I never really looked at the rest of this thread but just yesterday I got pulled over doing 100 in a 110 zone on the way to Banff!
The cop said I was driving too fast for the road conditions.
Has this happened to anyone else? He let me go but said the fine would have been $170 and that he'd have no problem making it stick. He didn't even radar me so he'd have to "estimate" my speed. WTF?
speeding> do you?
Moderators: sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, lilfssister, North Shore, I WAS Birddog
In BC, police are not required to use a speed measuring device (laser or radar) to cite your speed.
Police are trained to accurately estimate vehicle speeds based on how quickly they pass by other vehicles and landmarks of a known distance from each other.
On the plus side for the accused, tickets issued on the basis of a speed "estimate", are easily disputed in traffic court, depending on how fast the officer cited you. Ie: No officer can realistically tell the difference between 110kph and 100kph, but 150kph vs. 100kph is pretty obvious. If you were significantly above the speedlimit, you are pooched.
"Speeding" is a completley objective offense, meaning: either you were, or you weren't. Having an excuse for speeding will not obsolve you of having to pay the ticket, because you were still speeding, and ergo, breaking the law.
Any ticket based on a subjective offense, such as "driving too fast for conditions" or "driving without due care and attention" are merely an OPINION, and can be EASILY disputed in court, if you have a reasonable explaination, and there was no accident involved.
Tickets issued for "driving too fast for conditions" are usually (99% of the time) issued AFTER an accident that was YOUR fault - the accident being indisputable proof that you were indeed driving too fast for conditions.
Police are trained to accurately estimate vehicle speeds based on how quickly they pass by other vehicles and landmarks of a known distance from each other.
On the plus side for the accused, tickets issued on the basis of a speed "estimate", are easily disputed in traffic court, depending on how fast the officer cited you. Ie: No officer can realistically tell the difference between 110kph and 100kph, but 150kph vs. 100kph is pretty obvious. If you were significantly above the speedlimit, you are pooched.
"Speeding" is a completley objective offense, meaning: either you were, or you weren't. Having an excuse for speeding will not obsolve you of having to pay the ticket, because you were still speeding, and ergo, breaking the law.
Any ticket based on a subjective offense, such as "driving too fast for conditions" or "driving without due care and attention" are merely an OPINION, and can be EASILY disputed in court, if you have a reasonable explaination, and there was no accident involved.
Tickets issued for "driving too fast for conditions" are usually (99% of the time) issued AFTER an accident that was YOUR fault - the accident being indisputable proof that you were indeed driving too fast for conditions.
Cops are like wild animals - they can tell when you're scared, and given the chance, they will take advantage of your ignorance.
The best defense is to study the Motor Vehicle Act just as if it were the CARS and PROTECT YOURSELF by knowing the MVA better than the cops.
If you are pulled over mistakenly, or questionably, and the cop gets the feeling that you KNOW what you are talking about, they'll drop it right away because they won't want the hassle of a court challenge.
Most of them are out there trying to make the roads safer.. they don't get kickbacks for collecting the most tickets - they just don't want to have to attend to accident scenes - so they setup speed traps to discourage speeding, and hence, reduce accidents.
The best defense is to study the Motor Vehicle Act just as if it were the CARS and PROTECT YOURSELF by knowing the MVA better than the cops.
If you are pulled over mistakenly, or questionably, and the cop gets the feeling that you KNOW what you are talking about, they'll drop it right away because they won't want the hassle of a court challenge.
Most of them are out there trying to make the roads safer.. they don't get kickbacks for collecting the most tickets - they just don't want to have to attend to accident scenes - so they setup speed traps to discourage speeding, and hence, reduce accidents.
The RCMP around Banff have always been particularly vigilant and intolerent of even the smallest violations of the speed laws. I've always thought it came from years of crashes caused by excessive speed and gawking at the scenery at the same time. I think they know people will be concentrating less on their driving in that part of the world. Unlike the 401 where the only thing to look at is the bumber in front of you.
good topic guys...wow, I almost forgot if this is an aviation thread or automotive:)
I agree rsandor and familyguy in particular, and many others have some very good and valid points.
my take is as follows:
1) don't block the left lane - move over, let the guy pass, then move in again if you need to.
2) be realistic - follow the law in school areas, kids zones!!
3) if you speed, do it when the traffic/weather/conditions permit
4) don't stare over and slow everyone down if a car stalls in the emerg-lane!! Big pet peeve!!!
5) be a proactive - not a passive drive. Be alert around you, and try to anticipate what others might do in front of you...it might save you an accident or a big pille up behind you.
6) Trucks HAVE NO REASON whatsoever to be in the LEFT lane and race with you 120km/h on a highway...I'd send those drivers to jail in a blink of an eye!!!
Do I speed....yes, city by +10-15km, highway +20-49km:)...not always, but when conditions permitt I generally do.
My car is not the best choice when it comes to driving slow...damn those germans are good
Safe driving to all of you guys!
I agree rsandor and familyguy in particular, and many others have some very good and valid points.
my take is as follows:
1) don't block the left lane - move over, let the guy pass, then move in again if you need to.
2) be realistic - follow the law in school areas, kids zones!!
3) if you speed, do it when the traffic/weather/conditions permit
4) don't stare over and slow everyone down if a car stalls in the emerg-lane!! Big pet peeve!!!
5) be a proactive - not a passive drive. Be alert around you, and try to anticipate what others might do in front of you...it might save you an accident or a big pille up behind you.
6) Trucks HAVE NO REASON whatsoever to be in the LEFT lane and race with you 120km/h on a highway...I'd send those drivers to jail in a blink of an eye!!!
Do I speed....yes, city by +10-15km, highway +20-49km:)...not always, but when conditions permitt I generally do.
