Save now and browse later. When then File Download process begins choose the OPEN file option. Your archive program should start automaticly provided you have a one installed. When the archive program starts, choose to EXTRACT ALL FILES to a Floppy Disk.(Drive A:) You now have the Free Report that can be studied anytime and anyplace that there is a computer. To open Click Index.html
Make A Copy For Your Friends! Just Give it to them! They will Thank You For It.
P.S. The disk contains a bonus not found on this site.
>>>>This Is A Very Large Report That Normaly Sells For A $20.00 Bill<<<< So Save And Browse At Your Own Pace.
This manual in no way or form promotes speeding or other illegal activities.
What is presented here in this manual is a collection of tips and advice from
many sources on what you can do to reduce your chances of getting a ticket
in the event that you accidentally stray over the posted speed limit. Every
situation is unique and what is written here are general guidelines to follow
and may have different results than those experienced by the author or
sources. Always consult the advice of an expert in law when the need arises.
About Speeding
State speed limits
Let's face it, we all exceed the speed limit at one time or another and some of
us practice it as a religion. A recent study found that between 88 percent and
96 percent of motorists exceed the 55 mph posted speed limit on interstate
highways in the states that still have it. Since you are reading this booklet on
speeding tickets you either already have one in hand or you are just trying to
avoid one in the future. This booklet places the emphasis on trying to get out
of the ticket before you even get one since this is the easiest method of
beating one in the first place. I am not a lawyer and I won't go into too much
detail about fighting tickets in court other than just giving you some common
defense tactics that an attorney would argue on your behalf.
Most states immediately changed their interstate rural speed limits from 55
mph to 65 mph after the federal government allowed states to do so in 1987.
The states that still have the 55 mph limit are all concentrated in the northeast
with the exception of one. The states are New York, Connecticut, Maryland,
Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Hawaii. I wonder if
the northeast states keep this speed limit so they don't have to fix all those
damn potholes in the roads which keep the local car repair shops in business.
Pretty much everybody will agree that there should be some type of speed
limit but it would be very hard to get them to agree on what it should be. Here
are some statistics that may be of interest to you:
Police point of view
What you may not hear from states often are the statistics of how many police
officers are killed or injured in the line of duty handing out speeding tickets.
The numbers come from various sources but they indicate that 20% of all
police officers killed in the line of duty are killed while giving out traffic
tickets. Of course there are more reasons to get a ticket other than speeding
but the interstate highways are where most of these accidents occur. There
also is the issue that there is so much more bizarre crime going on than in the
past that catching speeders is a waste of manpower and resources.
Insurance company point of view
The insurance companies have always protested raising the rural speed limits
from 55 mph to 65 mph since it is a huge loss of revenue. Car and Driver
columnist Barry Winfield stated in an article that insurance companies
"benefit from unrealistically low speed limits and the resultant high rate of
speeding infractions." The smokescreen is that more injuries and deaths will
result by raising the speed limit an additional 10 mph causing more claims but
real story is that they can get more dollars from safe drivers. Driving 10 mph
more than you used to does not mean you are less safe, it just means that you
are now legal and the insurance companies do not get to charge you more
money. They often cite the increase in highway injuries and deaths since the
1987 ruling from the federal government but they leave out numbers like the
increasing number of drivers from one year to the next.
Local Speed Limits
If you are traveling 30mph in a 20mph zone you are going 10 mph above the
speed limit and you are going to get a ticket and rightfully so. These areas are
usually heavily congested traffic areas so right off the bat you will be dealing
with some irate small town cop, but even so you may be able to get out of one
of these (See: Getting caught). There is simply no advantage to speeding in
local areas as far as a time savings benefit is concerned. The best place to
speed is on the interstate highways knowing that if you are traveling at the
posted speed limit most people consider you a hazard to public safety and
should immediately be thrown in jail. One can justify the risk of getting a
ticket on an interstate highway but not in a school zone at 3pm on a Friday.
How Fast ?
While you are cruising along the highway pick your desired speed of travel
and stick to it. Using the cruise control if your vehicle is equipped, will help
greatly. By this I mean if the speed limit is posted 55 MPH you can probably
drive up to 65-69 MPH without being noticed on an interstate highway. The
reason I say 69 mph because it is less than 15 miles over the limit and fines
and insurance premiums sky rocket if you get a ticket at or above this limit.
After picking your desired speed you will notice how many people will be
flying by you who you will soon be using as shields. It is important to set
yourself a speed limit that you are comfortable with and since you always
know how fast you are traveling and that will also help you in court if the
need arises.
