Speeding Tickets
01-20-2005, 09:54 PM
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Speeding Tickets
I keep getting asked how I get so "lucky" when speeding... well, here it is!
Beat That Speeding Ticket!
About Speeding
State speed limits
Let's face it, we all exceed the speed limit at one time or another and some of us practice it as a religion. A recent study found that between 88 percent and 96 percent of motorists exceed the 55 mph posted speed limit on interstate highways in the states that still have it. Since you are reading this booklet on speeding tickets you either already have one in hand or you are just trying to avoid one in the future. This booklet places the emphasis on trying to get out of the ticket before you even get one since this is the easiest method of beating one in the first place. I am not a lawyer and I won't go into too much detail about fighting tickets in court other than just giving you some common defense tactics that an attorney would argue on your behalf.
Most states immediately changed their interstate rural speed limits from 55 mph to 65 mph after the federal government allowed states to do so in 1987. The states that still have the 55 mph limit are all concentrated in the northeast with the exception of one. The states are New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Hawaii. I wonder if the northeast states keep this speed limit so they don't have to fix all those damn potholes in the roads which keep the local car repair shops in business. Pretty much everybody will agree that there should be some type of speed limit but it would be very hard to get them to agree on what it should be. Here are some statistics that may be of interest to you:
Police point of view
What you may not hear from states often are the statistics of how many police officers are killed or injured in the line of duty handing out speeding tickets. The numbers come from various sources but they indicate that 20% of all police officers killed in the line of duty are killed while giving out traffic tickets. Of course there are more reasons to get a ticket other than speeding but the interstate highways are where most of these accidents occur. There also is the issue that there is so much more bizarre crime going on than in the past that catching speeders is a waste of manpower and resources.
Insurance company point of view
The insurance companies have always protested raising the rural speed limits from 55 mph to 65 mph since it is a huge loss of revenue. Car and Driver columnist Barry Winfield stated in an article that insurance companies "benefit from unrealistically low speed limits and the resultant high rate of speeding infractions." The smokescreen is that more injuries and deaths will result by raising the speed limit an additional 10 mph causing more claims but real story is that they can get more dollars from safe drivers. Driving 10 mph more than you used to does not mean you are less safe, it just means that you are now legal and the insurance companies do not get to charge you more money. They often cite the increase in highway injuries and deaths since the 1987 ruling from the federal government but they leave out numbers like the increasing number of drivers from one year to the next.
Local Speed Limits
If you are traveling 30mph in a 20mph zone you are going 10 mph above the speed limit and you are going to get a ticket and rightfully so. These areas are usually heavily congested traffic areas so right off the bat you will be dealing with some irate small town cop, but even so you may be able to get out of one of these (See: Getting caught). There is simply no advantage to speeding in local areas as far as a time savings benefit is concerned. The best place to speed is on the interstate highways knowing that if you are traveling at the posted speed limit most people consider you a hazard to public safety and should immediately be thrown in jail. One can justify the risk of getting a ticket on an interstate highway but not in a school zone at 3pm on a Friday.
How Fast?
While you are cruising along the highway pick your desired speed of travel and stick to it. Using the cruise control if your vehicle is equipped, will help greatly. By this I mean if the speed limit is posted 55 MPH you can probably drive up to 65-69 MPH without being noticed on an interstate highway. The reason I say 69 mph because it is less than 15 miles over the limit and fines and insurance premiums sky rocket if you get a ticket at or above this limit. After picking your desired speed you will notice how many people will be flying by you who you will soon be using as shields. It is important to set yourself a speed limit that you are comfortable with and since you always know how fast you are traveling and that will also help you in court if the need arises.
All police officers on interstate highways have a tolerance of how much you can exceed the speed limit and not get pulled over. I wish I could give you that number but there is no exact number to give since it is up to each individual cop to decide. A cop will most likely have different tolerances depending on time of day, weather, traffic density and more. A safe tolerance number is 5 miles an hour over the limit, you will not be ticketed for traveling 60 mph in 55 mph zone or 70 mph in a 65 mph zone. Average tolerance is 10 mph and a tolerance of more than 15 is unheard of. If it is an especially heavy traffic day a state trooper could not possibly handle all the speeders so he/she will simply increase their tolerance to adjust for the increased traffic. In the states where 65 mph is the legal limit I would not recommend any speed over mph which is a comfortable driving speed and within most tolerances according to the cops I interviewed. In these states it is not uncommon to be passed by some idiot doing 90 mph, cellular phone in hand, and if that is you, you deserve a ticket and this manual won't help you (as much).
