My first ticket since 1992

[Kythas]

I was heading to Denton this morning, driving down 380, and got lit up by Denton PD.

The officer walks up to my car and says "I'm SGT ...... with the Denton Police Department. Can I see your license and insurance, please?"

I hand him my DL, CHL, and insurance. Luckily, I had gotten my car inspected 3 days ago - it had expired in August. He looked at the CHL, compared the address with the address on my DL, and asked if I had my weapon on me. "Yes, sir".

He then handed me back my CHL.

"Do you know what the speed limit is on this road?"

"No, sir. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't paying attention." Hey, honesty is the best policy, right?

"Well, I clocked you doing 75 in a 60 MPH zone. Sign here, please." My speedometer must be off, because when he lit me up I looked down and it showed 80.

I signed the ticket, he thanked me for my courtesy, and I now get to take defensive driving.

[sheffd]

Ticket or not, sounds good. He wasn't stressed or distressed. Probably more distressed about having to get out in the weather.

http://www.defensivedriving.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; is a good site for the course.

[austin-tatious]

"Well, I clocked you doing 75 in a 60 MPH zone. Sign here, please." My speedometer must be off, because when he lit me up I looked down and it showed 80.

I believe the fine for speeding is graduated in steps...the larger the difference between your clocked speed and the posted speed, the larger the fine. I believe the first increase is at 15 MPH over the posted speed. So your speedometer may be accurate and he was being merciful to write it for 15 MPH over. Someone with more direct experience can clarify or correct my beliefs.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Kythas:

I have taken defensive driving a few times and they usually start the class
by doing a round robin and asking everyone "what did you get your ticket for?"

I would say 90-95% of the people got straight out speeding tickets. They
stumbled into a radar trap and now have to pay the piper.

But there's always 1 or 2 in the class who tell their story, and all the normal
people just shake their heads at how crazy they are. One girl in our class joked
that she got her speeding ticket while going 80 in the rain, with her baby in the
car, while she was talking on her cell, and 1 or both of her stickers was expired.
She had had a beer or 2 but the cop didn't know. She had other equally bizarre tales as well.

The rest of us found out what she drove, so that if we ever saw her on the road,
we would flee in a different direction. :-)

By the way, DPS troopers and Denton PD are regularly running speed traps from the
right hand breakdown lane on I-35E, Southbound, in Denton in the FM2181 area.

SIA

[txbirddog]

But just think,,,,you will save on insurance.

[StewNTexas]

Just don't get hooked on taking one of the expensive defensive driving schools.

Search around on the web. They have on-line schools accepted by Texas. Costs around $25.00, plus about $10.00 for your past driving record from DPS. Once you start the 'class', you have 10 days to 2 weeks to finish. No rush. If you want to go through it in one day, go for it.

Worked for me....

[davlanders]

I took the online course once and wanted to gouge my eyes out with a spoon.

The last time I took comedy defensive driving. Comedy is not that great, but you get a meal included and everyone passes. The answers to the questions are drilled into your head during the day of the course.

[geoelectro]

I took the online course once and wanted to gouge my eyes out with a spoon.

The last time I took comedy defensive driving. Comedy is not that great, but you get a meal included and everyone passes. The answers to the questions are drilled into your head during the day of the course.

Yep, just took it yesterday. Pretty funny, good food, everyone passed. $28.00.

Geoelectro

[nils]

If you're getting a ticket, what difference does it make to the officer if you're carrying??? In other circumstances I understand, but a ticket??

[srothstein]

Giving the ticket is one of the more dangerous decisions an officer can make. If he was going to give you just the warning, he probably would be less concerned, but some people get mad at getting tickets.

Remember that Trooper Randall Vetter was killed over a seat belt ticket.

[Moonfish]

The important thing is that he didn't freak when you told him you were armed... the rest of the contact sounds normal. Thanks for posting your experience... I haven't had a ticket since 1982... so I feel your pain.