All police officers on interstate highways have a tolerance of how much you
can exceed the speed limit and not get pulled over. I wish I could give you
that number but there is no exact number to give since it is up to each
individual cop to decide. A cop will most likely have different tolerances
depending on time of day, weather, traffic density and more. A safe tolerance
number is 5 miles an hour over the limit, you will not be ticketed for traveling
60 mph in 55 mph zone or 70 mph in a 65 mph zone. Average tolerance is 10
mph and a tolerance of more than 15 is unheard of. If it is an especially heavy
traffic day a state trooper could not possibly handle all the speeders so he/she
will simply increase their tolerance to adjust for the increased traffic. In the
states where 65 mph is the legal limit I would not recommend any speed over
mph which is a comfortable driving speed and within most tolerances
according to the cops I interviewed. In these states it is not uncommon to be
passed by some idiot doing 90 mph, cellular phone in hand, and if that is you,
you deserve a ticket and this manual won't help you (as much).
"See and Avoid"
Needless to say, if you are breaking the law you should be observant about
your surroundings. Most situations that will result in you getting a speeding
ticket could have been avoided in the first place by being alert. The initial
speeding violation may also open you up to other tickets that you may not
even be aware of such as expired inspections and registrations and seat belt
use, or lack thereof. Pilots are trained to scan the skies for other aircraft at all
times and spend a great deal of time with their eyes outside the cockpit using
the "See and Avoid" method. Below are some ways to scan the surroundings
to avoid being spotted and even getting clocked on the radar:
Opposite direction of travel
One of the easiest and most reliable cop detectors available is oncoming cars
flashing their headlights. This signal indicates either a roadblock, a cop sitting
on the median, or a cop with someone pulled over up ahead issuing a ticket.
Headlight signaling has been reliable but the problem is that only about 10%
of the drivers will extend this courtesy to you and then for only about a mile
or two down the road. On heavily traveled days this can be very dependable
especially on interstate highways so always keep an eye out for the flashing
of headlights day or night.
Same direction of travel
Here you will be looking not for headlights but for brakelights. There is little
need to tap your brakes on an interstate highway on even the busiest days so
if you see a car or cars ahead of yours brakelights come on for no observable
reason, the driver is probably hitting the brakes from instinct after seeing a
cop. Also keep your eyes glancing towards the rear view mirror periodically
to watch out for cops coming up from behind and surprising you
Cop with a driver pulled over
Don't worry about the cop with someone pulled over ahead because unless
you are dangerously exceeding the limit they will not stop writing a ticket to
give you one. There is a myth out there that when you see a cop on the side of
the road with a customer there will probably be no more cops on that stretch
of road for the next 20-30 miles. This can be true and I have noticed this but I
have also noticed cops working in pairs so don't rely on this too much.
The median
The median, or the mall as some call it, is where you usually find the cops
hanging around waiting to catch speeders. The best spot on the median is the
No U Turn crossover and this is where you will find the cops 85% of the time
while traveling on interstate highways. The No U Turn signs indicate that
there is a crossover coming up and if you see a No U Turn sign coming
around a turn beware since that is one of the favorite spot. They will also set
up shop in the median where there is no official crossover ,such as set back
into some trees somewhere.
It is important to notice the construction of the median especially if you travel
the same highway often. Notice where the cross over points are that a cop
could use if they are going the opposite direction and decide to come get you.
There are some situations where there is no median other that a concrete
barrier and this is almost a license to speed since they can't hide there or turn
around for quite some time.
Under the overpass
Another favorite spot is under bridges or an overpass and this especially true
on hot summer days since the shade is the place to be. There are no signs to
indicate an overpass is coming up so your best indicators are visual and your
speeding tools.
Speeding Essentials
What lane to travel in
The best lane to travel in on multi lane highways to reduce your chances of a
ticket is the far right lane if traffic allows. The reason is that cops usually
have their radar focused on the left or passing lane. Be aware of traffic behind
you since you may get caught from police vehicles entering the highway from
an entrance ramp. Another advantage to the right lane is that trucks and other
vehicles will be between you and the radar if the cop is set up in the median
and this makes a great reason to dismiss the ticket in court due to inaccurate
radar readings because of obstructions. Just say it was the other guy.
The Shield
The shield is one of my favorite techniques because it virtually always works
and it is always free. Basically the way it works is you maintain your selected
speed and you stay there until some sucker passes you, preferably a tractor
trailer. After they pass you adjust your speed so that you maintain a
reasonable distance of 1/4 mile or so and follow them keeping an eye out for
brake lights. Using the +14 mph or +9 mph standard it will not be long before
another sucker comes up from behind to be your new shield. 18 wheelers
make the best shields because they almost always have a CB and make a
better catch for cops. Truck drivers drive for a living and if they are speeding
I assume it is safe for me to do so. Think about all the trucks you notice
speeding and how rare you see one pulled over. The only flaw with using the
shield exclusively is that again you must constantly be aware of what is
coming up behind you.
Radar Detectors
Radar detectors can both help you and hurt you. The technology will always
be ahead of the driver in favor of law enforcement and this is a never ending
cycle that will leave you constantly playing catch up if you rely on this device
on a daily basis. By using the shield method above let someone else buy the
latest technology and you can just tag along for free. Truck drivers who drive
for a living depend on the CB more that they rely on a radar detector since
radar detectors are illegal in most states in vehicles registered over 18, 000
lbs. GVW.
