GCEX

Little history on this ticket. I was following a friend out of his housing tract on the way to the casino back in January. I get pulled over, thinking I was going to be busted for no front plate, loud exhaust, or at the most speeding (in a residential zone mind you). I get a ticket for exhibition of speed.

I go down to Pomona this morning to see about the ticket. Stand in the traffic line for 30 minutes only to be sent upstairs to the criminal division?!?! WTF?!!?

Not only can I not get an extension, the date on the ticket is actually the set date for the arraignment.

Even the lady at the window said "drag racing ticket", I WAS NOT DRAG RACING!!!

You guys gotta help me out with some advice, anybody with any experience with this matter please leave some input. Flamers, go ahead, it'll only bump the thread. I'm thinking about getting a lawyer, but $$$ is something I don't have. I have about 3-4 witnesses that night, I can arrange to have at least a couple of them show up. Is it a given that the cop will show up for this matter since it's a criminal case?

oc_civic

you will most likely have a chance to plead it down. you want to tell the prosecuter you are willing to plead guilty to the crime you actualy commited (speeding whatever) but you have no intention of pleading guilty to a crime you did not commit.. providing you have a reasonable prosecuter, and a reasonably clean record.. they will ammend the charge to somethign less severe.. no one wants to have a trial for a traffic matter due to to an already over loaded court system..

this is what would happen in NJ.. this is SOUND legal advice for OUR state.. i don't know about there but its worth a try..

The Beav

in missouri usually prosecuter will let you off easy if you cooperate and it's not anything big, when i'd get a ticket they'd just be like come down give us a check, it's off your record, the prosecuter is usually mainly concerned on lesser crimes with getting money of the county

rick

In CA Exhibition of Speed = during a burnout or making your tires scrreeeech.

If you're under 21 you'll probably screwed. But if over 21, be polite and ask if you can plead down. This is assuming you don't have any other prior record.

honda_pilot

Holy sh*t! I have never heard of such a shiest. I know exhibition of speed is like said above burning out, or the likes. But a criminal case...WTF?

The Beav

do you live in cali?

fish

okay i was in colorado doing about 85 in a 65 on the interstate and my buddy was in the car in front of me this cop pulled us both over and gave us a exhibition of speed ( racing over 100mph) and a wreckless driving ticket. we were like WTF but anyway we are from Nebraska and he told us here is your court date and have a fun trip back! (a$$) its like a 10 hour drive for us. then on top of that we were given the worst judge in the county. we were facing 180 days in jail and a 900 dollar fine!!!!! so i got a lawyer and so did my buddy ($500/person) we show up to court that day and got our charges dropped to what i dont remember but with that we were facing 90days in jail and a 600 dollar fine. well i go there and the person in front of me gets a warrent out for his arrest and a 500 fine for not showing up i was like this aint good. so now its my turn my lawyer pleeds my case and then the judge and him start to bull**** and laugh about texas ( this is a good thing cause now she is in a good mood) once everything was said she paused for a while and gave me a $122.04 fine and said dont let it happen again so i felt pretty happy i went from 180days in jail and 900 to 122.04 but in the end it cost me

500 lawyer
122.04 fine
65 hotel
50 gas

for a total of $737.04

so good luck to ya and my suggestion get a lawyer i know it helped me!!!!!!!

GCEX

Thanks for the replies, and yes I'm from Cali. Not only do we have the most f*cked up emissions laws, now this.

The reason I'm mad is because I can't believe this is considered a criminal matter. I truly believe the officer was wrong in giving me this ticket. But this will be decided in court, because now the burden of proof is on him to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that I was "drag racing". This was on a residential tract and I was the only person on that street at that time, I never chirped my tires, never did a standing burnout, he saw me for about 3 seconds before he pulled me over. Yes, I'm whining... I'll stop.

What I'm looking at in terms of punishment:

-Fine of $500
-or 90 days in jail
-or both of the above

Since laws are different for each state, below is a link to the law specific to my case.

California Vehicle Code 23109 (see subsection "C")

Fast Bug

I agree with Fish. You need to hire a lawyer. Period.

oc_civic

nope its NOT his burden to PROVE anything.. he is a WITNESS... he can say whatever he wants.. and it is your word against his.. just do what i told you and you should be fine...