traffic court

but yeah, deny deny deny. ask if the cop has proof, tell the judge that the cop said you hadn't done anything wrong, andd mention that your record is clean... it'd be a goo iea to pick up a copy of your record (tell them its for court, otherwise you get a longer term one if its for personal use) from the DMV (about $11) to bring as proof you can drive (if it's clean).

but yeah, deny deny deny. ask if the cop has proof, tell the judge that the cop said you hadn't done anything wrong, andd mention that your record is clean... it'd be a goo iea to pick up a copy of your record (tell them its for court, otherwise you get a longer term one if its for personal use) from the DMV (about $11) to bring as proof you can drive (if it's clean).

Thanks bud, I appreciate it. I will take your advice.

I took my [spotless] record to court for a very minor accident I had three years ago. When I asked the judge if he would drop the ticket, he lauged at me. Hopefully Fairfax is more forgiving than Prince William.

I would take That Guy's advice and deny any wrong doing. being that it is a simple lane violation I doubt seriously that the cop will have video evidence. you are in a very good situation since you have a clean record. i have only been to traffic court once and my only advice is to address the judge as sir or maam. also dress fairly nice. i went in with a clean record but i had some serious charges. driving without a license,no insurance,driving an unregistered vehicle, and a simple seat belt violation. i went in with my tail tucked between my legs and acted like i was about ready to cry and got away with a 150 dollar fine and no points.

yeah, humble is good. having a lawyer helps too, but for a lane violation i doubt its worth the expense (lawyers have a much easier time talking cops into lesser/dropping charges than a defendant by a mile).

taking a voluntary drivers ed course woulddn't hurt either (positive points and also good for the judge). you can take them online (for $35) and then take the test at any kinkos (which will hit you up for 2-3$ for computer time).

You can deny all you want, but who do you think they are going to believe? You or him? I've been totally gang-raped by the justice system in my short lifetime and it's all business and it's all about making money for the state. I got a ticket where there was NO proof of speeding, the cop saw me for 2 seconds and said, "You looked like you were speeding because you were right behind this guy I clocked going 20+ over."

The guy PASSED me going around a corner and the cop thought that I was following him. This dickhead proceeded to write me up for wreckless even though I wasn't even on radar. I got a lawyer and everything and the judge dropped all the tickets before my case and because the judge knew me, it was like he couldn't go TOO easy on me so he lowered it to five over, which was still horseshit since there was no proof.

But guess who was believed between me and the cop?

If you go the "deny" route definitely let us know how that worked out for you. If it does work I will be fairly impressed. A judge doesn't want to hear bullshit.

The only hope you have is to hire Johnny Cochran.




Oops...good luck.

I know the common advice is to admit no wrongdoing when you get pulled over, but I tend to take the honest approach. A few years ago I pulled over going 55 in a 30 and the cop asked the usual questions, do you know why I pulled you over, do you know how fast you were going, etc. I said yep, I was going too fast and I was going about 55.

He was shocked that I was up front and honest rather than giving him a line of BS. He let me go. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. They hear BS stories all day, I'd rather just be straight forward. I think they at least respect that.

Matty, i'm glad to hear that someone who was straight forward got off. every time i've been straight forward (which is every time), I get the ticket...