I got a ticket

[CDGuy]

I got my first ever ticket today - and don't really know what to do.

The story goes like this - I was coming out of an Esso in Russell Township Ontario today when I noticed the only way to get back on the road to get back to the HWY was to do a U-Turn (in a legal spot). It had been pouring rain all day, so the roads were soaked. Knowing my car didn't have traction control, I knew I had to be careful executing a U-Turn in First, since the car could very likely spin around.

As I started to execute the U-Turn, it did, of course, spin around.

It 180'd, and as much as I tried to countersteer, I was letting off the gas, and the rear of my car is gutted, so sure enough, it went PHWOOF! and spun around.

A little shaken up, I reversed into the spot beside the road, and kind of sat there composing myself for about 30 seconds. I then put the car in gear and started off again.

Unbeknownst to me, an OPP officer had been nearby and seen the whole thing, so as I started off again sure enough, the red and blues went on.

Thinking maybe he would understand, he came to my car, and asked me for my required papers, which I gave him.

The conversation went as followed:

"Wanna tell me why you did a 180 degree spin back there?"
"I apologize sir, my car doesn't have traction control. As I tried to do a U-Turn I spun out, and my car is gutted in the rear, as you can see, so I don't have any traction on the rear tires... Please try to understand, I'm kind of scared **itless, as I've never been pulled over before..."
"You were U-Turning? B.S."
"Pardon?"
"That's B.S. you were trying to U-Turn back there. I saw you."
"Sir just because my car drifted into a 180 degree turn doesn't mean I was trying to showboat. There was no people around... no one to show off too. Not only that, but I deal with cars in excess of 80,000 dollars everyday at work... I don't fool around with driving."
"Don't fool around with driving? Maybe you should learn how to drive."
...

*shock*

"Wait here, I'll be back."

*he comes back*

"Here's your ticket - I'm charging you with wreckless driving. You have 2 weeks to pay the 400 dollars, or you can take it to court."
"Please, sir... I can't afford 400 dollars right now. I'm telling you the honest to God truth, is there anything you can do? I really wasn't trying to show off..."
"Too late now, the ticket has been issued."

So essentially, if I pay the ticket, I face a 400 dollar fine, an insurance increase, and a 6 point loss - all cause my car had no traction while trying to do a U-Turn in the wet.

I think I should fight it... I mean, I really wasn't trying to show off, or act dumb, it was simply pouring rain out, and I might have accelerated out of the U-Turn a bit too fast while still cornering (by bit I mean by no more then a half inch on the gas pedal).

If I fight it what should I do? I will have a mechanics note certifing that my car does not have TCS, for sure, and I will bring the weather reports from today as well, and references from my job saying I am a responsible driver. Does anyone else have any other suggestions? I don't want this on my driving record... I think either the cop was in a bad mood, or didn't like the car I was in, at all.

Help, please

[Zacho]

If you are a responsible driver you would have drove to the conditions

You are in a rwd car, its pouring rain out. your responsible driving history and knowledge of not having traction control should have told you to go slower. I'm pretty sure the cop doesn't give a **** how expensive of cars you deal with everyday, how does he know. Besides, just because someone deals with xxxx dollar cars means you know how to drive/not fool around. Chances are you know how to fool around more in the cops eyes. You knew your car, you knew the road conditions, you knew the kind of turn and it still happened...something isn't right.

You made a boo-boo, don't blame your car for being "gutted" or not having any tc. Pay up and don't do it next time.

[GTS-James]

dude just argue it my buddie went to court and the cop never showed up, say that the driving conditions were bad and you did the best of your abilitys to correct the issue, say that your sorry and show up dressed very nicely, use sir or mam you know all that ****

[CDGuy]

I didn't know how slippery it would be. I didn't know how bald my rear tires had become. And I didn't know that my car would slide around so violently through such a tight U-Turn.

[quadracer111]

If you did an accidental 180 with some rain doing a simple u-turn, have fun in the winter.

[MattRose]

Man I did the same thing on Bronson coming out of carleton doing like 25, it had just started to rain so all the oils came up off the pavement. I had no idea what was going on, I mean i pull out the same speed everyday leaving Carleton U. I'm just happy this was at 6 am when there was no traffic:S.

[CDGuy]

I have high performance tires on my car right now, that are almost completely bald in the rears. I have snow tires for winter. I literally, spin my rear tires in second, on an uphill wet surface.

[bellis_GTR]

I would fight it, but you still could have controlled it. When I had my s13 I drove it in the winter and I would know how much gas to give for the car to be controlled. Good luck on your case.

[DarkCaporaL]

If you are a responsible driver you would have drove to the conditions.

I'm with Zacho on this...I mean, it's raining, you're doing a u-turn, it's a predictable maneuver that you anticipated doing, I dont see why you would of spun out. It's not like you were put in an unfortunate situation, any other person in the same situation that would have been careful would not have spun out. You are supposed to know the car you are driving and how it handles. Period.

As much as a 400$ ticket sucks, these are probably the kind of arguments the prosecution will make, and unless you have something valid to discredit this, you will likely lose. Point of the fact is, either you wanted to or not, you did engage in careless driving, as in you did not take the necessary precautions to keep control of your vehicle.

(FYI, you were probably charged with CARELESS driving since RECKLESS driving is a criminal offense).

Careless driving
130. Every person is guilty of the offence of driving carelessly who drives a vehicle or street car on a highway without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway and on conviction is liable to a fine of not less than $400 and not more than $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months, or to both, and in addition his or her licence or permit may be suspended for a period of not more than two years. 2009, c. 5, s. 41.

Plus I dont think your attitude with the cop helped the matter. If there is one thing to remember, its that THE COP IS ALWAYS RIGHT even if he's freaking Forrest Gump. The last thing you should do is argue with him. Saying things like "Sir just because my car drifted into a 180 degree turn doesn't mean I was trying to showboat. There was no people around... no one to show off too. Not only that, but I deal with cars in excess of 80,000 dollars everyday at work... I don't fool around with driving." will just piss him off even more and give him the more reason to give you a ticket instead of being discretionary.

If you did an accidental 180 with some rain doing a simple u-turn, have fun in the winter.

Bwhahaha I though the exact same thing!

[GTS-James]

honestly you just didnt see the cop and figured you would have some fun didnt you? i do the same **** all the time and i have the baldest rears on the planet in 3rd at WOT i spin in rain baby lol, you still have to be a pretty shitty driver to do a 180 while trying to u turn its just not that hard... maybe you would be better off in a fwd civic or something.