The radar detector is most useful to you when driving alone late at night and
there is little CB chatter going on. They are the only defense against radar late
at night on isolated back roads and then, only following someone as a shield.
Most cops are equipped with an instant on/off button so by using the shield
your radar detector will detect the cop taking a reading on the car in front of
yours thus allowing you ample time to slow down.
The research that I have is pretty unanimous in that if you get stopped for
speeding and the cop sees a radar detector mounted in your vehicle you will
get a ticket. The reasoning is that the cops feel that you were definitely
intending to speed if you are sporting a radar detector by being sneaky about
it. Have your radar detector set up so you can quickly remove it without the
cop seeing what you are doing in the event that you do get pulled over. A task
a little easier said that done.
CB Radios
The CB radio is a very powerful tool and the best on interstate highways to
combat speeding tickets since it will give you more information than any
radar detector will. I once drove from New York to Florida speeding all the
way in a truck with just a CB radio and it was a lifesaver. It is not necessary
to go out and by a \\$250.00 radio in order to take advantage of this since
Radio Shack sells CB radio Channel 19 receivers only for about \\$19.00 and
that is all you really need. If there is a cop in the vicinity, his location will
surly be broadcast over the airwaves and you can take immediate action.
Keep in mind that cops also monitor the CB radio and move around a lot but
this is still the best defense and there is little they can do to defeat this.
The Weapons
Unmarked cars
Spotting unmarked cars is very easy to the trained eye. They are usually late
model, domestic four door cars stripped down as much as possible. They will
have the cheapest hubcaps if any at all, have a one tone paint job with no
fancy trim and be littered with antennas. Another sign is the spotlight sticking
out of the driver's side front post. Basically what you end up with in an
unmarked car is a full size luxury sedan that is stripped down to the bones
that no civilian would be caught bringing home from a new car dealer. I really
wonder if some civilians order their cars this way?
Speed Traps
Speed traps are a common way to increase revenue in the most efficient
manner possible. They way they work is one cop will nestle into the median
somewhere, usually in the trees, record your speed on radar, then radio down
to the ticket writers usually over a hill or around a curve what your speed is
and a description of the vehicle. Once you come around the curve and see a
cop it is too late since they already know your speed. A uniformed officer will
bravely be outside directing you to pull over with the other victims of the trap.
There is a limit to how many speeders they can handle so once they become
backlogged with five or six victims they will radio the radar car and tell it to
take a break. Once they process all the victims they start over. These traps
are usually only setup on interstate highways during the daytime. They prefer
to do them in an area where the trees in the median will obstruct the view of
the oncoming traffic to eliminate the headlights in the on coming lane. CB
radios always have this information and it is a better defense that radar
detectors. Check the laws in your state with an attorney about these traps
since in most states both the officer doing the radar and the officer issuing the
ticket may have to appear in court if you plead not guilty.
Instant On/Off button
There are whole books in print on radar and this manual is intended only to
cover the stuff you need to know. The radar gun is an extremely accurate
piece of equipment and keep in mind it is only reliable to trained, competent
operator. Most cops these days are equipped with an instant ON/OFF button
that keeps the unit warmed up but your detector won't detect it until the cop
hits the instant ON button and then it is too late, you've been clocked. To
counter this simply use a shield such as a big metal truck between you and the
cop. If you are using the shield in the left lane you will be able to pick up the
radar from the vehicles in front of you that are being clocked. There is very
little these days that will set off a false warning of a radar detector on rural
interstate highways so when you hear that warning treat it with respect.
Speed limits enforced from aircraft
Don't be fooled by the signs on the road indicating that aircraft are used to
enforce speed limits. What a joke! This was attempted at one time, probably
introduced by a cop who was a pilot, and the only time it is used now is for
publicity purposes. It was designed to work like the speed trap except
speeders were spotted from the air rather that a cop hiding in the bushes,
sounds pretty simple. To use this method they need at least a \\$70,000
airplane, insurance, a pilot, an observer, full fuel at approximately
\\$2.50/gallon, daylight, and clear weather with little or no wind. They still
need the full backup of the ground crew just as is needed in the conventional
speed trap. You do not have to be a genius to figure out which is a more cost
effective way of writing tickets.
If you were ever wondering what the white markers that are painted on the
shoulders of a highway and placed about every .2 miles were for this is it.
The observer in the aircraft already knows the distance to be traveled so he
simply calculates the amount of time it takes your vehicle to travel the fixed
distance and the result is your speed in miles per hour. These markers can
only be placed in specific areas and can't be used at night or if the ground is
covered with snow. I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has ever
gotten a ticket from this method. Again, as mentioned above, check the laws
in your state about pleading not guilty to these and how many people are
required to show up. The ticket writer, the observer, the pilot, the mechanic?