"See and Avoid"
Needless to say, if you are breaking the law you should be observant about your surroundings. Most situations that will result in you getting a speeding ticket could have been avoided in the first place by being alert. The initial speeding violation may also open you up to other tickets that you may not even be aware of such as expired inspections and registrations and seat belt use, or lack thereof. Pilots are trained to scan the skies for other aircraft at all times and spend a great deal of time with their eyes outside the cockpit using the "See and Avoid" method. Below are some ways to scan the surroundings to avoid being spotted and even getting clocked on the radar:
Opposite direction of travel
One of the easiest and most reliable cop detectors available is oncoming cars flashing their headlights. This signal indicates either a roadblock, a cop sitting on the median, or a cop with someone pulled over up ahead issuing a ticket. Headlight signaling has been reliable but the problem is that only about 10% of the drivers will extend this courtesy to you and then for only about a mile or two down the road. On heavily traveled days this can be very dependable especially on interstate highways so always keep an eye out for the flashing of headlights day or night.
Same direction of travel
Here you will be looking not for headlights but for brakelights. There is little need to tap your brakes on an interstate highway on even the busiest days so if you see a car or cars ahead of yours brakelights come on for no observable reason, the driver is probably hitting the brakes from instinct after seeing a cop. Also keep your eyes glancing towards the rear view mirror periodically to watch out for cops coming up from behind and surprising you
Cop with a driver pulled over
Don't worry about the cop with someone pulled over ahead because unless you are dangerously exceeding the limit they will not stop writing a ticket to give you one. There is a myth out there that when you see a cop on the side of the road with a customer there will probably be no more cops on that stretch of road for the next 20-30 miles. This can be true and I have noticed this but I have also noticed cops working in pairs so don't rely on this too much.
The median
The median, or the mall as some call it, is where you usually find the cops hanging around waiting to catch speeders. The best spot on the median is the No U Turn crossover and this is where you will find the cops 85% of the time while traveling on interstate highways. The No U Turn signs indicate that there is a crossover coming up and if you see a No U Turn sign coming around a turn beware since that is one of the favorite spot. They will also set up shop in the median where there is no official crossover ,such as set back into some trees somewhere.
It is important to notice the construction of the median especially if you travel the same highway often. Notice where the cross over points are that a cop could use if they are going the opposite direction and decide to come get you. There are some situations where there is no median other that a concrete barrier and this is almost a license to speed since they can't hide there or turn around for quite some time.
Under the overpass
Another favorite spot is under bridges or an overpass and this especially true on hot summer days since the shade is the place to be. There are no signs to indicate an overpass is coming up so your best indicators are visual and your speeding tools.
Speeding Essentials
What lane to travel in
The best lane to travel in on multi lane highways to reduce your chances of a ticket is the far right lane if traffic allows. The reason is that cops usually have their radar focused on the left or passing lane. Be aware of traffic behind you since you may get caught from police vehicles entering the highway from an entrance ramp. Another advantage to the right lane is that trucks and other vehicles will be between you and the radar if the cop is set up in the median and this makes a great reason to dismiss the ticket in court due to inaccurate radar readings because of obstructions. Just say it was the other guy.
The Shield
The shield is one of my favorite techniques because it virtually always works and it is always free. Basically the way it works is you maintain your selected speed and you stay there until some sucker passes you, preferably a tractor trailer. After they pass you adjust your speed so that you maintain a reasonable distance of 1/4 mile or so and follow them keeping an eye out for brake lights. Using the +14 mph or +9 mph standard it will not be long before another sucker comes up from behind to be your new shield. 18 wheelers make the best shields because they almost always have a CB and make a better catch for cops. Truck drivers drive for a living and if they are speeding I assume it is safe for me to do so. Think about all the trucks you notice speeding and how rare you see one pulled over. The only flaw with using the shield exclusively is that again you must constantly be aware of what is coming up behind you.
Radar Detectors
Radar detectors can both help you and hurt you. The technology will always be ahead of the driver in favor of law enforcement and this is a never ending cycle that will leave you constantly playing catch up if you rely on this device on a daily basis. By using the shield method above let someone else buy the latest technology and you can just tag along for free. Truck drivers who drive for a living depend on the CB more that they rely on a radar detector since radar detectors are illegal in most states in vehicles registered over 18, 000 lbs. GVW.
