My response to a speeding ticket

[Jacobus]

To RMV, Sudbury Police, and Sudbury Town Manager:

I was neither harming nor endangering anyone when law enforcer M. Lucas issued a citation for $140.  While I do not believe I ought to pay this, as there was no wrong-doing, the citation indicates that if I fail to respond, an escalation of penalties will occur.  First, you will increase the fee and revoke my license to drive.  I would assume that if these penalties are also ignored and I practice peaceful non-cooperation, the penalties would continue to escalate until I either submit to your demands or else your agents perform physical violence to me.

Aside from paying your citation, you leave an option to have a hearing in your court of law.  However, I cannot in good conscience pursue this course as I do not accept the moral legitimacy of your courts, which enforce their laws and rulings through threat of physical violence.  Your justice is false if it needs to be administered at the point of a gun.

Since I cannot in good faith voluntarily seek redress through your court, and I wish to avoid violence done to me, it is under duress that I submit to your demands and pay in full the amount requested in your citation.

Sincerely,
Jacob Halbrooks

[doobie]

Don't forget to write "Theft" in the memo section.

[Jacobus]

I wrote "Highwayman citation".

[Lloyd Danforth]

You could add that you no longer intend to spend any money in Sudbury businesses and leave a copy at said businesses.

[David]

You could pay in pennies.  Get it on video if you believe they will refuse it, legal tender and all, I assume pennies count as legal tender.   

[jzacker]

I bet they get all kinds of checks with 'colorful' things written in the memo section.   These bureaucrats have very thick skins and are oblivious to the injury and harm they cause to people.  So your letter will probably be ignored and your check cashed promptly.  If it is at all possible, you should go to court. 

[William]

I bet they get all kinds of checks with 'colorful' things written in the memo section.   These bureaucrats have very thick skins and are oblivious to the injury and harm they cause to people.  So your letter will probably be ignored and your check cashed promptly.  If it is at all possible, you should go to court. 

I also recommend going to court. Not because you will win, although it's possible if only by default. The reason is you can easily cost them more than the amount of the ticket making it a nonprofitable situation for them. Between the judge, bailiff, prosecutor and cop showing up, you're $140 won't go far.

If more people contested the tickets, it would cease to be an income stream. My goal is always to cost them more than they cost me. Lastly, you could go in and refuse to pay in person which would likely end up in one of the following ways:

Sentence suspended, big win for you. Costs them money and you none.

Community service, still a win for you. Costs them money and you get to contribute to the community.

Arrest and a few days in jail, possible win for you depending on how you value things. Costs them even more money and puts them on notice.

[Jacobus]

I considered challenging but ultimately could not justify to myself begging for crumbs from the man wearing a dress.  I'm thinking that maybe I should drive through Sudbury on my way back from work every day, going a healthy 10 MPH under the speed limit.

[dalebert]

Going to court isn't necessarily begging. Just challenging the ticket uses up their time and resources even if you lose. You could also make a statement by not standing for the judge and stating your beliefs in front of everyone even though you'd likely still get the fine.

[Jacobus]

That comment of mine was ill-considered; I agree that going to court isn't necessarily begging.  It just didn't feel like the right thing for me to do here.

[jzacker]

I considered challenging but ultimately could not justify to myself begging for crumbs from the man wearing a dress.  I'm thinking that maybe I should drive through Sudbury on my way back from work every day, going a healthy 10 MPH under the speed limit.

I would remind you that there are female judges now.  Does it matter if its begging for crumbs from a woman in a mumu?

[William]

That comment of mine was ill-considered; I agree that going to court isn't necessarily begging.  It just didn't feel like the right thing for me to do here.

It may not have been. Good letter. Every objection is better than no objection.

[Lumpy]

Perhaps showing up and reading that letter (with many of us at your side at the time of reading) will bring about at least SOME awareness to them.  I'm willing to show up with you and all I know about you is that you understand and THEY don't.
Maybe THEY will get it, if even one tiny bit more.

[John Edward Mercier]

Unless its different than around here... if you challenge a ticket and lose, you pay the court costs.

[cynthia]

that letter should be a form letter, it's great! Can you mail a letter to the judge,city requesting community service rather than a fine, I'll bet you can make a motion..