Getting Caught
Okay so you think you are going to get pulled over, but do not fret, this is the
fun part. Mostpeople actually talk the cop into giving them a ticket while they
think they are trying to talk them out of it. Below are ideas you may want to
follow. You may have to let your pride down but who cares you may be
going to get out of a ticket. Once a cop has you on the side of the road he has
three options; take you into custody by placing you under arrest and yes you
can get up to 15 days in jail for speeding, he can write you a ticket, or he give
you a warning. I know that you are thinking that a warning will be fine and a
warning can be verbal or in writing. If you do get a ticket your options are
limited to pay it or fight it and at this point there is nothing you can do on the
side of the road so save your steam.
The pre-emptive wave
If you are speeding along and suddenly see a police cruiser that appears to
have noticed you and you have made eye contact with him, slow down
carefully and give a wave to the cop. Most non-cops slow down and avoid
looking at the cop by looking straight ahead saying "Oh, Shit, Oh Shit" and
pretending not to see him. An off duty cop would acknowledge the presence
of the cop by a gentle wave or a nod indicating that you have just realized you
are speeding and will immediately correct the situation. This can prevent you
from being pulled over in the first place because you have recognized the cop
as an authority and you have heeded him. This also works well in inclement
weather since the cop is the one who has to get out of his vehicle.
The pre-emptive pullover
If you think you just got busted for any traffic infraction and you know you
are guilty and about to be stopped the best thing you can have going for you
is to pull over immediately! Do not confuse this with the pre-emptive wave as
described above. Surrender only when the cop has pulled out and starts to
pursue you. Surrendering eliminates the cop having to chase you with sirens
screaming and lights afire and the cop will be in a better mood when he talks
to you. Obviously the pre-emptive pullover will only work if you intend to
plead guilty to the violation because if you intend to plead not guilty you will
look pretty stupid by having pulled over before you were forced to. By
surrendering you immediately lower the cops natural feeling of threat and
increase his ego and this is exactly what an off duty cop would do. Swallow
your pride on this one!
It pays to know a cop
We all know that off duty cops speed and they don't get tickets. Basically, the
last thing a cop wants to do is give out a ticket that he feels is going to be
asked by someone in the department to fix it which is not easy. This is usually
the case with off duty cops and families of cops. The ticket writing cop would
rather let the violator go if they think they have stopped an off duty officer or
a member of their family rather than later be asked to fix the ticket. Notice I
used the word think. It is illegal to impersonate a police officer and you
definitely do not want to do that but it is not illegal for a cop to think or
wrongly assume you are a cop. As long as you have made no false statements
about yourself or haven't displayed a badge indicating you are a cop you
should have no problem.
The way a cop pulls over
For a cop to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation is a very tense situation
to say the least. These days there are crazies riding around with guns under
their seats or body parts in the trunk so a cop's defenses are at a high for even
those most routine traffic stops. The more you can do to decrease the justified
fear a cop has the better your chances of getting out of a ticket. Cops know
this and when they get pulled over this is what they do.
With the cop following you, look into the rear view mirror and acknowledge
you see him by giving a brief wave out the driver's side window and turning
on you directional signal. Select an area that will be safe for both you and the
officer out of the way of traffic. If the weather is bad quickly look for an
overpass to pull over underneath since the cop will surely appreciate this. If
you are not on an interstate it is acceptable to search for a good spot since
you have already acknowledged to the officer that you know he is behind
you. Most cops set up shop in an area predefined with a spot that is available
to pull you over up the road.
Pull over as far to the right as possible so the cop does not have to fear
getting hit by a truck while interviewing you. The cop will now be able to
place his car as a protective barrier from traffic whizzing by. Put on your four
way flashers as an added bonus and make sure the car is in park.
If you have tinted windows and they are electric bring them all down so the
cop can see inside you car. Also if you are wearing sunglasses it is best to
remove them to establish eye contact. If the cop doesn't remove his don't
worry about it. He is the authority.
Do not get out of the car! This will immediately send the cop into a fit
because he will be held accountable to whatever happens to you by your next
of kin. Nothing can be accomplished by you getting out of your car except
creating one mad cop which results in one expensive ticket.
At night immediately turn on the interior lights to show you have nothing to
hide.
Sit still! The cop may take some time to get to you while he/she is checking
out your plate number. Do not raise suspicion by bouncing around looking for
your license and registration, you do not need it at this point and it is only
raising the anxiety level of the cop
As the cop approaches your vehicle, keep your hands planted firmly on the
steering wheel. This makes the cop feel comfortable and less gun shy because
he can see your hands and he is less likely to believe you are going to shoot
him. There may be two cops and in that case the other one will be looking
inside your car usually from the passenger side so just try to ignore him.
