After I was clocked at the top of the hill, he wasn't visible until 1/4 of a mile up the next hill coming toward me. Before the top of the 2nd hill where he eventually pulled over, there is a large curve and trees but he still said he clocked me at 71 a 1/4 mile around the curve and trees, down the hill and at the top of the next one. I KNEW I had my cruise set at 58, so there is NO WAY he could have clocked me at 71...especially from where he was coming. After explaining this, he offered me to see the radar but I believed him, just not that it was me b/c like I said...my cruise wasn't even set close to that. I want to fight this cecause of the distance factor and the fact I know I wasn't going 71 because of my cruise setting. Should I fight this and what is the best way to do so? Please help and I look forward to your opinions.
2007-09-24 09:30:48 · 8 answers · asked by Aaron C 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
I fight EVERY ticket I get, which aren't often, and here is why: Usually the worst case scenario is that you will be offered or can negotiate court supervision which will remove the ticket from your record which will preserve your insurance costs. In your case, to effectively fight this you will need to get your speedometer calibrated. Call your local police department and find if they are holding a calibration or if you can pay to have it done. If not, you will need to check with dealers or mechaniics to see if you can find a shop that will do it. Claiming that your cruise was set to a certain speed will be worthless unless you can verify that your speedometer is reflecting an accurate speed. If you can find one of those mechincal radar units set up, you might get by taking pictures of the radar reading and your speedometer with the date and time stamp on the picture showing very close together. Secondly, you will want to take pictures of the location and and map showing the lay of the land to argue the point. Thirdly, after presenting your evidence, you will need to ask for a calibration of the radar unit. If you prepare, provide evidence and argue your point, you have an excellent chance. They are going for the easy dollars and don't want to work too hard. Good Luck.
2007-09-24 10:02:11 · answer #1 · answered by Jim N 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can fight it. The officer must testify that you were clocked by radar at the speed on the ticket. You can present your use of the cruise control as a defense. Have the cruise control tested to make sure it is accurate and take any paper work attesting this fact with you to court. It may or may not be enough. Good luck.
2007-09-24 09:41:48 · answer #2 · answered by fangtaiyang 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
One time I was clocked doing 53 in a 35 zone. I didn't contest it but I drove back down the street and there is no way I could have been going that fast. I have a Yukon, it was dark and wet and the streets are curvy. So I would have crashed for sure.
However, if you were going up and down hills, your cruise control has to brake in order to slow down, so it may be possible that your car had not slowed up enough. But that is a big difference.
If you do contest it, try to reschedule as many times as allowed, chances are the officer won't show up. And if it happened in the day time, ask for night court, chances are he won't show up there either. Good Luck!
2007-09-24 09:39:04 · answer #3 · answered by Jaye 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
all you got to do is show up in court,and ask to see the calibration details for that Radar camera for that day and who carried it out.. as if was not done for that day it could be not reading right. trouble is the police think they are right full time...i guess its not been done for a long time so has a false reading....but concentrate on the camera and find out how many others were done in the same way...ect..this is the law in the UK...check out yours...
2007-09-24 09:48:36 · answer #4 · answered by Tiggy want's a bit..... 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can contest it, but basically what you are saying is
"I was speeding, but not as fast as he says I was"
58 is still 3 over and the judge is still going to fine you for it. If you're lucky he might only charge you for the 58 if he thinks you're being honest about it, however I've also seen judges who tend to be most strict when defendants challenge the radar / police / etc...either way you're gonna have to pay some cash so just suck it up.
2007-09-24 09:40:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
LOL. When have you ever known a cop that didn't lie for the sake of money? That's their bread and butter. I view 40-50 applications per day for a Fortune 500 company and if there is anything denoting law enforcement, I throw the application in the trash without batting an eye. They can't trust their own, so how can anyoine else be expected to trust them?
Ask for a jury trial!
2007-09-24 11:11:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
show up on your court date and contest to the judge.....good luck
2007-09-24 09:35:52 · answer #7 · answered by justpayindues 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, you were caught dude, just pay the fine and be done with it.
2007-09-24 11:09:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