Speeding camera ticket

[airbornejohnny]

OK, I'll indulge a tad. About 12 years ago, I was pulling squad duty as a driver. We got tapped out to my friends place as his grandfather was having a heart attack. On my way to pick up the bus, I heard the first cop on scene request we expedite, and right when the dispatcher relayed it on squad band, I passed another officer running radar...I'm pretty sure I woke him up.
Anyway, we transported Opa with medics (he turned out ok) and upon returning to the squad building, I was met by the cop who was on the radar post, who gave me a belittling dressing down, asserting that as I was no EMT I had no need to rush (BTW, the crew was 1 EMT, and me). I did not argue, but didn't forget that when a month or two later, I was literally on the other side of the discussion.
En-route to an alarm (the whole system was screwed up; constant fire and burglar alarms for a month) on a rainy day, he hydroplaned his patrol car right into a telephone pole. As I walked up to his car, jaws in hand, I asked him if he knew what I wanted to say. He replied "Slow the*&@# down! Now get me out.
That is to this day, the only time I have ever laughed during an extrication.

 

[hopmedic]

LOL!
I worked several places as an EMT / Medic. IN, IL, OH.... Working for a private once, my partner was driving, we were heading up I-65 to Gary, where we had a handshake relationship with Gary FD. State trooper pulls us over on the off ramp. He walks up to the window, asks my partner (who was pretty much an idiot anyway) for his license. Chuck gets it out and hands it to him. The cop, a young kid obviously brand new, says we were doing 70 in a 55, and asks if we have a patient in the back. I hesitated to answer, but did think about it because of the fact that it wouldn't be me getting the ticket, it would be Chuck.

Chuck says no as I think to myself, "Umm... Duh.... We're both in the front of the ambulance...." And the cop says, "I used to be a paramedic, so I'll give you a break," and gives Chuck his license back and walks away.

What? Are you kidding me??? You used to be a medic, you see us in the front, and ask if we have a patient????

Less than a week later, we get a call to one of the projects. Cops swarming the place. I don't remember the details, but our patient was his detainee. I had a different partner with me that day, but he recognized me, as we exchanged glances. What an idiot.

 

[airbornejohnny]

One of my favorites, abridged version. 4 motorcycles, 6 riders. FD called out to back up squad, which turns out very helpful with additional EMT's and much better triage abilities of FD (all ego aside, really). On arrival, I helped one of the FF/EMT's assess and treat a victim, who turned out to be the one in the worst shape. Exposed femur fracture, possible LOC... (The bikes had been on BOLO minutes before; they were going 130 or so into a car braking for a deer...on the interstate). Bird on the way, we were going to splint good leg to bad, get him on backboard and put him in bird. Then the Paramedic clone of Barney Fife showed up. 3 trips to the bus and back (due to mr. medic changing his preference) was enough...the NCO was no longer on leave. Something along the lines of, "Hey A---ole, make up your mind, cuz this pt is getting on that bird (on ground, flight nurses approaching) in ten seconds whether you like it or not!" Medic stammers, then "oh, ok...go with what you got then."

But that's not all! We load him up, and in attempting to collect two of the riders involved away from the LZ, you know, for their safety, the arrogant little S--t starts whining about how the helo blew over his bike, and who's gonna pay for it, and no I won't stand by your firetruck I'll be fine. Blades start to spin, then he taunts at us like there shall be no wind... We flip down our helmet visors, cross our arms and watch. Moments later, collective applied, bikes fall over, riders drop to their knees blocking their eyes...
IDIOTS. (no shortage of those)

 

[hopmedic]

DOH!

I'm in the back of the rig, brand newby partner driving. Transporting a stable patient, a Gary firefighter, from Northlake Methodist to Southlake Methodist, because NLM's MRI is down. He's inpatient with a job-related back injury.

Partner says, "Hey, Rich - I just passed a motorcycle in the median, and there are a bunch of people looking over the rail (guardrail separating road from about 30' drop, with ground probably 60 degree bank). Should I stop?"

YES!

He TRIES to do a U-turn in the median. Bambulance perpendicular to road, step below bumper drags in dirt. He'd turned on the red lights, so people are stopping. Guys in suits get out and push rig, and last thing I see before he gets it going is a guy in a suit covered in mud being thrown from the tires.

We pull up to the scene, and I tell Barney EMT to stay with my patient (who actually told me "no, go!"). I didn't need Barney.

Motorcycle had been going south. High rate of speed, passing a semi. Truck driver says, "He blew by me and my air blast threw him."

Biker was thrown across the median, across two lanes of northbound traffic, and over the rail, landing about 30' down that ~60 degree bank, in about 6" of water.

