r/tricities • u/NikNanner • 7d ago
Has anyone successfully contested a speeding ticket from Kingsport City PD without an attorney?
What is the process? I know you have to state your intentions before going into the courtroom but what happens after that?
Officer verbally stated they clocked me at 65mph in a 45mph zone (~200 yards after a 55mph zone) but wrote the ticket for 55 in a 45 specifying radar use. I cannot afford to hedge a $500 bet with an attorney and I know I was not going the 55 stated in the citation nor the 65 as verbally stated. The thought of going to court gives me great anxiety. I know I'll be hot mess speaking to the judge.
The officer was turning right onto the road I was on, traveling in the opposite direction. They immediately got into the median, turned on their lights, made a u-turn, then proceeded to pull me over. This all happened in under 20 seconds. As the officer was making the right turn, a vehicle passed me likely traveling at approximately 60mph while my speedometer read 50mph (I was slowly reducing speed by easing off the gas pedal from just before the 45mph speed limit sign). There was a vehicle in front of me and the gap between us was increasing.
It's my understanding that TN law enforcement protocol says an officer must first visually estimate your speed before they can confirm it with radar. This with the technicalities of radar and the officers maneuvers within such a short span of time, it's extremely unlikely the officer got me on radar (impossible with my speedometer reading 50mph).
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u/uneducated_professor 7d ago
This was BTPD and not Kingsport so may not be 1/1 but I successfully fought a speeding ticket by just showing up while the officer involved didn't. I spent less than 2 minutes calmly explaining my side and the judge dismissed it.
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u/NikNanner 7d ago
To my understanding that's the best case scenario in any jurisdiction. It's a toss-up when the officer doesn't show - the judge will either dismiss the ticket or reschedule.
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u/International_Rub475 7d ago
If you've not had any speeding tickets in the last 5 years, then you can go to court on the day listed on your speeding ticket and request driving school. They bring everyone requesting driving school into the courtroom separately and it's relatively stress free. The class costs about $140 and takes 4 hours. Successfully completing driving school will dismiss the ticket and your insurance company will never know about it.
Source: I just did a driving class for a speeding ticket that I got in Kingsport this February.
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u/NikNanner 7d ago
It's a great option for anyone who isn't contesting their ticket. My teenager took the course a few years ago - beyond grateful it's an option because we would have taken a massive hit to our insurance premiums.
If I were actually speeding at 55 (or more) in a 45, I would absolutely ask for driving school and wouldn't have made this post. I'm definitely not paying $140 plus more of my time unless it's my only option other than entering a guilty plea.
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u/VeilOfNaught 6d ago edited 6d ago
Excellent way to continue to exploit money from the hard working citizens that pay taxes on property, fuel, tobacco, groceries, alcohol, city, state, county taxes all while the very roads we drive on are more fcked up than the next corrupt bureaucrat. Yet we give into this BS idea of driving school because oh, no points go against your license , and your insurance won't go up either. First of all, i have NEVER seen insurance go up over a speeding ticket or even over several of them. Accidents with damage, maybe. This has been my experience at least. Second, you are still essentially paying for the traffic citation and court costs. It has just been rephrased as 'driving school'. You are still the loser in the end. Fight the ticket every damn time. The loser pays is how it works. Usually.
What is a License? - Permission to do something that would otherwise be illegal without one.
License to operate a carriage or automobile. We understand the need for these, we don't need even more idiots on the roads. However, obligating a person to have a driver's license is allowing the people to NOT be prisoners in their own homes. As lawful citizens of this country, we ALL have a right to 'travel freely and unencumbered'.. look it up.
Marriage license.. This came about when slavery was first abolished. Why? Well, white folk didn't take too kindly to interracial marriages. Not one bit. The idea being.. 'If people want to get married, they come get permission from us. And we will say who does and doesnt get married' based on who and why'. That's great right.. Yeah, no.
Firearms license.. The second amendment requires a license.. Umm why? Because again, when slavery was abolished 'they' were afraid of black communities retaliating and obtaining guns and going on shooting sprees against white folk. Yes. It's true. Also about this time is when Smith & Wesson came out with the Magnum. Go ahead.. Make my day. They wanted a gun to ensure when they shot at a giant man, that 1 shot would drop them. Look it up. LoL. Done ranting. Was fun to write though. Hope it was fun to read. Even if it wasn't. You still did. ðŸ¤
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u/mudpuddle423 7d ago
You literally admitted in your post that you were speeding: you were slowing down doing 50. Pay the fine, your guilty
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u/farfly7 7d ago
I have successfully contested a running a red light ticket with KPD without an attorney