My car is not the best choice when it comes to driving slow...damn those germans are good
Safe driving to all of you guys!
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Cat Driver
- Top Poster
- Posts: 18921
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:31 pm
Or they might taser you.If you are pulled over mistakenly, or questionably, and the cop gets the feeling that you KNOW what you are talking about, they'll drop it right away because they won't want the hassle of a court challenge.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
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BoostedNihilist
Its probably different with every police force, but in Calgary most cruisers aren't equipped with speed detection equipment. Only the traffic division as I understand it.BoostedNihilist wrote:RsandorI'm trying to understand this... So, how would this work in practice... I hate hypotheticals, but hypothetically speaking, if the police officer is out there measuring distances between two objects (known distance) then estimating your time between them to calculate your speed... why wouldn't they just pull out the radar gun?Police are trained to accurately estimate vehicle speeds based on how quickly they pass by other vehicles and landmarks of a known distance from each other.
So if you happen to pass by random cops, they probably dont have an accurate way to know how fast except as mentioned, relative speed vs other vehicles(and themselves).
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BoostedNihilist
Great Britain
Top this for a speeding ticket ...
Two traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual
incident while checking for speeding motorists on the A-1 Great North Road.
One of the officers used a hand-held radar device to check the speed of a
vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the
speed was recorded at over 300 mph. Their radar suddenly stopped working and
the officers were not able to reset it.
Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in
fact latched on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet which was engaged in a
low-flying exercise over the Border district, approaching from the North
Sea.
Back at police headquarters the chief constable fired off a stif complaint
to the RAF Liaison office.
Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style:
'Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this
incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the
Tornado had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto, your
hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it.
Furthermore, an air-to-ground missile aboard the fully-armed aircraft had
also automatically locked onto your equipment. Fortunately, the pilot
flying the Tornado recognized the situation for what it was, quickly
responded to the missile systems alert status, and was able to override the
automated defense system before the missile was launched and your hostile
radar installation was destroyed.
Good Day...
Top this for a speeding ticket ...
Two traffic patrol officers from North Berwick were involved in an unusual
incident while checking for speeding motorists on the A-1 Great North Road.
One of the officers used a hand-held radar device to check the speed of a
vehicle approaching over the crest of a hill, and was surprised when the
speed was recorded at over 300 mph. Their radar suddenly stopped working and
the officers were not able to reset it.
Just then a deafening roar over the treetops revealed that the radar had in
fact latched on to a NATO Tornado fighter jet which was engaged in a
low-flying exercise over the Border district, approaching from the North
Sea.
Back at police headquarters the chief constable fired off a stif complaint
to the RAF Liaison office.
Back came the reply in true laconic RAF style:
'Thank you for your message, which allows us to complete the file on this
incident. You may be interested to know that the tactical computer in the
Tornado had detected the presence of, and subsequently locked onto, your
hostile radar equipment and automatically sent a jamming signal back to it.
Furthermore, an air-to-ground missile aboard the fully-armed aircraft had
also automatically locked onto your equipment. Fortunately, the pilot
flying the Tornado recognized the situation for what it was, quickly
responded to the missile systems alert status, and was able to override the
automated defense system before the missile was launched and your hostile
radar installation was destroyed.
Good Day...
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black hole
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- Location: Ontario
- Contact:
I just did a trip stateside and got to drive some interstates.
Rockie don't read this - the speed "limit" was 75mph! Imagine my horror at being able to legally do 120 all day long! Apparently those rubes think it's safe
. Have't been there since the double nickel days so it was quite the treat.
You know what else - when it started snowing they slowed down . Ya know what else? In that particular state they stay in the RIGHT LANE except to pass!!!! Driving Nirvana....
Seriously making me rethink retirement in this quasi police lemming state.
Look at this and it makes one rethink alot of the previous tripe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limi ... ted_States
Rockie don't read this - the speed "limit" was 75mph! Imagine my horror at being able to legally do 120 all day long! Apparently those rubes think it's safe
. Have't been there since the double nickel days so it was quite the treat.You know what else - when it started snowing they slowed down
. Ya know what else? In that particular state they stay in the RIGHT LANE except to pass!!!! Driving Nirvana....Seriously making me rethink retirement in this quasi police lemming state.
Look at this and it makes one rethink alot of the previous tripe:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limi ... ted_States
That's like the guy I used to know a long time ago who wanted to get an airplane that could do 400 knots because...he could outrun the weather.black hole wrote:I drive slightly faster than most others and I think its safer,because I only have to worry about whats in front and not behind me. Just a thought!?
Im just glad that not everyone is the same.
BH
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linecrew
- Rank (9)
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:53 am
- Location: On final so get off the damn runway!
Yeah, that's exactly like that guy.Rockie wrote:That's like the guy I used to know a long time ago who wanted to get an airplane that could do 400 knots because...he could outrun the weather.black hole wrote:I drive slightly faster than most others and I think its safer,because I only have to worry about whats in front and not behind me. Just a thought!?
Im just glad that not everyone is the same.
BH
Yeah, that's exactly like that guy. Because black hole isn't considering that at higher speed the stuff in front and beside you becomes more of a threat given your reduced reaction time and speed differential. And stuff behind you is never much of a threat unless, like black hole, it is going faster than you are. So while he doesn't feel like he has to watch his mirror much, everybody else does because of him.linecrew wrote:Yeah, that's exactly like that guy.Rockie wrote:That's like the guy I used to know a long time ago who wanted to get an airplane that could do 400 knots because...he could outrun the weather.black hole wrote:I drive slightly faster than most others and I think its safer,because I only have to worry about whats in front and not behind me. Just a thought!?
Im just glad that not everyone is the same.
BH
