Speeding Ticket: Any hope?

[Ivan Sever <sever@husc.harvard.edu>]

On Sun, 24 Nov 1996 23:20:19 -0500 (EST)
owner-quattro-digest@coimbra.ans.net wrote:

>I just got a ticket in my 1 week old A4Q, bummer! 50 in a 35 mph zone;
>$100
>and a raise in insurance. On the ticket, the boxes RADAR and ESTIMATED
>are
>checked off. I believe he was driving towards me as he clocked me which
>makes me believe he estimated his own speed and subtracted it from the
>radar
>reading. My crappy BEL radar detector sounded only as I was passing
>him..too
>late.
>

In order to issue a speeding ticket, a cop has to visually estimate your
speed and then confirm the estimate with the radar readout (or obtain a
radar readout first and then visually confirm it). So there is nothing
unusual about checking both boxes on your ticket.


>I live in MASS. Is there any hope of winning a hearing? Does anyone
>have any
>tips on getting off of this one?

To win, you have to KNOW what happened. Where you where, where he was
and when he triggered the radar, the traffic around you and him,
obstructions (bridges, trees, buldings) etc. 
Step 1: Request a hearing by pleading not guilty
Step 2: Join National Motorist Association. If you do it on line
http://www.motorists.com
you get a free tape telling you how to fight your ticket. Or call their
800 number. Membership at $29 is far cheaper than running out to get a
'better' radar detector.  ;-)
Step 3: Go back to the scene of the 'crime' and think back at what
happened. Take notes.

Hope this helps,

Ivan  
97A4Q and NMA MA Activist