The radar detector is most useful to you when driving alone late at night and there is little CB chatter going on. They are the only defense against radar late at night on isolated back roads and then, only following someone as a shield. Most cops are equipped with an instant on/off button so by using the shield your radar detector will detect the cop taking a reading on the car in front of yours thus allowing you ample time to slow down.
The research that I have is pretty unanimous in that if you get stopped for speeding and the cop sees a radar detector mounted in your vehicle you will get a ticket. The reasoning is that the cops feel that you were definitely intending to speed if you are sporting a radar detector by being sneaky about it. Have your radar detector set up so you can quickly remove it without the cop seeing what you are doing in the event that you do get pulled over. A task a little easier said that done.
CB Radios
The CB radio is a very powerful tool and the best on interstate highways to combat speeding tickets since it will give you more information than any radar detector will. I once drove from New York to Florida speeding all the way in a truck with just a CB radio and it was a lifesaver. It is not necessary to go out and by a $250.00 radio in order to take advantage of this since Radio Shack sells CB radio Channel 19 receivers only for about $19.00 and that is all you really need. If there is a cop in the vicinity, his location will surly be broadcast over the airwaves and you can take immediate action. Keep in mind that cops also monitor the CB radio and move around a lot but this is still the best defense and there is little they can do to defeat this. The Weapons
Unmarked cars
Spotting unmarked cars is very easy to the trained eye. They are usually late model, domestic four door cars stripped down as much as possible. They will have the cheapest hubcaps if any at all, have a one tone paint job with no fancy trim and be littered with antennas. Another sign is the spotlight sticking out of the driver's side front post. Basically what you end up with in an unmarked car is a full size luxury sedan that is stripped down to the bones that no civilian would be caught bringing home from a new car dealer. I really wonder if some civilians order their cars this way?
Speed Traps
Speed traps are a common way to increase revenue in the most efficient manner possible. They way they work is one cop will nestle into the median somewhere, usually in the trees, record your speed on radar, then radio down to the ticket writers usually over a hill or around a curve what your speed is and a description of the vehicle. Once you come around the curve and see a cop it is too late since they already know your speed. A uniformed officer will bravely be outside directing you to pull over with the other victims of the trap. There is a limit to how many speeders they can handle so once they become backlogged with five or six victims they will radio the radar car and tell it to take a break. Once they process all the victims they start over. These traps are usually only setup on interstate highways during the daytime. They prefer to do them in an area where the trees in the median will obstruct the view of the oncoming traffic to eliminate the headlights in the on coming lane. CB radios always have this information and it is a better defense that radar detectors. Check the laws in your state with an attorney about these traps since in most states both the officer doing the radar and the officer issuing the ticket may have to appear in court if you plead not guilty.
Instant On/Off button
There are whole books in print on radar and this manual is intended only to cover the stuff you need to know. The radar gun is an extremely accurate piece of equipment and keep in mind it is only reliable to trained, competent operator. Most cops these days are equipped with an instant ON/OFF button that keeps the unit warmed up but your detector won't detect it until the cop hits the instant ON button and then it is too late, you've been clocked. To counter this simply use a shield such as a big metal truck between you and the cop. If you are using the shield in the left lane you will be able to pick up the radar from the vehicles in front of you that are being clocked. There is very little these days that will set off a false warning of a radar detector on rural interstate highways so when you hear that warning treat it with respect.
Speed limits enforced from aircraft
Don't be fooled by the signs on the road indicating that aircraft are used to enforce speed limits. What a joke! This was attempted at one time, probably introduced by a cop who was a pilot, and the only time it is used now is for publicity purposes. It was designed to work like the speed trap except speeders were spotted from the air rather that a cop hiding in the bushes, sounds pretty simple. To use this method they need at least a $70,000 airplane, insurance, a pilot, an observer, full fuel at approximately $2.50/gallon, daylight, and clear weather with little or no wind. They still need the full backup of the ground crew just as is needed in the conventional speed trap. You do not have to be a genius to figure out which is a more cost effective way of writing tickets.
