To challenge the ticket, you need to be sure of what method the cop was using to clock your vehicle, and you need to be pretty sure it wasn't solid. Also, it's important that you didn't admit your speed to the cop after he pulled you over (admission of guilt doesn't look good for you in court).

The only way to get the ticket thrown out is to make the cop look like an ass for ticketing you without proof. If he's got any kind of a solid clocking (pace, radar, time-trap, airplane), then the best you can hope for is a reduced fine from a lenient judge.

Other things to hope for:

- Cop doesn't show up to defend the ticket (happens sometimes, especially if he has to take the day off work to defend the ticket). In this case, you automatically win.

- Cop used an inappropriate clocking method for that stretch of road (for instance, if he used radar, then a traffic survey must have been completed for that road within the last 5 years or the ticket is invalid).

- If he used radar, hope that the gun wasn't calibrated and/or he doesn't have the paperwork to prove it was calibrated. This one's unlikely, but you can hope.

Whenever you get pulled over, you've essentially got two choices:

1) Don't admit anything, expecting to challenge the ticket in court. Do this if you don't think he clocked you solidly. If he tries to get you to admit your speed, simply say, "I don't believe I was going that fast." Don't lie, and don't say you didn't know how fast you were going (that's BS and will piss him off more).

Depending on the cop, you might be able to convince him to drop the ticket and let you off with a warning. If he didn't get a solid clocking on you, he might be talking to you just to "feel you out" and see if you'll admit to a speed. In that case, you can gently and politely (without threatening) imply that you don't think he's got any proof and it won't stand up in court. Some cops will just drop it right there. Others will call your bluff, write you up, and say "see you in court."

2) Fess up, admit your speed, apologize, and hope the cop will be nice. If you think he's got you dead-to-rights, but you were driving politely and you're not acting like a jerk, he might just decide to be nice to you.

This second thing might not work too well, for you, Loren, as your Rice Rocket won't impress an HP officer.

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Tony Fabris