I got a speeding ticket today...

[bug_eyedmonster]

Hello Officers...

So, here's the story. I was driving to the trap range today... If anyone knows the Livermore Gun Club, they know the uber long stretch of farmland that leads to the range. I was following pace with another vehicle, doing around 60 MPH (I don't really pay attention to speeds when I'm on roads like this). Anyway, I see the officer, he's already turning on his lights and the first car and I pass, so I slow down in case he is responding to a call, but he doesn't budge, so I pass along with the other car. As I pass, he turns on the red and blues, and I pull over.

The officer walks up the car, says hi, I say the same, and he gets right to the point. "I have you on radar going 67 in a 50, I offer to show the radar to polite folks such as yourself." I decline, not wanting to waste time. He writes up my ticket, and does something I've never seen. The officer says he clocked me at 67 MPH, but he wrote 60, according to him, the posted speed limit is 50, and he put "maximum allowed speed 55 mph" on the ticket. This isn't my first speeding ticket, but it is the first since in like 10 years. The CHP officer that pulled me over was VERY nice, he even helped me figure out why I haven't received my new CDL in the mail. Our interaction between the two of us was, in my opinion, no different then when I would be speaking to an officer at work or something.

I guess I have a couple of questions. The first being, am I screwed? Being a out of work student, funds aren't exactly there to afford the ticket, so if there's a way I can reduce the fees or get out of this somehow, I'm open to sugestions. Secondly, is it common to change what the ticket says compared to what the radar posted? How accurate are the radars in relation to the two cars (mine and the car in front of me)? As a CHP officer, can he be hanging out on a non-highway area using radar behind a tree? Lastly, when did cops get to be so nice??? ahahhaha

thanks in advance for any help folks can offer...

Jerry

[E Pluribus Unum]

Hello Officers...

So, here's the story. I was driving to the trap range today... If anyone knows the Livermore Gun Club, they know the uber long stretch of farmland that leads to the range. I was following pace with another vehicle, doing around 60 MPH (I don't really pay attention to speeds when I'm on roads like this). Anyway, I see the officer, he's already turning on his lights and the first car and I pass, so I slow down in case he is responding to a call, but he doesn't budge, so I pass along with the other car. As I pass, he turns on the red and blues, and I pull over.

The officer walks up the car, says hi, I say the same, and he gets right to the point. "I have you on radar going 67 in a 50, I offer to show the radar to polite folks such as yourself." I decline, not wanting to waste time. He writes up my ticket, and does something I've never seen. The officer says he clocked me at 67 MPH, but he wrote 60, according to him, the posted speed limit is 50, and he put "maximum allowed speed 55 mph" on the ticket. This isn't my first speeding ticket, but it is the first since in like 10 years. The CHP officer that pulled me over was VERY nice, he even helped me figure out why I haven't received my new CDL in the mail. Our interaction between the two of us was, in my opinion, no different then when I would be speaking to an officer at work or something.

I guess I have a couple of questions. The first being, am I screwed? Being a out of work student, funds aren't exactly there to afford the ticket, so if there's a way I can reduce the fees or get out of this somehow, I'm open to sugestions. Secondly, is it common to change what the ticket says compared to what the radar posted? How accurate are the radars in relation to the two cars (mine and the car in front of me)? As a CHP officer, can he be hanging out on a non-highway area using radar behind a tree? Lastly, when did cops get to be so nice??? ahahhaha

thanks in advance for any help folks can offer...

Jerry

All roads, all codes. Every LEO in California has jurisdiction everywhere.

Given your age and resources.... you should probably go to court, plead guilty, ask for a reduced fine... you can always make payments.

[IrishJoe3]

In summary....he did you a couple favors.

He got you on radar at 67 in a 50, (or, 17 over). Instead of citing you for a violation of 22350VC (unsafe speed, or for the surveyed speed limit of 50 for that road) he instead cited for your exceeding the maximum speed, (55 mph, or 22349BVC). So now, you're cited for 67 in a 55, or 12 mph over, he in essence took 5 mph off your speed. He also cut you a break on the other end as well, and despite the fact that he locked you in at 67, he only cited you for going 60 mph, (in other words took 7 mph off your top end speed). The long and short of it all is you were cited for doing 60 in a 55, or only 5 mph over. Quite a bit less than the 17 over that you were actually doing. The fine at only 5 mph over will be reduced as well.
Not that uncommon of a tactic, I actually do both all the time because some of these traffic fines are ridiculous. Believe it or not, I try to cut people slack.

And next time you hear someone ranting about getting cited for a few mph over, this is what probably really happened.

I guess I have a couple of questions. The first being, am I screwed?

Nope. Big break. See above.

Being a out of work student, funds aren't exactly there to afford the ticket, so if there's a way I can reduce the fees or get out of this somehow, I'm open to sugestions.

Between you and the court, I’ve seen some traffic commissioners allow community service instead of a fine for people in your shoes.

Secondly, is it common to change what the ticket says compared to what the radar posted?

