In the last six or seven years, I have managed to be a very good boy and have gotten no traffic tickets, none. And by bragging about that to a few people instead of clamming up, I knew I was asking for it. Last April I got it, riding up the 110 freeway in L.A. on my way to Corsa Motoclassica on a shiny new FJR1300. I’ve always thought the best defense in traffic is a strong offense, and usually travel slightly faster than most of the automobiles, which are of course always travelling faster than the speed limit whenever they’re able to. That’s what I was doing in the middle of about five lanes of surprisingly heavyish traffic for a Sunday morning, when an LAPD cruiser burst into my mirrors, lights blazing: 87 mph, he said. Who was I to argue? When the bill arrived in the mail a while later, though, $367 seemed a bit exorbitant. I think the last speeding ticket I had was about half that. I applaud Gov. Brown’s getting the state back in the black, but really… One estimate I read says California rakes in around $500 million a year from traffic fines.

I have to admit to having more than my share of tickets over the years, sort of an occupational hazard for a motojournalist, a cost of doing business and oftentimes, in my case, a cost of just being not so bright: I once got ticketed on consecutive weekends on the same Roche Replica Ducati 888 in the same spot by the same officer. That doesn’t mean I haven’t always tried to minimize the costs, usually with minimal success. I’ve tried postponing trial dates as long as possible in the hope that the officer wouldn’t show up; none of my officers have ever failed to appear, and all of them recall me fondly. I’ve tried arguing my case in court with charts and pictures while wearing a suit. Even though I’ve worked with radar guns a bunch and know for a fact they’ll always pick out the biggest object even if it’s farther away, and come armed with expert testimony to prove it, I have been found guilty anyway. To keep the points off your license, you can of course do traffic school.

In the old days, that was an entire Saturday wasted. You kids have it far easier today with the www, but even online traffic school remains a slight PITA, making sure everybody gets their paperwork, etc. Speaking of interwebs, fighting this latest ticket would require travelling to LA Superior Court, on Hill Street in the belly of the beast, and hanging around for the better part of a depressing day among LA’s least fortunate. A friend had mentioned California Traffic Tickets. I got on the Google.ducati for sale rhode island Hmmm, the site claims an 80-percent success rate in getting perps off the hook, and I was told speeding tickets under 100 mph are among the easiest cases to win. motorcycle shop in old stevenageWhat sold me was the 50-percent misleading money-back guarantee: If CATT doesn’t win your case, you get half of your $298 back—and you should still be able to go ahead and do traffic school to keep the point(s) off your record even if you lose. big dog motorcycles erie pa

Traffic school was going to be at least another $60, so I was basically gambling $298 to keep from having to shell out $427, and hoping CATT was telling the truth about its success rate. CATT charged my VISA and sent me a five-page questionnaire to get all the particulars of the alleged crime. Meanwhile, I’d replied to the court with a request for Trial by Declaration – meaning we will do this through the mail. I have played this game before when dealing with distant jurisdictions – again with the charts and photos and expert testimony – and have always lost.motorcycle helmets jacksonville fl A week or so later, CATT e-mailed me my case to print out, sign, and snail-mail off to the court. motorcycle dealerships in davenport iowaThe law is not concerned with big principles, like whether radar or lidar or whatever can pick a motorcycle out of a sea of cars and trucks. motorcycle helmet jacksonville fl

The law is concerned with whether the officer was in full uniform that day and within his jurisdiction, whether the radar or lidar he used to pop me had been calibrated within the proper time frame, whether he’d been properly trained in its use, whether the delicate tuning fork used to calibrate it had been properly stored, whether or not my FJR was dirty or dusty that day, which could throw off the reading, whether he had aimed the thing at me through his windshield—and about ten other arcane details, all of which I demanded proof of before I could be found guilty. Rather than prove all those, I guess, the court just stamped my papers Case Dismissed about two months later and moved onto the next poor sap. I got a check for my $367 bail a couple weeks after that. I’m enough of a cynic to think that as long as somebody with JD behind their name is making a few hundred bucks, the legal system is happy. In this instance, so am I. California Traffic Tickets has been in business since 2008 and claims to be one of the first and only companies to have licensed lawyers on staff.

