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Thread: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

  1. #1
    The Latin Heartthrob Javy Pornstache's Avatar
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    Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    I see some people with stories from time to time on here, and I thought I'd share mine and maybe get some suggestions.

    I was traveling on my way to work this morning, on a highway going eastbound when I saw a cop passing me going westbound. We were each in the respective left lanes. I saw him spin around in the grass in my rear-view mirror after passing, make a quick u-turn but I didn't think much of it. I WAS going over the speed limit, technically, about 62 or 63 or so in a 55, but I wasn't expecting to be pulled over.

    So, naturally, I get pulled over. He comes up to me and says he clocked me at 74 at the road I had passed maybe like a half mile before I even saw him coming from the OPPOSITE direction... does that make sense? First off, I thought you had to be still for a radar to register... and it does say it was a radar reading on the ticket. Secondly, I am 100000% CERTAIN I was not going 74, at least according to my speedometer. Sure, it could be wrong, but if it is 10 miles off, then I go 10 miles over everywhere, and haven't been pulled over.

    He did the standard, "where ya headin', son?" and I told him I was on my way to work and explained to him what I had going on that day at work (it was important I be there at an exact time, more so today than any normal day). He said something to the extent of, "well I won't write you out a citation, but I just wanted to warn you, because that is a dangerous intersection, to take it easy".

    I was quite relieved, but after he asked for my license, registration, and insurance, he went back to his car where he sat for a good 5-7 minutes....I am thinking, "gee, what's taking so long?" He comes back....with a citation in hand! I was shocked. He handed me my stuff back, just said "here's your citation", and I didn't have time to argue or anything as it was very important that I be at work in 15 minutes and I had about 12 to get there.

    Does this seem weird, all things considered? He got me from a moving vehicle on the opposite side of the road, said he clocked me at 10 over what my speedometer said (I don't have a lead foot and am quite conscious of my speed at all times and recall just looking at it seconds before this all occured), said he clocked me at a road that I passed before encountering him, and the whole deal about saying he would just give me a warning, then writes one up anyway? Seems weird. I wasn't at all disrespectful toward him or anything.

    To beat it all, I JUST got my latest car insurance rate a couple days ago and was very pleased with it. With things going on in my life, money is really tight for me right now. Is there anything I could do? Is this something I can possibly avoid with the circumstances? Could I call him, call the court, appear in court, do something? I am sure it would all be my word versus his word and I am sure I wouldn't win, so would it be pointless?

    Sorry if this is a pointless read, but there seems to be a lot of helpful folks here, and if anyone reads this that has any suggestions, I am quite open to hearing them. Thanks much.


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  3. #2
    Goober GAC's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Is there something on your record, once he checked it, that made him change his mind? Did you ask him why he decided to do so?

    You can also request to see the radar reading. But I'd only ask to do that ONCE they decide to give you a ticket. Don't want to pee them off.

    And the cost of a lawyer to fight it in court, where your chances of winning are pretty nil, would be alot more then the citation fine.

    But the lawyer, any good one, would request to see the equipment service records - when was it last calibrated, etc. - in hopes of finding a loophole.

    I'd say your best bet is to go in and post the bond and move on.
    "In my day you had musicians who experimented with drugs. Now it's druggies experimenting with music" - Alfred G Clark (circa 1972)

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    Member dman's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Radars can be used both stationary and in moving modes. In the moving mode it takes the combined speeds of his patrol speed and your speed, subtracts his patrol speed and the value left is the target speed. Laser is the only device that you need to be in the stationary mode to operate. Now as far as saying he was going to give you a warning and actually wrote you a citation instead, totally unprofessional IMHO. What agency stopped you?

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    Potential Lunch Winner Dom Heffner's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    The moment he handed you the citation was the time to ask the question. You might be pretty much out of luck at this point.

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    Churlish Johnny Footstool's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    On one occasion, I was pulled over and the officer agreed to let me off with a warning. I asked how fast he clocked me, and he said he couldn't tell me, because if he told me he'd have to give me a ticket.

    The laws might be different in Kansas and Ohio, but it's also possible that the officer realized he had already told you the speed and couldn't let you off with a warning.
    "I prefer books and movies where the conflict isn't of the extreme cannibal apocalypse variety I guess." Redsfaithful

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    Member TeamCasey's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    I had a similar thing happen to me yesterday. I was on 275 and I wasn't speeding. I was in the right hand lane. Cop goes by me the opposite direction and does a U turn in the grass. He followed me off the exit and on the side roads all the way into the parking lot of the store. It was strange.

    He never approached my vehicle after I parked and got out. I know I wasn't being paranoid. I figured they must have been looking for someone with the same color/model of car.

  8. #7
    The Lineups stink. KronoRed's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    He was checking you out TC
    Go Gators!

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    The Latin Heartthrob Javy Pornstache's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Quote Originally Posted by GAC
    Is there something on your record, once he checked it, that made him change his mind? Did you ask him why he decided to do so?
    That was the first thing I thought, maybe he saw something about me that rubbed him the wrong way and changed his mind -- but there's nothing on my record aside from one speeding ticket from my past! I did get one going I think 67 in a 55 on a similar stretch of road in another car at another job in the past. Other than that, I am cleaner to the law than any other guy with the initials RF, namely Ryan Freel and Rafael Furcal.

