Let me start by saying that I have been driving for approximately 7 years and have never had any traffic violations. I always drive reasonably on the street because I know how dangerous speeding can be.
The other night (11:15PM, few cars on the road, maybe one vehicle every 15 to 30 seconds) I was driving (Supra) home from the local supermarket which is about 5 miles away from my home maximum. I jumped on the major two lane highway heading northbound. This highway is under major construction currently as they are expanding it (construction only happens in the day time, no workers on site at night). Speed limits up and down the highway range anywhere from 25 to 45mph. The section between the supermarket and the street heading east that I need to take is a 35MPH zone. After driving north on the 2 lane highway, I approached a red traffic light at which I needed to make a right turn. There are many cones all over the road including around the intersection. There is about 1/8 miles of orange construction cones heading east, which is where I am turning. I turn right going east on the major road (not a highway) and continue to drive up to 45MPH. There has not been a speed limit sign anywhere since about 3 miles ago on the northbound highway (35MPH). After turning there are no traffic speed signs.
I continue east going a maximum of 45MPH on my gauge(by the time I reached 45MPH I saw the police car and instinctively backed off to about 40MPH). I reached about 1/8 mile down the eastbound road where the construction zone was finished and I was now in the 45 MPH zone. By this time I noticed that the police (A police car with a police van following) had already pulled out and were following me. They quickly turned on the lights and pulled me over.
I did everything that I ever learned, I have never been pulled over before so it was a new experience for me, but I kept calm. I shut the car down and rolled the window down and kept my hands on the wheel. He approached and asked for license and registration/insurance which I agreed to with "yes sir" and asked for permission to reach in my pocket for my wallet and the glove box for the registration and insurance. As I fished for my items he asked me if I knew how fast I was going, I said "yes, about 45MPH". He then asked if I knew that it was a 25MPH construction zone, and that he clocked me going 48MPH. I told that "that did not occur to me". He asked if I had anything illegal in the car to which I replied "no sir". He also asked me where I was coming from and going, to which I told him. He took my information back to his vehicle for about 10 minutes.
He came back with his clipboard and my information and told me I was receiving a criminal traffic charge. He clocked me at 48MPH in a 25MPH zone. He explained that I was required to show up to court on the presented day otherwise I would have a search warrant filed against me. He had me sign the paper acknowledging that I received the citation but not admitting guilt. In AZ anything over 20MPH above the posted speed limit is a criminal, not civil charge and carries a repercussion of possible jail time, large fines, 3 points on driving record, and a permanent criminal record. I was told to step out of the car because they needed a photo of my face. They moved me to the sidewalk and took a photo of my face with a digital camera. He asked me if I had any questions and I replied "No sir", he asked me one more time if I was sure that I had no questions, I replied "no" and he told me I was free to go.
That was the end of it. I did not bring up the fact that the speed limit was not posted because at the time I honestly thought I must have missed it. I couldn't remember whether or not there was a speed limit sign. I usually have a keen eye for speed limit signs and I follow them. In this case I returned to the scene the next day to find no 25MPH speed limit indication after the intersection that I turned at (in the eastbound direction). The speed limit before the intersection that I turned at was 35MPH.
In all honesty, even without knowing the speed limit, I should have known that 45 was too fast, that was careless on my part, I got carried away because the 45MPH zone speed limit sign ahead was visible from where I was. I take responsibility for my actions but I am deathly afraid of the consequences that I do not feel are deserved or just. Considering that I am studying to go into the automotive field, a lifelong traffic criminal record could be detrimental to my future.
I plan on hiring an attorney to help me with this process, but here is where I need some advice. What is the best way to find a good strong attorney that is seasoned in this type of work? I do not know a lot of people in this area that have ever had to deal with traffic violations, so word of mouth among my friends isn't really an option. I have been looking online but have a hard time deciphering who really is good and who isn't. I have not talked to any of them in person yet. I am a working student and I do have emergency savings that I am willing to spend on a proper attorney to attempt to keep myself from having permanent damage on my record. I do not mind fees fines and other costs but a criminal record is something I can not stand to live with.
This was also a little chance for me to vent my situation. I thank you if you have any encouraging comments or even bothered reading all this, but I am in a bit of a panic stage right now. My court day is in approximately one month.
