Nicole

I'm royally pi$$ed. I got pulled over on a deserted stretch of Hwy 101 near King City, and the Hiway Control officer claimed I did 86mph in a 70mph zone. He also included a fix-it for the lack of a front license plate - another stupid hassle!

Earlier in the day I drove - or should I say "swam"? - in havy rain, with some contractor truck tailgating me for miles, and other stupid things happening - no ticket was issued to these stupid drivers...

Well, I was driving 101 North on this deserted stretch, with the Auto-Pilot. I saw a Hiway Patrol on the oncoming lane, and slow down, he passed-by, and I saw no brake lights. After a wile I sped up a little.

Suddenly I saw a dark car getting bigger in my rear view mirror. I did not give it immediate attention, but as it gets closer I realize this could be a patrol car, and release the auto-pilot, slowing down to 61 and changing to the right lane. The patrol car pulls up behind me and follows me for a half mile or so before turning on his lights.

The officer said he was stopping me for my speed and needed to see drivers license, registration, insurance confirmation. Then he asked me, if I had been watching my speedometer. I said yes, and he claimed I was going 86mph and slowed to 61 after I saw him. I said I did not think I was fast enough that I would catch his attention, and he replied that 86mph were sure to do that.

He went back to the patrol car, did his checks, filled out the ticket, and came back. He checked the front of my car and asked me about my front license plate. I said I did not have one, the care came without it. He explained that I'd have to go to the DMV and get the plate, and to the Porsche-Audi dealer to get a bracket, then I could have it signed off by the Hiway Patrol and the charge would be dropped.

He wanted me to sign the ticket, and I asked how he measured my speed. He said he followed me and confirmed my speed with the radar. I asked for the equipment serial number, and he said it was on the ticket, and that signing it would not be an admission of guilt, just a confirmation that I would appear in court on the set date. So I signed, and he gave me my papers along with the yellow copy of the ticket.

He explained that 21 people had died on this Hiway in the past year and that while I might be a good driver, I could not prevent other cars from hitting me, if theyy were to cross the center (there was no guard rail in that area). He also said I'd even be guilty, if I was only 1mph over the limit. He said I should gain speed on the shoulder before merging into the [non-existent] trafffic when I take off.

So I accelerated to about 20mph on that rough shoulder, merged onto the empty right lane, and floored it, until I hit the speed limit.

Overall, I must say he was very friendly - even though not enough to let me go. At one point he said that if I had not been so fast, he'd be sitting in his warm patrol car.

Now, what I'd like to know first is how I can determine, if this stretch was a freeway or just a hiway. There was no guardrail between the two directions of traffic, but I don't remember, if there were any crossroads or onramps/offramps in that area. Under Location, the ticket says

"US101 N/B 146 198 TO S/O LAYOUS"

It also says Beat: "42" and Area "735"

Dr. Ron: I'm awaiting instructions...

Shane

Get a lawyer! And remember next time to deny speeding when he asks you how fast you were going. Either say dunno or I was doing the speed limit. Or nothing at all!

Nicole

I did not tell him how fast i was. I just said I was not as fast as he claimed I had been.

Shane

Good that way he does not have a vebal admission of guilt from you when he gets to court.

IcemanG17

Two things to remember "admit nothing, demand proof." Since CHP gave you the ticket he will show up in court, so basically your screwed...just hope the judge grants you traffic school so it won't go on your driving record causing your insurance to go up.

James-man

King's city has been THE probelem spot for years.

If you show up in court, the CHP officer will likely show up too, so odds are not favorable here unless the court date is Christmas eve or something.

A friend showed up to court to fight their ticket and they threw the book at her. Her uncle was a lawer, but apparently that did not help. They even made some wisecrack about sorrority girls can't talk their way out of these things, but do not recall if they specifically told her to go home and cry to daddy about it.

A decade ago, there was common wisdom to tone things down a bit near Kings city as their thriving economy (ha ha ha) is very nicely subsidized in a manner that most here do not appreciate.

