Well it had to happen...
I haven't been pulled over by an officer of the law since May of '89 (I was returning home from Texas A&M after final exams).
Anyway, I was leaving work after putting in about 15 hours and was driving on the service road of Texas 190 (the service road to the George Bush toll road). This service road is three lanes wide, but has a speed limit of 50!
I often see and am challenged by other high-performance sports cars when driving home. I never take up the offer to race because its just not my bag o' tricks.
Anyway the night of the infraction, a guy or gal cut in front of TB #2999 just prior to I turning West onto the service road. I got the feeling the driver was DWI - he/she was swerving.
That was my cue to get out of their way - I did so by dropping down a gear. I don't know how fast I was driving, maybe 65 or 70 (in this 50 zone).
I got to the first street light and as soon as it turned green, Plano's finest turned on his cruiser's light bar.
My DL's address didn't match that on my insurance. When the cop came back he said he was letting me slide on the speeding - thank G, but I would receive a citation for an invalid licence.
I use my folks address as the permanent address, but I sleep in Plano.
I went to the DPS office and had my address changed to Plano (any DPS office is nirvana - this one was a lovely 1 hour teeth pulling session).
The next day I went to take care of the DL citation. I planned on paying a $20-$40 fine. Surprise, Plano makes it a money making deal - the infraction cost me $92. It is one thing to be punitive, but $92 is EXCESSIVELY punitive.
I should have gone to court, but who knows how much that would have cost - and if I lost, would still owe the $92+.
The offense does not qualify for defferement and defensive driving does not apply.
Bottom line: traffic infractions are cities' way of confering guilt until proven innocent. Sounds backwards does it not?
Moral of the story: keep your driver's license address up-to-date.
Good evening.
Trajan88
TAMU Class of '88
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Trajan88 on 2002-01-20 01:41 ]</font>
I haven't been pulled over by an officer of the law since May of '89 (I was returning home from Texas A&M after final exams).
Anyway, I was leaving work after putting in about 15 hours and was driving on the service road of Texas 190 (the service road to the George Bush toll road). This service road is three lanes wide, but has a speed limit of 50!
I often see and am challenged by other high-performance sports cars when driving home. I never take up the offer to race because its just not my bag o' tricks.
Anyway the night of the infraction, a guy or gal cut in front of TB #2999 just prior to I turning West onto the service road. I got the feeling the driver was DWI - he/she was swerving.
That was my cue to get out of their way - I did so by dropping down a gear. I don't know how fast I was driving, maybe 65 or 70 (in this 50 zone).
I got to the first street light and as soon as it turned green, Plano's finest turned on his cruiser's light bar.
My DL's address didn't match that on my insurance. When the cop came back he said he was letting me slide on the speeding - thank G, but I would receive a citation for an invalid licence.
I use my folks address as the permanent address, but I sleep in Plano.
I went to the DPS office and had my address changed to Plano (any DPS office is nirvana - this one was a lovely 1 hour teeth pulling session).
The next day I went to take care of the DL citation. I planned on paying a $20-$40 fine. Surprise, Plano makes it a money making deal - the infraction cost me $92. It is one thing to be punitive, but $92 is EXCESSIVELY punitive.
I should have gone to court, but who knows how much that would have cost - and if I lost, would still owe the $92+.
The offense does not qualify for defferement and defensive driving does not apply.
Bottom line: traffic infractions are cities' way of confering guilt until proven innocent. Sounds backwards does it not?
Moral of the story: keep your driver's license address up-to-date.
Good evening.
Trajan88
TAMU Class of '88
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Trajan88 on 2002-01-20 01:41 ]</font>