So done with California

[Cybjun]

***A bit of a rant***
OK I reached my limit with California.
- I can't afford to live here anymore. between the excessively high priced rent, insurance, goods, gas (3.50 per gallon), & taxes (9.75%).
- The completely lack of jobs (yes I know this isn't unique to my area) with a near 22% unemployment rate.
- When I have to decide between having a car and a place to live. But needing the car to get the place to live and keep a job.

and the two kickers (this is what made me reach my limit)
- My ex-girlfriend goes off meds. breaks into my parents house and destroys it (broke mirrors, appliances, TVs and more) she caused over $20k worth of damage and the courts wont grant me a restraining order against her because it wasn't my house and I didn't live there. (that was this morning)
- then this afternoon I'm on the freeway and get a speeding ticket by the CHP for going 67 in a 65 then not even 5 miles down the rode I get another ticket not for speeding (even though I was going 70 at the time because I was ******) but for having no front license plate. the two tickets are easily 750 dollars, plus the increase to my insurance which is ungodly high because I live in LA County.

So now that I've reached my limit with this area I'm trying to decide where I can move to (preferably somewhere on the opposite side of the country). The only thing I'm really looking for is someplace that I'm not going to have to shovel snow 9 months of the year.

Now I'm going to try to survive the weekend without going postal.

 

[Frank]

- then this afternoon I'm on the freeway and get a speeding ticket by the CHP for going 67 in a 65 then not even 5 miles down the rode I get another ticket not for speeding (even though I was going 70 at the time because I was ******) but for having no front license plate. the two tickets are easily 750 dollars, plus the increase to my insurance which is ungodly high because I live in LA County.

Fight those tickets! ...especially the speeding one. You can mail a request for a Trial by Written Declaration. If you lose, can can still request a new trial to appear in person. Make sure to keep good notes of the traffic stop and google how radar guns work. Maybe you can present evidence that the reading is not completely reliable or accurate within those two miles per hour that you allegedly sped over.... I would not admit guilt (or the possibility of being guilty); I would simply state that I was going 65 MPH per my speedometer.

Here is some info on a Trial by Written Declaration:

http://www.ticketassassin.com/fight.html

Good luck!

 

[Jory]

If you want to avoid snow move to the south. People are genuinely nice, laws are typically small business friendly, snow is extremely rare, cost of living is cheap, taxes are more than reasonable, and law enforcement is based on the "good ole boy" system in small towns.

The only drawback is the god awful heat and humidity during the summer.

 

[Cybjun]

Fight those tickets! ...especially the speeding one. You can mail a request for a Trial by Written Declaration. If you lose, can can still request a new trial to appear in person. Make sure to keep good notes of the traffic stop and google how radar guns work. Maybe you can present evidence that the reading is not completely reliable or accurate within those two miles per hour that you allegedly sped over.... I would not admit guilt (or the possibility of being guilty); I would simply state that I was going 65 MPH per my speedometer.

Here is some info on a Trial by Written Declaration:

http://www.ticketassassin.com/fight.html

Good luck!

I'm gonna fight the tickets I fix the PC of nearly all the judges and commissioners in my valley so I dont think that will be a problem but still to fail to protect my family for a crazy $#@% and then turn around and give me tickets for nothing and wanting 3/4 of a grand to do it. Pssh..just isnt right

If you want to avoid snow move to the south. People are genuinely nice, laws are typically small business friendly, snow is extremely rare, cost of living is cheap, taxes are more than reasonable, and law enforcement is based on the "good ole boy" system in small towns.

The only drawback is the god awful heat and humidity during the summer.

I was talking to a friend who was stationed in north carolina and was suggesting Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina areas, so I'm looking at those areas right now

 

[red12049]

Yeah, but you forgot backward laws, racism, no big cities, conservatism...

Must be nice to speak with such worldly authority on matters which you cannot possibly have experienced as an adult.

A quick Google will show that conservatism, backward laws, and racism are alive and well in Washington State.

A further quick Google will show you that there are several cities located in the south that have a population larger than Seattle.

The matters you speak of (excluding city size) are true in every corner of the world, not just in the southern landmass of the U.S.

Time for new stereotypes.

Rick

 

[Xander]

http://www.argoasecurity.com/product_detail.aspx?productID=115

; it is precise to within 1/10th of 1 mph (1.6 km/h), while lesser radar guns have a margin of error from 1 to 3 mph (1.6 to 4.8 km/h),

And what seems like a rare educated answer on Yahoo!: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080906173916AAzB8tV

The accuracy is plus or minus 1 mile per hour.

