What I'd do, is go there when there's basically no traiffic, measure the width of the lanes, the width of the bike lane, and call the court to see where you can get an engineering survey of the section which he pulled you over in.

Basically, if the judge doesn't hate you, then as long as you show you were going a reasonable speed for the conditions, then you're off. Since you're not saying you're not speeding, you just believe it was safe for the conditions at hand.

Time of day and weather report can also impact it a lot too, for example, if the sun was in your face, traffic, etc can all be determined by time.

 

I think you guys have the logic wrong, basic rule applies in any case where the officer believes that your speed is imprudent for the conditions, in most cases it is charged when you are actually within the legal posted limit or statutory limit, but faster than they believe is appropriate.

When you get basic rule thrown at you when you are clearly in violation of the posted limit, they are trying to make it a more serious charge, not that it really is, but some judges won't grant traffic school for basic rule violations.

Traffic studies are supposed to be conducted periodically in order to determine the appropriate limit to post, the loophole for them is when one hasn't been conducted for a certain period of time, in which case you are technically challenging the validity of that posted limit.

Basic rule applies regardless of the posted limit, and burden of proof is a matter of your word against his.

Good luck.

 

and the judge will take his side...

 

I'm not sure I'd say it's a more serious charge, but other than that, I agree with most of it. Engineering surveys are supposed to be conducted so a more knowledgeable person/persons can evaluate a good speed other than the officer. It can help if he can get the engineering survey as it shows what speeds are safe depending on condition.

The one I saw, was a very simple chart saying # cars, # pedestrians, and the resulting safe speed, so it's very straight forward. If it hasn't been conducted in the past (I think 3?) years, then he's off the hook as the speed limit can't be shown as legitamite, however, if it was done in the past time limit, then he can still use it to show that the survey says he was going a safe speed giving the circumstances. Also, if the engineering survey says he was going faster than what's considered safe, it would be a safe bet to just plead guilty to guarantee traffic school.

 

Welcome to the club. Of course you're elegible for traffic school. Matter of fact you can do it online. That's what I did. Worked like a charm.

 

The officer will most likely show up since the court dates are scheduled for th officers' days off (work on day off=overtime pay for them).

What you should do, when you get your paperwork, do the written contest option. Write your report, send it in. Most likely, the officer will not bother writing the needed paperwork, or will forget and miss the deadline. Even if the officer does write his part, and you loose, you then have the option for a court date. This court date is not necessarily scheduled for the officer's day off, so theres a good chance he wont show up this time, in which case, you win

this info is available from www.ticketassassin.com

 

Glad I'll be a cop soon... won't have to worry about that.

 

So if I've been driving for 10 years with no tickets or violations does that mean I get 2 free passes?

 

No, that means statistically your number is up tomorrow.

MBasile - Good call on the ticketassassin - I cannot believe no one mentioned that. I have gotten all of my most recent speeding violations dismissed with the help of ticketassassin.com.

There are some counties that have weird laws on traffic school. My brother got a ticket down near Monterey and was told you cannot do Traffic School for any ticket over 80MPH down there for example.

 

thats good to know

oh, and one of my buddies is getting out of a 40 in a 25 ticket on a technicality. The speed limit sign wasnt high enough from the ground

 

You mean cops don't catch cops. i have to wait 4 more years to be a citizen and then i will also become a cop, not for the tickets but i like the cop job it is fun everyday. Sometimes scary as u never know which jackass you are dealing with, but at the end of the day pleasing to know you actually did something.

BTW today On farm hill blvd (Same place where i got nailed) same cop pulling over 3 cars. again my V1 did not beep. i was way under limit.

Do you think something is wrong with my V1. Can anyone test it for me?

 

He's probably using a timed distance calculation. F'n speed trap. If your detector isn't working get it sent out and repaired. I wouldn't place my eggs in that basket.

 

Here's a question. on my ticket it says that i can go to the court on or before 03/13/07 @ 8:30 am. now everyday in the morning Officer is on farm hill blvd tagging people. if i go to the court on the same day he is on duty that means my case gets thrown. Right?

 

Wrong See above

 

Im guessing he had one of those nice new radar guns?