The cop will usually first ask for your license and registration not say why
you are being pulled over. Tell the cop exactly what you are going to be
doing! For instance say " My license is in my wallet which I am sitting on,
and my registration is in the glove box, I will hand them to you in that order"
This can only help you give the impression that you are a cop but not actually
saying it. This may sound corny to you but it works!
It is crucial to make sure you break eye contact with the officer while
reaching for anything because there is evidence that a killer always looks his
prey in the eyes before killing him. Cops are well trained in this area and you
definitely do not want the cop thinking you are reaching for a gun, it can ruin
your whole trip.
After getting your papers from the glove box leave it open so you are letting
him know you have nothing to hide. If you have a center console in your car
you will want to close it after retrieving whatever you need because that is a
good place to hide a gun that can be pulled out quickly.
All of the above are simple things you should be doing whatever the reason
you are being pulled over for. It is a good idea to memorize the list so that
when you are caught off guard it will come naturally to you and it will show.
The easiest way to remember the list is simply remember that the cop are
going to be extremely cautious and maybe even nervous so put yourself into
their shoes.
Honesty goes a long way
At this point the cop feels fairly comfortable with you and you are now in the
best position to greatly reduces your chances of getting a ticket of any type.
During the interview let the cop feel good by lecturing you. Swallow your
pride and don't argue with him just satisfy his ego If you have performed all
of the above correctly you will be on your way in no time hopefully with only
a warning. The key issue that I will stress is be honest with the cop during the
interview.
The Interview
As mentioned, if you want to keep going without a ticket simply take the
lecture, apologize for being inattentive or whatever and by no means get into
a shouting match. If you imply to the cop he is a liar or is incompetent you are
reducing your odds of going free even if he is a liar or incompetent. If that is
the case you can retaliate by making him go to court because he is a liar..
Make sure you are giving the cop respect for him and his profession because
it can go a long way in this crazy world we live in today. Do not become
upset or start to cry about getting a ticket or start rambling on about how your
life is now over. Do not display any of these emotions even if you get a ticket
because if you plan on pleading not guilty you do not want him to remember
you. Always let the cop dominate the conversation and do not offer any
information unless he asks for it. Don't say "What's the problem officer"?, or
"Was I speeding"? he will surly let you know when he is ready.
Testing the System
I'm now convinced
After discovering these secrets I was stopped for traffic violations twice, once
on purpose just to see if this information was accurate. The first time I tried to
beat a red light, I didn't and I was caught. I saw the cop sitting there around
the corner and once I spotted him I immediately pulled over before he even
had his lights on. After following the above procedure the cop asked me if I
knew what I had done and I replied that I tried to beat the light. The cop went
to his car and then shortly returned and said "Guess what"? I was puzzled for
a moment. He then said "Today is your lucky day, I have no tickets left in the
book so you can keep what's left as a souvenir, (handing me an empty book
of traffic tickets) since I can't go to the station right now to get a new book".
Now think about this, Why is a cop sitting at the side of the road waiting for
people to run the red light as they do everyday at this time and place, without
a book of traffic tickets? After the cop let me go I went back through the
intersection moments later and there he was again. You figure that one out.
The second offense was a speeding violation that I needed in order to
research this manual. I was comfortably cruising along at 55mph +20 on an
interstate highway and I followed the above procedure after being pulled
over. The officer asked me if I knew why I was being pulled over and I said
"Yes, I was not paying attention and I was grossly over the speed limit". He
examined my license and registration right there and said "slow it down and
have a nice day". This may not work all the time but I am not about to go out
and accumulate speeding tickets just to come up with a percentage rate for
you. Most people talk themselves into the ticket by pleading stupidity like
"No I don't know why you pulled me over" or "was I really going that fast"?
This is usually immediate grounds for a ticket because 95% of the time you
do know why you are being pulled over and if you plead ignorance you will
get a ticket because the cop knows you are lying or at the very least for not
paying attention to driving. Another way of insuring that you get the ticket is
arguing with the cop about violation. The side of the road is not the place to
do this, that is reserved for the courtroom. If you believe you are wrongly
being ticketed just take the ticket and do not give the cop any reason to
remember you. By this I mean don't say things like "What's your badge
number"? or "I'll see you in court". You should not have to ask the cop for his
badge number in the first place because it will be on the ticket when he hands
it to you.
Cops hand out so many tickets that you definitely do not want him to
remember you when the time comes to go to court. If they think you are going
to challenge the ticket and make them appear in court you can bet when he
gets back into his patrol car he is going to start writing notes about the stop
and start preparing the case.
If you have a valid excuse
I was pulled over by the New York State Police late one evening on a
desolate interstate highway. The reason I was pulled over was the officer
clocked my speed at an unbelievable 80 mph in my little four cylinder
sportscar and in addition to that I was not in one lane but I was driving in the
center of the two lanes with my car centered on the dashed white line. I got
out of that one without a ticket also. Having my interior lights on and the car
in park with the hazard lights flashing, acting like a cop would, the officer
approached my vehicle with breathalyzer in hand ready to issue me a DWI.
