Title: Coasting means no points!
I received a speeding ticket by a police officer who decided that passing a slow car all while traveling the same speed as other cars around you is considered speeding. (Which technically it is) I am not saying I wasn't speeding, but what I am saying is everyone else was speeding too. Why he picked my little Nissan Leaf out of the crowd I do not know. But I later figured out that my little trek down Washington St. was a speed/whatever the copy says it is trap. Later, the same copy gave me a ticket because I turned down a street that had a sign that says do not turn after 6:00am. (I have to admit that I have never even noticed this sign. Also, during the 2 years driving down this street I have turned left numerous times. Not saying I wasn't at fault, just saying that cut me some slack) Why I say cut me some slack? Because one, you already gave me a speeding ticket a few weeks earlier and two, you know I wasn't doing it to be sneaky, because I saw the cop he wasn't hiding. You would think after the other ticket he would be like well since you drive down here a lot I am going to give you a warning. But nope another ticket. Let me also add that this all happened in April. When did he file it... October. So I had to wait forever just to find out what the damage.
I was going to just deal the issue by paying the tickets, but then I remembered that I have ARAG through my job which is legal insurance. What does ARAG stand for you may ask? Allgemeine Rechtsschutz-Versicherungs-AG and they are based in Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany. Is this at all important? Not really, but I was surprised they were German based and figured I would mention that I was surprised.
Anyway,
I went to the website and chose a lawyer from a list of people. I picked Robinson Sookdeo Law because I recognized her from a Yelp pop up advertisement. I checked the review (only one but 5 stars) And decided why not. I called and made an appointment, then I drove to downtown Riverside. I parked, paid money for the wrong parking spot, stopped a meter cop, he fixed it by giving me a coins, then I was solicited by another lawyer on the sidewalk that asked me if I need legal advice (weird) and then I proceeded to walk past the building twice. Once I figured out where I was going and that she was on the 2nd floor I opened the door and was greeted by looks of confusion. This made me confused and embarrassed thinking I walked into the wrong office. When I told Shumika T. R. Sookdeo, Esq (full name) my name her face change from confusion to recognition. She mentioned that her secretary added my appointment to a different date.
She asked me what was the issue, and while I was telling her she started reading me thinking I was one of those people that doesn't tell the whole truth when providing information. I figured as an attorney she probably deals with people all the time that doesn't tell her all the information up front. Just like on TV. lol. Once we got that out of the way, she told me she would be making my court appearance for me and that I didn't have to go. (Which was awesome, because I couldn't get time off work.) After the first court appearance they made a court date, and the officer agreed to downgrade the ticket to Coasting which means no points on my DMV record. Yay!!! I still have to pay the ticket though $402. Boo! But with no points it keeps my car insurance down. Yay!!!!
I will say that Shumika is stern, blunt and to the point, but still manage to somehow come across as friendly and trusting. The only slight issue I had was that after she went to court for me, I wasn't contacted within a week. I did call, however and her secretary provided me with the information right away. And I pretty much wrote it off as her being a busy attorney. She did call me soon afterwards and provided me with the information and sent a letter for my records.
If I need help again, I will get ARAG insurance up and give Roinson Sookdeo Law a call. Of course, I hope I don't have too though. read more