Fighting the Traffic Ticket / Revenue war to win!

Slow down.

I suggest a very good attorney, books, reading up on detection avoidance techniques, and laser and radar detectors--in that order. The really "good" ones know the traffic commissioner and get it pled down to driving without a seatbelt or other non-moving/no-points violation.

Your numbers are way off. Municipalities bring in a lot more than that, per cop.

It's a corrupt system. Use the corruption to work for you. Sad, but true.

 

Get yourself a black car with covered headlights and no front plate to help cut down on the laser range.

I agree with your original post, traffic tickets are a revenue scam.

 

Are the cops that sneaky that you can't be aware(with V1) etc. and have a good idea of where they'll be? Here it's farely easy to stay out of trouble if your smart about it (knock on wood ) There are just too many other easy targets for them here. If every time you go out you are just a sitting duck then you might as well obey the law. No sense fighting city hall if that's what it amounts to.

 

Sad thing is that the cops are not seeing much if any of this “Revenue” generated by traffic fines! (At least where I live)

If you want to declare war! Take it to the corrupt politicians who spend the money on their re-election instead of buying bullet proof vests for their officers!

Each and every officer is given a monthly “Quota”. Someone needs to do the math and show the public where this revenue is going. I for one would be very interested in finding out who gets this $$.

 

Or you can just move to Canada and never be subject to “Points” from citations issued within the USA!

 

Now that you mention it….Hummm I have three different drivers licenses, US, Euro, South American. I wonder what would happen if I give the cops one of the “Other” licenses?? BRB Gonna go for a drive and find out..

 

Rules of speeding:

1) Never be the first car in a pack
2) Never speed in the left lane - thats where the laser is usually pointed
3) Always make sure there is one moron 1/4 mile ahead of you speeding - watch his tail lights
4) Never speed in blind turns, near overpasses, on a bridge
5) See rule #3 again - its the most important one...you don't want to be the desiganted moron.
6) Don't buy cars that are "ticket me yellow" or "arrest me red."
7) Don't put on really loud exhausts...you are begging for attention...

YMMV, works for me. Never got a speeding ticket...came close tons of times. The value of radar detctors isn't what it used to be with laser available...

 

There's a great little book called "Beat the Cops" that offers excellent advice for fighting tickets, right down to asking to see the tuning fork used to calibrate the radar gun that popped you. "Officer, I'm sure you calibrate the radar gun before and after each use per the LAW."

Perhaps a mobile scanner would be a nice compliment to the V1. I picked one up from ebay (Uniden BCT-10 Beartracker) since the mobile ones are no longer available. I got the idea after seeing one of the Mischief Gumball rally videos. You'll at least be able hear what they're saying about you.

In my earlier driving years (in VA where radar detectors were/are illegal) we used to run hardwired radar detectors on the visor with a toggle switch down by the gearshifter. If a cop got behind us at night, we could cut the power, and hence the LED lights, without reaching up conspicuously to turn it off. A buddy also hardwired a toggle switch to his brake lights so he could stab the brakes without a cop seeing the brake lights.

I believe the best advice is not to slow down, but to be alert for cops and adjust your driving patterns. If you can't devote your attention to playing the game, then set your cruise control 9mph over the limit and be done with it. Let other cars on the highway be your "rabbit" and shoot ahead of you. Then watch for their brake lights as they crest over hills or around blind turns. Be more attentive when you are the only car on the road. Slow down between the speed stripes on the road, or at least make sure other cars are going faster than you, then get back up to your cruising speed. Understand that cops are essentially walking donut-destroyers and fairly lazy; therefore your chances of getting popped in good weather are WAY higher. Spring is bad, the first sunny day(s) after a week of rain is bad, and the end of the month is bad. Keep a disposable camera in the glove box so that you can take a picture of the area and current conditions. It may help you formulate your case later. If you get pulled over, always be polite and ALWAYS ask the officer for a break since you don't travel that road much (right?). Use the Internet to scour all laws to fight your case in court. Get creative, rehearse, and wear a suit to court if you fight a ticket. Show respect, but fight, using the law and math whenever possible.

