I need advice!!?

Question

My fiancee and I were coming back from vacation and I got pulled over in another state to get home. The trooper said that I was going 85 in a 65, which I know I was not doing because I had an idea that there was a cop in front of me. How do I go about dealing with this? We live a considerable distance from where the citation was issued at, and it isn't easy to go back to attend court. When he pulled me over, he stated that he had caught me by stopwatch and radar and when he pulled to the side of the road to pull me over, I was going 65. Any advice anyone has before I go to a lawyer would be greatly appreciated.

Preferably from a police officer or state patrolman?

Answer 1

Former police officer/current attorney...

1-DO NOT just ignore the ticket. The majority of states have an agreement with each other to enforce traffic tickets. More than likely your state has such an agreement with the state where your ticket was written. If you fail to take care of it you may have your license suspended/revoked.

2-If you wish to fight it then go to court. I realize this may be a long drive, but there are chances the officer may not show up. If the officer doesn't, then ask the court to dismiss it. Explain that you drove X amount of miles, and how much time it took. Alot of officers write tickets because they are required to generate so much activity. However, alot of officers hate going to court on their day off...which, brings me to another point. Call the police department and find out if the officer will be working the day of court (just ask if officer so-so is there, and what hours he works). If yes, he'll be in court-it will get him off the street. If no, chances are he won't show up for court-its his day off.

3-If you go to court, and the officer shows up, you'll be found guilty; attorney or no attorney. The court ALWAYS gives the officer the benefit of the doubt. I know it sucks, but look at it like this...most drivers have no proof they weren't speeding. So, it comes down to the officers word against the driver. The court will side with the officer. Why? Because if they sided with the drivers the court would be packed because every driver would go to court and say, "I wasn't speeding".

Good luck...

Answer 2

You will save yourself some money and headache if you just pay the ticket. If he had you on radar then there is not much you can do about it. Also, he may have had a radar cone in the back of his patrol vehicle, which means that he can catch cars behind him as well as in front. He may have had you on radar before you even thought about a cop being in front of you. I dont have to turn around to catch someone speeding behind me. Also we dont have to keep records on calibration. They arnt calibrated all that often. However, they are checked weekly with tuning forks for accuracy. By the way, you do not have the right to see the radar gun at the scene of the stop, i will show the radar result to someone i stopped out of curtousy but i dont have to show them.

If you take this to court all the officer has to say is that he had you locked onto his radar unit. If you ask about calibration, he will most likely tell you that he checks the accuracy weekly or maybe even daily.

As for the stopwatch thing, i have never heard of that. Be carefull as to what people are telling you to do in this room. For a ticket that is probably somwhere around $100 it would not benifit you to fight it.

Our radar units are very sensitive and very accurate. If you are sure that your speedometer said 65 all the time before he pulled you over, then you may see about getting it checked at a dealership.

Our radar units tell our speed as well as the car we are gunning. My patrol vehicle's speedometer is approximately 3 miles per hour off from what my radar says im going.

Answer 3

You had a right to see the radar gun, but I find it improbable that he could have used it along with a "stop watch", and even if he did, how did he know it was yours! Plus he had to turn around while he was driving. I don't know, sounds to me like a bunch of BS. I would show up to see if he does, if he doesn't you can asked for the case to be dismissed and it has to be. Or have an attorney file an appearance and ask for discovery. Also ask for the calibration records of his radar and stopwatch. Never heard of that before unless and aircraft was involved!

Answer 4

Well perhaps when you were drinking and driving down this road - you hit a bump and spilled youre drink - as you bent over to pick up youre drink - not watching the road - you accidently put too much of youre heavy foot down on the pedal without noticing cause of youre drunkeness - and did cause youreself to do some speeding - therfore running into this highway patrol officer catching you on radar for speeding - my suggestion just say hello to MAMMA BEAR in there - she likes cute 1s

Answer 5

I would contact the county attorney in the State and County the citation was issued in and talk with them. A lot of times they will allow you to "plead" down the ticket to a lesser offense if you offer to pay the full fine.

Answer 6

If you don't pay, do not go back to that state. You will be dragged to jail if you get pulled over again. Just pay the fine and be done with it. You can't fight city hall. Not in this case anyway. Hiring a lawyer? It would be cheaper to pay the fine.

Answer 7

Sounds like you are screwed... cops love to pull over people with out of state plates because it is so inconvenient to fight the ticket...

Answer 8

write the court requesting to examine evidence against you including the radar gun. they will have to send radar gun or dismiss case

Answer 9

Just pay the ticket, you won't win if he has you on radar.

Answer 10

pay your ticket. You're going to waste more money trying to get out of it then the actual ticket.
I promise!