Well I was on my way home tonight about 30 minutes ago and I am driving along doing 56 on a 55 and a cop pulls out behind me and speeds up. Well I figure "this guy wont pull me over for 1MPH over the speed limit, and my detector didn't even go off, there is no way he is going to. Well guess what, he did. I pull onto a side street, turn off the engine, roll down the window 2 inches and turn on the inside lights and keep my hands on the weel, fingers flexed so I couldnt be holding anything.

ME: Good evening officer What...
COP:Why is your window up so high for, roll is down more
MEk...
COP: Do you know why I stopped you tonight boy
ME: What seems to be the problem sir
COP: You were going 66 in a 45, but I am going to lower it to a 63
ME: Sorry sir, may I see the gun?
COP: The speed didn't get saved
COP:LIcense and registration
ME: *hands over license and registration
COP: What about the insurance, don't you have that?
ME: *hands it over

then he goes away and comes back after "the nervous quietness"

ME: *heavy breathing to make him think im worried
COP: Do you have anything I should know about in the car?
ME: No officer
COP: I am giving you one ticket for speeding, not for trying to refuse to pull over for going down this side street
ME: Sorry officer and have a good night

The funny part about this is that my radar detector didn't go off at all, and the cop refused to show me the gun. I am going to court in a few weeks, and right now my case is going to be
1) I had a detector, it never went off
2) the officer couldn't show me the speed reading.
3) Ask for an inspection sticker for the radar gun

I might just go the pay the surcharge and get no points route, I am debating.

Edit - Was looking over the ticket again and he didn't mark down how he got my speed, whether by Heli, Pacing me, Measurement equipment, or EBTD

 

#1 I would not bring up the radar dectector....most states have outlawed them....not sure if Jersey is one ore not. Depending on the device used, some dont register on a dectector anyway.
#2 Unfortunatly, they do not have to show you the gun with the speed on it.
#3 Yes they have to prove that it was within the inspection time.
#4 You said in the beginning you were going 56 in a 55, but with your story, it became 66 in a 45??? Here in PA they must give you 5 MPH over the limit for varialbles in the speedo, but most cops will give up to 10 mph (unless its a school zone)

 

What were you driving & have you changed the tires and/or wheels?

 

You did the right thing by not becoming beligerant with the officer. You'll have your day in court, if he even shows.

Tim

 

Even though I am 17, I know where to argue my rights, and its not at the scene. I stayed calm and said officer or sir on the end or beginning of every sentence.

1) The cop didn't know I had one as I discretely threw it under my seat before stopping. What do you mean by "outlawed"? I thought they were only illegal in Virginia and District of columbia and on commercial vehicles weighing in at over 18K pounds?
4) So what you are saying is I can say that I wasn't actually going that fast and they may have to knock the speed down?

I was driving the expedition with 31s, but they are the stock size, so no need for a recalibration. They were also the stock 17" rims.

As I mentioned, I am young, and have never even been pulled over before this. I am wondering, if I argue the ticket, can I still pay the surcharge if I lose so that I do not get 4 points on my license. I could care less if I got 10 points, as long as my insurance doesn't go up. If I can't pay the surcharge if I lose, then I am not going to argue the ticket at all.

 

The fact that you have a radar detector that may or may not work has NOTHING to do with your plea.Believe me. You should go and plead innocent to the charge and give your reasons BUT DONT MENTION THE RADAR DETECTOR and depending on the judge your may have it thrown out or be found guilty. I know for a fact that the judge can take the cops words for how fast you were going and NOT NEED NO STINKIN PROOF OF IT ,,,JUST HIS WORD.. not fair but it happins all the time.

 

I doubt radar detectors are illegal where you are, they actually are not illegal in most states. That said I also would not mention it, as it will only hurt you. Just because it didn't go off didn't mean he didn't shoot you and if the judge is a anti-radar detector nut you are going to be screwed with anything you say after he finds out you had one.

I am also curious about the speeds what was the speed limit and how fast were you going? I also wouldn't mention that the officer said he'd the speed, that comment most likely won't help either and you will lose a he said he said when a lawman is the other party.

 

Some pretty big holes in this story. If you want help you're gonna have to tell the whole truth.

#1. What was the speed limit?

#2. How fast were you really going?

#3. Why did you turn onto a side street?

#4. What time of the evening was this?

#5. Why did you move the radar detector?

 

If you are going to court. I would go take pictures of the actually posted speed limit where you were pulled over and take them to court with you..... also (if you have a clean driving record) a copy of it that you should be able to get from the DMV. If there is a question as to the accuracy of your speedo, you can have it tested and if it proves okay, take those test results too... That will show how concerned you are to the judge...then, (IF the cop shows up for court), the traffic cop can show his prove of your speeding. If it is your word vs the cops, the judge has the ability to weigh the arguements. If if he decides to rule against you, and it is your first offense, you will prob get off with a warning.

 

most courts are happy if you settle "out of court" by contacting the DA's office in advance. many courts in NY actually have a form on their website that you can fill out and mail in and get it plead down. i always write a letter to the DA's office and ask that it be changed to a non-moving violation...it has never failed...and i haven't gotten a ticket in a few years since i'm sick of writing letters.

 

There may be an option of traffic school in order to get first time citation held unreported. You may have to pay the fine if found guilty but the court may not report the violation to the DMV for points or to the insurance co.
Here is some reading material; http://www.beattraffictickets.com/, http://nolo.com/article.cfm/ObjectID...E/104/263/ART/, http://www.motorists.org/fightticket/

 

#1. What was the speed limit? As I stated first thing in my original post, 55MPH

#2. How fast were you really going? I was doing between 55 and 58 the whole time, when I saw the lights I immediately looked at my speedo and was at 56

#3. Why did you turn onto a side street? It was a 55MPH roadway, I didn't want someone who wasn't paying attention to kill me while I was stopped

#4. What time of the evening was this? 10:41PM to be exact

#5. Why did you move the radar detector? I moved the radar detector because even though they are legal in NJ, i'm sure a cop wouldn't just let you go if you had one unless he was really nice, I am sure he could have come up with something else to give me a ticket for if I wasn't speeding.

I am going to try calling the DA's office to see what can be worked out. I really can't afford to get points on my license, and if I do get points, I am just going to drop myself from the insurance.

 

If you get insurance points you can drop your collision if the car is paid for. The liability which you have to have will go up no matter where you buy the insurance but it pays to shop around. I have a nice radar detector I took away from my kid after he got a speeding ticket. The alarm went off all right but he still got nailed. Just obey the traffic laws and you wont need one..You best go to court and kiss plenty of ***, say YES SIR to everyone you see and act like you are very sorry and even cry a little if you want to and hope they will reduce the charge...LOL I wonder if you were on the cell phone right before all this happined....tell the truth now.

 

I was actually on a cell phone RIGHT AFTER the cop started tailing me, and I called my friend and asked him if I could pretend to be going to his house. I hid the phone really well though, so the cop didn't see it.

 

Why would he ticket you for going 66 in a 45, then?

Why would you need to pretend to be going to someone's home? Are the cops that bad over there? Were you alone?

I take it you're not allowed to use a phone while driving in your state?