Does anyone know if having to replace an engine soon after receiving a speeding ticket might constitute the ticket being thrown out/dismissed?

For weeks prior to receiving the ticket my AT 0'4 RX8 exhibited the typical pre-blown problems off idling erratically (uusally low) and cutting off in various places.

When I was stopped for speeding, I commented to my companion that I never reduced my speed even after noticing that the policeman was approaching (I honestly thought he was going after someone else). The police officer stated that I was going 53 mph in a 35 mph. From what I read on my speedmeter, I was going 48 mph in what I thought was a 45 mph zone.

At any rate, my enine died about three weeks later (it might have gone out earlier, but I typically only drive the car on the weekends).

So that's my story, any advice or knowledge would be helpful.

Thanks and Peace,

 

That story might get you off an "impeding traffic" charge for going too slow, but for speeding?.......not a chance!


S

 

isn't it up to the owner of the vehicle to keep the car in proper working order? ie you can't blame a faulty speedometer as the cause of your speeding...(or else everyone would just adjust them and they'd never be given a ticket)

 

A judge will view you as being a real speed demon - going so fast that you even blew up your engine. You might get some mercy if you thought it was a 45 zone because of obscured signs when the speed limit changed to 35.

Odd for a speedometer to read that low, unless you've got oversize tires. With OEM sized tires, the speedos on RX-8s tend to read a little on the high side.

Ken

 

Go to court, be honest to the judge, and odds are he'll reduce the charges. The stupid engine story might get you laughed at and you'll get a move along and pay the clerk from him.

 

just say you thought it was a 45 zone, theyll show no sympathy for your blown engine

 

Speedometer error can work in some circumstances.

A field technician working on a project for me got a speeding ticket on a road through the middle of nowhere in Nevada. The ticket was knocked down by two factors. One was that the vehicle had oversize tires, so the speedometer would read low. The second was that the speedometer was not calibrated, so who knows what other error may have been there. Thus it was likely he had no intention of speeding.

It wasn't dismissed, but this brought it down to where all he got was a $5 "fuel wasting" fine. No points, no record.

The judge's real motivation was that he thought the cop was being a goof-off for sitting with his radar on a lightly traveled straight road to nowhere, rather than patroling someplace where he'd have to work harder but would be of service to the community.

Ken

 

Thank you! I was having one of those days, and I had to just laugh out loud, you know, the belly laugh kind of thing when I read your post. You are so funny!

ticket ... dismissed .. engine

 

Thanks, guys.

I went ahead and paid the ticket. Luckily I don't often travel in the part of the state where I received the ticket. So here's to another 13 years without a getting a speeding ticket

Peace.

 

In Milwaukee if you just show up for court and were't going 15+ over the limit they just automatically give you a 0 points faulty speedometer ticket. They mainly just want your money unless it's clear you're endangering people on the streets.

 

If i was a judge and someone said "I couldn't have been speeding my engine was failing" I would double the fine, not reduce it.

"I have oversized tires and my speedo reads low. I thought i was doing 45 in a 45, but it was really a 35. I'm sorry, it wasnt my intention to break the law." Might get your fine reduced.


Do NOT bring up your failing engine.