I Hate Lasers UPDATE*

danefex · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Sadly there's little you can do without paying the legal system and/or a lawyer for it, that's just how it is. I imagine also if you were driving one of your nice cars the police won't show you any financial mercy because they think you probably speed all the time & can easily afford a speeding ticket. This is how it is where I am Haloid95, I am sorry to hear you got pinched.

On a related subject, I recently got pulled over for speeding & out of the blue was issued my first roadside sobriety test. I was respectful & polite to the officer (as I always am) but he wanted nothing of it & was screaming in my face about how I could kill someone with my driving. My wife reminds me of this everytime she's a passenger, this was not surprising to hear. Despite being very cooperative, nervous & slightly intimidated with his aggression I passed the sobriety test (wasn't drinking at all) but was issued a $120 ticket after being clocked doing 82 in a 55. The cop even accused me of smelling like alcohol during the test, he thought for sure he had me in the bag.

Did he mention anything about your needing to go to court for the offense? Sometimes they tell you to just go to court & plead not guilty and say they won't show up - which in most cases your ticket is dropped & you might just have to pay court fees....

jayrob · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Haloid95 said:
Yep, they are called points. But usually you have three choices when you get a ticket.

1. Pay the amount and get some points based on how serious the violation was.
2.Pay the amount and take a defensive drivers course for no points ( Have to pay for course)
3. Not pay and get points and your License suspended for a while.

Option #2 is the only one that wont higher your Insurance.

Your basically screwed no matter what you do.

If you go to court and present your case, you will most likely get the fine cut in half, but still get the point on your record.

The system is designed not only to try and keep people driving safe, but also to generate revenue for the city.

So the best option for you, is probably option 2. (to keep it off your record)

However it will cost you...

InfinitusEquitas · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Do you have points on your license?

Typically if you have a clean license, you will have no trouble going to court, speaking to the prosecutor, and getting a lower downgraded ticket. Maybe more expensive, but no points.

As far as him hiding or not, or the sign being visible or not, or asking for a video from his cruiser... DO NOT go that route.

In the eyes of the law (the judge) you are responsible for knowing the applicable laws, regardless of the signs, so all you will do is incur additional costs, and piss of everyone... which means they will stick it to you harder.

As a last note, if you have trouble paying the fine, talk to the court clerk and the judge will likely allow you to pay in installments.

In nj we do have school zones... they are either always 25mph max, or if the school borders a street with a higher limit they will often have a secondary sign, for 25mph when flashing. 15mph is a bit ridiculous.

Edit: Your situation is precisely why I don't trust laser/radar detectors at all. Only the prehistoric ones functioned by continuously emitting a signal... all the newer ones, the cop first sees a car speeding, only then targets it.

Kyosama66 · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Go to court. When I've gotten tickets, I would go to court, speak with the prosecution or town attorney, and admit I was speeding, and it certainly wasn't going THAT fast. In my town, they will always drop the ticket to a lower cost, as long as you admit you were speeding. It's just a scam our cops run; they issue tickets for faster than what they clock you, then hope you'll just pay up.

Haloid95 · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

First of all, thanks guys for all your advice.

danefex said:
Sadly there's little you can do without paying the legal system and/or a lawyer for it, that's just how it is. I imagine also if you were driving one of your nice cars the police won't show you any financial mercy because they think you probably speed all the time & can easily afford a speeding ticket. This is how it is where I am Haloid95, I am sorry to hear you got pinched.

On a related subject, I recently got pulled over for speeding & out of the blue was issued my first roadside sobriety test. I was respectful & polite to the officer (as I always am) but he wanted nothing of it & was screaming in my face about how I could kill someone with my driving. My wife reminds me of this everytime she's a passenger, this was not surprising to hear. Despite being very cooperative, nervous & slightly intimidated with his aggression I passed the sobriety test (wasn't drinking at all) but was issued a $120 ticket after being clocked doing 82 in a 55. The cop even accused me of smelling like alcohol during the test, he thought for sure he had me in the bag.

Did he mention anything about your needing to go to court for the offense? Sometimes they tell you to just go to court & plead not guilty and say they won't show up - which in most cases your ticket is dropped & you might just have to pay court fees....

I would not of been calm and respectful, If that happened to me.

No he said I can go to court and plead not guilty but If I lose I will have to pay a lot of court fees.

jayrob said:
Your basically screwed no matter what you do.

