Seeking Court Day Advice

["Mike Theuri" <mikesoft@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I had mentioned earlier that my '86 325e hit a fire 
hydrant and now rests in peace at a car graveyard
in Little Rock. I got ticketed for two offences. One
was unsafe driving (too fast for conditions) and the 
other was for defective brakes. There was no radar 
equipment involved as the cops arrived a little after
the crash. The speed limit on this particular road is
35 mph. My ticket was based on what I told the cops. 
My brake lining light had come on and gone off on 
Thurs. I ordered Brake pads from Bavarian and they 
did not come here till Tues. My crash occurred a little 
after mid night Sat. I was clean as in alcohol free and 
neither did the cop test me for that. Neither could the
cops do a comprehensive forensics test as there were
no skid marks on the road. They measured the distance
though between the telephone pole next to the hydrant
to the next pole ahead of it. It had drizzled slightly. It
was a four lane road (two each side) and I was turning 
from right to a left side road but as I was turning I 
realized I couldn't make it (probably going a little too fast)
and downshifted, by  this time there was oncoming traffic 
around the corner. I took evasive action by going over the 
pavement and I was headed into an empty parking lot 
when something really nasty that I hadn't seen before hit 
the car from under breaking the oil pan and bringing the 
car to a dead stop -- that was the fire hydrant. Yesterday 
I went for a 6 hr. defensive drivers course which is usually 
court ordered on my own free will and I now have a certificate.  
My court date is on the 17th...I'm a first time offender as 
in this is my first ticket ever. I am seeking various ideas 
on what I could possibly tell the judge to get the most
lenient sentence or probation. The two offences will cost
$135 each if I have to pay a fine in full. Please respond
via private mail or via the digest if it may help other 
digest members who might find themselves in a similar
situation. Thanks.

Mike Theuri 

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