So I went to court today for a speeding ticket *rant*
 

So about 3 months ago I got a speeding ticket for going 80 in a 45. At the time I had mono and a severe throat infection. I was on my way to the hospital when I got pulled over.

I was having a very hard time breathing and fainted several times earlier in the day, The infection continued to get worse so I left for the hospital. I was given an antibiotic shot, blood work, and prescribed two types of antibiotics, pain killers, steriods, and a liquid medicine.

When I got pulled over there were about 5 cop cars setup to catch speeders.. it was obvious, they were not hiding, however, i did not slow down.. why? because I could hardly breathe and needed immediat medical attention. When the officer asks me for my licence and registration I told him (sort of, could hardly talk) that I can hardly breathe and need medical attention. He told me "ok" "pull up here" so I pull up there, and he takes my licence and registration, 5 minutes later, comes back, gives me a ticket and tells me not to speed. Meenwhile as I look in my rear view mirror several cops are standing around laughing it up..

So.. today I went to court and explained the situation to the judge.. the judge said "okay, im giving you a $150 fine and two points" and that was it...

Prior to my hearing, there were about 15-20 others before me. ALL with traffic violations. There were 2 spanish people who ran red lights, both got off scott free. There was another spanish women who had a suspended licence, was going 25MPH over, and had no registration... got off scott free. A black man had expired tags and was speeding 30MPH over the speed limit, got off scott free. Lastly there was an indian lady who was speeding 25MPH over the speed limit, she claimed "I did no realize the speed was so slow".. she, of course, got off scott free.

So much for the Maryland judicial system.. fuckers

Oh yeah.. and not to forget the spanish man who ran the stop sign and claimed "you have to come to a complete stop?".. he too, got off scott free.

umm i think its because you went 35mph over the limit (and u almost doubled it). But it still sucks. And you had a pretty good reason to speed. If you can go back there and go with a lawyer, if its not too late. For having a medical condition, that seems like a good reason to speed

So had I been going 75MPH, I too would of gotten off scott free?

Hmm doesn't seem fair at all.

sounds like the only not-racist state :1orglaugh

where in Maryland do you live?? i used to live in the 'burbs of Baltimore. :)

I live in Rockville

if you were in that condition (which sounds pretty bad), 2 questions come to mind:

1. What the hell were you doing driving a car, especially at that speed, endangering not only yourself, but everyone else on the road?

2. Why didn't you call 911 so you wouldn't have to drive in excess in that condition?


given those 2 things, if I was the judge, I would tend to think your excuse was a lame attempt to get out of the ticket. (even if the whole thing was actually true)

My wife had the same EXACT thing happen to her 4 months ago. I went to court with her. My Jaw dropped when other defendants, with identical offenses, got off scott free. Got got a $350 fine for a "rolling stop".

Remind me to never dress up again for court.

In the condition I was in, My thought process wasnt exactly all there. All i knew was I cant breathe, gotta get to the hospital, When you feel like you cant breathe, who has time to concider th e "smart" alternatives..

what that smell??? ummm BULLSHIT. pay the fine and shut it.

Calling 911 is hardly difficult.

i have been to Maryland exactly one time - i got stopped for a measly 10 over and ended up having to pay it because i live so far away.

bastards.

Its not the fine you idiot.. the points alone will add an additional $800 a year onto my insurance for the next 3 years.. and the whole point is that the forigners all got off scott free, but a honest, hardworking white guy gets hit with the full fine. My excuse was 100x better then the rest.. and being that I have never been to a hospital before, or ever had any serious condition.. is also part of why i didnt call 911, as far as im concerned 911 is used for accidents and shootings..not having trouble breathing, and to top it off, the fact that the officer was no help whatsoever, and made no attempt to assist me when i told him i can hardly breathe, is a whole other issue..

Good glad to hear it. Next time you can't breathe, get someone else to drive.

Some parent's children, I swear

Sucks ... really sucks

Maybe they knew you were in porn or something ? :P

But seriously speeding is still illegal no matter what ...

haha. . you don't think not being able to breathe is an emergency? then why were you speeding? you don't think an ambulance would be safer for the other drivers on the road?

Failure to yield is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents . . .there is a reason they charge so much for not stopping at stop signs

Stuff like this just makes me wonder, what the hell happened to police "protecting and serving". It seems all they care about is fucking up some poor shmucks life over little crappy offenses. Instead of busting you for speeding, you should have gotten a police escort. But it seems cops these days are only willing to do what's in their best interest. I live in a college community, so I know all about fucked up cops. They'd rather bust you for being a little drunk than keep you from getting raped at frat parties. Fuck authority.

you amaze me sometimes