This is how the conversation went...
Officer: "Where are you coming from this evening"?
Me: "Westchester County Airport"
Officer: "Where are you headed"?
Me: "Home"
Officer: "Did you have anything to drink at that airport"?
Me: "I had nothing to drink at that airport, officer".
Officer: Do you know how fast you were going"?
Me: "Probably about eighty miles an hour".
Officer: "Why were you driving in two lanes"?
Me: "Well, let me explain, I'm a pilot and I was getting checked out in a high
performance aircraft and practicing night landings with an instructor. I was
having difficulty on approaches so every time we got on the approach the
instructor would scream "Eighty Knots, Eighty Knots, Eighty Knots". This
was going on all night so I am not surprised my speed on the highway was
eighty mph while I was reflecting the flight".
Officer: " What were you doing in between the two lanes"?
Me: "Oh, airport runways have a white dashed center line and I guess I was
forgetting I was in my car.
Officer: "Well that's the most original story I've heard in a long time"
Me: "Well, I have all my pilot credentials and accessories right here in my
bag. Would you like to see"?
Officer: (looking in my passenger seat at my bag) "No, just take it easy on the
highway and happy landings".
Me: "Good night Officer"
There is no way I could have made this up between the time he pulled me
over and the time he questioned me because it was true. The officer realized
that I wasn't conning him so he let me go.
If you don't have an excuse
Once you are stopped for a violation you still have a chance to get out of the
ticket and this is the best place to do it. You should be warned that you must
be a half way decent actor/actress to use this next one. This also contradicts
what I mentioned earlier about being honest but if you rehearse this one
enough you will even believe it. The most effective excuse for speeding is
that you have to use a rest room and you need to go before you explode.
Once you are on the side of the road roll down your window and wave for the
cop to come to your car right way, Do not get out of your car! When the cop
arrives at your window act as if you have to relieve yourself right away and
ask the officer if we could do one of the following:
"Let me run into the woods over there so I can relieve myself"
"Is there a rest stop up the road that you can follow me to and write the ticket
there so I can relieve myself"?
Either approach puts the cop into a very difficult situation because he can't
prove that you don't have to relieve yourself and it is going to be trouble so he
may just let you leave telling you to slow down. This can also be used by
another passenger in the vehicle if you are not up to it and the best person to
have do it is a female, for obvious reasons. This excuse will not work if you
have just passed up an opportunity to stop a few miles back and did not take
advantage of it. If the officer lets you go make sure you do stop at the next
area and take a 5 minute rest. Remember that you should have an excuse
already made up in advance of getting pulled over so it is more believable.
PBA Decals
If you are thinking about laying out some cash to buy a "We support the
PBA" or similar organizations decal save your money. Cops take these decals
very lightly since most people believe that they will work in their favor. You
will have no way of knowing if the cop that is standing next to your car is
happy with their union or not. If he is not happy you are in trouble for
reminding him of it, and if he is happy you are just another person who thinks
he can buy his way out of a ticket. It also displays that you do not have the
political connections to get a ticket fixed. Supporting the PBA is a very good
and useful idea but one has to wonder how many contributions they would
receive if they did not give out decals and cards to thank you for your
support.
Going to Court
Once you have a ticket
I you are planning on pleading guilty to the charge you can stop reading here
because the rest of this manual will not help you at this point. However. if
you plan on pleading not guilty and are representing yourself keep reading.
The key to representing yourself is PREPARATION and plenty of it. You do
not want to plead guilty and then walk into the court room hoping that the
officer doesn't show up. They do show up like 80% of the time so you will
need a plan. One idea that I love to share is keep one of those small
inexpensive disposable cameras in your car at all times. They are invaluable
for parking tickets, accidents, and UFO's and they only cost about \\$6.00. If
you think you have a case the more prepared you are with things like photos,
witnesses, and documents, the better your chances of winning.
V&T Law
The judge will be impressed with your knowledge of the law when you are
able to recite the section that you are charged with violating from memory.
The best investment you can make if you plan on fighting your own tickets is
to go down to the Department of Motor Vehicles or whatever it is called in
your state and buy the Vehicles and Traffic Law handbook that is available to
the public. The one in New York State is 668 pages and cost a whopping
\\$1.00. I am not referring to the cute little book that they give when you want
to learn how to drive either. I bet 98% of the entire population is driving
around having never heard of this book and thus, not knowing the traffic
laws.
Once you have the book in hand refer to your ticket and look for the section
that you are being charged with violating. It is very common to be charged
with the wrong but similar offense due to the cop's ignorance and you will be
able to go free if that is the case. If the charge is accurate you will surely
impress the judge with your interest and the respect for the law and may win
him over just on that fact alone. If you plan on going to court to fight your
own tickets it is very helpful to go to some court sessions ahead of time to get
an idea of what works and what doesn't. Remember, preparation is
everything!