If you were ever wondering what the white markers that are painted on the shoulders of a highway and placed about every .2 miles were for this is it. The observer in the aircraft already knows the distance to be traveled so he simply calculates the amount of time it takes your vehicle to travel the fixed distance and the result is your speed in miles per hour. These markers can only be placed in specific areas and can't be used at night or if the ground is covered with snow. I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has ever gotten a ticket from this method. Again, as mentioned above, check the laws in your state about pleading not guilty to these and how many people are required to show up. The ticket writer, the observer, the pilot, the mechanic?
Getting Caught
Okay so you think you are going to get pulled over, but do not fret, this is the fun part. Mostpeople actually talk the cop into giving them a ticket while they think they are trying to talk them out of it. Below are ideas you may want to follow. You may have to let your pride down but who cares you may be going to get out of a ticket. Once a cop has you on the side of the road he has three options; take you into custody by placing you under arrest and yes you can get up to 15 days in jail for speeding, he can write you a ticket, or he give you a warning. I know that you are thinking that a warning will be fine and a warning can be verbal or in writing. If you do get a ticket your options are limited to pay it or fight it and at this point there is nothing you can do on the side of the road so save your steam.
The pre-emptive wave
If you are speeding along and suddenly see a police cruiser that appears to have noticed you and you have made eye contact with him, slow down carefully and give a wave to the cop. Most non-cops slow down and avoid looking at the cop by looking straight ahead saying "Oh, Shit, Oh Shit" and pretending not to see him. An off duty cop would acknowledge the presence of the cop by a gentle wave or a nod indicating that you have just realized you are speeding and will immediately correct the situation. This can prevent you from being pulled over in the first place because you have recognized the cop as an authority and you have heeded him. This also works well in inclement weather since the cop is the one who has to get out of his vehicle.
The pre-emptive pullover
If you think you just got busted for any traffic infraction and you know you are guilty and about to be stopped the best thing you can have going for you is to pull over immediately! Do not confuse this with the pre-emptive wave as described above. Surrender only when the cop has pulled out and starts to pursue you. Surrendering eliminates the cop having to chase you with sirens screaming and lights afire and the cop will be in a better mood when he talks to you. Obviously the pre-emptive pullover will only work if you intend to plead guilty to the violation because if you intend to plead not guilty you will look pretty stupid by having pulled over before you were forced to. By surrendering you immediately lower the cops natural feeling of threat and increase his ego and this is exactly what an off duty cop would do. Swallow your pride on this one!
It pays to know a cop
We all know that off duty cops speed and they don't get tickets. Basically, the last thing a cop wants to do is give out a ticket that he feels is going to be asked by someone in the department to fix it which is not easy. This is usually the case with off duty cops and families of cops. The ticket writing cop would rather let the violator go if they think they have stopped an off duty officer or a member of their family rather than later be asked to fix the ticket. Notice I used the word think. It is illegal to impersonate a police officer and you definitely do not want to do that but it is not illegal for a cop to think or wrongly assume you are a cop. As long as you have made no false statements about yourself or haven't displayed a badge indicating you are a cop you should have no problem.
The way a cop pulls over
For a cop to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation is a very tense situation to say the least. These days there are crazies riding around with guns under their seats or body parts in the trunk so a cop's defenses are at a high for even those most routine traffic stops. The more you can do to decrease the justified fear a cop has the better your chances of getting out of a ticket. Cops know this and when they get pulled over this is what they do.
Beat That Speeding Ticket!
About Speeding
State speed limits
Let's face it, we all exceed the speed limit at one time or another and some of us practice it as a religion. A recent study found that between 88 percent and 96 percent of motorists exceed the 55 mph posted speed limit on interstate highways in the states that still have it. Since you are reading this booklet on speeding tickets you either already have one in hand or you are just trying to avoid one in the future. This booklet places the emphasis on trying to get out of the ticket before you even get one since this is the easiest method of beating one in the first place. I am not a lawyer and I won't go into too much detail about fighting tickets in court other than just giving you some common defense tactics that an attorney would argue on your behalf.
Most states immediately changed their interstate rural speed limits from 55 mph to 65 mph after the federal government allowed states to do so in 1987. The states that still have the 55 mph limit are all concentrated in the northeast with the exception of one. The states are New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Hawaii. I wonder if the northeast states keep this speed limit so they don't have to fix all those damn potholes in the roads which keep the local car repair shops in business. Pretty much everybody will agree that there should be some type of speed limit but it would be very hard to get them to agree on what it should be. Here are some statistics that may be of interest to you:
Police point of view
What you may not hear from states often are the statistics of how many police officers are killed or injured in the line of duty handing out speeding tickets. The numbers come from various sources but they indicate that 20% of all police officers killed in the line of duty are killed while giving out traffic tickets. Of course there are more reasons to get a ticket other than speeding but the interstate highways are where most of these accidents occur. There also is the issue that there is so much more bizarre crime going on than in the past that catching speeders is a waste of manpower and resources.
