Got a %$#&@%! Ticket Today!

[Tidybuoy]

Just wanted to share my sad story regarding a speeding ticket I got this morning.

I was on a divided freeway that had two lanes each way. There was a 5th wheel with a very large trailer in the left lane that was pacing a semi-truck in the right lane - basically blocking traffic for at least 5 minutes.

It was a 70mph zone (but vehicles with trailers have a limit of 55).

Finally, after the trailer eventually passed and got into the right lane, I stepped on it and instantly saw the CHP parked in the shadows. He was not using radar as my detector did not go off.

The cop immediately pulled into traffic and pulled me over. I explained to the cop that I was passing a trailer that was spewing rocks all over the cars behind, was traveling with a wide-load in the left lane, and was going over the limit for trailers. The cop told me he clocked at 94mph (which is bull). As he went back to his car to write the ticket, I turned on my phone recorder.

After the cop had written the ticket, I asked him when his radar was last calibrated and he replied "it's on file". I asked if I was allowed to see that and he replied "you can subpoena it". I explained that I was very disappointed that he did not see the unsafe, wide-load, truck that was blocking traffic and causing a problem.

When I got to work, I read the ticket and it states "approx. 80+mph". Why didn't he state 94mph if he had his radar on as he stated he clocked me? I think I was targeted because I was in a sports car and they are doing a state-wide campaign for tickets today. Sounds like he has a quota and he targeted me without any support as he stated he had - I will definitely take this one to court!

[Tidybuoy]

Just wanted to share my sad story regarding a speeding ticket I got this morning.

I was on a divided freeway that had two lanes each way. There was a 5th wheel with a very large trailer in the left lane that was pacing a semi-truck in the right lane - basically blocking traffic for at least 5 minutes.

It was a 70mph zone (but vehicles with trailers have a limit of 55).

Finally, after the trailer eventually passed and got into the right lane, I stepped on it and instantly saw the CHP parked in the shadows. He was not using radar as my detector did not go off.

The cop immediately pulled into traffic and pulled me over. I explained to the cop that I was passing a trailer that was spewing rocks all over the cars behind, was traveling with a wide-load in the left lane, and was going over the limit for trailers. The cop told me he clocked at 94mph (which is bull). As he went back to his car to write the ticket, I turned on my phone recorder.

After the cop had written the ticket, I asked him when his radar was last calibrated and he replied "it's on file". I asked if I was allowed to see that and he replied "you can subpoena it". I explained that I was very disappointed that he did not see the unsafe, wide-load, truck that was blocking traffic and causing a problem.

When I got to work, I read the ticket and it states "approx. 80+mph". Why didn't he state 94mph if he had his radar on as he stated he clocked me? I think I was targeted because I was in a sports car and they are doing a state-wide campaign for tickets today. Sounds like he has a quota and he targeted me without any support as he stated he had - I will definitely take this one to court!
__________________

[T77911S]

this may make you fell better.
my boss got a $500 ticket! and not for speeding.

short version and not sure all details
there was a cop stopped in an intersection i think due to a wreck up the road. the cop was walking to another car when my boss went around the cop. basically, he got a $500 ticket for passing a stopped police car. cop claims he was stopping traffic. he said 4 others got tickets along with hom, BUT, while he was writing the ticket, a whole bunch of other cars tried to do the same thing but but the cop got on the bull horn and told them to turn around.

again, not sure of all details. but a $500 ticket!

[Uncle Enzo]

In reality and I am not sure of the fines in your state but he could have saved you points and $$ by dropping it to 80

[Craig T]

Hey, look on the bright side. At least a professional photographer wasn't standing there to take your picture and put it up on the Rock Store blog and photo page.

[sballard]

Might be able to challenge that in court. If he had a detector in good working order, it would have provided a number with a reasonably high level of accuracy. "80+" states that cop guessed and did not measure it. And if he did not measure it, he did not know what is was. I don't think that the cops can give you a ticket just because it looks like you were going fast.

Just my opinion...

[cockerpunk]

yeah do it.

once in my GTI i was "clocked" doing 74 mph like 400 ft from a stop sign.

i showed up with velocity/distance graphs and google maps distance calcs proving my car couldn't possibly be going that fast, and it was thrown out. they said it was the first time they'd ever seen someone prove there car wasn't fast enough.

[Jerome74911S]

Originally Posted by sballard

. . . I don't think that the cops can give you a ticket just because it looks like you were going fast.

