Well, what does your registration say??  If it says a Honda, then you
might be in for a surprise...misuse of plates....if it says  Cavalier on it,
well I think the cop would be in error and the charges have a good chance of
being dropped....

good luck and let us know how you make out....

Fwed

Got an $82 speeding ticket (didn't notice that the speed limit had
dropped from 45 to 30).   Was about to mail in the fine and noticed
that the car description was wrong.  The plate and the color are
right but the car is described as a 2000 4-door Honda.  My car is
a 1995 Chevy Cavalier.

Should I appear and contest the ticket on the grounds that it
belongs to someone else driving a Honda?    I would have to take
off work and drive half an hour to the court house.
_____________________________________________________

There is a 0 per cent probability of the ticket being dismissed
because of conflicting evidence regarding the make of the car
described in the <ticket you signed>.   Do not use this argument.
An angry judge will impose at least the full fine and may ask
you to explain why a Honda's plates are on your Chevy

You could appear and offer the defense that although you did not
notice the speed reduction sign you believed it was safe to drive
at the ticketed speed because the traffic was well-spaced and
light at that time of day, and that you will pay more attention to
traffic signs in the future.   Some possible outcomes:

1.) <Probability 6 per cent>:
The ticket will be dismissed because the judge agrees you were
obeying the basic speed law by traveling at a safe speed, thereby
overcoming the prima facie speed evidence.

2.) <Probability 42 per cent>:
The fine will be reduced to $62 because
  a. your basic speed law argument makes some sense, or;
  b. The court reduces fines for those who bother to show up.

3.) <Probability 52 per cent>:
The fine will be $82.)

If a guilty verdict will raise your insurance rates significantly,
even a 6 per cent chance of dismissal may make it worth
appearing.       Otherwise it's probably best to just mail in
the check and be more observant in the future.

Good luck.

Rodan.      <------  lots of experience in traffic courts

I prepared a defense for a friend who was in the exact same situation
you are in. He won his case.

As always, your mileage may vary. Good luck.

Chris

If there are points associated with the fine (penal caode) that is how
your insurance company finds out and raises your rate, then plea
bargain for the minimum violation which becomes a win win situation.
You win cause there are no points and a lesser dollar figure and the
county wins cause they make some money.

See www.motorists.org for more info.

I wonder if the officer who wrote the ticket is one of those officers
who have video cameras mounted on their dashboard. Aimed directly
ahead. At the license plate. The one on your car.

denaman@hotmail.com wrote in news:1160834036.777733.268840
@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com:

Buddy, call a paralegal. This is why paralegals exist. He can tell you
whether or not you have a ghost of a chance to beat the rap.

Paralegals are cheaper -- and often more experienced -- than lawyers.

FWIW, $82 isn't a whole lot of money in the grand scheme of things.
You *were* speeding and you know it.  $82 isn't a whole lot to waste
the time about.

For comparison:
I was once the slow car in a pack of speeding cars, and since I was in
the rear by time the cop came out, I got the $285 ticket.  I was
actually doing 30 in a 25, not the 41 I was ticketed for.

Something to consider.

-phaeton

I had a similar issue in court many years ago.  When I raised the
issue the judge said it could be grounds for dismissal but the cop
could write another correct ticket and give it to me.  I was young and
foolish and didn't pursue it.  If I were you I'd go to court and use
it to cast doubt on the cops testimony.  Supposedly they also write
down a short report on the back of their copy of the ticket to remind
them what to say in court.  If that also has the wrong car listed its
more indication of doubtful testimony.  Traffic court is a kangaroo
court so you never know what's going to happen, aside from the fact
that almost everyone gets found guilty regardless of evidence.