On my way down, I tell Barney State Trooper to make sure another rig is on the way, as I already have a patient. I send him to Barney EMT to get me equip (don't remember what, now). Pt has an open fx femur. In water. Nice.

Another rig pulls up, we get him on a board and used MAST to stabilize. Dr. Barney stops to "help." Yeah. "Start an IV on him!" Um, Doc, we're BLS. "I don't care what you are - start an IV!!" Um, officer Barney, would you escort Dr. Barney over to his car?" Thank you.

The other rig took him away, and we took our pt to SLM, before I took a swing by home to find dry shoes and pants.

IDIOTS

 

[jtheune]

They might be trying to slow everyone before hitting the city? Not sure. I'd have to go investigate this but I think I know where you're talking about.

I'm talking about the section heading south out of the city, not in.

 

[wsuffa]

The part that I just love is the statement at the bottom of the postcard, "Go green with ticket email alerts. Sign up at..." Really?

Really. It's about the "green" from all the revenue they expect to collect.

 

[wsuffa]

However, this does not mean crawl through the camera zone, which is what most people do. Just drive a normal on the limit or five above through the camera.

If I know it's a DC resident behind me I crawl through the speed zone. If they don't like it, let them push their council members to take the camera out. Even better if they get annoyed and speed around me getting a ticket for their trouble.

Saw an ambulance get the "flash" from a DC red light camera one day.

These days, though, I avoid DC proper whenever I can.

 

[Josh_C]

You know the locals are out of hand when the Governor steps in and purchases a bill board and posts a Trooper....

The town gained notoriety during the 1950s and 1960's for its aggressive traffic enforcement policies. The AAA motoring organization went so far as to specifically label Ludowici as a speed trap
Speed trap

The term speed trap can refer to a point where a speed limit is strictly enforced by police. It may also refer to locations where a road-rule enforcement camera is posted....
. Allegedly, members of the local police force were engaging in manipulation of the timing of the traffic signal downtown so as to catch unsuspecting out-of-area motorists 'running' a suddenly changed red light. The switch for the stop light was located in the barber shop. This activity subsequently came to an end when then-Governor Lester Maddox
Lester Maddox

Lester Garfield Maddox was an United States Democratic Party politician who was List of Governors of Georgia of the U.S. state of Georgia from 1967 to 1971....
stated that the practices of the Ludowici police were giving the entire state a bad reputation.
The thing I remember about Ludowici, GA, in 1960-63, was the speed traps and trick traffic light at the U.S.301 intersection/turn downtown. The police used to sit in a store and watch someone approach the traffic light with a green aspect. Just as the driver entered the intersection, the policeman used a remote box to suddenly turn the light red.

The un-lucky motorist was then given a ticket for running a red light.

Ludowici, was marked on AAA maps as a speed trap. This was before the Interstate highway system and the traffic had to go through town. It got so bad that Governor Lester Maddox, stationed a Georgia State Patrolman at each city limit sign with his red light "bubble gum machine" (before blue lights) flashing as a warning to approaching motorist's. The speed traps were also a lucrative endeavor for the city.
The town gained notoriety during the 1950s and 1960's for its aggressive traffic enforcement policies. The AAA motoring organization went so far as to specifically label Ludowici as a speed trap. Allegedly, members of the local police force were engaging in manipulation of the timing of the traffic signal downtown so as to catch unsuspecting out-of-area motorists 'running' a suddenly changed red light. The switch for the stop light was located in the barber shop. This activity subsequently came to an end when then-Governor Lester Maddox stated that the practices of the Ludowici police were giving the entire state a bad reputation.

 

[gismo]

I got pulled over two years ago by a state trooper on the interstate. I was heading back home from college one weekend and saw this trooper whip out behind a 18-wheeler and flashed his lights. Never saw him get on the interstate. So I pulled over at the upcoming off ramp that I KNEW no one used. Well the guy came up and the first thing he said was "why did you pull over here?" I replied that it was safer for the both of us since we were off the freeway and on a dead off-ramp. He came back with an angry "I already know where I want you to pull over don't make one up yourself!!" I resisted the urge to tell him I can't read minds.

I has a similar experience a long time ago. A local patrol car popped his flashers on behind me on a busy four lane undivided road with curbs and no shoulder. Instead of stopping immediately and blocking traffic I turned right onto a side street about 100 ft beyond where he first hit the lights and that made the cop angry enough to give me a ticket for 35 in a 30 zone. He literally screamed at me something like "When I hit the lights I want you to pull over RIGHT NOW!" after I explained that I thought it would be best for all if we didn't block the main road. I suspect it's a control thing. Cops are trained to be assertive and controlling during any encounter with potential "offenders" and anything that appears to challenge their authority is likely to provoke a more aggressive response.