Read my blog post title: Porsche Physiognomy

[id10t]

That recording you made could maybe cause you trouble, depends on the wiretapping laws in Cali

[Eli W]

I nearly felt your pain today.

I was coming off a sweat sweeper where two highways merge. And there was some pos painting van in front of me but I had a great opening to get around him so I punched it. (did you know? these cars corner better and hold a line better if you accelerate coming through a corner, jk)
Any who, out of the corner of my right eye I see a completely blacked out charger one lane over to my left that looked very suspicious. Literally a split second later I would have been toast.
Hit the brakes, not too hard but hard any enough, cop had hit the gas hard to get me and he over shoots me and now is in front. Lights don't come on but he taps the brakes to slow a little, after coming back down from race speed I flash him a peace sign at him and off he goes driving just a little faster than me.

Whoa! a close one, but the corner was fun. The car made me do it I had no choice.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

When I got to work, I read the ticket and it states "approx. 80+mph". Why didn't he state 94mph if he had his radar on as he stated he clocked me? I think I was targeted because I was in a sports car and they are doing a state-wide campaign for tickets today. Sounds like he has a quota and he targeted me without any support as he stated he had - I will definitely take this one to court!

Oh yes! It's never your fault. It's always the evil cop that's deliberately looking to bust a guy in a sports car. We all know that Porsche drivers like us never, ever would engage in a burst of speed.

Your indignance at getting a ticket is a typical reaction. Everyone who gets a ticket feels that they were not fairly treated. It's natural. Fact is, he did you a favor by stating 80+ instead of 94.

Pay your fine, or take a plea deal if they offer it, and move on. You pay to play.

[sballard]

Let me re-phase my reckless comment...

I am sure that a cop can give you a ticket because you look like you were going fast. They will just have a hell of a time convincing a judge that they were justified in writing you up.

A lawyer friend of mine told be that one of his clients was ticketed for speeding and they went to court. When he asked the patrolman on the stand how he determined his speed, the cop replied "Vascar" which is really just a speed calculated from the time it takes for the car to pass two reference points on the road. My friend then asked him what the two reference points were. The patrolman said "a sign post and the shadow that the bridge made on the road." My friend then asked the patrolman if he "was aware of the concept of the rotation of Earth." After the laughter in the courtroom died down, the judge dismissed the case.

[LJ851]

Originally Posted by Craig T

Great shot Craig ! Suitable for framing.

[Noah930]

^^^^^
How fast could you have been driving that green 911 when an Explorer pulled you over?

[Tobra]

Apparently not fast enough
Simple, he is a lying bill collector. You will pay, he is an "unbiased professional with no reason to lie," or that is the position of the "judge" will take. Stuff like this is an excellent argument in favor of a dash cam.

Originally Posted by porschenut

Oh yes! It's never your fault. It's always the evil cop that's deliberately looking to bust a guy in a sports car. We all know that Porsche drivers like us never, ever would engage in a burst of speed.

Your indignance at getting a ticket is a typical reaction. Everyone who gets a ticket feels that they were not fairly treated. It's natural. Fact is, he did you a favor by stating 80+ instead of 94.

Pay your fine, or take a plea deal if they offer it, and move on. You pay to play.

You did not even read the OP did you

[motion]

I guess I must be missing something... you were speeding and you got a ticket. And now you're pissed? Why exactly?

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by cockerpunk

yeah do it.

once in my GTI i was "clocked" doing 74 mph like 400 ft from a stop sign.

i showed up with velocity/distance graphs and google maps distance calcs proving my car couldn't possibly be going that fast, and it was thrown out. they said it was the first time they'd ever seen someone prove there car wasn't fast enough.

I have tried that approach. The judge was less then amused, and decided with the patrol officer...

[Alfasrule]

Challenge that sucker. He estimated your speed. Take it to COURT! He has NO Radar Record of your speed at all, especially if there were cars between him and you. He just saw you accelerating and assumed your Speed.

[stomachmonkey]

How fast were you going?

If trailers are limited to 55 but the one you overtook was exceeding that he was going 60? Or better?

80 sounds close.

On the off chance he did have radar / laser and you were going that fast he might have done you a favor.

Don't know about CA but in NY 25 over the posted limit will get you an automatic 30 day suspension even with a spotless license.

The local popo her in TX will write you up for 1 mile over the limit. I **** you not.

[island911]

Originally Posted by motion

I guess I must be missing something... you were speeding and you got a ticket. And now you're pissed? Why exactly?

what's the Latin... that which is necessary is legal.

IOW, he was doing nothing unsafe.