Speeding Tickets and Traffic Stops

I am not a lawyer so this is not legal advice, but just the best way to handle traffic tickets from my experience. I have had a "few" tickets and have been given advice from a few good lawyers. I have had lets say more then 10, but less then 50 speeding tickets, I don't want to say the actual number because its ridiculous. I have only been charged with maybe eight of those and they were reduced to much less then the actual violation!

The best thing to do when you get pulled over for a traffic ticket is be calm and cooperative. When you are pulled over two things can happen: you either will get a ticket for the alleged violation or the officer will give you a warning. If you are nice you have a better chance of walking away with a warning. The following is a list of things I recommend doing if you are pulled over. If you do these things the officer will be more likely to cut you a break. Even if you do get a ticket you have improved your ability to negotiate a reduction in points and fines.

* Pull over as far away from traffic as possible
* Pull over in a lite area for your benefit and the officers
* Roll your window down before the officer approaches
* Have your insurance and registartion ready!
* Be polite
* If it is at night turn on your cars dome lights so the officer can see inside


Ask for a jury trial. With any speeding ticket, in SC at least, you have to waive your right to a jury trial before being convicted. I have rarely done this, and would suggest that anyone who gets a traffic ticket use the law to benefit them by asking for a jury trial. Think of it like this, you are getting a $75-400 ticket is it worth that amount of money to the local government to call in a jury and hold a trial? Even before the jury trial their will be a pre-jury trial meeting between you and the prosecution or judge. Usually at this meeting you can work out some terms that save both parties money and time. This is what I will always do, because I feel the system should be used to keep both sides honest!

Race for the White House

I think with the parties candidates becoming more clear, if not already decided, voters should turn their attention to what each candidate stands for. If you watch mainstream news you probably do not know much about either parties candidates except Obama is a good speaker and comes across as young, new, and different. John McCain may be seen as a continuation of the Bush administration by some and not conservative enough by his party. I am going to include links to each of the candidates issues page on their websites, but I encourage everyone who intends to vote to research more then just what a candidates "self-told" web page claims. I can not tell you where to get your information without biases so just look at a bunch of different sources and draw your own opinions. McCain's issues page and website at www.johnmccain.com. Barack Obama issues page. and website. Don't be fooled by a good sales pitch and end up with a lemon. Look at what these guys have voted/done in the past, history is fact and a good indicator of the future.

OHV Riding Trails in SC

A new OHV trail in South Carolina could be coming in the future! It could be any where between 45-70 miles long. I went to the meeting at the Chesterfield County Courthouse today (March 17th) which was intended to test the interest in the OHV trail. I estimate their were 30+ people in attendance. Chesterfield county together with the US forestry Service have come together for the first time to try and make this OHV trail reality. They are applying for a grant by this weekend and should get an answer sometime this summer (June-July). The other factor that could hinder this project is a woodpecker that is protected by an endangered species act that inhabits the area. The grant seems to be a pretty sure bet. The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has to study and approve the site for the OHV Trail. This could be a problem because of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker.There are trails where this bird lives so it is possible, we just need to figure out a way for the two things to exist together. OHV riding will be a boost to the local economy as well as provide a good family recreational activity. SCORE , an organization promoting OHV use and rights in S.C, is working with the different levels of government on this project. I encourage any riders in SC or elsewhere to contact the local officials and SCORE to show your support! The proposed site for the trail is The Carolina Sandhills Refuge in Chesterfield County, S.C. If anyone has any ideas or wants to help with the project contact one of the sources I have listed or I will point you in the right direction if you have a question.

LinkBackLink- blog.

The Primaries: A Race to the End

The Republican primaries have seen a clear front runner in John McCain for some time now, but with his delegate count it is all but set in stone he will be the parties candidate. He reached the 1191 delegate count needed to win on March 4th. The Republican party can sit back and watch the Democrats fight among themselves for now. The Democrats candidate is not as clear as I had previously predicted. Obama now has 1520 delegates to Hillary's 1424. To win the party they need a total 2,025 delegates. I think Obama is still the best bet to win, but Hillary is not going to make it easy. I am hoping Hillary pulls out a come from behind victory. I think John McCain can has a better chance against her. Obama is so popular among people my age (18-35) and has played the "change" card so well he will be tough to beat.

Traits of a "Good" Democrat

This is an email I received and wanted to share. It is supposed to be for fun so don't take it personally. I am worried about the state of this country and not just the economy, but sometimes a little humor helps people come together and work towards a common goal. If you have anything like this for the Republican Party feel free to post it as a comment. Todays primaries will be interesting, but I bet Obama and McCain will be the candidates. It should be interesting watching the votes come in today.

22 WAYS TO BE A GOOD DEMOCRAT

THIS IS NOT SO HARD; EVEN A CAVE MAN CAN DO IT ....

1. You have to be against capital punishment, but support abortion on demand.

2. You have to believe that businesses create oppression and governments create prosperity.

3. You have to believe that guns in the hands of law-abiding Americans are more of a threat than U.S. nuclear weapons technology in the hands of Chinese and North Korean communists.

4. You have to believe that there was no art before Federal funding.

5. You have to believe that global temperatures are less affected by scientifically documented cyclical changes in the earth's climate and more affected by soccer moms driving SUV's.

6. You have to believe that gender roles are artificial, but being homosexual is natural.

7. You have to believe that the AIDS virus is spread by a lack of Federal funding.

8. You have to believe that the same teacher who can't teach fourth graders how to read is somehow qualified to teach those same kids about sex.

9. You have to believe that hunters don't care about nature, but loony activists who have never been outside of San Francisco do.

10. You have to believe that self-esteem is more important than actually doing something to earn it.

11. You have to believe that Mel Gibson spent $25 million of his own money to make The Passion of the Christ for financial gain only.

12. You have to believe the NRA is bad because it supports certain parts of the Constitution, while the ACLU is good because it supports certain parts of the Constitution.

13. You have to believe that taxes are too low, but ATM fees are too high.

14. You have to believe that Margaret Sanger and Gloria Steinem are more important to American history than Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Edison, and A.G. Bell.

15. You have to believe that standardized tests are racist, but racial quotas and set-asides are not.

16. You have to believe that Hillary Clinton is normal and is a very nice person.

17. You have to believe that the only reason socialism hasn't worked anywhere it's been tried is because the right people haven't been in charge.

18. You have to believe conservatives telling the truth belong in jail, but a liar and a sex offender belonged in the White House.

19. You have to believe that homosexual parades displaying drag, transvestites, and bestiality should be constitutionally protected, and manger scenes at Christmas should be illegal.

20. You have to believe that illegal Democratic Party funding by the Chinese Government is somehow in the best interest of the United States .

21. You have to believe that this message is a part of a vast, right wing conspiracy.

22. You have to believe that it's okay to give Federal workers off on Christmas Day but it's not okay to say "Merry Christmas."

Ready to vote?