Depositions
Depositions can go two ways. I once had a speeding ticket reduced to failure
to obey traffic control device simply because I did not request a deposition.
When I talked to the officer prior to court I simply told him I could not afford
another speeding ticket or I would lose my license. He asked the judge for a
reduced charge because I did him a favor and did not burden him or waste his
time by making him write a detailed deposition of the violation. On the other
hand, a deposition is another opportunity for the officer to make a mistake
like dates, times, etc. The general rule is if your case is not open and shut in
your favor request the deposition when pleading not guilty and you may at a
later date decide to hire an attorney and he/she will need it.
Other people were speeding too
I 've heard this defense a lot and the judge usually always lets the ticket stand.
The reason is that you were speeding and you got caught and the others
didn't. A cop can only write one ticket at a time so that does not exclude you
from speeding. Some people really want to get nasty and hire an attorney and
claim discrimination of some sort but you may still have to pay the ticket.
Credibility
The most import asset next to preparation you can have without an attorney is
credibility. If the judge thinks you are lying you are not getting out of
anything. If the judge feels you are credible they will usually dismiss the
ticket. They best way to be credible short of telling to truth is rehearse your
case in front of friends or family members to get it straight. When it is your
word against a cop's word there is no room for error. They will usually side
with the cop unless you can present a well planned defense.
Good Luck!
_
Bibliography
Egan, James M. NYSP A Speeder's Guide to Avoiding Tickets
Avon Books, October 1991
How to Beat A Speeding Ticket Active Home Video 1986
Boardroom Classics The Book of Secrets
1994 Boardroom Reprts Inc.
Haas. Carol Your Driving and the Law
Horizon Publishing & Distributers Inc. 1991
Bello, Phil, How to Win in Traffic Court
Major Market Books, 1990
_Bonus Section
Traffic Laws You May Not Know About
This bonus section reveals traffic laws on the books that you may not even be
aware of. The information is taken directly from the 1993/1994 New York
State Vehicle and Traffic Law. You may want to get this book in your state to
see if the laws are similar there. The book is available to anyone at your State
Department of Motor Vehicles office. The office in New York charges \\$1.00
for this 668 page book.
Make sure it was a cat...
§ 601.Leaving scene of injury to certain animals without reporting.
Any person operating a motor vehicle which shall strike and injure any horse,
dog, or animal classified as cattle shall stop and endeavor to locate the owner
or custodian of such animal or a police, peace, or judicial officer of the
vicinity, and take any other reasonable and appropriate action so that the
animal may have nesscessary attention...
Goes on to specify fines for second and third offenses.
For non-drinkers...
§ 1194. Arrest and testing
(b) Report of refusal. If such a person having been placed under arrest or after
a breath test indicates the presence of alcohol in the person's system and
having thereafter been requested to submit to such chemical test and having
been informed that the person's license or permit to drive and any nonresident
driving privilege shall be immediately suspended and subsequently revoked
for refusal to submit to such chemical test or any portion thereof, whether or
not the person is found guilty of the charge for which such person is
arrested....
No radar detectors in trucks...
§ 397a. Radar detectors prohibited 1. No radar detector shall be used in any
motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than eighteen
thousand pounds. The presence in such a vehicle of a radar detector
connected to a power source and in an operable condition is presumptive
evidence of its use by any person operating such vehicle. Such presumption
shall be rebutted by any credible and reliable evidence which tends to show
that such radar detector was not in use. 2. The provisions of this section shall
not be constituted as authorizing the seizure or forfeiture of a radar detector,
unless otherwise provided by law. 3. A violation of the provision of this
section shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not less than
twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars.
Don't throw those tickets out...
§ 207. Uniform traffic summons and complaint. 5. Any person who disposes
of any uniform traffic summons and complaint in any manner other than that
prescribed by law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Get your car off the hook.
§ 236. Creation, personnel
5. Release of an illegally parked vehicle. a. A parking violations bureau of a
city with a population of one million or more persons may impose vehicle
release penalties in accordance with the provisions of paragraph b of this
subdivision, provided that the commissioner of transportation of such city has
established a procedure for the towing and impoundment of illegally parked
vehicles which permits the release, at the site of the underlying parking
violation, of an illegally parked vehicle which has been hooked to a tow truck
in preparation for towing from such site if:
(1) the owner or other person lawfully entitled to the possession of such
vehicle appears and requests the release of such vehicle before the tow truck
is in motion,.........