Insurance company point of view
The insurance companies have always protested raising the rural speed limits from 55 mph to 65 mph since it is a huge loss of revenue. Car and Driver columnist Barry Winfield stated in an article that insurance companies "benefit from unrealistically low speed limits and the resultant high rate of speeding infractions." The smokescreen is that more injuries and deaths will result by raising the speed limit an additional 10 mph causing more claims but real story is that they can get more dollars from safe drivers. Driving 10 mph more than you used to does not mean you are less safe, it just means that you are now legal and the insurance companies do not get to charge you more money. They often cite the increase in highway injuries and deaths since the 1987 ruling from the federal government but they leave out numbers like the increasing number of drivers from one year to the next.
Local Speed Limits
If you are traveling 30mph in a 20mph zone you are going 10 mph above the speed limit and you are going to get a ticket and rightfully so. These areas are usually heavily congested traffic areas so right off the bat you will be dealing with some irate small town cop, but even so you may be able to get out of one of these (See: Getting caught). There is simply no advantage to speeding in local areas as far as a time savings benefit is concerned. The best place to speed is on the interstate highways knowing that if you are traveling at the posted speed limit most people consider you a hazard to public safety and should immediately be thrown in jail. One can justify the risk of getting a ticket on an interstate highway but not in a school zone at 3pm on a Friday.
How Fast?
While you are cruising along the highway pick your desired speed of travel and stick to it. Using the cruise control if your vehicle is equipped, will help greatly. By this I mean if the speed limit is posted 55 MPH you can probably drive up to 65-69 MPH without being noticed on an interstate highway. The reason I say 69 mph because it is less than 15 miles over the limit and fines and insurance premiums sky rocket if you get a ticket at or above this limit. After picking your desired speed you will notice how many people will be flying by you who you will soon be using as shields. It is important to set yourself a speed limit that you are comfortable with and since you always know how fast you are traveling and that will also help you in court if the need arises.
All police officers on interstate highways have a tolerance of how much you can exceed the speed limit and not get pulled over. I wish I could give you that number but there is no exact number to give since it is up to each individual cop to decide. A cop will most likely have different tolerances depending on time of day, weather, traffic density and more. A safe tolerance number is 5 miles an hour over the limit, you will not be ticketed for traveling 60 mph in 55 mph zone or 70 mph in a 65 mph zone. Average tolerance is 10 mph and a tolerance of more than 15 is unheard of. If it is an especially heavy traffic day a state trooper could not possibly handle all the speeders so he/she will simply increase their tolerance to adjust for the increased traffic. In the states where 65 mph is the legal limit I would not recommend any speed over mph which is a comfortable driving speed and within most tolerances according to the cops I interviewed. In these states it is not uncommon to be passed by some idiot doing 90 mph, cellular phone in hand, and if that is you, you deserve a ticket and this manual won't help you (as much).
"See and Avoid"
Needless to say, if you are breaking the law you should be observant about your surroundings. Most situations that will result in you getting a speeding ticket could have been avoided in the first place by being alert. The initial speeding violation may also open you up to other tickets that you may not even be aware of such as expired inspections and registrations and seat belt use, or lack thereof. Pilots are trained to scan the skies for other aircraft at all times and spend a great deal of time with their eyes outside the cockpit using the "See and Avoid" method. Below are some ways to scan the surroundings to avoid being spotted and even getting clocked on the radar:
Opposite direction of travel
One of the easiest and most reliable cop detectors available is oncoming cars flashing their headlights. This signal indicates either a roadblock, a cop sitting on the median, or a cop with someone pulled over up ahead issuing a ticket. Headlight signaling has been reliable but the problem is that only about 10% of the drivers will extend this courtesy to you and then for only about a mile or two down the road. On heavily traveled days this can be very dependable especially on interstate highways so always keep an eye out for the flashing of headlights day or night.
