Quote:
Originally posted by warch
And if the gun says we were speeding we were speeding.
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That's not necessarily true. First of all, if a cop gives you a ticket, ask to see the radar gun, with your supposed speed locked in. That's your right. If they refuse (often because they didn't actually clock you), you can plead in court that the radar gun evidence is inadmissable.
If they did lock your speed in, before your court date send a certified letter to the police department asking to see the gun's calibration record (they must calibrate it each day or at the beginning of the shift, depending on local regs) and that officer's record of training on how to use it. If they don't reply, bring a copy of the certified letter to court. Case dismissed.
In Louisville, the court date you're assigned is in the evening, and if you wish to plead innocent there, they assign you a "real" court date during the day sometime later. I'm not sure if that's how it is everywhere. Anyhoo, I've never had a ticket that they didn't just dismiss that first night. Since most people don't show up to court, it's not worth it to them to go after the ones that do unless they have a really good case. Again, YMMV.
I once got a ticket in late November, and my night court date was December 23. I show up for court, and the judge is wearing a Santa hat. As court is called to session, he says "Look people, I want to get outta here as much as you do. You can ask for a day court date if you want, but I guarantee you won't get a better deal than you will from the guy wearing the red hat."
As my case is called, I approach the bench. "Mr. Johnson, you've been charged with speeding. You gonna slow down?" "Yes, your honor." "Case dismissed."
I agree that if you get busted, it's your own fault, and you did break the law. But I also think speed limits are ridiculously low in most places, and if they're gonna try to bust me on it, they better dot their i's and cross their t's.
So in your situation where you were a long way from home, you're pretty much stuck. Piss off the cop, and he might write you a baseless ticket, but you can't go to court to contest it. But if you're near home, don't be too afraid to piss 'em off if you know you're not doing anything wrong.