BTW, I am batting 1.000 in 2005 in fighting tickets in court (2 for 2 Baby!)

 

It worked until they started verifying the SS# and taking fingerprints. Now it does not work.

 

Bo, we think alike...

 

Foreign licenses work, up to a point. Come to the US with a foreign license that's accepted here (list of acceptable countries is on the web), get tickets rarely, have a good story why you don't have a US license, and you will be ok. You should also carry your passport with you, showing how you mostly live abroad.

If you have a US license already, and then get a foreign license, it generally will not work. It can work, if you have a convincing accent, and you can have a car registered and insured in someone else's name and a good story as to why you don't have a US license--be prepared to carry your passport with you, and if it's a US passport, be prepared with a very good story of how you live abroad and are just visiting. Even then, if you get arrested and fingerprinted, the game is up.

These were the strategies behind out-of-state license until the states started exchanging information through the Compact State system--look it up on the web.

 

Good strategies, but realize that they all work up to a point only. Here's some things to watch out for:
1. You can't expect the radar gun to be calibrated after each and every use.
2. Judges are in on the scam, and sometimes, if you contest a ticket, they will start by asking the routine questions to establish that the gun was calibrated and used correctly. Since the same questions are asked in the same way, the cops know the "correct" answer. Effectively, the cops and judges are preventing you from using this as a defense strategy. The thing to do then is to cast doubt by asking the same questions in different ways, or putting in a question whose answer will necessarily contradict what the cop said in response to something else.

Mobile scanners tell you that a cop is around, not where he is. Further, they only work if the cop is using the radio, on a frequency your scanner can detect. Be aware that not all cops use the radio frequently, or have their radar/laser equipment on all the time. Further, using all this equipment distracts you--don't compromise your alertness.

Most radar and laser detectors today come with a remote display or display dimmer. If you use one in a state where it's illegal, be very, very careful to conceal it properly. Most people get busted for these as they pull into a parking spot and it goes off and a cop on foot hears it, or if they are in a fender bender and forget all about the illegal radar detector, until the cop hears it while filling out the accident report. Be careful.

If you have a brake-light cut-off switch, put it on a timer so it comes back on within 5 seconds. You generally don't need to take such extreme measures, and this is very, very dangerous. I don't recommend it. I have known of people getting busted for this--and the judges threw the book at them. I can see why.

Setting cruise control at 9mph over the limit or riding in a pack only works some of the time. A cop could come on the highway just as you pass, or just decide to pick you/your car for some other reason (long hair? red car? loud exhaust? pretty girlfriend?).

If you use a camera, do it surreptitiously. If the cop sees you taking pictures, he will make sure his "evidence" is solid. You want him to write down and remember as little as possible. Don't make him remember you. Be polite, don't volunteer anything, don't agree to a search of your vehicle without a warrant, and don't make him remember you because of your attitude/camera/camrecorder. It's probably best to return to the scene later to take pictures/gather evidence, long after the cop is gone.

Also, don't believe the myth about quotas and end of the month. A cop can pull anyone over within a mile of following them. 99% of us violate one law or technicality within each mile we drive. Cops just go for the low-hanging fruit. There's so much of it, there's no need for quotas.

Using math only works up to a point. It's incredible, but if you only use science and logic, you can and will lose, even with the figures on your side. I don't know why--people work on emotions instead of relying on science, I guess. Judges prefer calm, reasoned approaches, with *some* easy science/math. Make it easy to understand, keep it simple and logical. If you prepare a slide full of formulae, they tend to ignore it, no matter how conclusively it proves your innocence. Sad but true. Make your approach appeal to basic common sense, instead of relying heavily on advanced knowledge of physics and math. You have to be a bit of a social engineer and appeal to them on an emotional as well as rational basis. To them, it's a simple traffic case, so don't think you can win with volumes of science.

Fully agree on the internet research and rehearsal/preparation. If you can afford it, get a good traffic attorney. If they know the judge, it really works well. Considering the insurance premiums and surcharges you will be saving on, $200-500 is a good price. If you are facing the loss of your driving privilege, well, what's it worth to you?

