Speeding in Rural OK

"Levi" (brandini93) 04/20/2016 at 22:49 • Filed to: None

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23

Got a ticket for 45 in a 35 just outside Yale. The sign for 45 was in sight but since I hadn’t passed it yet they pulled me over and wrote me up. I was extremely polite, cooperative, and communicative, and my record is clean, but they needed the income I guess. I guess I looked dangerous too, they made me step out and gave me a patdown, plus a pretty intense grilling about why I was acting nervous. “Because I don’t want a ticket and I don’t want to be late to work” didn’t seem good enough. Ended up outright telling the guy if he needed to breathalyze me or search the vehicle that he had my full and willing consent. Full disclosure: I’m white so this was out of the ordinary for me. Just on here to ask if, in your experience, your insurance returns to normal rate after completing a defensive driving course. It would take my record back to 0 points but didn’t know if “2-2" was the same as “0" in most insurance company’s eyes. If so I’ll just pay the damn thing and take the course, if not I’ll probably hire a lawyer and see what else can be done. Speed was determined by pacing so no radar gun calibration arguments unfortunately. Thanks much in advance

Opposite Locksmith > Levi 04/20/2016 at 22:55

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Damn boy don't be so nervous

vdub_nut: scooter snob > Levi 04/20/2016 at 22:58

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Pro-tip: it’s cause it’s 420

DKerstan > Levi 04/20/2016 at 23:02

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If I recall correctly it comes down to your word vs the officers, but since you could see the sign you could argue that you were accelerating to the speed limit. I would say if you have time, go to the court date and try to fight it. Worst case scenario you pay the ticket, but at least you have a chance of getting it dismissed. I’m not a lawyer and am not at all familiar with Oklahoma’s laws so take my advice as you will.

Levi > vdub_nut: scooter snob 04/20/2016 at 23:04

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Was actually yesterday, 4/19. I was a fucking wreck though, cops just scare the shit out of me in general so I was stumbling over every word. Abuse in early childhood has made every interaction with authority a painful one for me :-/

Levi > Opposite Locksmith 04/20/2016 at 23:04

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I'm even worse when I'm not medicated if you can believe it

Levi > DKerstan 04/20/2016 at 23:06

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Thank you for your input. Stars for everybody!

smobgirl > Levi 04/20/2016 at 23:16

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I hear ya on that. I travel frequently for work, and I have some pretty ridiculous memory problems. One of these times, TSA is going to ask where I’m heading (while they’re holding my ticket) and I’m just going to go blank. I mean, seriously, you're harassing me at 5 am on my second of three day trips this week - I'm either headed to Spokane, Galveston, or St. Louis - what sounds good to you today?

Bourbon&JellyBeans > DKerstan 04/20/2016 at 23:16

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Law is that you aren't supposed to accelerate to the speed limit until you are past the sign, so that may not work.

M54B30 > DKerstan 04/21/2016 at 01:02

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LEO checking in - accelerate after the sign, otherwise you’re still doing nearly 30% over the speed limit.

He was speeding, no way around that. And nervousness is usually good cause to search.

The fact that he follows it up with “I’m white so I’m not used to this” shows that he’s an idiot.

Levi > M54B30 04/21/2016 at 01:28

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C’mon, racial profiling is a real thing that happens, don’t try to play like a substantial portion of law enforcement personnel wouldn’t be more likely to search a black/hispanic guy than whitey mcpaleface

M54B30 > Levi 04/21/2016 at 02:02

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Again, your race didn’t determine that. Your nervousness and speeding did. Nervousness is to be expected in a traffic stop, excessive anxiety is (generally) a red flag. It is nearly impossible to identify race at night in a patrol vehicle following behind.

And you said it was at night - statistically more vehicles are searched at night. The old adage about nothing good happening late at night is fairly true - most drug busts are at night when they’re counting on minimal LE manning. I’ll usually take a longer look inside cars when I stop them at night (not in a search sense, just to see what’s in plain sight). As for the patdown, that will happen 100% of the time you’re asked to get out of a car. Just a quick check for weapons or obvious drugs/paraphernalia/etc for everyone’s safety. This also eliminates the opportunity for evidence (drug bags) to be destroyed if the officer is doing something else (like search the car).