  10. #9
    The Latin Heartthrob Javy Pornstache's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Quote Originally Posted by dman
    Radars can be used both stationary and in moving modes. In the moving mode it takes the combined speeds of his patrol speed and your speed, subtracts his patrol speed and the value left is the target speed. Laser is the only device that you need to be in the stationary mode to operate. Now as far as saying he was going to give you a warning and actually wrote you a citation instead, totally unprofessional IMHO. What agency stopped you?
    Thanks for the info. To be completely honest with you, I can't say for certainty what agency he was representing, but I am about 95% sure it was a city of Beavercreek car - they have silverish patrol cars and that's what it was. It was definitely not Highway Patrol.

    I realize the time to ask was when he handed it to me, but honestly, with the timing of it all I just didn't have time to get into it and I was only thinking about having to get to work for my event. I was stunned by the whole thing.

    Johnny Footstool, the situation you mentioned is possible, maybe that's why, since he gave me the number. I dunno, really, I am lost for answers.

    Thanks to everyone who's responded so far, through here and PM as well. If anyone else has anything to add, I'd love to hear it. Thanks so much!

  11. #10
    Are we not men? Yachtzee's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    This is not legal advice, but from my own experience, I would at least make a court appearance and explain your case to the judge or magistrate. Even if you don't really want to contest it, it would give you a chance to explain your side so that they might give you the minimum penalty if the judge/magistrate has any discretion in the matter. I don't know if the speed they clocked you at would give you points on your license, but if you explain yourself, they may decide not to assess the points, which could possibly avoid raising your insurance rates. I don't think there's anything you can do about him telling you he was giving you a warning and then changing his mind though.

    In any case, it will depend on the law, the person trying the case, and your insurance company, but it doesn't hurt to communicate with them to make sure they have all the info.

    Also, you might want to take your car into the shop, just to make sure that your speedometer is calibrated correctly.
    Last edited by Yachtzee; 05-21-2006 at 05:46 PM.
    Wear gaudy colors, or avoid display. Lay a million eggs or give birth to one. The fittest shall survive, yet the unfit may live. Be like your ancestors or be different. We must repeat!

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    "Let's Roll" TeamBoone's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    You might also ask your insurance agent (or whomever has the information) to check your record. There may be something on there that you're not even aware of. It could be something similar to what happened to me (below) or a mistake might have been made, just like on credit reports. I'm surprised that the guy didn't at least tell you that he changed his mind and why.

    It happened to me when I forgot to put my parking brake on and my Eclipse rolled backward into the tire of a Suburban. No apparent damage to either vehicle, though we did exchange insurance information and telephone numbers. When my premium came due, it had risen about $200 (x 2 for the entire year). My agent checked and come to find out, the owners of the Suburban had taken their vehicle in to have the alignment checked, which I would have done too. They charged my insurance company $50 and they chalked it up to an accident. I was furious. I would have gladly paid the fifty bucks had they been decent enough to call me. I'd lost their number by the time I discovered it... so, lesson learned... never throw that stuff away even if you think an appropriate period of time has expired.
    "Enjoy this Reds fans, you are watching a legend grow up before your very eyes" ... DoogMinAmo on Adam Dunn

  13. #12
    Titanic Struggles Caveat Emperor's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Quote Originally Posted by Yachtzee
    This is not legal advice, but from my own experience
    Admit it -- you spent at least 15 seconds wondering if simply posting on here would subject you to sanctions under the Ohio Disciplinary Rules for unauthorized practice.

    (My PM to Javy started out with the exact same caveat. )
    Cincinnati Reds: Farm System Champions 2022

  14. #13
    Are we not men? Yachtzee's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Quote Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor
    Admit it -- you spent at least 15 seconds wondering if simply posting on here would subject you to sanctions under the Ohio Disciplinary Rules for unauthorized practice.

    (My PM to Javy started out with the exact same caveat. )
    You know it.

    So are you done yet?
    Wear gaudy colors, or avoid display. Lay a million eggs or give birth to one. The fittest shall survive, yet the unfit may live. Be like your ancestors or be different. We must repeat!

  15. #14
    Titanic Struggles Caveat Emperor's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    Quote Originally Posted by Yachtzee
    You know it.

    So are you done yet?
    Yup, graduated on the 9th.

    Just paid my $2,300 to BarBRI for the privilege of having them re-teach me everything I've spent the last 3 years learning (classes start in a week). That's on top of the roughly $1,000 in Ohio Supreme Court and National Confrence of Bar Examiner fees I've paid this year just to register to take the bar, the $100-ish that the MPRE cost to take, and the $400 in hotel accomodations costs to stay in Columbus during the bar examination.

    All you law school types -- start saving for 3rd year now, because it gets hella-expensive down the stretch.
    Cincinnati Reds: Farm System Champions 2022

  16. #15
    Maple SERP savafan's Avatar
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    Re: Ok, so I was pulled over today... (requested advice)

    I was always under the impression that you couldn't be clocked by radar if you were traveling and the officer's car was also traveling toward you going in opposite directions.
    My dad got to enjoy 3 Reds World Championships by the time he was my age. So far, I've only gotten to enjoy one. Step it up Redlegs!


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