Same direction of travel
Here you will be looking not for headlights but for brakelights. There is little need to tap your brakes on an interstate highway on even the busiest days so if you see a car or cars ahead of yours brakelights come on for no observable reason, the driver is probably hitting the brakes from instinct after seeing a cop. Also keep your eyes glancing towards the rear view mirror periodically to watch out for cops coming up from behind and surprising you
Cop with a driver pulled over
Don't worry about the cop with someone pulled over ahead because unless you are dangerously exceeding the limit they will not stop writing a ticket to give you one. There is a myth out there that when you see a cop on the side of the road with a customer there will probably be no more cops on that stretch of road for the next 20-30 miles. This can be true and I have noticed this but I have also noticed cops working in pairs so don't rely on this too much.
The median
The median, or the mall as some call it, is where you usually find the cops hanging around waiting to catch speeders. The best spot on the median is the No U Turn crossover and this is where you will find the cops 85% of the time while traveling on interstate highways. The No U Turn signs indicate that there is a crossover coming up and if you see a No U Turn sign coming around a turn beware since that is one of the favorite spot. They will also set up shop in the median where there is no official crossover ,such as set back into some trees somewhere.
It is important to notice the construction of the median especially if you travel the same highway often. Notice where the cross over points are that a cop could use if they are going the opposite direction and decide to come get you. There are some situations where there is no median other that a concrete barrier and this is almost a license to speed since they can't hide there or turn around for quite some time.
Under the overpass
Another favorite spot is under bridges or an overpass and this especially true on hot summer days since the shade is the place to be. There are no signs to indicate an overpass is coming up so your best indicators are visual and your speeding tools.
Speeding Essentials
What lane to travel in
The best lane to travel in on multi lane highways to reduce your chances of a ticket is the far right lane if traffic allows. The reason is that cops usually have their radar focused on the left or passing lane. Be aware of traffic behind you since you may get caught from police vehicles entering the highway from an entrance ramp. Another advantage to the right lane is that trucks and other vehicles will be between you and the radar if the cop is set up in the median and this makes a great reason to dismiss the ticket in court due to inaccurate radar readings because of obstructions. Just say it was the other guy.
The Shield
The shield is one of my favorite techniques because it virtually always works and it is always free. Basically the way it works is you maintain your selected speed and you stay there until some sucker passes you, preferably a tractor trailer. After they pass you adjust your speed so that you maintain a reasonable distance of 1/4 mile or so and follow them keeping an eye out for brake lights. Using the +14 mph or +9 mph standard it will not be long before another sucker comes up from behind to be your new shield. 18 wheelers make the best shields because they almost always have a CB and make a better catch for cops. Truck drivers drive for a living and if they are speeding I assume it is safe for me to do so. Think about all the trucks you notice speeding and how rare you see one pulled over. The only flaw with using the shield exclusively is that again you must constantly be aware of what is coming up behind you.
Radar Detectors
Radar detectors can both help you and hurt you. The technology will always be ahead of the driver in favor of law enforcement and this is a never ending cycle that will leave you constantly playing catch up if you rely on this device on a daily basis. By using the shield method above let someone else buy the latest technology and you can just tag along for free. Truck drivers who drive for a living depend on the CB more that they rely on a radar detector since radar detectors are illegal in most states in vehicles registered over 18, 000 lbs. GVW.
The radar detector is most useful to you when driving alone late at night and there is little CB chatter going on. They are the only defense against radar late at night on isolated back roads and then, only following someone as a shield. Most cops are equipped with an instant on/off button so by using the shield your radar detector will detect the cop taking a reading on the car in front of yours thus allowing you ample time to slow down.
The research that I have is pretty unanimous in that if you get stopped for speeding and the cop sees a radar detector mounted in your vehicle you will get a ticket. The reasoning is that the cops feel that you were definitely intending to speed if you are sporting a radar detector by being sneaky about it. Have your radar detector set up so you can quickly remove it without the cop seeing what you are doing in the event that you do get pulled over. A task a little easier said that done.