 

[John Baker]

San Diego's driving violation fines have just lurched into the stratosphere, I can't remember all the numbers from the news story a few days ago but that same $50.00 ticket would be in the $800.00 range here. Unbuckled seat belt is around two or four hundred, many fines exceed a thousand dollars.

San Diego is a cash strapped city and is doing everything in it's power to rape it's citizens any way it can. I live by myself, I use low flow toilets and faucets throughout my house. I have a navy type shower head so I can (and I do) turn off the flow while I'm soaping up. My yard it pretty much dirt, no lawn at all, a few plants that are desert type, in short, very little water goes to my yard.

My water and sewer bill for two months usage I received a week or so ago, was $164.00. This money goes into the cities general fund, as do traffic fines.

Myself, I'm thinking if I get a traffic violation, of just telling the judge I can't afford it and will opt for the jail time instead, and no, I am to old to do community service.

San Diego's jails are jam packed as it is now, I don't think they would want to jail me for a traffic fine. It would cost them a whole lot more.

I haven't had a traffic violation in over 30 years, but they are hungry, they are pouncing on anything and everything.

-John

 

[comanchepilot]

John, there is no reason why anyone should ever be convicted of a moving violation - and there is no ability in the moving violation penalty statute for jail time . . .

 

[rainsux]

A few years ago the sports car club decided to "do" SW Pennsylvania and a bit of West Virginia. We exited a series of downhill twisties onto a flat flood plain ... And there sits Deputy Bubba. The lights and siren are on before we pass him.

All fourteen cars pull into a tiny state park parking lot about 50 yards beyond Bubba. He wasn't expecting full cooperation. He explains that he has the lead car for 67 in a 25. He decided that he did really Did not want to write 14 tickets ... And simply asked us to slow it down a bit.


This year we did TN129 - Deal's Gap. 318 curves in 11 miles. Thirty-one LEOs in those 11 miles. No favors, no waivers and a lot of unwarranted/unnecessary FST's with commands to blow.

 

[comanchepilot]

A few years ago the sports car club decided to "do" SW Pennsylvania and a bit of West Virginia. We exited a series of downhill twisties onto a flat flood plain ... And there sits Deputy Bubba. The lights and siren are on before we pass him.

All fourteen cars pull into a tiny state park parking lot about 50 yards beyond Bubba. He wasn't expecting full cooperation. He explains that he has the lead car for 67 in a 25. He decided that he did really Did not want to write 14 tickets ... And simply asked us to slow it down a bit.


This year we did TN129 - Deal's Gap. 318 curves in 11 miles. Thirty-one LEOs in those 11 miles. No favors, no waivers and a lot of unwarranted/unnecessary FST's with commands to blow.

Unless one is placed under arrest you can refuse to perform an FST. And can refuse to blow. Once you are placed under arrest for suspicion of dwi then you are forced to blow. But an fst is NEVER mandatory.

Keep that in mind.

 

[Ddayle]

Just never take a FST. It only give the police a chance to lie and claim you failed it . It doesn't matter if you really do. they take the cops word that you failed. It happened to me. Dave

 

[comanchepilot]

Just never take a FST. It only give the police a chance to lie and claim you failed it . It doesn't matter if you really do. they take the cops word that you failed. It happened to me. Dave

I've gone through dui checkpoints and refused to answer ANY questions. I tell them through a little card I have in my vehicles that I am exercising my right to remain silent. I ALWAYS then get pulled over. Whereon I refuse to perform an FST. I refuse to blow into their 'preliminary presumptive breath test' flashlight. I refuse to look into their eyes. I refuse to cooperate beyond providing the documents I am required to provide.

They then have a little pow - wow - and then the boss comes over and berates me for wasting their time and that I 'should' cooperate and that they are there for 'my safety.'

Thats when I open my mouth - I remind the officer that standing on my constitutional right to remain silent is not a legal basis to be subjected to additional scrutiny at a checkpoint, that he just violated my constitutional rights, and I ask him if he every swore an oath to uphold the constitution at any point in his career. I then get 'the look' and then I always add that I should not be penalized for refusing to cooperate - and that the 'waste of time' was created by their officers because I refused to play their game.

I then get in my vehicle and drive away. .. . .

The alcohol implied consent laws have been held in all 50 states to become effective once you are placed under arrest - you are not required to blow when asked unless you are under arrest. If they do not state you are under arrest then you are not under arrest.

