sometimes fortune has to reach down and smack us upside the head to bring us back into knowing we need to be more careful before something REALLY bad happens... I would rather not have gotten a ticket (a warning would have had the same effect in my case), but I would much rather have had the cop write me a ticket than to have had him or another cop have to call my loved ones with even worse bad news.

Ride safely!

Don't go to court yourself. Hire a lawyer. Here in FL, it costs about $65. They know more ways around your ticket than
you'll ever think of.

At least you didn't get caught speeding in a foreign country...

With your record, you should get off in court. Here in MD, that typically means you just pay court costs. It's called "probation before judgement" here (PBJ).

School just went back here in MD and today police were everywhere near school zones shooting radar. I almost got clipped for going 40 in a 25 (NOT a school zone), but grabbed some brakes as I remembered the low limit. Sure enough, a city policeman was shooting radar from an alley-way. He ignored me, so I must have had it close to 30 mph when he zapped me.

I carry a radar detector on mine! Although I rarely drive much over the limit, sometimes I do.

I'm wondering what the "Beast" is? Were you riding a Rocket?