If you go to court and present your case, you will most likely get the fine cut in half, but still get the point on your record.

The system is designed not only to try and keep people driving safe, but also to generate revenue for the city.

So the best option for you, is probably option 2. (to keep it off your record)

However it will cost you...

Ya, Ill probably end up having to do that, so my insurance doesn't go up a lot. Ill have to find $400 though. :/

InfinitusEquitas said:
Do you have points on your license?

Typically if you have a clean license, you will have no trouble going to court, speaking to the prosecutor, and getting a lower downgraded ticket. Maybe more expensive, but no points.

As far as him hiding or not, or the sign being visible or not, or asking for a video from his cruiser... DO NOT go that route.

In the eyes of the law (the judge) you are responsible for knowing the applicable laws, regardless of the signs, so all you will do is incur additional costs, and piss of everyone... which means they will stick it to you harder.

As a last note, if you have trouble paying the fine, talk to the court clerk and the judge will likely allow you to pay in installments.

In nj we do have school zones... they are either always 25mph max, or if the school borders a street with a higher limit they will often have a secondary sign, for 25mph when flashing. 15mph is a bit ridiculous.

Edit: Your situation is precisely why I don't trust laser/radar detectors at all. Only the prehistoric ones functioned by continuously emitting a signal... all the newer ones, the cop first sees a car speeding, only then targets it.

I have gotten one ticket before, and another one where I plead not guilty and won. The thing is with Radar, its all over the place. Usually I get a warning in advanced with enough time to react. Laser is a tight beam that only hits one car at a time. The Laser detector on my detector is useless because once you are hit with laser you know you are fu****. Unless you get lucky and are hit with a stray beam. My detector has saved me a bunch of speeding tickets. The good thing is that Radar guns are used way more than Laser guns.

electron · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Sorry to hear that you got nailed in a School Zone, going to court over this around here is going to cost you a whole lot more. Unfortunately they are *very* strict on the school zone laws around here; but not without good reason.

Too many kids have been killed and injured on their way to school, and thus the Cops have stepped-up their enforcement of the laws. School wasn't in session yet you said, but that is not going to get you out of the violation. There are kids and teacher a-like that go in early etc, a School Zone is a School Zone; they will even nail you for it on Saturdays, but usually they don't patrol those areas on Saturdays, but it does happen.

Now I know you probably don't feel this way, BUT the Cop did you a favor and wrote the ticket up for 29 instead of 30.....Huh you say?? Well for starters double the speed limit would be mandatory court, and most likely suspension of your license especially cause of your age....you probably noticed your license looks different than your Dads for example because you are under 21. Double the speed limit usual means loose of license, much bigger fines, mandatory court costs, and usually a lawyer needs to be hired.

You will at minimal have to pay the fine, if you don't pay, you already know you'll immediately loose your license and can't get it back until you pay the State first, no matter how long it takes you, AND if you don't work out payments with the State, they can and will probably issue a bench warrant for your arrest; getting a ticket around here and not taking care of it is no joke here. IF you do allow your license to get taken away, you are really screwed, because you will then have a very hard time finding an insurance company that will insure you once you get it back. If the registration is in your name, you'll loose that too. The insurance will cost you thousands of dollars after you do find one that will accept you.

As for the points, there are 2 ways to not get them really. You can hire a Law Firm and have them get it adjudicated, you can only do this ONCE; if you get another ticket, no way. The next way is to take a Drivers Class, you most likely will start to receive many offers in the mail real soon, as this is all Public Info now that you got a ticket, and there are a ton of companies that look for this info each day and thrive off it.

So yes, you are stuck with the fine no matter what. The only variable is what you do or don't do about the points.

I can get you into a school on Saturdays over in Tampa, I believe it's only a 4 hour class; as for cost I'm personal friends with an instructor and can get you a into class for less than $10.00 It's taught by a member of the Police Dept, and you will get a certificate at the end of the class; you must bring the ticket or a copy of it with you.

If that would help you any, send me a PM and I'll recommend you to him; he'll contact you and can offer more advice than I certainly can.

What ever you decide to do, I wish you the Best, and Welcome to the area, sorry it's not a better Welcome though; Please slow down; you'll loose your license real quick around here.

Ghostchrome · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

So have you stopped speeding in school zones yet? :na:

Sigurthr · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Is there an option to pay the $400 in installments? You know, $10/mo or something? Would make it a lot more painless.

