I received a speeding ticket tonight @ 5:00 P.M. It was cited for travelling 68 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.
I was rounding a curve with my cruise control set at @ 55 MPH when I saw a police car situated underneath the overpass ahead. The car was stationary and facing toward me. I double checked my speed ( I sometimes set my cruise a few MPH over), and saw that I was doing no more than 56 or 57 MPH. When I looked up, I could see that an officer was standing behind his opened driver's door, waving his hands over his head. Although he was still quite some distance away, I immediately began to apply my brakes. I didn't want to "lock them up", so I came to a complete stop on the shoulder just past his cruiser. There was NO traffic in sight, so I put my truck in reverse, and backed up a few feet. I looked in the side view mirror and saw that he was approaching my vehicle. I honestly was under the impression that maybe he was having car trouble or needed assistance in some way (In hindsight, I guess he would have used his radio had he needed assistance).
When the officer (an older gentlemen, probably pushing 60) reached my window, he asked for my paperwork (driver's license, registration, proof of insurance). I produced the things he requested, and asked why I had been pulled over. He told me that he (and I quote) "had you doing 68 in a 55". Before I could respond, he told me to stay in the vehicle and that he would be right back. He walked to his cruiser and sat in the driver's seat (I'm assuming to check out my info, but I really don't know).
A few minutes later he returned to my vehicle and told me that he was going to write me a citation for 13 MPH over. I told him very politely that I thought there must be some mistake or that his radar gun was malfunctioning, because I was certain that I wasn't going nearly that fast. He politely informed me that I could contest the charge in court, and asked me to sign the ticket. I signed and was off on my merry way.
When I got home tonight, I called my brother (he's a lawyer, but pretty d much sticks to family law). He came over and immediately noted something odd on the ticket. Under "means of detection" there are boxes that can be checked for radar/laser/air/etc (I can't remember all of the choices, and my brother accidentally took the ticket home with him when he left tonight). Anyways, the only box that was "checked" was labelled "other". On a line following "other" was what appeared to be V15 E5T. It was not very clear. I thought maybe it was a code or model number of the equipment he used to track my speed.
After staring at the ticket for a while, my brother called a friend of his that is a Dayton (Ohio) LEO. He asked what the V15 E5T was. After a few minutes of conversation, his friend began laughing and figured out that it was probably VIS EST. Visual Estimation. He explained that an officer can issue a ticket if he can calculate your speed using vision and markers and conclude that you were in fact speeding. He informed us that it is VERY rare to be issued a citation of this type.
I'm assuming that my brother's friend (the LEO) was correct as I never did see a radar/laser gun. The officer never said he used one, and I didn't think to ask. My fault for making an assumption, I guess.
I've been driving for almost 25 years, and have NEVER had a speeding ticket. I've only had ONE citation in my entire life ( a following too close in Virginia Beach in 1992). I would say that qualifies my driving record as very good. I'm not a pimpley faced 17 year old trying to beat the system. I was NOT SPEEDING. So let's hear it. What should I do? I really don't want to pay a fine for an offense that I certainly did not commit. But, I'm assuming it is my word against the issuing officer, and unfortunately I believe that puts me at a disadvantage.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to present as many facts as possible. Thank you (anyone) for your input.
P.S., I don't care how cheap the ticket is, and I don't care if it costs me $1000 to beat it. I don't want to admit guilt as I am not guilty.
I was rounding a curve with my cruise control set at @ 55 MPH when I saw a police car situated underneath the overpass ahead. The car was stationary and facing toward me. I double checked my speed ( I sometimes set my cruise a few MPH over), and saw that I was doing no more than 56 or 57 MPH. When I looked up, I could see that an officer was standing behind his opened driver's door, waving his hands over his head. Although he was still quite some distance away, I immediately began to apply my brakes. I didn't want to "lock them up", so I came to a complete stop on the shoulder just past his cruiser. There was NO traffic in sight, so I put my truck in reverse, and backed up a few feet. I looked in the side view mirror and saw that he was approaching my vehicle. I honestly was under the impression that maybe he was having car trouble or needed assistance in some way (In hindsight, I guess he would have used his radio had he needed assistance).
When the officer (an older gentlemen, probably pushing 60) reached my window, he asked for my paperwork (driver's license, registration, proof of insurance). I produced the things he requested, and asked why I had been pulled over. He told me that he (and I quote) "had you doing 68 in a 55". Before I could respond, he told me to stay in the vehicle and that he would be right back. He walked to his cruiser and sat in the driver's seat (I'm assuming to check out my info, but I really don't know).
A few minutes later he returned to my vehicle and told me that he was going to write me a citation for 13 MPH over. I told him very politely that I thought there must be some mistake or that his radar gun was malfunctioning, because I was certain that I wasn't going nearly that fast. He politely informed me that I could contest the charge in court, and asked me to sign the ticket. I signed and was off on my merry way.
When I got home tonight, I called my brother (he's a lawyer, but pretty d much sticks to family law). He came over and immediately noted something odd on the ticket. Under "means of detection" there are boxes that can be checked for radar/laser/air/etc (I can't remember all of the choices, and my brother accidentally took the ticket home with him when he left tonight). Anyways, the only box that was "checked" was labelled "other". On a line following "other" was what appeared to be V15 E5T. It was not very clear. I thought maybe it was a code or model number of the equipment he used to track my speed.
After staring at the ticket for a while, my brother called a friend of his that is a Dayton (Ohio) LEO. He asked what the V15 E5T was. After a few minutes of conversation, his friend began laughing and figured out that it was probably VIS EST. Visual Estimation. He explained that an officer can issue a ticket if he can calculate your speed using vision and markers and conclude that you were in fact speeding. He informed us that it is VERY rare to be issued a citation of this type.
I'm assuming that my brother's friend (the LEO) was correct as I never did see a radar/laser gun. The officer never said he used one, and I didn't think to ask. My fault for making an assumption, I guess.
I've been driving for almost 25 years, and have NEVER had a speeding ticket. I've only had ONE citation in my entire life ( a following too close in Virginia Beach in 1992). I would say that qualifies my driving record as very good. I'm not a pimpley faced 17 year old trying to beat the system. I was NOT SPEEDING. So let's hear it. What should I do? I really don't want to pay a fine for an offense that I certainly did not commit. But, I'm assuming it is my word against the issuing officer, and unfortunately I believe that puts me at a disadvantage.
Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to present as many facts as possible. Thank you (anyone) for your input.
P.S., I don't care how cheap the ticket is, and I don't care if it costs me $1000 to beat it. I don't want to admit guilt as I am not guilty.
