RANT: Police, lame ticket
So at about 10pm this night (few hours ago) I went to pick up my girlfriend to take her back to my place. No big deal, right? Hardly any traffic, just a trip to the freeway and a short cruise from there to my house. I don't know if any of you are familiar with 190th st in Redondo/Torrance... but there's a point where there is a stop sign in each lane, and then a big hill. I was heading east, down the hill, so I let off the gas... just coast my way down... saves gas, saves my brake pads, right?
WRONG. I was talking to my girlfriend so I didn't pay much attention to the speedometer. Yeah I was watching the road and everything, but by the time we hit the bottom of the hill, I hear screeching tires making a U-turn and before I know it, I see nothing but blue and red in every mirror.
"Hi there officer how's your night going?"
"Just fine, how fast were you just going down that hill?"
"I didn't really notice, I was just coasting"
"I got a laser gun here that clocked you at 50" (in a 35 mph zone)
"Oh"
"License, registration, proof of insurance. I'm gonna need to see your ID too ma'am"
(I hand all the papers over)
(He comes back 5 minutes later)
"Did you know it's illegal to tint your windows?"
"I wasn't aware. They were tinted when I bought the car"
"Alright, well either way, I'm writing this ticket for speeding, doing 50 in a 35. You should understand that we get a lot of complaints around here about people speeding" (No one lives on that entire hill... it's a DOG PARK)
So I sign, take it, drive off. It's bull____ though because it's 200 bucks that I don't have... and WAY more in insurance over the next 3 years. Traffic school will not be an option. And this is likely going to ____ me over because I'm starting college in the fall and I'm barely gonna be making enough money to get by there.
Here's what REALLY ticked me off. About 5 minutes after we drove separate ways, I saw the same cop again, behind me... an Audi A4 zooms by going at least 60... in a 35 zone... what's our enforcer of the law do? Keep following me.
WRONG. I was talking to my girlfriend so I didn't pay much attention to the speedometer. Yeah I was watching the road and everything, but by the time we hit the bottom of the hill, I hear screeching tires making a U-turn and before I know it, I see nothing but blue and red in every mirror.
"Hi there officer how's your night going?"
"Just fine, how fast were you just going down that hill?"
"I didn't really notice, I was just coasting"
"I got a laser gun here that clocked you at 50" (in a 35 mph zone)
"Oh"
"License, registration, proof of insurance. I'm gonna need to see your ID too ma'am"
(I hand all the papers over)
(He comes back 5 minutes later)
"Did you know it's illegal to tint your windows?"
"I wasn't aware. They were tinted when I bought the car"
"Alright, well either way, I'm writing this ticket for speeding, doing 50 in a 35. You should understand that we get a lot of complaints around here about people speeding" (No one lives on that entire hill... it's a DOG PARK)
So I sign, take it, drive off. It's bull____ though because it's 200 bucks that I don't have... and WAY more in insurance over the next 3 years. Traffic school will not be an option. And this is likely going to ____ me over because I'm starting college in the fall and I'm barely gonna be making enough money to get by there.
Here's what REALLY ticked me off. About 5 minutes after we drove separate ways, I saw the same cop again, behind me... an Audi A4 zooms by going at least 60... in a 35 zone... what's our enforcer of the law do? Keep following me.
It looks like you got off easy, he could have given you a ticket for tint AND and not being in full control of your vehicle (coasting)... which is also illegal in California. As for speeding complaints, people are probably walking their dogs or jogging at all hours of the day & night... it happens, especially when people carry cell phones.
The only advice I can give is to pay better attention to what you are doing behind the wheel; you save a lot of money that way.
The only advice I can give is to pay better attention to what you are doing behind the wheel; you save a lot of money that way.
Originally Posted by 2fast4you
It looks like you got off easy, he could have given you a ticket for tint AND and not being in full control of your vehicle (coasting)... which is also illegal in California. As for speeding complaints, people are probably walking their dogs or jogging at all hours of the day & night... it happens, especially when people carry cell phones.
The only advice I can give is to pay better attention to what you are doing behind the wheel; you save a lot of money that way.