CB Radios
The CB radio is a very powerful tool and the best on interstate highways to combat speeding tickets since it will give you more information than any radar detector will. I once drove from New York to Florida speeding all the way in a truck with just a CB radio and it was a lifesaver. It is not necessary to go out and by a $250.00 radio in order to take advantage of this since Radio Shack sells CB radio Channel 19 receivers only for about $19.00 and that is all you really need. If there is a cop in the vicinity, his location will surly be broadcast over the airwaves and you can take immediate action. Keep in mind that cops also monitor the CB radio and move around a lot but this is still the best defense and there is little they can do to defeat this. The Weapons
Unmarked cars
Spotting unmarked cars is very easy to the trained eye. They are usually late model, domestic four door cars stripped down as much as possible. They will have the cheapest hubcaps if any at all, have a one tone paint job with no fancy trim and be littered with antennas. Another sign is the spotlight sticking out of the driver's side front post. Basically what you end up with in an unmarked car is a full size luxury sedan that is stripped down to the bones that no civilian would be caught bringing home from a new car dealer. I really wonder if some civilians order their cars this way?
Speed Traps
Speed traps are a common way to increase revenue in the most efficient manner possible. They way they work is one cop will nestle into the median somewhere, usually in the trees, record your speed on radar, then radio down to the ticket writers usually over a hill or around a curve what your speed is and a description of the vehicle. Once you come around the curve and see a cop it is too late since they already know your speed. A uniformed officer will bravely be outside directing you to pull over with the other victims of the trap. There is a limit to how many speeders they can handle so once they become backlogged with five or six victims they will radio the radar car and tell it to take a break. Once they process all the victims they start over. These traps are usually only setup on interstate highways during the daytime. They prefer to do them in an area where the trees in the median will obstruct the view of the oncoming traffic to eliminate the headlights in the on coming lane. CB radios always have this information and it is a better defense that radar detectors. Check the laws in your state with an attorney about these traps since in most states both the officer doing the radar and the officer issuing the ticket may have to appear in court if you plead not guilty.
Instant On/Off button
There are whole books in print on radar and this manual is intended only to cover the stuff you need to know. The radar gun is an extremely accurate piece of equipment and keep in mind it is only reliable to trained, competent operator. Most cops these days are equipped with an instant ON/OFF button that keeps the unit warmed up but your detector won't detect it until the cop hits the instant ON button and then it is too late, you've been clocked. To counter this simply use a shield such as a big metal truck between you and the cop. If you are using the shield in the left lane you will be able to pick up the radar from the vehicles in front of you that are being clocked. There is very little these days that will set off a false warning of a radar detector on rural interstate highways so when you hear that warning treat it with respect.
Speed limits enforced from aircraft
Don't be fooled by the signs on the road indicating that aircraft are used to enforce speed limits. What a joke! This was attempted at one time, probably introduced by a cop who was a pilot, and the only time it is used now is for publicity purposes. It was designed to work like the speed trap except speeders were spotted from the air rather that a cop hiding in the bushes, sounds pretty simple. To use this method they need at least a $70,000 airplane, insurance, a pilot, an observer, full fuel at approximately $2.50/gallon, daylight, and clear weather with little or no wind. They still need the full backup of the ground crew just as is needed in the conventional speed trap. You do not have to be a genius to figure out which is a more cost effective way of writing tickets.
If you were ever wondering what the white markers that are painted on the shoulders of a highway and placed about every .2 miles were for this is it. The observer in the aircraft already knows the distance to be traveled so he simply calculates the amount of time it takes your vehicle to travel the fixed distance and the result is your speed in miles per hour. These markers can only be placed in specific areas and can't be used at night or if the ground is covered with snow. I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has ever gotten a ticket from this method. Again, as mentioned above, check the laws in your state about pleading not guilty to these and how many people are required to show up. The ticket writer, the observer, the pilot, the mechanic?
Getting Caught
Okay so you think you are going to get pulled over, but do not fret, this is the fun part. Mostpeople actually talk the cop into giving them a ticket while they think they are trying to talk them out of it. Below are ideas you may want to follow. You may have to let your pride down but who cares you may be going to get out of a ticket. Once a cop has you on the side of the road he has three options; take you into custody by placing you under arrest and yes you can get up to 15 days in jail for speeding, he can write you a ticket, or he give you a warning. I know that you are thinking that a warning will be fine and a warning can be verbal or in writing. If you do get a ticket your options are limited to pay it or fight it and at this point there is nothing you can do on the side of the road so save your steam.
The pre-emptive wave
If you are speeding along and suddenly see a police cruiser that appears to have noticed you and you have made eye contact with him, slow down carefully and give a wave to the cop. Most non-cops slow down and avoid looking at the cop by looking straight ahead saying "Oh, Shit, Oh Shit" and pretending not to see him. An off duty cop would acknowledge the presence of the cop by a gentle wave or a nod indicating that you have just realized you are speeding and will immediately correct the situation. This can prevent you from being pulled over in the first place because you have recognized the cop as an authority and you have heeded him. This also works well in inclement weather since the cop is the one who has to get out of his vehicle.
