Cop pulled me over for careless driving..

One issue not brought up is some towns issue a lot more tickets than others - I live next to one. While in general I respect the police, I get a really bad taste when one town pulls me over a lot more than others and it has revenue raiser written all over.

 

Incorrect, the infraction still in the record, only it is hidden from the insurance company.

 

Taking the course will withhold points. However, the infraction will be public record and your insurance company will easily find it if they look... Believe me, I know...

 

Cruddy situation to be in. Remember that in many cases the ticket is just a small part of the total cost of the ticket. A bump in your insurance typically lasts for a few years.

I'd ask around to friends and co-workers and see is anyone has experience with tickets in your area. For example around here if you go to court you will typically be offered to have the ticket dropped to a non-moving violation and paying court costs. Unless you have a very solid case it is a pretty good deal.

Traffic court is pretty much the bottom of the barrel in the court system - they are all about volume and are probably not going to review anything that you bring in with you. I'd go so far as to make fun of the Prius - talk about the reputation of the Prius as a slowpokes car, perhaps drop the 0 to 60 time and then mention that because of the way that it is built you can not even spin the tires. My guess is that the judge will offer you a reduced fine and no points on your license (ie no insurance bump). It sucks, but this may be the best that you can hope for.

 

It is hidden for three years only.
Insurance company only check for violations for last three years.

 

I got a speeding ticket 4 years ago - it was my fault so I wasn't going to contest it. But I went to traffic court anyway to see what I can do. Of course the cop who issued the ticket was there and I even spoke to him briefly as he was helping with court duties. I stated I don't have a problem with the fine but wanted to know what I could do about the points on my license. He said nothing can be done about the points, but if I was to go to traffic school, they would waive the fine. I said "really"? He said "yup". I said "sign me up!". I'm still paying for the ticket on my insurance but it will fall off at the next renewal.

 

Just so you know, the GenII Prius can squeal tires, but only if you disable the traction control. Otherwise, it is impossible.

You can disable the TC by doing the gas pedal chicken dance prior to startup and it must be done before READYing and stays on until turned off. It is not something that can be disabled once in motion.

So you cannot argue that the Prius is incapable of squealing tires. Your best bet is to just take it. Traffic cops generally suck, and here's another case. I am a law abiding person but everytime I have needed the police, they completely ignore me. Seems true in most situations.

 

Employ the Ned Beatty - Deliverance Defense.

Take the judge out to your Prius and challenge him to "Make Them Tires Squeal Like a Pig!".

 

Go to court. Tell the judge that the Prius wheels cannot spin on dry pavement. You don't want those points on your license or your insurance goes up.

I most cases, judge takes the person showing up as evidence the person feels they are in the right. And you have a good case. And it will help other Prius drivers going forward.

 

I feel you but just a heads up, The prius can peel out and traction control actually CAN be turned off.

 

True.
My recent speeding ticket was obtained driving up the Oregon Coast on a beautiful day. And hey, maybe I was "speeding" I can't honestly say I was looking at my speedometer at the exact moment the officer "says" he caught me on radar. I would say that regardless, my driving at "whatever" speed was NOT putting anyone at risk. There was nobody around me and driving conditions were perfect. But anyway, I don't fight the ticket...to me? Not worth it.

But you are absolutely right. What I was forced to notice after getting my ticket, was that every single town and city all the way up the Oregon coast, has their speed limit signs set up- upon entry into the city, in a manner that almost creates unavoidable speeding.

I couldn't afford to get TWO speeding tickets in 1 day, so I had to be extra careful. But I watched as groups of cars ahead of me and around me entered city limits. They set the signs up to rapidly go from 55-45-40-25...all within a very short span. There wasn't a group of automobiles that I was traveling around in which, had an officer wanted to do so, he couldn't of picked- somebody -who did not slow down exactly with the posted signs.

Really...I'm all for following the speed limit. But in that type of case, it seems to me to be almost PURE revenue generation.

Yes you have to slow down coming into a city or town that happens to be along a highway, BUT they don't need the tricky accordion speed reduction, in my opinion simply designed to create a situation in which an officer can sit back and pick vehicles that he decides he just wants to give tickets to....it's a convenient speed trap and revenue producer.