Speeding Ticket

So driving home on Monday, I was behind a rust bucket that was obviously struggling to stay operating. The vehicle would slow down to 50 mph or slower and then speed up to 60 mph and was fluctuating everywhere in between. I assume this speed discrepancy is due to hills on the road slowing or speeding him up but I wasn't really paying attention to that. I was mostly behind him annoyed that I wasn't allowed to use my cruise control with any sort of success due to his constant speed changes.

I was trying for several miles to try to pass him so I could just get him behind me, set my cruise and go. I finally see my opportunity and zip around him quickly and it isn't until too late that I see the unmarked cop car on the side of the road. It was poop brown and pretty well camouflaged where it was. So I get pulled over because this dinkus clocked my speed while I was passing another car.

Now I know the rule that to pass you still need to not break the speed limit yadda yadda. But I also know that no one follows this rule. I think ticketing me for speeding while passing a vehicle is just stupid. Why don't you also ticket me for driving on the wrong side of the road? I was doing that as well.

I explained to the officer that I was simply trying to get around him quickly because I'm scared of on coming traffic and just wanted the pass over with. He is quick to point out the car wasn't going that slow in the first place. I do not get a chance to explain the passed car's inconsistent speed which he wouldn't of experienced in the 20 seconds he was stuck behind him. I get a ticket for doing a 73 in a 55 (eh... my car's got some pep). Here's where it gets weird.

The cop tells me that he knows I have a good driving record but he has no choice but to write the ticket for the full amount. He wants me to deny the charges and set up an informal hearing. He was very specific to make sure it's an informal hearing. He said he would appear at the hearing and argue that he does not wish me to have the points on my license. So if I do this I can possibly get out of points, but will still get the fine. Which I guess is a nice gesture in a round about way. How it stinks is I don't have any vacation time to devote to missing work and attending an informal hearing. All of my saved vacation time will be used on vacation next month. Plus I'm lazy and really don't feel like showing up to something just to be told "nope you were wrong for passing gimme a XXX dollars".

Anyway Matt sent along this video today and I thought it good enough to share.