Do you know how fast you were going?

[KeepTheShineyPartUp.com]

License, registration and insurance please ...

(unzip, fumble, drop things, then hand the officer the documents)

Do you know how fast you were going?

Be careful how you answer this ShineyPartBoy, it could be a trick ... if you say

No ... then that could imply that I am not paying attention

Yes ... then my moral center would force me to tell the truth

then the perfect answer came to me

I hope ... 65?

The officer was un-amused. I got you for 85 and turned to head back to the cruiser

Wait right here, I'll be back

Sure I've been pulled over before. But I've never been faced with this road-side etiquette conundrum:
How do I address HER?

Is it...

Her TrooperEss?

OfficerEtt?

CountyNeedToBeMountie?

SpeedTaxCollectorQueen?

When she returned to instruct me to sign her ticket book, I decided on -

yes madam

Her CHPerEtt escorted me back to the cruiser to sign on the hood of the car

I know what this is ... she wants to get me on her visor mounted PerpCamera

I guess I can't use the "it wasn't me" defense ... or the "I'm blind and I can't see the speed limit signs" defense.

So how fast was I going? Next time I will assert:
The speed limit

.

[ckcarr]

She Had A Sulky Smile,
And She Took A Standard Pose As She Presented Herself.

She Gave Him Her Look,
That Would Have Worked On Any Other Man In Sight.

She Turned, Tossed Her Head And Then
She Started To Make Her Final Exit Line.
She Showed Real Disdain,

He Said, "Leave Me Alone,
And My Bark Is Much Worse Than My Bite!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQdu4UOCUZc&feature=related

[bradzdotcom]

the correct answer to "do you know how fast you were going?" is:

"yes".

nothing more. nothing less.

[tim22]

There's a whole thread here somewhere about how to make preparations for getting out of a speeding ticket (it's very long, well-written and honest--it doesn't promise to get you out of one--it just prepares you for the fight).

One of the first things it tells you to do not admit guilt.

I got stopped in my wife's car for speeding a few weeks ago. Even though I couldn't find her proof of insurance (turns out it actually WAS in the car, I just didn't look in the right place), I still got out of the ticket. It was a female officer. Though I haven't been stopped in many years, the "stay cool and act courteous" approach always works for me.

[PFFOG]

After being asked "Do you know............" by many in the uniformed community, and facing the same conundrum, not wanting to lie, not wanting to sound clueless and inattentive, and not wanting to incriminate my self, I have come up with an answer that satisfies all the criteria.................I look at them and say, "at a speed reasonable and safe for conditions", and in the case of getting pulled over for crossing a double yellow the reply is, " I do not make unsafe passes and am ALWAYS sure of my sight lines" etc.

You don't admit guilt, you let them know you were situationally aware, and not taking undue risk. May not save a ticket, but does save your integrity and keeps you from feeling like a clueless child being scolded by an adult.

And we all know it is about Public SAFETY and not $$$$$............................................. ......

[geothepencil]

So these are all good answers, but what if they change the game and ask, "Do you know why I pulled you over ?" Any usable advice would be appreciated !

geo

[bradzdotcom]

"Officer, i imagine you pulled me over because you have incredibly good taste in choosing friendly people to chat with, possibly reprimand and then part with after a friendly, forthright handshake.
Right?"

another tact (might not work as well):
"of course i know why you pulled me over. how big of a moron do you have to be to ask a question as obviously stupid as that?"

[geothepencil]

(sigh) Looks like I'm going to have to borrow one of Obama's teleprompters.

geo

[Ryan Coke]

I have two friends who are in the Law Enforcement business. One is a cop, the other a judge. They have helped me several times with beating a ticket. In Canada, they do not need to read you your rights on the roadside because you are not being arrested, however you are being charged with something. Anything you say on the roadside can be used as evidence. I would imagine it is the same or very similar in the U.S.

"Do you know why I pulled you over?" or " do you know how fast you were going?" are classic questions to gather evidence that could be later presented in court should you choose to fight the ticket. Why else would they ask?

Be very polite, no need to be rude as he/she is only doing their job, keep your hands where they can be seen until a dialogue has been established and offer no evidence.

That advice has worked well for me.