The pre-emptive pullover
If you think you just got busted for any traffic infraction and you know you are guilty and about to be stopped the best thing you can have going for you is to pull over immediately! Do not confuse this with the pre-emptive wave as described above. Surrender only when the cop has pulled out and starts to pursue you. Surrendering eliminates the cop having to chase you with sirens screaming and lights afire and the cop will be in a better mood when he talks to you. Obviously the pre-emptive pullover will only work if you intend to plead guilty to the violation because if you intend to plead not guilty you will look pretty stupid by having pulled over before you were forced to. By surrendering you immediately lower the cops natural feeling of threat and increase his ego and this is exactly what an off duty cop would do. Swallow your pride on this one!
It pays to know a cop
We all know that off duty cops speed and they don't get tickets. Basically, the last thing a cop wants to do is give out a ticket that he feels is going to be asked by someone in the department to fix it which is not easy. This is usually the case with off duty cops and families of cops. The ticket writing cop would rather let the violator go if they think they have stopped an off duty officer or a member of their family rather than later be asked to fix the ticket. Notice I used the word think. It is illegal to impersonate a police officer and you definitely do not want to do that but it is not illegal for a cop to think or wrongly assume you are a cop. As long as you have made no false statements about yourself or haven't displayed a badge indicating you are a cop you should have no problem.
The way a cop pulls over
For a cop to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation is a very tense situation to say the least. These days there are crazies riding around with guns under their seats or body parts in the trunk so a cop's defenses are at a high for even those most routine traffic stops. The more you can do to decrease the justified fear a cop has the better your chances of getting out of a ticket. Cops know this and when they get pulled over this is what they do.
01-21-2005, 03:34 AM
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I read the whole thing... had some chuckles along the way .. and nodded my head (sometimes in agreement and sometimes in disbelief) several times.
The biggest problem that I see is that none of the above applies to anyone going triple digits. To add to the problem are the modded exhaust or intake, lowered profile, cleared sidemarkers, and bits of carbon fiber here and there. Oh yes - when there is a "whirrrrrr " of a supercharger in the background.... then the whole "get out of the ticket before it happens" thing just ain't gonna happen.
L - I suspect the if you have a history of getting out of tickets once stopped it is only because of your outgoing, friendly, and resourceful personality !
If you can get a laugh (or even a smile) out of a police officer, the odds are really good that you are going to leave the stop without a ticket.
The biggest problem that I see is that none of the above applies to anyone going triple digits. To add to the problem are the modded exhaust or intake, lowered profile, cleared sidemarkers, and bits of carbon fiber here and there. Oh yes - when there is a "whirrrrrr " of a supercharger in the background.... then the whole "get out of the ticket before it happens" thing just ain't gonna happen.
L - I suspect the if you have a history of getting out of tickets once stopped it is only because of your outgoing, friendly, and resourceful personality !
If you can get a laugh (or even a smile) out of a police officer, the odds are really good that you are going to leave the stop without a ticket.
01-21-2005, 04:00 AM
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Good Morning!
Actually, most of the stuff that I use is for not getting pulled over at all. I have rarely done the speed limit...I consistantly am in the triple digits. I have been pulled over only three times in my entire life and I have had only one ticket (albeit a doozy).
:knocksonwood: :hopesshedoesn'tjinxherself:
Actually, most of the stuff that I use is for not getting pulled over at all. I have rarely done the speed limit...I consistantly am in the triple digits. I have been pulled over only three times in my entire life and I have had only one ticket (albeit a doozy).
:knocksonwood: :hopesshedoesn'tjinxherself:
01-21-2005, 04:17 AM
#6
I am, but i never go into triple digits though...
Ill read it later, go early to get a headache reading.
Ok maybe not a skirt, but maybe if I had a pair of you know what, i'd get off easier.
Ill read it later, go early to get a headache reading.
Ok maybe not a skirt, but maybe if I had a pair of you know what, i'd get off easier.
01-21-2005, 04:23 AM
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I'm just cautious! Always alert. Always finding a couple people to piggy back with... ducking between 18 Wheelers... learning your routes and knowing the cops favorite spots... it all works.