From a quick google, it would appear that speedometers are much less accurate and, I'd think, might give you a stronger leg to stand on.

 

[Skyhooker]

If you're serious about fighting the tickets, go to:

www.marcstevens.net

Look through the Media section to find the videos on beating civil traffic tickets. Check out the forums. Listen to his show archives. Listen to the show today (every Saturday at 3 PM Central). If you decide to go ahead, you can get his Motion To Dismiss templates and courtroom scripts, and he has them already formatted for California.

It's quite an eye- and mind-opening place to go, like the Red Pill in The Matrix, and it sounds like you're ready to hear it. PM me if you'd like to discuss.

Peace,


Sky

P.S. Also, search Youtube for user: Tactikalguy1 - he uses Stevens' techniques, slightly modified

 

[Knightsman]

Dont really expect the south to be to different. Our taxes are now 8%, gas is $3.00 gallon (still cheaper).

Everything is "cheaper" hear, but so is the pay. No one here, pays over $9 hr for a regular job. Even the tech jobs only want to pay between $13-$16 for Master degrees.

Here in the south, if you want to make money, you make your own money.


The weather is crazy, but I have gotten used to it. one day its 40 degrees, the next its 70. And it only snows every 20 years in SC.

 

[Jory]

Yeah, but you forgot backward laws, racism, no big cities, conservatism...

LOL, this guy. If you want to be ignorant that's fine, but keep your unsubstantiated opinions to yourself. Spouting off negative stereotypes about people isn't okay just because it's based on the landmass they live instead of their race, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc.

 

[Knightsman]

I have a degree in Anthropology. The South is different from the rest of the United States (well, different in its own cultural way). Culture by inherited (which, I would argue, is why we have stereotypes in the beginning). Ethnographic research can substantiate some of my claims...gonna go get those journals for you now.

This isn't to say anything about people, rather the Southern culture that we all know pretty much exists.

Just because you have a degree in something doesn't make you an expert. First it means you paid for school, second you have to show you learned something. So far your only sounding ignorant.

Where do you live? Because you obviously have no idea about the "south" as you call it. Break it down even more, and the culture of the different states is a huge difference. I live here, have for the last 24 years.

Lets break down your commet:
"Yeah, but you forgot backward laws, racism, no big cities, conservatism... "

Which backward laws are you speaking of?? And once you have these laws, then compare them to "backward" laws of other states and countries. Racism is everywhere...no if, ands or buts about it. It may be a bit more here, but its not as bad as most people believe. Its typically the lower income housing units that still act on racism. Thats whites AND blacks, and the yellow peeps! No big cities....did you ever thing that maybe we like it that way? How does that make it a bad place? And last but not least...Conservatism... That's not everyone (*again your generalizing), and you have people on each side of the bus anywhere you go.

The biggest problem I see is you are probably generalizing based on what you have heard, or seen on TV. Never actually lived here. There are plenty of people that have moved to the south from the north and have loved it, and likewise.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

I heard people in the south don't know how to drive, Florida is full of old people, Texans are crazy, people from Arkansas don't like to share, and nobody has a full mouth of teeth south of the Mason-Dixon line.

 

[TopLevelComp]

Why is it that everyone says fight tickets? What ever happened to taking responsibility for breaking the law? You were speeding, you admitted to it, be a man and pay the fine.

This is what is wrong with California. They throw out tickets because people want to fight 'em. What they should do is add on court costs and penalties for fighting a ticket for no reason. Are you going to let a customers payment go when they break a contract because they want to fight it?

You were also driving with no front license plate, I knew you HAD to have a front license plate before I got my drivers license.

The judge was right not to order a restraining order for you. Your ex didn't cause harm to you or cause damage to you but to your parents.

Sounds like your blaming other people for your mistakes.


I don't like some of the things California does, but I don't blame them for my mistakes. If I can't afford to live somewhere, it's not their fault, economy crashed, what can they do? You took advantage of the good economy (Everyone did) and now your paying for it.

 

[Knightsman]

I heard people in the south don't know how to drive, Florida is full of old people, Texans are crazy, people from Arkansas don't like to share, and nobody has a full mouth of teeth south of the Mason-Dixon line.

well, them not knowing how to drive is a VERY fair statement. Dont let it rain or snow. They are insane. I think I remember a joke about what do you call 15 women in a room in Alabama....A full set of teeth!