[PFFOG]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

.........they do not need to read you your rights on the roadside because you are not being arrested, however you are being charged with something. Anything you say on the roadside can be used as evidence. I would imagine it is the same or very similar in the U.S....................

At least it is in NY state.

As for your question Geo, Along the same lines of my other replies, "I am not sure Sir/Madam, I believe I was driving/riding in a safe manner". Honest, you really don't "know" exactly why, and unless you were doing something recklessly, true as well.

[geothepencil]

[squall_line]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

She Had A Sulky Smile,
And She Took A Standard Pose As She Presented Herself.

She Gave Him Her Look,
That Would Have Worked On Any Other Man In Sight.

She Turned, Tossed Her Head And Then
She Started To Make Her Final Exit Line.
She Showed Real Disdain,

He Said, "Leave Me Alone,
And My Bark Is Much Worse Than My Bite!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQdu4UOCUZc&feature=related

It's a wonder anyone actually pro-created in the 80's... Then again, the women didn't look that much more "hip" than the guys...

I'll take early-60's dress codes (a la Mad Men) any day over Miami Vice and American Psycho 80's styles...

Now, where did I leave those Ray-bans...

[BMWRider]

Why are you bozo's stopping in the first place? It's much easier to avoid all of these trick questions when you don't stop

[geothepencil]

Originally Posted by BMWRider

Why are you bozo's stopping in the first place? It's much easier to avoid all of these trick questions when you don't stop

Well, in your neck of the woods, the Chicago LEOs just yell at you from the start, so there's really no point in thinking you are going to get a word in. I've never seen one of them having a nice day so I'm probably going to stop to avoid being shot at least 6 or 8 times. Natives of the area can no doubt deal with them better than us downstate bumpkins.

geo

[wswartzwel]

Originally Posted by ckcarr

She Had A Sulky Smile,
And She Took A Standard Pose As She Presented Herself.

She Gave Him Her Look,
That Would Have Worked On Any Other Man In Sight.

She Turned, Tossed Her Head And Then
She Started To Make Her Final Exit Line.
She Showed Real Disdain,

He Said, "Leave Me Alone,
And My Bark Is Much Worse Than My Bite!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQdu4UOCUZc&feature=related

Interesting (somewhat sickening) video... I recognized the guy wearing a white shirt, and playing guitar (not Oates) He is a very young G.E. Smith... who was the Guitar guy/Music director on SNL.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.E._Smith



Edit... Looking back on some other vids of the era... Some of the ones I used to like, ZZTOP for instance; seem kind of corny when I look at them now

[AndrewA]

Originally Posted by BMWRider

Why are you bozo's stopping in the first place? It's much easier to avoid all of these trick questions when you don't stop

Quoted for posterity.

[geothepencil]

Originally Posted by wswartzwel

Edit... Looking back on some other vids of the era... Some of the ones I used to like, ZZTOP for instance; seem kind of corny when I look at them now

The Top is still a great band, but I'm reminded of a year of 82 Vid that for me stands the test of time.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTAhZKP5wCY

geo

[BMathison]

I have found that nothing helps much when tucked in, cresting a hill at 120+ with another bike drafting less than 3 feet behind you while meeting a county Sheriff.

I have found that doing this results in a large sweaty county Sheriff exiting his vehicle with a very red face, bulging veins and no sense of humor whatsoever.

I have found that said officer of the law will not much be much for chit chat... at all.

I have found that the only way to get out of said fines is to talk to old friends and call in a favor or two.

I have found that it will cost more than the cost of the actual ticket to keep things "off the record".
















Or so I've heard.

[SergioK]

Originally Posted by bradzdotcom

the correct answer to "do you know how fast you were going?" is:

"yes".

nothing more. nothing less.

Sometimes they don't even ask! Stout's replacement (he retired last week by the way) up on Angeles Crest Hwy cited me. I was traveling maybe 56-57mph(indicated 60) in a 55mph and I was promptly written up for 75mph. I usually admit to having my hand in the cookie jar and enjoying my bike. I would have too, had I actually been flaunting it in his face. This just happens to be one of those times when I wasn't. I think it was quota time.

[signit98]

Whatever happened to that?

With all the mistakes he made, one would think that it does not even come to a court date?