argh...just got my first ticket ever and I'm only slightly pissed off. For the certain thread crappers out there: YES, I was speeding. YES, I will pay the ticket. I don't need to hear you to tell me to do those two things and shutup, so save your time.
I was coming home from a golf course (where I work every morning) this afternoon at about 5. I wasn't paying attention to my speed, but there were no cars around me (I'd been on this road for a while) , so I was just driving comfortably. This road is a two lane, windy road (typical Cape Cod for those who have been here), and I have no trouble driving between 60 and 70 every morning on the way to work at 4:30am when the road is deserted. As I came over a hill, a cop passed me the other way, so there was no way I would see him coming. Sure enough, as he passes me, he hits the brakes, pulls a three point turn (pretty ugly one at that) and speeds up behind me. He tailgates me for a bit (by this point I've slowed to 40, the posted speed limit), and waits a minute before putting on his lights and pulling me over. I pull off the road, stop the car, put it in park, shut off the radio, and put my hands on the window and the wheel. He comes up and asks me if I knew how fast I was going, I said no, he asked if I thought I was speeding, I said I'm not sure, maybe. Asks me if I'm down on vacation, and I tell him I'm here for the summer (why should that matter?). Takes my lisence and registration and walks back to the car. Comes back with a ticket for 60 in a 40, a $175 fine. ($150 + $25 surcharge for the head injury trust fund...at least they're not getting all of it) Here's my only problem, so I'll cliffs note it:
Cliffs notes: Got a ticket for 60 in a 40, the ticket has both 'radar' and 'estimated' boxes checked. Saw the cop as we passed over a hill, did not see him coming. Is it even possible that he clocked me when he only really saw me as he passed?
UPDATE: definately contesting it. read details below.
UPDATE #2 - 06.16.03: Posted the following below:
Quick update today...probably the last before I head to court. First, I sent in the ticket today, so that's all taken care of. Second, I went out this afternoon to take some pics to use with a map b/c the conditions were very similar to the day I was pulled over.
This picture shows what the cop saw before he came over the hill where we passed. All it really shows is that he could not have seen me coming, as the car in view is at the top of the hill, and I was not at that point until after we passed. This is to go along with my point that I did not break the law because I was not speeding for more then a quarter of a mile.
The next picture is the same hill from my angle. The red line is where I estimate we passed/where I was ""clocked"" going 60.
Those are the most interesting ones, others relate to how far away I was when I was finally pulled over. (Haven't measured yet, but I estimate it's about a half mile away)
I was coming home from a golf course (where I work every morning) this afternoon at about 5. I wasn't paying attention to my speed, but there were no cars around me (I'd been on this road for a while) , so I was just driving comfortably. This road is a two lane, windy road (typical Cape Cod for those who have been here), and I have no trouble driving between 60 and 70 every morning on the way to work at 4:30am when the road is deserted. As I came over a hill, a cop passed me the other way, so there was no way I would see him coming. Sure enough, as he passes me, he hits the brakes, pulls a three point turn (pretty ugly one at that) and speeds up behind me. He tailgates me for a bit (by this point I've slowed to 40, the posted speed limit), and waits a minute before putting on his lights and pulling me over. I pull off the road, stop the car, put it in park, shut off the radio, and put my hands on the window and the wheel. He comes up and asks me if I knew how fast I was going, I said no, he asked if I thought I was speeding, I said I'm not sure, maybe. Asks me if I'm down on vacation, and I tell him I'm here for the summer (why should that matter?). Takes my lisence and registration and walks back to the car. Comes back with a ticket for 60 in a 40, a $175 fine. ($150 + $25 surcharge for the head injury trust fund...at least they're not getting all of it) Here's my only problem, so I'll cliffs note it:
Cliffs notes: Got a ticket for 60 in a 40, the ticket has both 'radar' and 'estimated' boxes checked. Saw the cop as we passed over a hill, did not see him coming. Is it even possible that he clocked me when he only really saw me as he passed?
UPDATE: definately contesting it. read details below.
UPDATE #2 - 06.16.03: Posted the following below:
Quick update today...probably the last before I head to court. First, I sent in the ticket today, so that's all taken care of. Second, I went out this afternoon to take some pics to use with a map b/c the conditions were very similar to the day I was pulled over.
This picture shows what the cop saw before he came over the hill where we passed. All it really shows is that he could not have seen me coming, as the car in view is at the top of the hill, and I was not at that point until after we passed. This is to go along with my point that I did not break the law because I was not speeding for more then a quarter of a mile.
The next picture is the same hill from my angle. The red line is where I estimate we passed/where I was ""clocked"" going 60.
Those are the most interesting ones, others relate to how far away I was when I was finally pulled over. (Haven't measured yet, but I estimate it's about a half mile away)