I've only ever gotten one ticket and I should have fought it but I coughed up the money instead. I was out driving one night and apparently one of my break lights burned out while I was on the road. I know it was working fine when I left the house because I could see the red reflection on my garage door. Cop pulled me over and I was very polite and calm, I had no idea what I was being pulled over for. He came up and asked for my license and insurance, and walked back to his cruiser before I could ask why I had been pulled over. When he came back he handed me a ticket for $70 for a burnt out tail light and said to drive off immediately. So, I did, parked in a parking lot and read my ticket. I didn't have any money for court fees and had no real proof that it was working when I left so I paid it. I still think he should have told me it was out and given me a warning.

jayrob · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

electron said:
Sorry to hear that you got nailed in a School Zone, going to court over this around here is going to cost you a whole lot more. Unfortunately they are *very* strict on the school zone laws around here; but not without good reason.

Too many kids have been killed and injured on their way to school, and thus the Cops have stepped-up their enforcement of the laws. School wasn't in session yet you said, but that is not going to get you out of the violation. There are kids and teacher a-like that go in early etc, a School Zone is a School Zone; they will even nail you for it on Saturdays, but usually they don't patrol those areas on Saturdays, but it does happen.

Now I know you probably don't feel this way, BUT the Cop did you a favor and wrote the ticket up for 29 instead of 30.....Huh you say?? Well for starters double the speed limit would be mandatory court, and most likely suspension of your license especially cause of your age....you probably noticed your license looks different than your Dads for example because you are under 21. Double the speed limit usual means loose of license, much bigger fines, mandatory court costs, and usually a lawyer needs to be hired.

You will at minimal have to pay the fine, if you don't pay, you already know you'll immediately loose your license and can't get it back until you pay the State first, no matter how long it takes you, AND if you don't work out payments with the State, they can and will probably issue a bench warrant for your arrest; getting a ticket around here and not taking care of it is no joke here. IF you do allow your license to get taken away, you are really screwed, because you will then have a very hard time finding an insurance company that will insure you once you get it back. If the registration is in your name, you'll loose that too. The insurance will cost you thousands of dollars after you do find one that will accept you.

As for the points, there are 2 ways to not get them really. You can hire a Law Firm and have them get it adjudicated, you can only do this ONCE; if you get another ticket, no way. The next way is to take a Drivers Class, you most likely will start to receive many offers in the mail real soon, as this is all Public Info now that you got a ticket, and there are a ton of companies that look for this info each day and thrive off it.

So yes, you are stuck with the fine no matter what. The only variable is what you do or don't do about the points.

I can get you into a school on Saturdays over in Tampa, I believe it's only a 4 hour class; as for cost I'm personal friends with an instructor and can get you a into class for less than $10.00 It's taught by a member of the Police Dept, and you will get a certificate at the end of the class; you must bring the ticket or a copy of it with you.

If that would help you any, send me a PM and I'll recommend you to him; he'll contact you and can offer more advice than I certainly can.

What ever you decide to do, I wish you the Best, and Welcome to the area, sorry it's not a better Welcome though; Please slow down; you'll loose your license real quick around here.

I don't know about Florida, but in CA, you can take your traffic school on-line. Or better yet, via the mail.

I chose mail the last time, and it's great! It's just a little work book. So there is no time limit. You can take your time. Or even have your wife do it for you! :crackup:

InfinitusEquitas · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Sigurthr said:
I've only ever gotten one ticket and I should have fought it but I coughed up the money instead. I was out driving one night and apparently one of my break lights burned out while I was on the road. I know it was working fine when I left the house because I could see the red reflection on my garage door. Cop pulled me over and I was very polite and calm, I had no idea what I was being pulled over for. He came up and asked for my license and insurance, and walked back to his cruiser before I could ask why I had been pulled over. When he came back he handed me a ticket for $70 for a burnt out tail light and said to drive off immediately. So, I did, parked in a parking lot and read my ticket. I didn't have any money for court fees and had no real proof that it was working when I left so I paid it. I still think he should have told me it was out and given me a warning.

You got an @$$hole cop... most would have just left you with a warning, or maybe not even pulled you over at all.

For those kinds of tickets, generally what you can do is get it repaired, get an invoice for the repair, show up to court, and show that the problem has been corrected. The ticket will be dropped.

