It pays to avoid a ticket -- or fight one

MSN Money ^ | July 15, 2003 | Chris Solomon

[Denver Ditdat]

I wonder -- would it be cost-effective for a city to set up x-band devices in problem areas just to "ping" cars with radar detectors and get them to slow down? Dunno if anyone does that already.

Me.

A few years back I built a simple little single transistor X band oscillator, tuned it to 10.525 GHz, mounted it in a small Bud box, and powered it from a 9v battery. It's about the size of a garage door opener. Press the button when a radar detector equipped car blows by, and it's like having a remote control hooked to the other guy's brakes.

[Old Professer]

If the speed limit sign indicating the legal speed was above 49 MPH was visible from the point where he was ticketed and he can show this in court, then he stands a good chance for a dismissal; one other little trick is to simply ask the judge or the officer while you are in the docket to place into the record the date of the last official traffic survey for that section of road or highway where the ticket was issued; if it is way out of date, old, then the court is required to consider your speed relative to the road conditions and you may get a dismissal based simply on the failure of the state to keep up to date surveys to justify lower than legal highway limits.

[ntnychik]

Great tips! I've learned them the hard way. I'm still on higher insurance rates even though my license has been clean for two years. Over the Fourth of July holiday my husband was pulled over twice in his company rental car. The offense? Having a NY Statue of Liberty plate on his car. They changed plate designs and the Statue of Liberty is persona non grata as of mid-May. You can, however, pay to keep your plates, which he did. He got one ticket and he gets to tell it to the judge 7 hours away in the northern Adirondacks.

[Trust but Verify]

Someone else told me essentially the same thing. Seeing the stop was quite literally on the edge of town, this could very well be an issue. We must go back to the scene and see if that is the case.

[Old Professer]

Wrong; any admission in court of excess speed gets you a guilty verdict.

[Drango]

Wrong; any admission in court of excess speed gets you a guilty verdict.

If I knew how to contact the lawyer in Iowa who gave me the wrong advice, I'd let him know...

[longtermmemmory]

If the signs do not met DOT standards you have to bring the FMVSS (federal motor vehicle safety standard) to court with you) Pictures too. The deal should be written. Be careful judges can be VERY ignorant when it comes to traffic law. (safety nazi's rule there)

Generally once a private community is developed, the development signs a "domestication" agreement with the local police department. this gives them authority over the roads and makes the roads public. No agreement then the roads are private land and police may not write citations. Use http://www.findlaw.com to search you state's specific rules. Check with the police department for the agreement.

Make preliminary motions to dismiss BEFORE your actual trial. If the Judge offers a "Withhold" or some non-adjudication result you should consider taking it. It should prevent the citation being used in a civil matter. Remeber NEVER SAY GUILTY. No contest, perhaps if the deal is right.

If you want a record consider hireing a court reporter. Generally 50-75 per hour. Not all traffic tickets hearings are recorded. Not all traffic cases involve prosecutors. Its about revenue NOT justice.

[Gerish]

Yes, there are people out there who do drive like maniacs and they deserve tickets. However, I see no need for police to set up these so called "seatbelt roadblock checks" or whatever you want to call them. A DWI roadblock is fine for that certainly is warranted for the safety of other people. It is when the police use the reasoning of checking cars to make sure people are wearing seatbelts that bothers myself and a lot of other people, and that is where people start to lose respect for them. With all the crime around, you would think these officers would have better things to do than check and see if people are wearing seatbelts. Are they looking for criminals? No, they are looking for stupid minor infractions so they can write a ticket and keep the fat cats in the government happy with more revenue!

I'm not trying to bash the police here, I know they have a job to do and deserve much credit for the work they do. However, I just believe these seatbelt checks make their image to the public unfavorable.

[Arpege92]

"Spend $3 to replace a burned-out license plate bulb and you may save hundreds of dollars later."


I know of police departments who throw out a ticket if a person agree's to fix a burned out license plate bulb within twenty four hours.

[cajun-jack]

don't know about where you live, but a few years back here, i got a parking ticket because i put money in the wrong meter. very tight parking lot and with double meters...came out of the courthouse and saw the ticket, i tried to talk to the "lady" riding around in the cushman scooter truck and she was very snide and said well just take me to court and you will lose and pay the $4.00. I immediately went to the city police station and asked when traffic court was, and the lady wanted to know why. I told her i had been given a ticket even though i had put money in the meter although mistakenly the wrong meter and wanted to fight it in court. She said let me see your ticket and i handed it to her and she wrote VOID on it and told me to have a nice day and that she was sorry i had a bad experience with the parking patrol.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Any advice for my husband who recently received a speeding ticket from a rent-a-cop

Sorry about the barrage of questions but may I ask what a "rent-a-cop" is? Are they deputized (and therefore "real" cops)? Do you they have the power to arrest? Do you have to stop for them?

[GATOR NAVY]

One interesting thing, though, is that the San Francisco Bay Bridge seems to generate a large amount of X-band hits.

X-band includes the 3 cm radars used on most ocean-going ships. I wouldn't be suprised if you're picking up shipboard emmissions reflecting off the cables on the bridge.

[Fester Chugabrew]

"Make preliminary motions to dismiss BEFORE your actual trial.

Is an omnibus hearing the same as a trial? We've got a week until the omnibus hearing. Should all the evidence be gathered by then?

[Gunrunner2]

Brit Air is good, no sarcasm.

Never flown the Asian lines, but always hear they are wonderful.

Bottom line: American carriers seem to be getting worse.

[Spirited]

"Cops can pull you over and give you a ticket for *anything* they want."

You mean whatever they imagine.

[Spirited]

"Brit Air is good."

BA is good, although the seats seem to lack an inch or two front to back space than other airlines.
Virgin Atlantic is also exemplary.
Aer Lingus is better than either. The staff has sense and is free to use it.
Duds and drags unmentioned.

It's the airport searches which are the choke points. Unfortunately ships don't do it these days.

(Experiences within the last 8 months.)

[Gunrunner2]

I have flown Virgin before and it was pretty darned good (clean, airy cabin, friendly staff). My contract allowed me Premium Economy and it was pretty nice, though Business Class is even better, and I agree with you, Brit Air seems a bit small, and in Economy some of the seats actually ARE smaller if they are near the back or are bulkhead. I was in the UK and BBC did a report on seat sizes and found this to be true.
Nice to be in the front of the jet, as not only are the seats bigger and more comfortable, I find the staff to be nicer. . .either UK air carriers or US.
I probably should look into Aer Lingus, but have several hundred thousand miles on Brit Air and kinda got used to them.
Will be flying Brit Air again within two moths and will let you know.
Though, Brit Air "limits" the weight of your carry on to 11 kilo's for Business (9 for economy). This is enforced in London but not outbound flights from the US. I loath to check luggage and pack smart, so this usually doesn't cause any problems when in Business, but I don't like the fact that they established different weights for different classes of travel, for the same sized bag.
Anyway, thanks for your comments.

[timestax]

BUMP

[timestax]

ping

[longtermmemmory]

yes, you should have as much evidence with you at all hearings. You do not do this every day. Generally LEGAL motions based on law are heard at preliminatry hearings. Motions based on law and the documents in the file.