Kings City you should be doing 4 over, no more unless you feel lucky.

pewter82

Sorry Nicole, but were you speeding? If so I guess your guilty, and you unfortunatly got caught. I realize other people speed as well, but you can't pull Everyone over, so some of us get pulled over and thats where the officer has the ability to check other things as well ie. DUI, weapons in plain sight, and motor vehicle violations. We (I'm an officer as well) are trained to do this, but we are also told to be friendly. Like I said I'm sorry, but thats how it goes.

jason
91GT

heinrich

Nicole, mistake one is to say anything. Remember there is a lot of social engineering going on out there. Hey ... I'm officer friendly ... naughty naughty naughty .... my, such a pretty girl in such a fast car, of course you're going to speed, right? The car BEGS to go ..... just look at that speedo ....

Yes Officer ... it's true ....

Your Honour, she admitted it.....

Nicole, they are not your buddy. By the time they have spotted you, or U-turned, or pulled you over, they have already decided to ticket you. It's their job yes, but it's also their job to make JUDGMENTS. So if they ticket everyone over the speed limit, they need to not speed on their way home. Or, if they speed on their way to the donut shop, they need to be lenient with you if you do 5 over in a desert ......

Do they? NO. Look out for number one, no-one else will.

Heinrich

Champagne

Hey Nicole,

I have been know to partake in speeding a little bit myself, and I have my own collection of tickets to prove it. So I know exactly how you feel.

However, from your account, you were in fact speeding, in the wrong lane, on a somewhat deserted Hwy. No wonder the cop spotted you.

When it comes down to it, you have absolutely no reason or basis to fight that ticket. You did the deed, you should pay the Piper.

By the way, if you cancelled your cruise control by pressing on brake pedal (as most people do), that's almost an admission of guilt right there. At the very least, it shows everyone, including the cops, that you are nervous about something.

Paul

Rich9928p

Nicole, sorry to hear that you were asked to make a contribution to the local coffers. That is all it is, so don't let it bug you too much.

Your situaiton is an excellent proof where the Valentine 1 radar detectror can help. The Highway mounties are probing from the rear these days. Most common radar detectors would only pick up a very weak reflected signal if there is something to reflect it, a V1 is just as sensitive detecting radar signals from the rear AND it also indicates that the signal is coming from the rear so you know where to look. I've had three warnings in the past, all due to attempts to clock me from behind. The Valentine 1 alerted me each time and I took the appropriate actions. It has been paid for serveral times.

Pacing is a valid tracking technique, however, they must be close enough to clearly match your speed and follow for some distance at that speed. You have to be observent of your situation, especially with an unmarked toll taker.

Tom. M

I second or third the don't admit anything....My wife got a ticket up here...I did discovery and right on the notes it stated...Subject admits to speeding..even though he said he only paced her and gave her third degree for non signaled lane changes. Had I proceeded to take it to court...even if the officer didn't show...that would have finished her off.

I bet if she had not said she was speeding she may have had a chance in court.. Just say..oh..didn't think it was that fast.....I thought I was doing the speed limit.

Like H said...likely they have it set as to whether they are going to give you a ticket...so you automatically have to think...im taking it to court..admit nothing.

Good luck..

Tom
midlman@rennlist.net
89GT

Old & New

Nicole, maybe he would have had more sympathy if you had told him how much better it would have been handled in Germany

Seriously though, try to either get a court date just before Christmas, or reschedule it as many times as possible. The longer it is before it goes to court, the less he will remember, and the more likely he will not show up.

Just my $0.02 before this thread gets tossed into the O.T. bin...

pewter82

hienrich, more than just passing JUDGEMENTS on motorists its being CONSISTANT with your tickets. Most all supervisors with any dept. wish that their officers remain consistant with their ticketing, not so much where or how much over they decide to write a ticket. In my jurisdiction I( or we) let 6 miles over go without stopping. The judge knows what the dept. writes and will notice any changes and will want reasons why.

Jason

heinrich

Jason, as I said ... I could, and would, UTTERLY respect your profession if you did just that.

Question Jason .... do you or do you not, ever speed?

heinrich

Rich, I have seen the Valentine One fail and fail miserably when hit from behind at a downward angle. Because my detector's receivers are on the licence plates (yes Nicole I meant to say "licence") I get any and all signals except the ones aimed at my roof line. And to exploit this tiny shortcoming, cops have to be quick, because when it matters, my roof and licence plates are only a millisecond apart .....

GO SR-1!!!!!!!!!!