[Evil///M]

CO state trooper, El Paso Cty
Just got a speeding ticket this morning on my way to base, literally not even a half mile from the gate
There were 2 state troopers sitting on top of the hill far away which I saw, so I let off the gas and just coasted. Didn't really think they were watching traffic because my V1 wasn't showing anything. I see one of the cops start to leave the spot. Still didn't have any concern. He gets onto the highway and gets behind me and puts lights on. We get pulled over and he said I was doing 74 in a 55 and gave me a ticket.

No radar, no laser warning came up. I was pretty far away when I saw them, at least 1000ft...so by the time I would have been in range I definitely wouldn't have been going that fast.

What I'm trying to know is could I fight this in court? Is a laser/lidar enough to prove that I was speeding in court? Could have been using vascar even. Or can cops just make up a number and say you were going that fast, and you're screwed?

[IN54NITY]

I've been popped multiple times lately by laser/lidar (4 times yesterday!), and my detector did not pick it up (all of 'em were pointing their 'guns' when I went driving by - so either they were being selective or very accurate hitting my front plate). They must all be out playing with their new toys. Fortunately I wasn't speeding.

Maybe that guy was using VASCAR (known distance & time) and I do ~not~ see how that could ~not~ be used in court, if anything, that is the ultimate truth of speed.

Best of luck to you.

[Evil///M]

Yeah it was too far away to even see anything at all. I just saw the 2 cars propped up there... Any idea what the max effective range on a laser gun is?

[IN54NITY]

Good question. Wiki says 4000ft. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIDAR_speed_gun

[Evil///M]

Originally Posted by IN54NITY

Good question. Wiki says 4000ft. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LIDAR_speed_gun

Oh k then.. I was probably in range. But even at that distance my V1 should have picked something up.

[richpike]

Bummer man. Laser is tough. Sometimes my X50 picks it up, sometimes not.

My suggestion - don't fight it, go for a diversion. I've successfully done that with the Highway Patrol before.

Good luck.

-Rich

[Evil///M]

Originally Posted by richpike

Bummer man. Laser is tough. Sometimes my X50 picks it up, sometimes not.

My suggestion - don't fight it, go for a diversion. I've successfully done that with the Highway Patrol before.

Good luck.

-Rich

What do you mean by diversion?

[IN54NITY]

Originally Posted by Evil///M

Oh k then.. I was probably in range. But even at that distance my V1 should have picked something up.

Agreed, that's why I think he used VASCAR. He would have had to "shoot" your windshield at some point.

[IN54NITY]

Originally Posted by Evil///M

What do you mean by diversion?

Look! A giant doughnut is going down the highway! [Drive off.]


I'm pretty sure he means moving the violation to a "lower" point violation. Think: "The assistant DA will see you now."

[richpike]

LOL @ the doughnut

Basically what IN54ANITY said. Talk with the DA - go for lower points/non-moving violation.

-Rich

[Dan Bilzerian]

You should have asked him to see the radar or method he used to get your speed. There's many ways you can fight this.

[Evil///M]

Originally Posted by Seattle(206)

You should have asked him to see the radar or method he used to get your speed. There's many ways you can fight this.

I know, I should have but I didn't. I was just mad at the moment and didn't want to be rude.

[Dan Bilzerian]

Originally Posted by Evil///M

I know, I should have but I didn't. I was just mad at the moment and didn't want to be rude.

I guess the way you may have said it might have come off rude. So how fast were you actually going?

[IN54NITY]

He was going 55mph, of course.

[Evil///M]

Originally Posted by Seattle(206)

I guess the way you may have said it might have come off rude. So how fast were you actually going?

I honestly don't know.. I didn't even look at speedo after I saw the cops. I wasn't going that fast and I was slowing down.

Originally Posted by IN54NITY

He was going 55mph, of course.

Haha, yep!

[csu87]

You can go to court, get a lesser violation and pay the court fees or you can pay the ticket. Going to court typically costs more and there is no guarantee that the ticket will be reduced.

And no radar detector is 100% accurate, so if you think that is going to be your defense, chances are the judge will get frustrated with you and that is never a good thing.