I am batting 1.000 as well--9 for 9 in 18 months! Fight smart.

 

Speaking of "special" licenses, here's two that definitely work:
1. Diplomatic license. It works, but be prepared to be detained for an hour while they check its validity. Or be prepared to be hauled away, booked and released, and have it hang over you for months until your embassy clears it up.

2. Medical credentials. As long as you have bona fide credentias and you can establish that you were rushing to an emergency, they will dismiss the charges. I know plenty of dentists who use the MD part of their title without disclosing that they are dentists going to a party, not a hospital! <-- Goes back to not volunteering any information that can be used against you later.

 

Another example of extremely bad advice. You do not argue your case on the side of the road. You admit nothing and be extremely polite. Attitude can result in a warning rather than a citiation. Only one state allows you to ask for the calibration during the stop and that is only for local officers. No state requires an officer to show you the radar readout and it is immaterial anyway.

There is only one book that stays current and offers correct advice. Most of them are just BS like the above.

There is a new Driver's License agreement in the works that will take in Canada, Mexico, and some other countries. It is much tougher than the current agreements and closes almost all of the loopholes.

If you have not paid the Georgia ticket it is possible to fight it and win. The locals are subject to the Georgia speed trap law and few cities are in compliance. Even if they are not it is still hard to win in city court with a city judge so you have to appeal. At least if you are from Georgia this is a no points ticket.

lwpat
http://www.speedingticketcentral.com

 

I don't think he was saying that you demand the calibration info during the stop. Rather, you ask for it during discovery, and cross-examine its proper usage and calibration during the trial.

 

lwpat -
It's generally the armchair critics like you that critique behind a wall of annonymity. What state do you refer to in your post? What book do you refer to in your post? Have you read the book that I mentioned, the one you considered "BS?" What state are you in? Have you ever beaten a ticket in court with a solid argument? I have. Several times. And it's a sweet feeling...like crushing a 300-yard drive straight down the fairway (I've actually only done that once). All I was doing was offering my advice for what has worked for me. I think threads like this can be beneficial to all who read and contribute.

YOUR only specific advice--to be polite--is true but basically common sense. Furthermore, I already stated that in my post.

Now come to the table with specifics or shut your yapper.

 

Correct. You also have the right to see the tuning fork since it is the device used to calibrate a radar gun during the traffic stop. I'd say your probably screwed with laser.

You also have a right to see the radar readout. I have requested this, in Ontario of all places. I got out of my rental car and walked back to the police car where he gladly showed me the dash-mounted readout. Again, just backing up my advice with EXPERIENCE.

 

Please, this thread is about exchanging good information on how to fight tickets. No need for bickering, confrontational stuff. Just say you don't agree. You don't have to call someone else's contribution BS, especially since you misunderstood what he was saying. Let's keep it civil and help people to beat the cops at their own game. OK?

Thanks for the good information you have also provided. I like that website and have bookmarked it.

 

I think you need a bazooka, not a jammer.

I have a V1. I have tried various other ones over the years, and I keep reading reviews where some other brand supposedly works better in some cases, but I always keep coming back to the V1. I like the arrows. I like its sensitivity. It's simple and effective and it works and it's paid for itself and saved my license too many times to count. On one recent drive, it saved me 14 times!

I don't use jammers--more trouble than they're worth, if you get busted. And I have heard in numerous places that they don't work. Besides, cops are pretty good at visually estimating your speed. If you are doing 80 and his equipment shows you are doing 50, he will know you are missing with it.

You are angry because of your recent tickets. Calm down, think it through rationally, and be extra vigilant for the next few years. Motorcyclists "visualize" the ride before the get on the bike, to be mentally prepared for various situations/danger zones. Try doing this before each drive? I do, but it doesn't always work. Ironically, I am more alert and probably safer when speeding.

 

One creative way to avoid tickets is to select only "special cars" to speed in. It seems to me that station wagons are immune to getting ticketed. So are Pacers, Hornets, Vegas, Corrollas, ets....

If you get pulled over, just point out the obvious: "Gee officer, this car CAN'T even go that fast.... "