Same goes for failure to exhibit documentation... you may still be stuck paying something, but the main penalty will be removed.

For a $70 no point ticket, I probably would have just paid it too though... not worth the hassle of going to court.

Lase · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Haloid95 said:
[Rant] By Laser I mean Laser guns . I just got a fuki*** $400 speeding ticket dropping off my sister to school. There was a 35 speed limit sign and then a 15 speed limit when flashing for school.

The only way I know of people sucessfuly getting out of speeding fines (in Australia) happened like this:

- The accuracy of the radar was called into question. Police had to provide evidence that the radar in question (radar number should be on your ticket)
- The police were positioned just behind speed change zone signs (completely hidden) which is something they're not legally allowed to do here.
- The 'speeding' offence was recorded while the police vehicle was moving :crackup:
- The 'offender' turned up at court to fight the ticket and the police did not. Case was thrown out.

I was barely passed the edge of the 15 sign going 30. My detector goes off for Laser, but of course its to late. A cop steps out from behind a tree and steps in front of me, he takes my license and tells me to go into the parking lot in front of his undercover charger.

I think legally, you have to be doing the speed a sign indicates before passing it (unless they're stupidly close together) so the fact you were barely past the sign doesn't matter.

The fact that the cop was out of his cruiser and hiding behind a tree shows dirty tactics. If I were going to fight anything I'd be looking into the tactics they are allowed to use to catch you speeding.

Lase

Haloid95 · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

electron said:
Sorry to hear that you got nailed in a School Zone, going to court over this around here is going to cost you a whole lot more. Unfortunately they are *very* strict on the school zone laws around here; but not without good reason.

Too many kids have been killed and injured on their way to school, and thus the Cops have stepped-up their enforcement of the laws. School wasn't in session yet you said, but that is not going to get you out of the violation. There are kids and teacher a-like that go in early etc, a School Zone is a School Zone; they will even nail you for it on Saturdays, but usually they don't patrol those areas on Saturdays, but it does happen.

Now I know you probably don't feel this way, BUT the Cop did you a favor and wrote the ticket up for 29 instead of 30.....Huh you say?? Well for starters double the speed limit would be mandatory court, and most likely suspension of your license especially cause of your age....you probably noticed your license looks different than your Dads for example because you are under 21. Double the speed limit usual means loose of license, much bigger fines, mandatory court costs, and usually a lawyer needs to be hired.

You will at minimal have to pay the fine, if you don't pay, you already know you'll immediately loose your license and can't get it back until you pay the State first, no matter how long it takes you, AND if you don't work out payments with the State, they can and will probably issue a bench warrant for your arrest; getting a ticket around here and not taking care of it is no joke here. IF you do allow your license to get taken away, you are really screwed, because you will then have a very hard time finding an insurance company that will insure you once you get it back. If the registration is in your name, you'll loose that too. The insurance will cost you thousands of dollars after you do find one that will accept you.

As for the points, there are 2 ways to not get them really. You can hire a Law Firm and have them get it adjudicated, you can only do this ONCE; if you get another ticket, no way. The next way is to take a Drivers Class, you most likely will start to receive many offers in the mail real soon, as this is all Public Info now that you got a ticket, and there are a ton of companies that look for this info each day and thrive off it.

So yes, you are stuck with the fine no matter what. The only variable is what you do or don't do about the points.

I can get you into a school on Saturdays over in Tampa, I believe it's only a 4 hour class; as for cost I'm personal friends with an instructor and can get you a into class for less than $10.00 It's taught by a member of the Police Dept, and you will get a certificate at the end of the class; you must bring the ticket or a copy of it with you.

If that would help you any, send me a PM and I'll recommend you to him; he'll contact you and can offer more advice than I certainly can.

What ever you decide to do, I wish you the Best, and Welcome to the area, sorry it's not a better Welcome though; Please slow down; you'll loose your license real quick around here.

Thanks a lot for the advice. I will make sure to pay it, so I dont loose my license, and will take the defensive driving course. I think I might be able to take it at a local school. If I cant I will pm you, again thanks for the info +1 And Im glad the cop didnt write it as 30 mph. In Iowa I would get pulled over 15-20 over and make some excuse and get off the hook.

Ghostchrome said:
So have you stopped speeding in school zones yet? :na:

Sigurthr said:
Is there an option to pay the $400 in installments? You know, $10/mo or something? Would make it a lot more painless.

