Not mocking at all, just calling it like I saw it. You spend a week doing their job and see if your opinion changes.


bitter |ˈbitər|
adjective

(of people or their feelings or behavior) angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment : I don't feel jealous or bitter.

http://test5477.blogspot.com

My wife was ticketed for doing 35 mph in a 25 mph zone at a notorious speed trap in the Washington DC area. When she showed up in court:

Judge, "Mrs. Wilson, what is your story?"

Wife, "I needed to change gears and my husband told me I had to be going at the three little marks to shift."

Judge, "Say what?"

Cops, "That is what she told us too!"

<The court erupted in laughter! After things quieted down.>

Judge, "Mrs. Wilson, I wish your husband were here today. Case dismissed."

Bob Wilson

Operation Iraqi Oil Freedom:

Automatic, stock, project car.

My other 1500 cc car:

Automatic, stock, backup car.
Free speech, dialog and knowledge thrives without the poison of SPAM.

Probably will just pay my fine and hope that no one else in the family gets a moving violation that causes my insurance to go sky high. Will be driving slower than usual for a while when not on the highway.

Reading Bob Wilson's post reminded me. I once got stopped for 60 in a 45 MPH zone in Los Angeles while driving my first car as a student, a 1954 Dodge with a "gyromatic" transmission.

I stated to the police officer that the car would not go 50 MPH in its present condition. I offered to let him drive it to prove it, and he refused. He gave me the ticket instead.

In court, I related the offer to let the officer drive to the Judge, and ... I offered HIM the chance to drive it....and he promptly dismissed the case.

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

Depends on the state really. In MA the ticketing offers does not need to appear in court because it gets arbitrated first. Only if you insist does the case go to court. So you have to convince the arbitrator (judge) first...which isn't so easy. Now...if the ticketing cop does not submit his files to the arbitrator, case dismissed.

Consider getting some of this stuff for your vehicle(s). It reduces a laser gun's effective range. I've seen videos online than verify its effectiveness. Used in conjunction with a detector, it should give you a fighting chance against laser-based traffic traps. I haven't tried it yet, but will likely do so soon as the economy continues to deteriorate and more governments look to turn their LEOs into auxiliary revenue agents.

taanstafl14,
Don't waste your money. Any video you see that purports to "prove' that it works is bogus. The laser beam will reflect off ANY shiny surface, including your front bumper fascia. license plate, rear view mirrors, windshield wipers, even the trim around your windshield. To be effective against laser you'd need either a rough, dull refractive surface all over your vehicle, including all glass surfaces, or a specially designed stealth body design that has no reflective angles and a dull coating. I think either of these would raise a few police eyebrows.

Most effective way to avoid tickets? Do the speed limit.

Matt in Moore Tafetta White 2008 HCHII

Actually, having friends as LEOs, most will gve you 5 MPH over, sometime 10, but depends on officer. Fighting the calibration is not always best defense. Yes, some are slobs and don't get their paperwork done. But almost all are inspected monthly. Part of that is that their Speedometer, and speed measuring device calibration are in date.

Now I want to get a ticket from our local SO, because I know they do their own calibration certificates. They do not have a registered Motor Vehicle shop. So they do not meet the administratve rule. But with my FEH, I don't drive fast anymore.

Problem with this thought process is everytime you contest a ticket they either are:

Getting paid to sit in an air conditioned/heated courtroom for half a day instead of having to patrol. Sometimes another officer is called in for overtime and paid time and a half to cover the patrol shift.

or

Getting paid time and a half because it is their day off.

Another problem with your thought process is that much of the stopping of crime and drugs as you put it, is from traffic stops.

you say: "Believe it or not, cops can't just pull you over and take your money. They have to prove to a judge that they were operating within the bounds of the law."

Cops don't take or get any of your money(not a cent), but they most certainly can "just pull you over" everytime you break a law. (as this original poster clearly said he was doing by speeding).

If you get a ticket and you think it was issued in error, ABSOLUTLEY take it to court. If you would like to ask the judge for leniency because you have a good record, ABSOLUTELY take it to court.

BUT

If you are contesting every ticket just to "get back at them", or to teach them this lesson ("Eventually they may decide that spending time in court justifying hundreds of traffic tickets per day isn't worth the hassle") you are costing yourself and the taxpayers alot more money in addition to what it is costing you for your time (time off work or away from family etc.)

Sean

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Well if he drive that car instead of giving you tickets just to prove you are right, you both shouldn't be in the court anyway. Nice experience though...

Electric and Hybrid Cars