The only advice I can give is to pay better attention to what you are doing behind the wheel; you save a lot of money that way.
wait, coasting is illegal? i coast all the time, like when approaching stoplights hoping they turn green before i have to stop, but i'm always in gear, which i guess is technically engine braking, and in maryland, it says a car must always be in gear.
but yeah dude, when going down a hill, just leave it in gear, your car doesn't use any gas when engine braking. there was this really long steep hill on my college campus that had a measily 20 mph speed limit, which could easily carry you up to 50 mph if you rolled in neutral, but the campus police were all over, so i just left it in second and rolled down the hill, car would barely break 20 mph it was perfect.
but yeah dude, when going down a hill, just leave it in gear, your car doesn't use any gas when engine braking. there was this really long steep hill on my college campus that had a measily 20 mph speed limit, which could easily carry you up to 50 mph if you rolled in neutral, but the campus police were all over, so i just left it in second and rolled down the hill, car would barely break 20 mph it was perfect.
Originally Posted by drjohnson36
"Just fine, how fast were you just going down that hill?"
"I didn't really notice, I was just coasting"
"I got a laser gun here that clocked you at 50" (in a 35 mph zone)
"Oh"
"I didn't really notice, I was just coasting"
"I got a laser gun here that clocked you at 50" (in a 35 mph zone)
"Oh"
brought to you by the handy http://ticketassassin.com/visorguide.html
3. DO YOU KNOW HOW FAST YOU WERE GOING? (OR ONE OF ITS INDIRECT VARIANTS: WHAT'S THE HURRY? OR DO YOU KNOW THE SPEED LIMIT HERE?)
Analysis: Again, this type of question is trying to make you admit to breaking the Prima Facie (VC 23352) or Maximum (VC 22349) Speed Law by stating a specific number (which the officer will record as evidence) or otherwise admitting to speeding.
BAD ANSWERS: "75." "85." "95." "About your I.Q." "Who knows, the signs blur out when I pass 100."
BETTER ANSWER: Yes. I was going a SAFE AND REASONABLE speed for conditions in accordance with the BASIC SPEED LAW (VC 22350).
Analysis: Again, this type of question is trying to make you admit to breaking the Prima Facie (VC 23352) or Maximum (VC 22349) Speed Law by stating a specific number (which the officer will record as evidence) or otherwise admitting to speeding.
BAD ANSWERS: "75." "85." "95." "About your I.Q." "Who knows, the signs blur out when I pass 100."
BETTER ANSWER: Yes. I was going a SAFE AND REASONABLE speed for conditions in accordance with the BASIC SPEED LAW (VC 22350).
1. EXCUSE TIME--NEVER BE AFRAID TO GIVE AN HONEST & LEGITIMATE EXCUSE AS TO WHY YOU MAY HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED AND INADVERTENTLY VIOLATED THE LAW
(I have a friend who was cited for speeding while taking his pregnant (in labor) wife to the hospital. Sound absurd? What's really absurd is that he did not inform the officer of his situation, feeling that it was a "private" matter. Remember though, even an ambulance can not legally drive more than 15 mph over the posted limit. Other "legitimate" excuses for distraction: trying to control children or pets, adjusting child seat, arguing with spouse..etc. Being "in a hurry" for non-emergency reasons is never a good excuse. REMEMBER THAT ANY "EXCUSE" MIGHT BE USED AGAINST YOU IN COURT AS AN IMPLIED ADMISSION OF GUILT.)
2. QUESTIONING THE EVIDENCE: WITH A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE VEHICLE CODE YOU CAN POLITELY ASK THE OFFICER QUESTIONS WHICH MAY PROVE HIS EVIDENCE ILLEGAL IN ITSELF AND UNUSABLE IN COURT.
QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK THE POLICE:
(SPEEDING): Motorist: "Officer, how did you determine my speed?"
Officer: "I paced you."
Motorist reply: "Fine. When was your speedometer last calibrated? May I see proof of calibration?"
OR
Officer: "I used radar."(MOST TICKETS OFF FREEWAY ARE RADAR)
Motorist: "Fine. May I see your tuning fork and calibration record?"(Many radars are calibrated with a tuning fork.)
Officer: "Here they are." (Note: officer not legally required to show you the radar reading itself, but feel free to ask.)
OR
Motorist: "When was the required TRAFFIC AND ENGINEERING SURVEY last conducted on this road? Was it conducted within the last seven years? If so, what did it determine the SAFE SPEED on this road to be?
Officer: "I don't know any of that?"
Motorist: " Then can I assume this is a SPEED TRAP by definition of VC 40802 and that your "evidence" is illegal by VC40803?"
If the last question seemed a bit too complex, try this:
Motorist: "Officer, how long have you guys had this Speed Trap set up?"
Officer: "'Bout half an hour."(though any answer not categorically denying that he is conducting a Speed Trap might work.)
Motorist: Thanks for that information, officer. Are you aware that Speed Traps (VC 40802) and Speed Trap Evidence (VC 40803) are illegal?"