I've only ever gotten one ticket and I should have fought it but I coughed up the money instead. I was out driving one night and apparently one of my break lights burned out while I was on the road. I know it was working fine when I left the house because I could see the red reflection on my garage door. Cop pulled me over and I was very polite and calm, I had no idea what I was being pulled over for. He came up and asked for my license and insurance, and walked back to his cruiser before I could ask why I had been pulled over. When he came back he handed me a ticket for $70 for a burnt out tail light and said to drive off immediately. So, I did, parked in a parking lot and read my ticket. I didn't have any money for court fees and had no real proof that it was working when I left so I paid it. I still think he should have told me it was out and given me a warning.

Thats a Asshole cop, you could of won in court easily.

jayrob said:
I don't know about Florida, but in CA, you can take your traffic school on-line. Or better yet, via the mail.

I chose mail the last time, and it's great! It's just a little work book. So there is no time limit. You can take your time. Or even have your wife do it for you! :crackup:

I hope so, or maybe at a local school.

Haloid95 · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Lase said:
The only way I know of people sucessfuly getting out of speeding fines (in Australia) happened like this:

- The accuracy of the radar was called into question. Police had to provide evidence that the radar in question (radar number should be on your ticket)
- The police were positioned just behind speed change zone signs (completely hidden) which is something they're not legally allowed to do here.
- The 'speeding' offence was recorded while the police vehicle was moving :crackup:
- The 'offender' turned up at court to fight the ticket and the police did not. Case was thrown out.

I think legally, you have to be doing the speed a sign indicates before passing it (unless they're stupidly close together) so the fact you were barely past the sign doesn't matter.

The fact that the cop was out of his cruiser and hiding behind a tree shows dirty tactics. If I were going to fight anything I'd be looking into the tactics they are allowed to use to catch you speeding.

Lase

I just realized that the dash camera is only in the front.

Could I use that in court that his camera was not pointing at him while he was taking speeds.It was pointing to the inside of the parking lot. It was a Laser not Radar, so it will be accurate.

Lase · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

Haloid95 said:
I just realized that the dash camera is only in the front. Could I use that in court that his camera was not pointing at him while he was taking speeds.It was pointing to the inside of the parking lot. It was a Laser not Radar, so it will be accurate.

Well the fact he was taking reading from outside of his vehicle and therefore was alone and unaccounted for (police are not allowed to leave their vehicles without good reason. This also means that whenever they do they have to have their dash cam facing the destination of the cop.) should be ebough to cast doubt on the issuing of a fine.

If I were going that route, I'd call your local station. Tell them you will fight the ticket and demand a copy of the dash cam recording for your own records and perusal. They have to give this to you and if there is no video recollection of the incident happening (because the cop was not in the car) then reasonable doubt applies and it's your word against his.

I'd once again suggest to know your rights and be confident but do not act like you know it all. If asked/told something that you know to be wrong simply say 'I thought it was ***. Hold on I'll just google it on my phone'

Police do not like the fact that the world has all their guidelines at their fingertips.

Lase

Haloid95 · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

I see Cops outside their vehicle all the time while Lasering, but all of the time they are at the door or in front of the cruiser. Ive never seen one until now that was lasering in a direction that his Dash Cam is not pointing. Ill see how good of evidence this will be.

electron · Jan 9, 2012

Re: I Hate Lasers

@ Lase

It doesn't matter that he was out of his car, they setup traps like that around here alot, it's legal. Unfortunately he doesn't need the video to win against you. While we are suppose to be innocent until proven guilty, the reality is unless you can prove the Cop did something wrong, a Cops word with a Laser gun will win; sad but it's true.

Sure he certainly has the right to go to court and challenge the Officer, I've seen that done a few times; it usually last about 10 mins and your found guilty. As for getting a copy of his dash-cam video, w/o a Lawyer it's not going to happen here. He is a Sworn Officer with a Laser Gun, and will testify that the readout he provides to the court is your car, because it's a Laser and is very accurate in picking out a target.

Now IF you can prove you didn't do it OR the Cop violated the Law or your rights, then Yes you'll win; seems backwards I know; but for Traffic Court that's about it. For Criminal Court, now that is a different matter.

@jayrob

I don't believe FL has a mail-in test here, never heard of it, but I certainly don't know every option; he can always call the County Clerk and ask.

I Hate Lasers UPDATE*

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I Hate Lasers UPDATE*