 

[Frank]

Why is it that everyone says fight tickets? What ever happened to taking responsibility for breaking the law? You were speeding, you admitted to it, be a man and pay the fine.

This is what is wrong with California. They throw out tickets because people want to fight 'em.

Because being cited for going 2 miles over the speed limit is absolutely ridiculous. Neither party can reliably state whether or not he committed the infraction. And even if it was 100% provable, 2 miles an hour over...? C'mon, really?

And as far as California "throwing out tickets" just because people fight them.... Who cares? People get cited and have to pay for tickets that they were not even guilty of all the time. I've gotten and had to pay for a red light violation for passing a yellow light.... Why? Because the officer said I ran a red light.... So I have no problem with people who fight tickets. The state wins some, and the state looses some. It evens out.

I, personally, only fight the ones that I know I am not guilty of. I fought the red light violation, and got it reduced. I got a speeding ticket that I was guilty of and just paid it right away. And I fought a stop sign ticket, which I was not guilty of, and won based on the evidence I presented.

I'm sorry, I have no sympathy for the state as far as traffic violations go. It really goes both ways, and I'm all for people fighting their tickets when they can.

 

[TopLevelComp]

Because being cited for going 2 miles over the speed limit is absolutely ridiculous. Neither party can reliably state whether or not he committed the infraction. And even if it was 100% provable, 2 miles an hour over...? C'mon, really?

2 miles an hour over is breaking the law, period.

And as far as California "throwing out tickets" just because people fight them.... Who cares? People get cited and have to pay for tickets that they were not even guilty of all the time. I've gotten and had to pay for a red light violation for passing a yellow light.... Why? Because the officer said I did.... So I have no problem with people who fight tickets. The state wins some and the state looses some. It evens out.

The state looses far more than they win. Red light cameras don't take a picture when the light is yellow. This is why they provide a photo of the traffic light now.

I'm sorry, I have no sympathy for the state as far as traffic violations go. It really goes both ways, and I'm all for people fighting their tickets when they can.

I'm not. People need to start taking responsibility for their actions and stop whining when they get a ticket for breaking the law. I guess I just have higher standards for myself than others.

 

[Frank]

2 miles an hour over is breaking the law, period.

Fair enough. But it's still not a case that can be accurately proven one way or the other. Cases like these should be thrown out. An officer who would cite someone for two miles over in a 65 MPH zone is just wasting the driver's time and money and wasting the court's time when some drivers go to fight the citation.

The state looses far more than they win. Red light cameras don't take a picture when the light is yellow. This is why they provide a photo of the traffic light now.

I'm not sure how you know the state looses far more than they win. I'm not saying it's not true, though. Care to share your source for this information?

What do red light cameras have to do with this conversation?

I'm not. People need to start taking responsibility for their actions and stop whining when they get a ticket for breaking the law. I guess I just have higher standards for myself than others.

Yes, they should take responsibility.

What responsibility should the state take for all the guilty pleas innocent people submit because they don't want to waste their time fighting because they would have to take time off work and there is a 50% chance they will be found guilty based solely on the officer's testimony, or the innocent people who do take off of work to fight it and are found guilty solely based on the officer's testimony?

 

[TopLevelComp]

Fair enough. But it's still not a case that can be accurately proven one way or the other. Cases like these should be thrown out. An officer who would cite someone for two miles over in a 65 MPH zone is just wasting the driver's time and money and wasting the court's time when some drivers go to fight the citation.

He's not wasting anyones time. Driver was doing 2MPH over, broke the law, got caught. Could the officer let him off with a warning? Sure, he could have, but in my experience, a cop always has a reason for writing a ticket. I've been pulled over for doing 25+ over speed limit. I admitted it to the officer, told him the truth about where I was going in such a hurry (funeral), he let me off with a written warning.

I'm not sure how you know the state looses far more than they win. I'm not saying it's not true, though. Care to share your source for this information?

Best friends dad is a CHP officer, he lets me tag along whenever he goes to court for a full day to testify for tickets. I'd say a good 30% or 35% get reduced, 15% to 20% get thrown out because the person who got the ticket "was sorry", "would never do it again" or "are a good driver".

What do red light cameras have to do with this conversation?

You brought it up?

Yes, they should take responsibility.

What responsibility should the state take for all the guilty pleas innocent people submit because they don't want to waste their time fighting because they would have to take time off work and there is a 50% chance they will be found guilty based solely on the officer's testimony, or the innocent people who do take off of work to fight it and are found guilty solely based on the officer's testimony?