There are over 25 of them throughout California. They do claim an 80-percent success rate in getting people off the hook, and tell me that speeding tickets under 100 mph and red-light camera tickets are among the easiest to have dismissed. Thomas Young, CATT’s Irvine office manager, says one tough case he won involved a guy cited for drag racing at 112 in a 65 mph zone. So, $298 ain’t hay, but it is at least $120 less than paying the ticket and traffic school would’ve been – and last time I checked, you can only do traffic school every 18 months. For me, these things tend to happen in threes, so I’m happy to have my squeaky-clean record intact, and my squeaky-clean self far removed from Hill Street Superior Court. Get Free Auto Insurance Quotes Agents from these trusted companies compete for your business. How our insurance quotes work. If you don’t know the traffic laws in your state, it can cost you. Failing to obey traffic laws can cause your auto insurance rates to climb.

Fight a speeding ticket – and other tips for a clean driving record Are you paying too much for car insurance? The problem might be those speeding tickets and accidents still on your driving record. Insurance companies charge higher premiums for drivers they … more How can I contest a traffic ticket? If you receive a traffic ticket that you truly don't deserve, all hope isn't lost. Fighting a ticket takes time and effort, but there are ways you can get the ticket overturned. A courtroom … more 1 in 5 Americans got at least one traffic ticket in past 5 years If you get nabbed for speeding, rolling through a stop sign or failing to buckle up, you might worry your insurance costs will skyrocket. But most drivers don't pay higher premiums after a ticket, … more A single moving violation can cause a rate hike of 92% Most U.S. drivers know that a moving violation, such as a traffic ticket, will cause an auto insurance rate hike.

However, the size of that rate increase may be a little shocking to some. One traffic moving violation can raise your car insurance rate by 93% Most U.S. drivers know that being charged with a traffic moving violation, like speeding, will likely result in your car insurance premium going up. What may prove shocking, however, is just how … more 5 tough speeding laws that will cost you big bucks In Finland, fines for driving infractions play out a little differently than in the United States. How much you’re fined is determined by how much you earn, so the wealthy walk away from speed … moreState officials want you When it comes to uninsured motorists, Oklahoma isn’t doing so well. Despite a state law that mandates basic liability insurance for all drivers, 24 percent of Oklahoman motorists lack coverage.  Lawmaker in Colorado seeks to snuff out drivers who are stoned A Colorado lawmaker wants to send a message to drivers: Don’t toke and drive.

In February, Colorado state Sen. Steve King introduced a bill that would limit the amount of marijuana that … more Which is better: Paper insurance cards or digital? You probably rarely think about your proof of car insurance card. However, it’s essential to have it on hand those occasional times when you really need it, such as when you’re involved … more CDC study: Motorcycle helmet laws save billions in health care costs Hopping on a motorcycle with a helmet saves lives and billions of dollars in costs related to brain injuries, according to a study by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  What you need to know about traffic lawsA failure to obey traffic laws not only can jeopardize public safety and lead to a fine, but it ultimately can cause your car … more Federal proposal could lead to less distracted driving, lower auto insurance rates In a move that eventually could lower auto insurance rates, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is urging automakers to incorporate technologies into new vehicles that would disable … more

Out-of-state traffic tickets can haunt you Think you can maintain your perfect driving record as long as you limit your speeding tickets to other states? Most states not only will share information about traffic violations with … more The 10 toughest states for texting while driving As on January 2014, 41 states and the District of Columbia ban text messaging for all drivers. In 31 of those states and D.C., texting while driving is a primary offense. That means a cop can … more Opinions divided on proposed ban on cellphone use while driving A major insurance company and a major insurance industry group are backing a recommendation by the National Transportation Safety Board for a state-by-state ban on using cellphones while driving … more Is it the right time to shop for Auto Insurance?Did you know that car insurance rates constantly fluctuate and vary each month? Find out when you should shop for new quotes. See how my rates are trending:

Get Free Auto Insurance Quotes Auto insurance rates nearly double after one moving violation Auto insurance rates rocket 94 percent on average after a single moving violation. Car vs. Car: Insurance Comparison Shopping Tool Find out how much insurance rates may change when buying a different car. How Traffic Tickets Affect Auto Insurance Rates Wondering how traffic moving violations affect insurance rates? See how tickets may affect premiums: Driving in a Car Pool Lane Driving Without a License Driving the Wrong Way Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian Not Wearing a Seat Belt Speeding 1-15 MPH Over the Limit Speeding 16-30 MPH Over the Limit Speeding 31+ MPH Over the Limit Violating Rail Road Rules Auto insurance info by state The Car of the Future Discover what features your car of the future may have. Infographic: What does the car of the future look like?