Successful Speeding Notes:
From July 1994 Car & Driver
1.Select Proper equipment
Avoid bright red performance cars
Non-descript mouse-gray "family" cars pass by unnoticed
Choose sports sedans such as Taurus SHO, Infinity Q45, etc.
a GOOD Radar Detector
2.Recognize the threat early
Avoid excessive speeding on sparsely traveled highways. There will be no
radar cover for you. This applies to both day and night driving. Pay attention
to Radar alerts, especially X-band "blips" on a rural highway. This may turn
out to be K-band bouncing of a car in front of you. Learn to recognize
"threat" vehicles, such as Mustang LX's, full-size Chevrolets, Dodge
Diplomats, Plymouth Grand Fury's, etc. Identifying "threat" vehicles:
windshield pillar mounted spotlight, stabilizer bar underside car ( especially
on Chevrolets ), wide performance tires. Rules apply whenever vehicle
approaches from front or rear - slow down for positive identification!
3.Maintain good daytime scan
Golden Rule #1 restated: Innocuous cars may pass unnoticed. Slow down
when approaching underpasses - enforcer may be on far side behind the
concrete. Be suspicious of vehicles parked on the inside or outside shoulder
until a positive I.D. is made. Check On-ramps: give a quick look to the top of
the on-ramp. Slow down whenever you notice a vehicle behind you matching
your speed for a positive identification. The vehicle matching your speed will
not be getting smaller in your rear-view mirror.
4.Maintain a good night scan
Moving up on an enforcer vehicle: learn to identify taillights. Good example
is the Mustang LX. Immediately look for the folded in spotlight. Prime rule
for nighttime driving: drive fast enough so that all head- lights of passed
motorists reduce rapidly in size. Any air of headlamps that maintains the same
distance will need to be identified.
5.Practice Stealth, deception, and "hiding"
Find a "hare" who is pleased to demonstrate that his car is better than yours.
Drop back to a safe distance and enjoy the radar shield. Do maintain your
rear scan though. Run at times with lights, then at times without, hiding
yourself in front of a group of trucks when you change illumination. The
reason for this is that an enforcer, having "noticed" you from a long distance
back, will be looking for a certain as-yet-unidentified vehicle with lights ( or
without ) as he moves quickly up through traffic. Suddenly, he is in
identifiable range of a vehicle similar in size and shape to the one he believes
may have been violating, only now the illumination is different from what he
saw before, thus rendering him unsure. Following rules #2 and #3, you will
have slowed down to quasi-legal speed. This will confuse the officer,
especially if you have removed your radar detector from the windshield or
visor. Placement and removal of the radar detector is crucial. The unit should
be directly in front of you so that a following threat vehicle cannot see it. If
you believe you have been actively "noticed", hide in front of a large truck,
accelerate while under cover, and exit any off-ramp or rest area. You will
have nothing to lose at this juncture.
Any time an officer moves in on you, remove the detector at once and place it
in the seat next to you. If you are in imminent danger of being stopped,
execute the following emergency procedure in sequence: (1) remove detector
and jam under seat; (2) wipe off suction cup or other tell-tale marks with
moistened index fingertip, and (3) Replace the cigarette lighter ! An empty
cigarette lighter is a dead giveaway to the officer that he is dealing with a
chronic offender. He will treat you accordingly.
6.Beware of slow moving "clumps"
Clumps are largish groups of vehicles covering all lanes and maintain a near-
legal speed. Most "loose" clumps will contain one enforcer vehicle at the
front ( usually a marked cruiser, and one in the middle or at the tail of the
clump. The vehicle at the rear will usually be unmarked and looking for lane
changing and in-and-out weaving. Knowledge of rule #2 will make him a
dead giveaway. Beware of curves, crests, and grassy medians. Instant-on may
be placed so that the violator can be "shot" just as he crests the hill, before he
has a chance to react. Slow down - its safer.
7.Avoid unprofessional and provocative behavior
The smart motorist does not alienate others. Slow to a moderate speed when
passing other motorists. One of the benign-looking minivans you just ran off
the road may contain an off- duty officer with a notebook and a phone. Avoid
provocative license plates and bumper stickers: "How's my driving ? Call 1-
800-EAT-SHIT" will not give you any breaks when stopped by an officer.
8.Maintain a high level of attention at all times
Raid motoring is a serious business. Stay focused. Distractions are all
incompatible with rules #1-9.
9.Behave correctly when stopped
Chronic fast driving will get you stopped sooner or later. Observance of rules
#1-9 will make this much, much later, but not "never". Do not act blase'. A
cocky stance of "OK, so you got me" is provocative. SO is attempting to
argue that there must be some terrible mistake - you know you were under the
limit. Do not forget to remove your detector and follow the other steps
mentioned in rule #5. Be courteous, candid and contrite. Trembling while
handing over your license demonstrates that this situation is unusual and
terrifying to you. It shows respect for the law and fear of punishment. Answer
the question "Do you know how fast you were going ?" with "Truly, I don't -
my mind must've been wandering". "But I must have been going over the
speed limit, or you wouldn't have stopped me." Note that you were not
speeding deliberately - no "late for work" excuses !
I sure hope that this report has answered some of the questions you may have had about those pesky speeding tickets. Please take this time to To tell a friend.