I don't know how many people are actually innocent. Do you? Are there? Sure, but I don't think it's as much as you'd think. It's part of the system, nothing is perfect.

 

[Frank]

He's not wasting anyones time. Driver was doing 2MPH over, broke the law, got caught.

You don't know that, the officer doesn't know that, and the driver doesn't know that. The are variables involved in accurately determining the speed of a vehicle with a radar gun, and they're not 100% accurate. I don't know any of the officer's reasoning, but two MPH leaves too much of a doubt to waste the driver's and the court's time.

I've been pulled over for doing 25+ over speed limit. I admitted it to the officer, told him the truth about where I was going in such a hurry (funeral), he let me off with a written warning.

I've been pulled over for going 14 MPH over, said ok, took my ticket, went to the court, and paid for it. I'm not 100% sure how much I was speeding by, but there's no doubt about it; so I paid for it.

You brought it up?

No, I did not. An officer pulled me over after I passed a yellow light and said I ran a red light; I had to pay for this. If a photo/video clearly shows a driver passing a red light, there is nothing to dispute. I'm certainly not disputing that.

I don't know how many people are actually innocent. Do you? Are there? Sure, but I don't think it's as much as you'd think. It's part of the system, nothing is perfect.

I have no idea how many people are actually innocent. Yes, it's part of the system. And so is fighting tickets. I have no idea how many guilty people get off either. Yes, it's not perfect. But if you believe more people get over on traffic violations than get screwed by them, that's fine.... I just don't see the need to blanketly reprimand people for fighting tickets. It goes both ways; the system is not perfect.

 

[parker.casey]

I've been pulled over going 5mph over ... annnd, I'm not sure about the laws elsewhere, but here that's considered within the limits of sensible driving. Most speedometers are within about 5 off. Two is ridiculous to nitpick about.

 

[Cybjun]

Why is it that everyone says fight tickets? What ever happened to taking responsibility for breaking the law? You were speeding, you admitted to it, be a man and pay the fine.

This is what is wrong with California. They throw out tickets because people want to fight 'em. What they should do is add on court costs and penalties for fighting a ticket for no reason. Are you going to let a customers payment go when they break a contract because they want to fight it?

You were also driving with no front license plate, I knew you HAD to have a front license plate before I got my drivers license.

The judge was right not to order a restraining order for you. Your ex didn't cause harm to you or cause damage to you but to your parents.

Sounds like your blaming other people for your mistakes.


I don't like some of the things California does, but I don't blame them for my mistakes. If I can't afford to live somewhere, it's not their fault, economy crashed, what can they do? You took advantage of the good economy (Everyone did) and now your paying for it.

See I have a problem with this, I'm fighting the speeding ticket for two reasons one, I wasn't speeding and two the CHP had no cause to pull me over for any reason other then I was driving a high profile car. the license plate I know I'm required to have a front plate but my car is new and I still had my registration tag in my front window. however I have already taken care of that ticket I have a CHP thats going to sign off on the fixit ticket and I'll pay the fine for that one.

However your are very wrong with the saying the judge was right as you don't know the history, my ex had a mental breakdown 2 years go and was hospitalized for it. She has had no contact with me for just shy of those 2 years the only address she has that links to me is my parents she broke in under the impression that I still lived there and when she found out I didn't anymore she destroyed the place searching for my address (lucky my parents didn't write it down...I think )

The problem is she has a history of being unstable and is focusing on me and my family. She should be told by a someone of authority to stay away from me even if it wasn't my house the intent was clear.

any by-the-way at no point did I blame anyone I'm ****** about the situation which I think anyone would be. and for all a speedometer is inaccurate and has a 5 MPH margin of error that is not an accepted standard. I have upgraded my exhaust on my car and added a cold air intake so I took it to one of my clients who has a dyno who tested my car and re-calibrated the engine and I had specifically asked him to make sure the speedometer was accurate because I didn't want a speeding ticket. Also I have dodge MoparGPS which tracks my cars location and speed which when I logged into the site shows at the time of the ticket my car never top 65. Why is this because I was using cruise control at 65 MPH at the time.

My dislike of California is to continuing failure to address its failures, lack of properly functioning services and an overwhelming disappointment with my current situation. It really boils down to the old "the grass is always greener..." well right now all I see is a desolate desert lack'n said grass