speeding ticket in Guthrie County IA - SRT Forums

wmd · 02-15-2005, 05:52 PM

was driving a POS cavalier rental car yesterday to Guthrie Center in Iowa and got pulled over. i had been following an SUV travelling ~70-75 MPH in dry conditions, certainly nothing reckless, etc... so anyhow i see a sheriff coming towards us and didn't think too much about it, especially because i was looking for some rural address (i am an insurance inspector).

so, somehow, he decides to pull me over, which i think had a lot to do w/the fact that i had MO plates on the rental. he says he clocked me at 76 in a 55 and proceeds to write me a ticket for exactly that. no slack, no nothin.

i live in san diego and come out to iowa every couple of months on business so it seems highly unlikely that i have any chance of fighting it, though it seems like i have little ground to stand on anyhow. it's fucked up that if u aren't from the area then pleading "not guilty" is next to impossible

so, anyone out there have any suggestions? i was just going to pay it, but i can't do anything w/o first consulting srtforums first

sorry for the long post

Rugger · 02-15-2005, 07:49 PM

Wmd
First off make sure you mail the ticket part WITHIN the time period indicated on the ticket..if you do not,

they will convict you automatically!
Go on the net and do a search for traffic ticket agents in Iowa......(X-Coppers) look for one that offers "If we don't win, you don't pay" expect to pay a couple of hundred bucks,which is still way cheaper than higher insurance preiums for the next 3 years!
NEVER just pay a moving violation, always use the services of these agents to increase your chances of getting no points against you...
Best of all...good luck man

wmd · 02-16-2005, 06:26 PM

thanks for the advice... i think i will hire an attorney even if it costs way more than what the fine is... i don't want to let those fuckers have the satisfaction

Nessa · 04-23-2008, 04:52 PM

I read about your speeding ticket in Guthrie County and had to sign up for this car site. I was looking for crap on Guthrie County in general. I live in Bagley, IA/Guthrie County, but just moved from Arizona. Since we've moved here three months ago, my husband has been pulled over because of his AZ plates 'every' morning! I take it that you most likely got your ticket some where on the Highway 141? This is very common of the Guthrie Police, to pull over anyone and everyone from out of state.... it is not your own feelings of being trapped. You got set up and if you had Iowa plates in Guthrie County you would have 'never' been pulled over! If fact they let most Iowa people off all together..... try looking into the local Panora School buses records. You'll see that even a school bus drive by the name of 'Dan' has been pulled over a few times in Guthrie County, for speeding and DUI..... later he was let go with no ticket ans still driving our local school buses. Why? Because he lives in the County!
If I were you, I'd fight your ticket with everything you got! I think it's so fucked up how Guthrie County sets up out of state drivers, I've seen it too many times! They also pull over people of different races as well, this area is very white if you get my drift? I truly feel for you and all the other out of state drivers in Guthrie County!

boomboom · 05-22-2008, 06:01 PM

stupid question. why were you driving 20-25 mph over the speed limit in the first place? not meaning to be an ass but i would have pulled you over too but i would have also dropped it to a 64mph so it wouldn't go on your insurance record as a 10+ would. you are aware they could have taken your license on the spot seeing that you were driving in excess of 25mph over the speed limit which in iowa is the max limit without losing your license. i would also ask when the last time they had their equipment calibrated normally in poke towns they don't do it as often as they should and that right there gets it thrown out.

Nessa · 05-23-2008, 01:13 PM

Another loop hole is Guthrie County does not post their speed limit sign very often, maybe every 10 miles or so. Only when leaving or coming into a town will you ever see a post speed sign! First you see 35 MPH, then 45 MPH, and last 55 MPH...... after that your on your own to assume the speed! Let say you pull off a side street, no speed limit signs, their posted only on the main road coming and going from the towns. So if you don't take the main road...... you'll miss all the signs! Dumb shit if you ask me! Only a local person would know this info., making it hard for out of State visitors to guess the speeds!