Going to Court

[Patrick]

The radar will see a vehicle well in advance of the driver of that vehicle seeing the cop operating that radar.

Its a pretty safe assumption for Marty to make. No doubt he has seen similar situations many times before and his suggestion has very little to do with wearing blinkers.

Wot E sed... if it is a long straight, like on the Desert Rd for example, the radar can pick you up at 500 metres away at least. You can't even tell if it is a cop car approaching you at that distance... may be he locked the speed well before he had slowed and then suddenly realised there is a cop car ahead... "How fast am I going? Cool, only 58... lucky he didn't get me moments before when I was doing 71...???"

Blinkers.... Pfffttttt......

[Jantar]

I received a speeding ticket during the weekend in an absolute reverse manner to that which Patrick describes. I saw a cop way ahead as I came over the brow of a rise, and checked my speed. I was showing almost bang on 100kmh, so I ignored the cop, didn't change my throttle setting and just continued to ride. A few seconds later my radar detector went off, and again because I was cruising at the legal speed I ignored it. The radar got more persistant, then on came the cops' disco lights. I looked at my speedo again and it was showing midway bewteen 110 and 120. With the coarse reading on the Strom its almost impossible to read to the exact kmh.

The cop claimed he got me at 116 kmh and when I said that I thought I was travelling at the legal limit, and I wasn't concentrating on my speedo, he replied "I thought so because when i first picked you up you were 108, but just slowly kept getting faster."

Ok, I've got another ticket. Unfortunately with the Strom you have to take your eyes off the road to read the speedo, but that wouldn't be a suitable defence in court. Just another case of riding safely and paying the road tax.

[Ixion]

Is one reason why if I see, smell, hear or spidey sense a cop, or the defectamatator goes off, I drop fast to no more than 90. That, and I don't trust them not to add a few kph, harder if you are noticeably under the limit.

No point twisting the tiger's tail.

[Patrick]

Is one reason why if I see, smell, hear or spidey sense a cop, or the defectamatator goes off, I drop fast to no more than 90. That, and I don't trust them not to add a few kph, harder if you are noticeably under the limit.

No point twisting the tiger's tail.

A bit hard "to add a few kph" when the locked on speed is there for you to see.... Might drop a few off.... Trolling, were we?

[scumdog]

He didn't say that Marty. He said he saw the cop and checked his speed at 58k. No mention of slowing. Get your blinkers off mate.

And of course his speedo was certified accurate so he KNEW he was doing exactly 58k?

I suspect the scenario the other mentioned may be the case - he was 'pinged' at 71 before he noticed the cop.

[peasea]

Never, ever change your plea. Always plead not guilty and always go for the defended hearing. Have your day in court, deny, deny and deny again; make them work for it, this approach gives them a mountain of paperwork and takes them off the streets for a few hours. On occasion they will drop it, not often but it has happened to me more than once. When you plead 'not guilty' in the first instance, always request a copy of the latest accuracy test of the equipment, the operational handbook of the equipment, the certificate of accuracy of the patrol car's speedo and also the certificate of competence of the officer. It all makes fun reading over a few bourbons. Check that all the dates match up and that all is current. If so, heave everything in the recycle bin and deny it in court anyway.

[Indiana_Jones]

going to court?

Wear a tie

-Indy

[Supertramp]

i'v had my run ins even as a youngster.clocked doing 134 after id come round a corner and i could see the heat till his lights went on.though i thought he'd pulled someone else over i still looked down at my speedo and saw i was doing 161!! not that i'm proud of it.i looked at his reading as i was parked behind him anyway and i could see it through the window so i knew he'd got me im just glad he didn't get me at the speed i thought i was doing i might get my speedo checked.could be a long way out.still glad i didn't lose my bike and licence wouldn't have been a good startto a new job.

[craigs288]

going to court?

Wear a tie

-Indy

Yeah right. Took that advice the only other time I have ever been in court, way back in 1994. Wearing a tie and nice clothes made me look rich because the judge slapped me with a nice big fine.

[peasea]

Yup, I'd say a tie makes you like you're trying to be someone you probably aren't. Tidy casual is best and you can get into any bar after the hearing. Don't wear sunnies, for gawds sake turn your phone off and run over your wee speech fifty times before the hearing date. They won't let YOU read from a sheet of paper but they WILL let the cops refer to THEIR notes. Go in with all guns blazing and start with "The facts are as follows..." but don't ever say a cop has lied (even if you know he/she has) they are "mistaken".

[Indiana_Jones]

Well I plan on wearing a suit when i goto court this week. I'm just too British. :P

and yea, as Peasea said, never call a cop a liar. lol

-Indy

[Hotchefnz]

A side issue - you say that the period has passed for you to change your plee? If you have had the information sent to the wrong address you have a course of appling to the courts for a re-dress.
All you have to do is give proof of your real address and they will then re-issue the documents with a new date, and another 21 days to give a response.
At least then you could pay the fine if you wished to do so - without the court costs.

[craigs288]

Right, so far based on advice and personal fashion, I intend to go to court on the day in tidy casual, with my facts and statements known to me off by heart, and at no point call the policeman a liar.
I had no intention of suggesting the radar reading was made up. I just feel it must have been the car in front of me, or perhaps incorrect operation by the officer on the day.
If they can 'prove' my points of contention are incorrect then I guess I will walk away on the day as the 'loser'. And if that is the case then I will still feel vindicated that I stood up for what I believe to be correct and true. As opposed to roll over and take it in the pants one more time for the government.