So the lawyer tells me to get my speedometer calibration checked to prepare for my upcoming court case (reckless by speed, 81 in a 55, Fairfax County VA). I have stock tires and everything else, by the way. He tells me that one of his previous clients got a very "favorable result" at a certain auto shop, so I went there. They measure your actual speed and your speedometer reading for 5mph speed increments from 10 to 65mph. So according to them, at an actual speed of 65mph, my speedo reads only 59.2mph. Better yet, if you plot the data points and extrapolate, at an actual speed of 81mph (my ticket), the speedo would read only 74mph, which is conviently only 19mph over the speed limit (reckless is 20 over). How much this actually helps me in court, I'll find out in a couple of weeks. But my question is has anyone else ever done this or seen a calibration this far off?

 

no, but let us know how it goes.

 

Hi:
Interesting. My understanding was that speedos are usually wrong in the other direction. (65 indicated, only going 62) I'm not a lawyer, but I remember reading a difference between having to understand your commiting a crime, or not. In other words, in most states wether you knew you were speeding or not is a moot point. As long as you were speeding, you were wrong.
*shrug* I at least try to stay under 20 mph over the speed limit, esp when out of town.
-Shon

 

Ignorance of the law is not protection from the law, but intent makes a difference, like manslaughter vs murder. It's really all up to the prosecutor, who we want to make a deal with, or up the judge. I have zero experience with this, but apparently it can help since the lawyer told me to do it.

 

If you can prove that your speedo is off you will not be held responsible for the actual speed you were going. My buddy in law school had just learned about this and told me about it before I went to court my last time. I was too stupid to actually have it checked though. This is the law in Georgia so I dont know about where you are.

 

IT WORKS! If that shops calibrationed is as screwed as you posted, then by all means get it done ASAP before they fix the machine. G'luck to you.

p.s. F|_|ck VA & their speed traps. I hate the communist state.

 

Why not try being an adult, accept responsibility, and pay the fine? Have you grown up without any good role models in your life?

 

I wouldnt just "man up" and pay the fine. I know in NC if you are more then maybe 15mph over, then its a felony. Who would want to be an adult and get a felony on their record. If there is a way of getting the charge reduced, then by all means, go for it.

 

Never "man up" or just roll over and take the fine - fight it to the hilt. Over 90% of speeding tickets are uncontested, and the state knows this. Its a huge cash cow, and when faced with the prospect of actually having to argue a case, an overworked assistant DA will usually drop a case rather than risk a loss on their record. There will be plenty of other speeders, and in the time it takes to argue one case, the state court can get a lot more done.

Not only do you have a good chance with a lawyer, the true cost of a ticket far outweighs the minimal fine on the ticket. Think insurance, points, and a mark on your record that will kill your "but I'm innocent" argument when you get your next ticket.

[QUOTE]p.s. F|_|ck VA & their speed traps. I hate the communist state.

 

Yeah, sure.