If you have the need for speed… how 'bout you slow down. What's the rush? Life is short, so enjoy the ride. Plus, speeding can be dangerous - for yourself and those sharing the road. Those speed limit signs are there for a reason, so be a decent citizen and follow the rules. You're not rippin' 'round the racetrack or in an action movie, after all.
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Sure, you already know all this, but still, there may come a time when your sensibilities go out the window. You're on the open road and your foot is glued to the gas pedal. Before you know it, Main Street becomes your personal Indy 500 and your speedometer's needle is moving way too far to the right. Just as you feel the wind in your hair and you turn up the radio, sirens blare and you're being pulled over. Merp.
You feel guilty enough, but when the officer wants to slap you with a speeding ticket, you wish you took the bus instead. Not only are you going to be late to wherever you were rushing off to, but now you'll have to pay up… but not so fast.
It is possible to get out of this mess, ticket-free. Nothing is guaranteed, but if you have the chance to get lucky, why not give it a go? Here are some steps you can take to get out of that speeding ticket and on your way, this time at the appropriate speed.
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Check your attitude at the door
Now is not the time to hop on your sassy horse. The better-behaved and well-mannered you are, the more likely it will be that the officer shows compassion and gives you a lucky break. As per LifeHacker, "Fighting with the police officer never increases your chances of leniency. You want him to like you. Take any unnecessary tension out of the encounter. You want the officer to be comfortable."
Thought Catalog adds, "Don't be an a$hole, you have no idea how often someone who wasn't going to get a ticket ends up getting one based on their attitude or arguing." And by all means, "Don't bribe or flirt. When (someone) shows some skin or someone tries to bribe with money, it insults (the officer's) integrity, and that is a guaranteed ticket as well."
No 'tude = no ticket.
Admit your error
A "mea culpa" can go a lot further than you may expect. The art of apology is something many of us could brush up on, so practice your "I'm sorry" if you get pulled over for speeding and see where it goes.
According to LifeHacker, "If you know you broke the law, admit it vehemently and tell the officer that he was completely right for pulling you over. Honest officers will admit that there is a lot of pride in police work, and, if you can sufficiently satisfy the pride factor, sometimes officers don't feel it necessary to punish you any further."
If Justin Bieber can say "Sorry," so can you.
Pause before you pay
Just because you were speedy on the streets doesn't mean you must be quick to pay too. As per Business Insider, "When you immediately pay a ticket, you're automatically admitting guilt and will voluntarily pay the highest fine. You'll often have up to 90 days to enter a plea or pay the fine, so take some time to explore your options. If it's your first ticket in the jurisdiction, you should ask the clerk if there is a 'no contest' plea for first-time offenders. In many cases, the district attorney will offer first-time offenders a reduced fine and will not release the citation to the insurance company."
Another tactic? Delay, delay, delay. According to Fox Business, "If you are able to put off the hearing date for your infraction, you may have a better chance of it being dismissed. The more time that goes by, the more likely it is that the cop who issued the citation may not show up. He or she could be transferred to a different division, could find another job or get promoted or move to a different city. If the officer doesn't show up, the violation will be dismissed."
If any of this works in your favor, consider it a blessing and a warning that you could have had a far worse outcome to your fast and furious ways. And promise yourself and the rest of us that you'll never mess with the rules of the road again.
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