Stopwatch

[Locodky]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pa

OK I got a ticket the other day for doing 45 in a 25. Now I am positive I was not going that fast but I was definitely over the speed limit. My one issue was should I fight it for the use of a stopwatch or should I just try to get them to reduce it to a 3111a citation? I don't really care about the money I just don't want the points on my license. Do I just plead not guilty and ask them in court to reduce it? I have no experience when it comes to this, this is my first ticket in 5 years. I have no idea how to go about this please help!

 

[FlyingRon]

What makes you think that you have a chance at it reduced?

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pa

OK I got a ticket the other day for doing 45 in a 25. Now I am positive I was not going that fast but I was definitely over the speed limit. My one issue was should I fight it for the use of a stopwatch or should I just try to get them to reduce it to a 3111a citation? I don't really care about the money I just don't want the points on my license. Do I just plead not guilty and ask them in court to reduce it? I have no experience when it comes to this, this is my first ticket in 5 years. I have no idea how to go about this please help!

If you were positive that you weren't going that fast, then how fast were you going? Don't answer, I don't need to know. Just remember that, if the answer is "I'm not sure", then you have no way of being "positive" that you weren't going that fast.

 

[Locodky]

If you were positive that you weren't going that fast, then how fast were you going? Don't answer, I don't need to know. Just remember that, if the answer is "I'm not sure", then you have no way of being "positive" that you weren't going that fast.

Well here's the thing when he got me in the speed trap, less than half way down the block was my sharp right turn I had to make. Which for this turn you must come to a complete stop. Now if I was going what he claimed EXACTLY 20 over the speed limit (45mph) I wouldn't have had time to stop completely, I would have crashed into the car that was turning left. Last time I looked at my speedometer I was going 35. Never the less it took him about 4 blocks to finally pull me over after the turn. My other question was would it be possible to ask for it to get reduced seeing how it was my first offense in 5 years?

 

[FlyingRon]

Well here's the thing when he got me in the speed trap, less than half way down the block was my sharp right turn I had to make. Which for this turn you must come to a complete stop. Now if I was going what he claimed EXACTLY 20 over the speed limit (45mph) I wouldn't have had time to stop completely, I would have crashed into the car that was turning left. Last time I looked at my speedometer I was going 35. Never the less it took him about 4 blocks to finally pull me over after the turn. My other question was would it be possible to ask for it to get reduced seeing how it was my first offense in 5 years?

That argument isn't persuasive. Even a quarter of a mile is enough time to come to a dead stop form 45. Further, nothing says that you were intending to actually slow down for the corner.

By your own admission you were speeding at one point but you have no idea of your speed at the time the observation was made.
Exactly 20 over means squat. Exactly 16 over might be an arguable speed as that is the boundry between the penalties.

You're free to go to court, you've got nothing to lose but your time but the nothing you've said compells the court to reduce your charge. They might at their discretion

 

[Zigner]

And 5 years without a citation isn't really that big of a deal. I've gone 28 years without one...

 

[Locodky]

That argument isn't persuasive. Even a quarter of a mile is enough time to come to a dead stop form 45. Further, nothing says that you were intending to actually slow down for the corner.

By your own admission you were speeding at one point but you have no idea of your speed at the time the observation was made.
Exactly 20 over means squat. Exactly 16 over might be an arguable speed as that is the boundry between the penalties.

You're free to go to court, you've got nothing to lose but your time but the nothing you've said compells the court to reduce your charge. They might at their discretion

Ok, now the speed trap was only 95 ft how accurate would his reaction time have to be to give an accurate time?

 

[Zigner]

Ok, now the speed trap was only 95 ft how accurate would his reaction time have to be to give an accurate time?

Is it your intention to change the facts around until your story works?

 

[Locodky]

Is it your intention to change the facts around until your story works?

Actually no that is not my intention, my intention is to see if I have an argument at all. Which is why I'm here asking for advice

 

[Locodky]

Is it your intention to change the facts around until your story works?

And who said I was changing facts. From what I found in my research they say anything under 200 ft leaves margin for error. Which is why I'm asking not stating

 

[Locodky]

Now my argument is not the fact of speeding it is the fact of he has me going exactly 20 over which conviently bumps my ticket up along with points to my license. I'm not fighting that I was speeding I'm trying to fight the 20 over.

 

[Zigner]

Now my argument is not the fact of speeding it is the fact of he has me going exactly 20 over which conviently bumps my ticket up along with points to my license. I'm not fighting that I was speeding I'm trying to fight the 20 over.

You have no evidence...it really is that simple.

Good luck.

 

[HighwayMan]

he has me going exactly 20 over which conviently [SIC] bumps my ticket up...

Conveniently? Huh?

I've gotten many, maybe even hundreds, of people traveling at exactly 20 over the speed limit by a variety of means - radar, lidar, pacing, estimation.

You make it sounds as if it's impossible, or at least unlikely, that someone would be speeding to the tune of exactly 20 over - hardly a convincing argument.