Wow you got quite the warning. 24 over is about $223 here, not to mention insurance rates. Your Military ID probably got you out of the ticket, I don't write cops, their family members or military personel. I also don't write many bikers either, 1%er's get fucked with as often as possible, but there's not many here. It's hard to say what works when trying to talk your way out of a ticket. I'll share my thoughts and general decision making processes when I issue tickets or warnings.
Typically anybody 15 and over gets a Ticket. Excluding the above. I don't have a quota, but I'm expected to write 10 tickets a day, as far as my Chief is concerned, a written warning is as good as a ticket to him, so 60% of my stops are warnings. If I write a ticket or warning with several violations on it, I get credit for each violation on the citation/warning. So I'm a big fan of shitty cars. I can usually get 3 violations a stop out of it. What I'll do is stop for the speeding, find any other violations, (seatbelt, faulty equipment ect..) Warn for the most costly violation, and give a fix-it ticket for the equipment stuff. That way i stay out of traffic court and get my expectation filled fast.
Now on the 15 and over's, I still give them tickets, but I sell them to stay out of court. If I get someone at 15 over I write the ticket for 5 over. They think they're getting a HUGE break but, the fines the same for 0-9 over. (yes 0, that means 1/2 a mile over, and you can be stopped and cited.... :jerkit
As far as what works on getting out of a ticket? Nothing's certain, depends on the Cop, his attitude and experiences. I do the 15 over thing to keep myself somewhat consistent. But, typically I have things I like to hear and hate to hear. I like it when people know how fast they were going, at least they're paying attention, others may say it only proves they intended to speed, my argument is that everyone speeds, at least they know what they're doing. I hate it when people interupt me. I ALWAYS ask for a license registration and insurance before I let anyone know why I stopped them. I hate it when I ask for those things and someone says, "well, why did you stop me?" If I tell them before they get those things, it takes them forever to find them, all they think about is what they can do to get out of it. Typically if you give me the "well why did you stop me first?" line as if you're not going to cooperate if you don't think it was a good reason, I'm gonna fuck your night over.
I hate snotty people too. If you act like your better than me i'll try to take you down a few levels. DUI's are where these mostly come out, and they're my favorite DUI arrests. Don't tell me that if you get another ticket you'll lose your license. All that says is your a shitty driver and if I can get you off the road it'll be one less traffic accident I have to take during my lunch break.
Then there's always the "Don't you have anything better to do?" That's really one of favorites, isn't it obvious? Or the "why arn't you catching the drug dealers?"
Last week a squid blew a red light right in front of me. No gear except for the helmet on the passenger seat. No motorcycle endorsement either. I wrote him for the red light and no endorsement. I gave him an option of paying the fine to the court, or taking a MSF class and getting his license. He chose the class. I gave two weeks to get registered, I know the guy over it so, we'll see how this works out.
So to answer your question, there's no right or wrong way for any particular stop. I figure, everyone speeds. One time or another, your gonna get caught. Think of how many times youve blasted down your favorite road and not been stopped?
Glad you got a warning, You sound pretty lucky that way.
