My buddy and I were driving to mammoth. He was on cruise control at 80mph, and I was right behind him. A CHP officer who was traveling on the other side of the freeway, stops, cuts across the highway, pulls up between us both and pulls us both over. He said that we were going 88mph. I asked him how he figured that out, and he says he eye balled us and then backed it up with Radar. Considering he was going the opposite way on the other side of the highway, how the heck did he eye ball us and then have time to get the radar gun on us? You think I have a case? Or at least fight the 88mph that he stated?
2007-02-12 11:32:07 · 14 answers · asked by hjtys 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Bottom line: don't contest it, ask for leniency on your admission of speeding instead, and see if there are alternatives such as driving school.
Radar can be used in the manner you said: as cars approach.
Officers must first form an opinion about the speed, then confirm with a device such as radar. No problem there, what you describe sounds routine.
I've prosecuted for 7 years and never seen anyone, with or without an attorney, beat a speeding charge when they wanted a trial. Never.
The prosecutor & judge have heard every excuse in the book for speeding. A contrite attitude + an admission = leniency. Try it.
2007-02-13 06:23:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember, your speedometer is only a guestimate, usually within 1-3 mph of your actual speed. That is variable (greatly) by tire size. Does your friend have original equipment or over/under sized tires? I have seen as much as 15 mph difference with after market tires/rims.
Another thing, If the officer was on the other side of the highway and getting a radar reading, it was in your favor. The steeper the angle from directly in front of the radar the less the speed indicates on the radar. The phenomenon is known as the cosine angle effect. You were probably going faster than 88 but due to the angle of your vehicle in relation to the radar antenna it registered 88.
Radar is designed to give you (the violator) the benefit of the doubt. When the radar receives your signal back it is in decimal form. The radar "truncates" or drops off the decimal to the lower number. If the signal is "confusing" to the radar it will not read out any violator speed.
You already admitted to speeding. Most (99%) officer will not lie on a ticket or make up other facts to do the job. There is usually more truth than necessary to convict a person on a traffic infraction or crime.
Lastly, slow down. We lose more people every month stateside to speed and alcohol than we have lost fighting in Iraq since 2003.
2007-02-12 17:18:30 · answer #2 · answered by Combatcop 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He got you because you were speeding. Radar will work on objects moving toward you. It doesn't matter if its 80, 88, or 108, you were speeding. Radar is dash mounted so there is nothing to set. Push a button and you are caught. Many rarar antennas have a standby mode where it emits no signal making it invisible to radar detectors. Take it out of standby mode with the touch of a button and you are caught.
2007-02-12 11:42:07 · answer #3 · answered by David L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
80 or 88 what does it matter. You were caught speeding and you will be paying for it. He will have to verify the radar reading, maybe your friend's cruise control isn't as accurate as he thinks. How much over the speed limit is 80? If it is more than 25 mph you are in deep sh..
BTW, you can't fight it. You may also have to pay higher insurance payments.
2007-02-12 11:39:16 · answer #4 · answered by Nancy W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have no case. You will also have to pay more court cost if you take it to court.
Radars do not have to be stationary to be operated. There are different types of radar, hand held and those that can be switched from stationary to moving. They also work when traveling on the other side of the road.
2007-02-12 11:45:15 · answer #5 · answered by Adam S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
possable it became your fortunate day they'd desire to get 2 readings from a rushing automobile or a video of a minimum of a mile and then take an frequent speed analyzing, You different determination is that the worldwide would not revolve around you and that that they had some paintings 2 do
2016-09-29 00:54:20 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The amount of money you'd save by being charged with 80 instead of 88 would be minimal.
You were speeding. You got caught.
2007-02-12 11:40:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are positive you weren't breaking the speed limit, then you could fight it. Also, they can't get a proper speed reading if you were on a hill.
2007-02-12 11:44:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why are you whining? Don't speed then they won't have a LEGITIMATE reason for pulling you over. Jeesh...
2007-02-12 11:58:11 · answer #9 · answered by Bookworm4124 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a lawyer that specializes in traffic law. it might be worth the money.
2007-02-12 11:42:56 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