The other night (11:15PM, few cars on the road, maybe one vehicle every 15 to 30 seconds) I was driving (Supra) home from the local supermarket which is about 5 miles away from my home maximum. I jumped on the major two lane highway heading northbound. This highway is under major construction currently as they are expanding it (construction only happens in the day time, no workers on site at night). Speed limits up and down the highway range anywhere from 25 to 45mph. The section between the supermarket and the street heading east that I need to take is a 35MPH zone. After driving north on the 2 lane highway, I approached a red traffic light at which I needed to make a right turn. There are many cones all over the road including around the intersection. There is about 1/8 miles of orange construction cones heading east, which is where I am turning. I turn right going east on the major road (not a highway) and continue to drive up to 45MPH. There has not been a speed limit sign anywhere since about 3 miles ago on the northbound highway (35MPH). After turning there are no traffic speed signs.
I continue east going a maximum of 45MPH on my gauge(by the time I reached 45MPH I saw the police car and instinctively backed off to about 40MPH). I reached about 1/8 mile down the eastbound road where the construction zone was finished and I was now in the 45 MPH zone. By this time I noticed that the police (A police car with a police van following) had already pulled out and were following me. They quickly turned on the lights and pulled me over.
I did everything that I ever learned, I have never been pulled over before so it was a new experience for me, but I kept calm. I shut the car down and rolled the window down and kept my hands on the wheel. He approached and asked for license and registration/insurance which I agreed to with "yes sir" and asked for permission to reach in my pocket for my wallet and the glove box for the registration and insurance. As I fished for my items he asked me if I knew how fast I was going, I said "yes, about 45MPH". He then asked if I knew that it was a 25MPH construction zone, and that he clocked me going 48MPH. I told that "that did not occur to me". He asked if I had anything illegal in the car to which I replied "no sir". He also asked me where I was coming from and going, to which I told him. He took my information back to his vehicle for about 10 minutes.
He came back with his clipboard and my information and told me I was receiving a criminal traffic charge. He clocked me at 48MPH in a 25MPH zone. He explained that I was required to show up to court on the presented day otherwise I would have a search warrant filed against me. He had me sign the paper acknowledging that I received the citation but not admitting guilt. In AZ anything over 20MPH above the posted speed limit is a criminal, not civil charge and carries a repercussion of possible jail time, large fines, 3 points on driving record, and a permanent criminal record. I was told to step out of the car because they needed a photo of my face. They moved me to the sidewalk and took a photo of my face with a digital camera. He asked me if I had any questions and I replied "No sir", he asked me one more time if I was sure that I had no questions, I replied "no" and he told me I was free to go.
That was the end of it. I did not bring up the fact that the speed limit was not posted because at the time I honestly thought I must have missed it. I couldn't remember whether or not there was a speed limit sign. I usually have a keen eye for speed limit signs and I follow them. In this case I returned to the scene the next day to find no 25MPH speed limit indication after the intersection that I turned at (in the eastbound direction). The speed limit before the intersection that I turned at was 35MPH.
In all honesty, even without knowing the speed limit, I should have known that 45 was too fast, that was careless on my part, I got carried away because the 45MPH zone speed limit sign ahead was visible from where I was. I take responsibility for my actions but I am deathly afraid of the consequences that I do not feel are deserved or just. Considering that I am studying to go into the automotive field, a lifelong traffic criminal record could be detrimental to my future.
I plan on hiring an attorney to help me with this process, but here is where I need some advice. What is the best way to find a good strong attorney that is seasoned in this type of work? I do not know a lot of people in this area that have ever had to deal with traffic violations, so word of mouth among my friends isn't really an option. I have been looking online but have a hard time deciphering who really is good and who isn't. I have not talked to any of them in person yet. I am a working student and I do have emergency savings that I am willing to spend on a proper attorney to attempt to keep myself from having permanent damage on my record. I do not mind fees fines and other costs but a criminal record is something I can not stand to live with.
This was also a little chance for me to vent my situation. I thank you if you have any encouraging comments or even bothered reading all this, but I am in a bit of a panic stage right now. My court day is in approximately one month.
