Similar story happened to my mom's friend. She was going up 55 back towards Chicago from central Illinois. She passed through a mile long "construction zone" that was nothing but two signs saying "construction starts" and "construction ends." She had severe stomach pains and just wanted to get home and maybe to the doctor. She was pulled over by the police and ticketed for speeding in a construction zone (10 or 15 over the limit). She did end up going to the doctor and needed emergency surgery to remove her appendix. They still wouldn't throw the ticket out and she was forced to pay $500.

I'm surprise that the cop wasn't at all lenient. I remember when I was in a car with my friend and his beeper went off to let him know that they found a heart for him and he needed to get to the hospital, we just took off flying in that car (not wrecklessly). We kind of thought that if we got pulled over, we could just explain it to the cop and may even get an escort to the hospital. Maybe we were completely off though...

That sucks. Sorry to hear that.

 

I still recommend people go to court, if they can. Chances are good you'll help yourself out. If you just pay the fine, you have zero chance of getting a better outcome.

 

I can agree with that 100%. I was pulled over for speeding when I was 16 (first and only ticket). The fine was $75, or I could pay $125 and go to traffic school to get it off my record. Instead, I went to court with my mom. The judge made me pay $75 and removed it from my record without traffic school.