Officer: "You got me there. You're free to go." (Yes, this might occur.)
(other citations): Ask him about his ticket "quota" indirectly:
Motorist: "Officer, are you permitted to give me a warning or are you required to only write citations today?
Officer: "They sent me here to write tickets, not to give warnings."
Motorist: "I thought you were here to promote traffic safety; what you described sounds like a quota." (quota's are illegal: VC 41602)
(Officers can always write a warning for a 1 point infraction, so if he tells you he can't, he's indirectly admitting to some sort of directed quota.)
(I have a friend who was cited for speeding while taking his pregnant (in labor) wife to the hospital. Sound absurd? What's really absurd is that he did not inform the officer of his situation, feeling that it was a "private" matter. Remember though, even an ambulance can not legally drive more than 15 mph over the posted limit. Other "legitimate" excuses for distraction: trying to control children or pets, adjusting child seat, arguing with spouse..etc. Being "in a hurry" for non-emergency reasons is never a good excuse. REMEMBER THAT ANY "EXCUSE" MIGHT BE USED AGAINST YOU IN COURT AS AN IMPLIED ADMISSION OF GUILT.)
2. QUESTIONING THE EVIDENCE: WITH A BASIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE VEHICLE CODE YOU CAN POLITELY ASK THE OFFICER QUESTIONS WHICH MAY PROVE HIS EVIDENCE ILLEGAL IN ITSELF AND UNUSABLE IN COURT.
QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK THE POLICE:
(SPEEDING): Motorist: "Officer, how did you determine my speed?"
Officer: "I paced you."
Motorist reply: "Fine. When was your speedometer last calibrated? May I see proof of calibration?"
OR
Officer: "I used radar."(MOST TICKETS OFF FREEWAY ARE RADAR)
Motorist: "Fine. May I see your tuning fork and calibration record?"(Many radars are calibrated with a tuning fork.)
Officer: "Here they are." (Note: officer not legally required to show you the radar reading itself, but feel free to ask.)
OR
Motorist: "When was the required TRAFFIC AND ENGINEERING SURVEY last conducted on this road? Was it conducted within the last seven years? If so, what did it determine the SAFE SPEED on this road to be?
Officer: "I don't know any of that?"
Motorist: " Then can I assume this is a SPEED TRAP by definition of VC 40802 and that your "evidence" is illegal by VC40803?"
If the last question seemed a bit too complex, try this:
Motorist: "Officer, how long have you guys had this Speed Trap set up?"
Officer: "'Bout half an hour."(though any answer not categorically denying that he is conducting a Speed Trap might work.)
Motorist: Thanks for that information, officer. Are you aware that Speed Traps (VC 40802) and Speed Trap Evidence (VC 40803) are illegal?"
Officer: "You got me there. You're free to go." (Yes, this might occur.)
(other citations): Ask him about his ticket "quota" indirectly:
Motorist: "Officer, are you permitted to give me a warning or are you required to only write citations today?
Officer: "They sent me here to write tickets, not to give warnings."
Motorist: "I thought you were here to promote traffic safety; what you described sounds like a quota." (quota's are illegal: VC 41602)
(Officers can always write a warning for a 1 point infraction, so if he tells you he can't, he's indirectly admitting to some sort of directed quota.)
You know, I actually took out from the library, and read a very large portion of the CVC when I got my first speeding ticket (which is why traffic school is out of the question). I came across CVC 40802/40803 about speed traps and how they were illegal. I must have read over that section a hundred times because I couldn't believe what I was reading.
By the way thanks for the link to that site, I've got studying to do.
By the way thanks for the link to that site, I've got studying to do.
I am going to fight it through written declaration. The officer failed to present the prima facie limit, in addition he was conducting speed traps all night that night. After following me to the freeway he went into a parking lot and killed his lights.
Originally Posted by nebster
don't speed and you wont get tickets. i don't know why people biscuit about things like that when you're obviously breaking the law. speed limits are set for a reason. FOLLOW THEM
the OP even said 'i wasnt paying attention to the speedometer, i was talking to my GF'...so how can you complain about getting a ticket when you werent paying attention to how fast you were going?
Originally Posted by drjohnson36
You know, I actually took out from the library, and read a very large portion of the CVC when I got my first speeding ticket ...
Originally Posted by CarbonXe
Don't speed next time and you won't get a ticket for speeding. He should have given you two, one for speeding and one for the tints.
I agree though, tint tickets are a pain to fix.






