Fighting tickets n' stuff - HELP

[hbliam]

He had seen it all, but couldn't understand why I stopped when I could have twisted the throttle and been on the bridge and out of the city limits in a heartbeat.

Besides the fact that I think he could still have pursued me,

Yep. All peace officers in CA have statewide jurisdiction.

[NorDog]

Yep. All peace officers in CA have statewide jurisdiction.

Makes sense.  Obviously his question wasn't based on the law, but the many bonehead moves by moto-maroons (i.e. squids) he must have seen on the job.

[Privateer]

Yep. All peace officers in CA have statewide jurisdiction.

What?  you mean it's not like Dukes of Hazzard where they come to a screeching halt at the county line?

kidding, kidding.
One of our local kids got a ticket for 100+ and despite our urging to lawyer up, he's going to show up for court and "pay the $500 fine and then take traffic school."  I can't wait to hear how that turns out.

[hbliam]

What?  you mean it's not like Dukes of Hazzard where they come to a screeching halt at the county line?

kidding, kidding.
One of our local kids got a ticket for 100+ and despite our urging to lawyer up, he's going to show up for court and "pay the $500 fine and then take traffic school."  I can't wait to hear how that turns out.

People actually think that. I stop people in an ajoining city all the time and get told I can't. 

Paying thr fine and going to traffic school is probably the cheapest route. A lawyer can't get oyu out of everything. The lawyers I see "win" at traffic court? They charge $4-500 and I've never seen one go to trial. The officer has never been there so it's dismissed...exactly how it would have been if the guy showed up himself.

[madmatt]

i think I have my argument pretty well sorted out.

hbliam - what are your thoughts on introducing speedo calibration in regards to pacing?

[hbliam]

i think I have my argument pretty well sorted out.

hbliam - what are your thoughts on introducing speedo calibration in regards to pacing?

who's speedo? Yours or his? Ours are calibrated every six months (can't speak for your officer) and usually read a mph or two slow (meaning you are going even faster then my speedo reads). If it's yours ....Ducati speedos usually read faster then your speed.

[madmatt]

who's speedo? Yours or his? Ours are calibrated every six months (can't speak for your officer) and usually read a mph or two slow (meaning you are going even faster then my speedo reads). If it's yours ....Ducati speedos usually read faster then your speed.

I am referring to the officers. Let's assume two scenarios: 1) his has been calibrated w/in past year 2) it has NOT been calibrated in past year

without knowing whether or not is has, do you think that it is a worthwhile mention in the case of pacing?

[joekarati]

Why not?  My first written trial was 2 pages long, it asked for every stupid knick-knack thing possible...looked like a PITA to respond to, IMO.  Make 'em work for it, and according to hb, it's not that big a deal to provide, but wouldn't you rather "know" than assume?

[hbliam]

I am referring to the officers. Let's assume two scenarios: 1) his has been calibrated w/in past year 2) it has NOT been calibrated in past year

without knowing whether or not is has, do you think that it is a worthwhile mention in the case of pacing?

You can find out if it had by filing a subpoena for the calibration record. I also include a copy of the calibration for the judge with my written declaration.

You would also need to research how ofter they have to be calibrated. I don't remember the required time. It may be longer then one year.

Worthwhile? Who knows? I've never lost a pacing case.

[Wang]

I'm in a completely different place than the rest of the on here, but...

1) Isn't a "SPEED LIMIT" 85% of the allowable speed on the road in ideal conditions (low traffic, dry, high visibility, no peds or intersections nearby?  I figure that's at least true in LA county from what a co-worker (came from LASD) told me.

2) Instead of getting on about the calibration of the speedo, why not bring up the training the officer received on it originally and recently?  Have they been trained on this piece of equipment and do they have certification?  Not sure how it works, but it's something to consider.  As far as I know, state/county/city PD training isn't regulated as strictly as it is within the federal realm of law enforcement.

3) Tickets/citations are discretionary unless a felony is committed (right?).  If you are lucky and have a friend of a friend or whatever, maybe you can have them talk to that officer and find out what made him decide to give you a ticket instead of let you off with a warning.  Sometimes you get a high-speed kind of LEO or a young guy who wants nothing but to make the world a safer place by giving out tickets for everyone going 5mph over the limit.

I've only been pulled over once in CA for running a red light (Pioneer just north of South St. in Artesia -- the lights are literally about 100ft apart) and I was parked along the side of the road before the deputy could even hit the lights on his car.  He was stuck quite a ways back in traffic, too, so he probably let me off with a warning because he knew I could have turned at the next light and driven away.  On the other hand, I got a ticket from a total asshole in Scottsdale, AZ (confirmed by my co-worker at the time, who had just quit the department a month prior and went to academy with the guy) for barely going over the limit.  I had flashed my lights at and passed (only 8mph above the speed limit!) an unmarked vehicle because the lights were off and he kept drifting into my lane (probably on the phone or texting).  Originally, I had assumed it was a drunk driver.  Went to traffic school instead of fighting it because (a) it only costs about $100 over there and (b) it was a great excuse to get out of shopping with my wife on the weekend.

[hbliam]

I'm in a completely different place than the rest of the on here, but...

1) Isn't a "SPEED LIMIT" 85% of the allowable speed on the road in ideal conditions (low traffic, dry, high visibility, no peds or intersections nearby?  I figure that's at least true in LA county from what a co-worker (came from LASD) told me.

You are mixing up your data. Loosely....Speed limits are set by doing a survey. When you see the two cables stretched across the street to a box on the curb that's what's going on. They then take the speed that 85% of the measured traffic is traveling and that becomes the limit.

2) Instead of getting on about the calibration of the speedo, why not bring up the training the officer received on it originally and recently?  Have they been trained on this piece of equipment and do they have certification?  Not sure how it works, but it's something to consider.  As far as I know, state/county/city PD training isn't regulated as strictly as it is within the federal realm of law enforcement.

Training he received on what? Using a speedometer?   There is no training or certification on pacing. Anyone can perform pacing. I guarantee you that State/County/City PD training on the west coast is regulated at or more likely beyond the realm of fed law enforcement.  

[Wang]

Training he received on what? Using a speedometer?   There is no training or certification on pacing. Anyone can perform pacing. I guarantee you that State/County/City PD training on the west coast is regulated at or more likely beyond the realm of fed law enforcement.

And that's where you're wrong.  In my agency, we have to get trained and certified on EVERYTHING.  However, much of the training is computer-based, so if you take the 747 course you'd better be ready to fly one the next day... 

[madmatt]

the plot thickens.

[joekarati]

...and that just about wraps up the Snoo-zer.

[lawbreaker]

And that's where you're wrong.  In my agency, we have to get trained and certified on EVERYTHING.  However, much of the training is computer-based, so if you take the 747 course you'd better be ready to fly one the next day... 

Trained and certified on looking at a speedo?

ok......] That sounds like L.A City training