THE END OF THE SPEEDING TICKET

      Some time ago I wrote in great detail about a speeding ticket I got and how I was going to fight it. You wanted to know how it ended. Well, the ticket was withdrawn because of the time taken to deliver the ticket to me.

     However , moving through the justice system was disappointing and challenging.

     I found the justice system to be a complete gong show. People didn't know what they were doing and were reluctant to do anything when they did know. First, the prosecutor's office wasn't going to take my letter of request for disclosure.  It is the prosecutors responsibility to get the disclosure organized. When I did get the disclosure package three weeks ago , I noticed there wasn't much there. When we checked 75% of what I asked for was not there. All of what the prosecutor needed was there. Was the guy inept? Did his staff not check? Did he set this up against me?

     On my first appearance the prosecutor said he would phone me. He never did call back. The Micro manager finally phoned him and his reply was not helpful. Finally, a good advisor phoned the prosecutor and explained that most of the disclosure was missing. Only then was he ticket withdrawn. The prosecutor fully intended to haul me into court. Only when an ex police officer called the prosecutor as the ticket withdrawn. I don't like seeing things done by people who have clout. The issue should stand on its own merit.

  If you're going to challenge a ticket, much research has to be done. It's a lot of work and very challenging.

   One thing that happened is that the city quickly got digital equipment which should cut the time in half and tickets will be delivered much sooner.

   I learned a few things and I think I might be on a crusade. We seem to shut our eyes and think that photo radar is infallible. It's not half as accurate as they claim. The position of the radar vehicle, distance into the speed zone, slopes, surroundings, equipment and operators all have a bearing on accuracy.

    Then I started looking at signage. I've requested the city's policy on signs. So far I haven't got the  policy. That makes me more suspicious and I'm going to find out how they place signs. I've seen places where there's a clutter of signs...seven in a 50 meter space. Who can read that many signs when you're driving?

    So I won what I wanted ,but I think I may have found some more work for myself.

Rippin' Mad Again

       Last week a letter came and there was no return address. I thought that's odd. Who would send a letter without a return address? My wife opens the mail. It works better that way.

     About the middle of the afternoon my wife stomped up to me outside and said, "Come." It was the tone of voice which indicates super trouble. 

     She had opened the letter and asked me to look at it. It was a speeding ticket! It was a speeding ticket that I picked up from photo radar. Now I became angry and upset. I was mad at myself for speeding and getting a ticket. I was upset because there was no warning. Just a letter that says you're a bad guy.

     Yes, they caught me going 67 kmh in a 50 kmh zone.

    Now I'm a life long speeder. My wife is constantly after me to slow down. So I admit that I deserved what I got. But everybody hates to get a speeding ticket. Now am I going to get a couple more tickets in the mail in the next few days as they say bad things come in threes? I hope not.

    By the way this is the first speeding ticket I ever got. Maybe I shouldn't say this.

    I have definitely slowed down. 

   So do you like speeding tickets any more than I do?