As for your nervousness, I understand. I’m nervous when I’m pulled over. While you know you were speeding (I have a lead foot, I’ve been there a few times) but you don’t know if there’s a BOLO for your car/plates/mistaken identity whatever. Treat the officer as you would your friend. Don’t put him/her in the arm and laugh but keep the conversation casual. No need for excessive Sirs/maams. Just talk like you would talk to an acquaintance. Hell just be real with them. I let more people off for being honest and saying “sorry man, just an empty road and I was a little heavier then I thought on the go pedal” then “I’ll never do it again I swear, i swear i thought i was doing [2 less then speed limit].”

Just practice by getting pulled over more frequently you’ll be more comfortable with them 

As for the profiling, it’s out there in some places sure. However, pretty much all of the profiling cases I’ve investigated (our PD/Sheriff/Highway Patrol investigate citizen complaints in each other’s department to try to eliminate perception of internal bias) are either (1) legitimate reason for a traffic stop/use of force/questioning or (2) the person is known to LE as a habitual offender.

But I’m not in a big city with big city PD issues.... Our 100k city is relatively quiet

Levi > M54B30 04/21/2016 at 02:07

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I never said it was at night ¯\_()_/¯

tulsaturbique > Levi 04/21/2016 at 02:37

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Yale, Oklahoma. I went to OSU way back in the late ‘70's. Had to drive thru from Tulsa. Notorious, even then, for trapping for only a few over the limit.

Those boys buy a new boat every year, even if the biggest lake is a farm tank.

TheRealBicycleBuck > Levi 04/21/2016 at 08:26

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I can see nobody answered your question. If you take defensive driving, the points never appear on your license. Essentially, the paperwork is held at the court for the time period you are given to complete the course. If you complete the course and pay all the fees within the given time, nothing is recorded.

Source: I took defensive driving at least once per year from age 16 to 24. Yeah, I had a problem. Before the pundits jump on the phrase ‘... at least once per year...,” I learned that judges can do pretty much what they please when it comes to sending people to defensive driving. You just have to ask nicely.

gawdzillla > Levi 04/21/2016 at 10:09

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get a ticket lawyer and have them fight it

usually it cost around $150 almost all of them guarentee no point on your license

Invinciblejets > Levi 04/21/2016 at 10:24

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I’m white an nervous with cops too.

But living here in SC cops seems to not mess with white people even when they are clearly breaking the laws cough cough ..biker gangs. And they don’t mess with the ricer diesel truck guys driving like idiots everywhere loud af and doing burnouts and shit.

Yet if they even hear an import they will pull you over just to fuck with you.

God I hate the south sometimes.

End rant.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Levi 04/21/2016 at 10:38

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I know these feels, but it was 70 in a 45 (farm road...) near Leonard. Ugh...

Opposite Locksmith > Levi 04/21/2016 at 12:21

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Whatya takin for it? I take loraz as needed

Levi > Opposite Locksmith 04/21/2016 at 15:53

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I'm on Celexa right now. Wanted to avoid barbiturates and Wellbutrin had pretty bad side effects for me.

Levi > Invinciblejets 04/21/2016 at 15:56

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Maybe it is because I was in an import, idk. I blew through a stop light at +20 in Stillwater and got off with a written, but that was in my Mustang. Was in the Hyundai when I got popped in Yale.

Opposite Locksmith > Levi 04/21/2016 at 17:10

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Benzodiazepines*

Celexa was not for me, cuz I just have random bouts twice a month so an as needed worked for me

Levi > Opposite Locksmith 04/21/2016 at 20:11

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Christ almighty, you'd think as the son of a psychiatrist I of all people would get that right.

Opposite Locksmith > Levi 04/21/2016 at 20:42

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Hahahaha for some reason so many people make that mistake. Like the Anne frank Hellen Keller thing