I thought about that AFTER I posted it. I just figured that the SS gang would appreciate it.

After looking into this, I think I will see if I can get it reduced to anything else, I had no idea that "drag racing" was so severe!!!
I was a very short distance and no other cars around, but still stupid!

 

Other than this do you have a clean driving record? (No need to answer that here). If so, another thing you might look into besides asking for a reduced charge is to see if they will offer a deferred judgment. It might be worth trying:

http://www.martinstclair.com/faq_law.html#9

Good luck!

 

You need to hire a local lawyer. Whatever small amount of money you spend on a misdemeanor Drag Racing case will be worth it if they can get it plead down to a traffic infraction.

 

Get an attorney who specializes in traffic issues. The couple hundred bucks will likely pay for itself several times over in reduced fines and other penalties imposed as well as increased insurance costs over the next 3 years.

About 10 years ago I had been trying to get out of a gas station and turn left across several lanes at rush hour. People in some lanes would let me through, but not in all the lanes at once, so I couldn't get out for 5-10 minutes. Finally I saw an opportunity and floored it (in my 2.3L 1990 Audi 90), turning onto the road into an empty lane, planning to turn left at a green left arrow. The left arrow changed, so I had to hit the brakes. Turns out a cop was right there. He wrote me up for reckless driving, with a $500 fine. I found out later that if convicted of reckless driving I could have had my license revoked, as well as had a huge insurance hike for the next 3 years. Instead I spent $300 on a good traffic attorney. We proved that the charge wasn't justified, and the whole thing went away. Total cost $300. Total savings over 3 years probably > $2,000.

The main points are that a traffic attorney will know which charges are the most serious, and may know rules which may prompt some of the evidence to be removed from the case if the prosecution hasn't followed them. For example, in my case, the charge should have technically been thrown out because the county is required to tell people when they are charged with an offense which can cost them their license, but they failed to do so. There are also issues about when there is any documentary evidence not provided by the prosecution, etc. And it all varies by state, and often by county. You will save a lot of money in the long run by getting yourself a good traffic attorney.

 

In New York state, the goal is to have any ticket reduced to a non-moving violation; ie: illegal parking along side of the road. Sometimes you can even go to the police station and ask the officer to do so ahead of time. Otherwise it can sometimes happen in the courtroom before the hearing. This is especially true if you tell him/her it is your first offense and you are humble about it. On the other hand, you can hire an attorney and he can do the same for you.

I would never plead guilty to a speeding ticket. Insurance is your biggest worry - as they have previously said, you will pay dearly for the next 10 years.

 

Not condoning the actions for anyone, but I bet we can all state we have doen something really stupid in our lives, some caught, some not . .

But I remember years back letting my emotions get the best of me when a Mustang pulled next to my Camaro and revved me . . it was late and night the roads were deserted so we went at it . . . Off the line I lite up the tires startling the Mustang driver who dumped the clutch and died . . . Me taking off like a bat out of hell . . . to them be later pulled over . . .

The police officer wound up writing a ticket for "Unnecessary Squealling of Tires" . . . The officer said he couldn't get me for drag racing since the other driver did not go too . . .

The day in court was funny. . . Judge would call case after case . . . "Speeding" . . . then came mine . . . he called the case chuckling as he read the "Unnecessary Squealling of Tires" . . . laughing asks me how I plead . . . He let me off light since the description on the ticket made his day . . . This was quite a few years ago . . .

All I can say is two things . . .

Sorry you got caught . . . But . . .

Shame on you!

 

We all make mistakes once in a while. That is all I see here. I am just lucky I was never caught for some of mine.

But in todays world too many are having daily major lapes in judgment anymore. I had one guy at work who made a habit of passing in the third lane on a two lane highway. We all figured he would be dead soon.

If the crash did not kill him a few passed coworkers might.

 

Believe me, I am really regretting doing it!
I should not have, but I did.
I just never thought it was such a MAJOR violation.
I looked it up and it says that I could serve up to 90 days in jail!! The only thing worse on points is DUI or Injuring someone (yes, I know I could have, I am beating myself up already). Also as SPPD said, it's a criminal offense (something like that), and will go on my record... Future job hunts, etc.
In my view what I did was stupid, but jail time? Criminal? I sure don't think that is justified.
I will contact a local attorney and see what they say.

Thanks for the support and (justified) wrist slapping.

 

next time act like you are going to race rev. all that

then just take off real easy.

then they get caught and you are the good little citizen. :)

 

Yep, I screeched my tires once in town, got pulled over and given a ticket for excessive tire noise. Cost me $75.