Think of it this way…..you reached a maximum speed of 67 mph. to get to 67 you got up to (and passed) 60 mph. The officer wanted to cut you a break (probably because you rolled the windows down all the way and didn't ask if you were being detained...) and only cited you for the 60 instead of your max.

How accurate are the radars in relation to the two cars (mine and the car in front of me)?

Wasn’t there, can’t answer.

As a CHP officer, can he be hanging out on a non-highway area using radar behind a tree?

Let me clarify… It’s the “Highway” Patrol, not the Freeway Patrol. A “Highway” is any public way, so actually where you were stopped WAS a highway, and yes that’s his beat.

Lastly, when did cops get to be so nice??? Ahahhaha

LOL….welcome to reality, don’t mind the others foaming at the mouth.

thanks in advance for any help folks can offer...

Jerry

Anytime!

-IJ

[bug_eyedmonster]

figures.... I have friends who are officers of the law, and they ARE friends, so I know they can, and most likely are good guys. I just hear horrror stories, like everyone else. I realized he was doing me favors with the speeds on the ticket, I said "thank you" about seven times from what my girlfriend counted. As for my age, I'm a 30 year old grad student... hahahah

Thanks again for the help guys, stay safe out there.

Jerry

[AAShooter]

North Livermore heading out to the Livermore Gun Club is pretty heavily monitored. Lots of the club's clientele have had the opportunity to meet officers going to the range. I watch my speed on that road pretty carefully.

[bug_eyedmonster]

North Livermore heading out to the Livermore Gun Club is pretty heavily monitored. Lots of the club's clientele have had the opportunity to meet officers going to the range. I watch my speed on that road pretty carefully.

Today being only my second time to the range, first time driving, now I know. =)

[Roddd]

Cross that section of road off of your list of places to speed. It sounds like he hooked you up (as far as being cited goes). If you show up on your court date, typically the judge will reduce your fine. Depending on the county, they may let you do community service. Your best bet is to go infront of the judge and plead guilty and explain your financial hardship and let him know you learned from your mistake. Good luck!

[r3dn3ck]

the whole area is routinely set up with what I can't honestly call speed traps but which I can't think of a better word for now. What I like to do is 55 there.

They're out there normally catching the psycho-commuters, the ones that pass on double yellow and such and zoom around and speeders. What they ought to do is set up at Manning Rd and Highland about 75yrds west of the intersection and just wait. You get people zooming down that hill at 80mph trying to beat the other half of the traffic coming down highland and then you have the arsehats at the intersection exting highland onto manning that run the stop sign because they didn't want to wait 2 seconds.

[Tripper]

politically correct again

I'd probably ask for leniency by the court, to avoid going again

guilty, can i get a reduced fine and payment plans.
most of the time, you might be able to get payment plans by calling the clerk.

slow down next time

edit:i'm always an instigator

[Tripper]

oh, if i recall correctly, the favor part is that a ticket for more than 15 over, goes more against your insurance or something like that, so, fighting 67 in a 50, and convicted equals higher insurance
convicted 60 in 55, not as bad on insurance, but i'm not sure if it means no ding or not.

[Barbarossa]

Tripper, ever heard the saying "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" ?

He should be grateful for his good fortune and not look to trash the officers character in court.

[TRICKSTER]

He cut you a break by writing the lower speed. In most Bay Area courts 15+ over the speed limit means that the court appearance is mandatory. You would not have the option of mailing in the fine. Also many of the courts are adding a drivers license suspension when you are convicted of 15+ over the limit.
If you want to follow the advise of those who say take it to court and point out that the officer lied about the speed, good luck, but you will only be screwing yourself with this defense. You already admitted that you were not paying attention and speeding. If you go into court and state the same you will be found guilty and the judge will hear the testimony as to how fast you were really going. How do you think that will work out for you?

(edit) If you can't afford the fine and traffic school to keep it off your insurance, the next best option is to plea guilty and explain your financial situation. In most cases, the courts will work with you on a payment plan or give you the option of doing community service.

[Tripper]

i said i was being fecicious (just in not so many words, in case you didnt notice)

[Cheese & Bacon]

my question would be:
what is the ACTUAL speed for where you was at.

my opinion would be:
if it is indeed 50, and he wrote you for 60 in a 55

plead guilty, go to court, and let him answer the questions
was i going 60
did you tell me you clocked me at 67
your apparently mistaken then, could you have also mistakenly read the speed on the radar, its apparent you are prone to mistakes, as shown here on the ticket where you said 60 in 55, where you verbally told me 67 in 50.

to be not politically correct
he outright lied in writing, if you were doing 67 in a 50 and he wrote 60 in 55
if you had lied to him it would not have been good, call it what you like, i call it lying to my face, he's not doing any favor, he's trying to make it look like he is. kind of like me telling you to go to he!! and having you look forward to the trip.

back to politically correct, didnt you tell me i was dong 67 in 50.but here you wrote 60 in 55, if you made those 2 clear mistakes, I wonder what else could be mistaken, not to mention the lie

^don't do this. The court understands that officers occasionally give a break to speeders. If you argue that you were going faster than he wrote you for, you'll pay more in fines

[Tripper]

hence, my next post, guilty, request reduced fine and payment plan