There is no 'pass' on an FST - there is no baseline on an FST. It is designed solely to give the police an objective record upon which to show that you have physical impairments that can lead them to place you under arrest for 'suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.' At that point yo u are then required to consent to a test of your blood, breath or urine for prohibited substances.

NO ONE has EVER 'passed' a FST. Its not designed that way.

 

[JoeSelch]

I've gone through dui checkpoints and refused to answer ANY questions. I tell them through a little card I have in my vehicles that I am exercising my right to remain silent. I ALWAYS then get pulled over. Whereon I refuse to perform an FST. I refuse to blow into their 'preliminary presumptive breath test' flashlight. I refuse to look into their eyes. I refuse to cooperate beyond providing the documents I am required to provide.
....

I've found this thread quite interesting and enlightening.
And, am very interested in not surrendering my rights - even though I "have nothing to hide and should have nothing to fear" and don't typically care to make a fuss.

Would you be willing to share the text of your "little card"?

 

[Ddayle]

Easy answer. did you do it? they be a man and pay it. If you did not do it fight it to the supreme court if needed. I saw one post about the stop sign camera's the poster was surprised to find that if you fail to stop ( cross the white line by even an inch) you were sited. DUH!! the white line means stop here!! If you are over you blew it, man up and pay it. only slimy unpatriotic scum bags fail to pay the piper. Dave

 

[Sportsman]

That was me about being an inch over. Really? I'm talking about crosswalks where there is probably not. Pedestrian per day and no sidewalks. I haven't had a ticket for anything in nearly 20 years. I'm not a reckless driver. Ticketing folks whose bumper is over the crosswalk line by a couple inches or who stopped for one second instead of three in a right turn is a money grab. The way the lights are triggered even encourage it. If the first car in the turning line isn't close to the line by a certain point, the turn isn't triggered and you're waiting for a 5 minute cycle. So folks slow down at the last minute to trigger the light which isn't safe. I've seen other cities where the lights will trigger even if you are a ca length or so away which is much safer.

 

[comanchepilot]

I've found this thread quite interesting and enlightening.
And, am very interested in not surrendering my rights - even though I "have nothing to hide and should have nothing to fear" and don't typically care to make a fuss.

Would you be willing to share the text of your "little card"?

"Hello Officer. I see you are stopping me for either a routine document check or a DUI checkpoint. I believe these to be an illegal infringement on my right to be free from being stopped absent probable cause. Hence, I exercise my right to remain silent and have no intention of speaking to you about my travels or life today. I will cooperate to the extent required by law and will provide you driver license, registration and insurance card upon request. Thank you for understanding my concern for my rights."

Fits on a business card - I bought 100 business cards at staples and printed these myself - they are in my 3 family vehicles.

If you print them and use them - every time you hand one out you will be pulled over and be asked to search your vehicle, your person and will be asked to do an FST. POLITELY DECLINE. Make sure you are parked in front some patrol vehicle dash cam. After they detain you for 15 or 20 min they'll let you go - if you have the cojones file a complaint with the local police commission over the violation of your civil rights, do so. These officers simply do not like being unable to obtain blind consent to their 'orders.'

Look - I KNOW cops have to do these checkpoints - its their job. They are NOT required to pull you over because you exercise your rights. Police generally HATE people who take their rights out and use them - its makes their job harder. It makes them have to do their job.

The Supreme Court has said REPEATEDLY that refusing to cooperate with police at a DUI stop is NOT grounds for further detention and inspection. They can detain you if you refuse to provide them your DL, reg and insurance card [if required] refusing to speak to them is not inherently suspicious.

The Pomona CA police did a completely illegal checkpoint about a year ago - you are required to be able to avoid the check point and they put it immediately after a freeway exit with no public roads to avoid it. I used my card - they pulled me over. I refused all their little silliness. they told me they were going to arrest me - and I said "feel free. it's your job."

I was treated roughly, they pulled my wallet out and saw my lawyer business card and boy did they change their tune immediately. I filed a complaint against the officers involved - and received a written apology from the Chief and the head of their police commission along with a promise that they would operate their checkpoints legally. I took out a ad in the local shoppers newspaper for $120 and told everyone that the checkpoint at Mission and the 71 on date XXX was done illegally and if you were stopped and arrested to challenge your claim on those grounds. I did this week after - and I must have testified in 5 or 6 DUI cases that fall about where the checkpoint was - the LT who set it up actually perjured himself the first 4 cases until the prosecutor stopped putting him on the stand after I testified at the 4th case.

Look, being a cop is hard job. I REALLY appreciate the risks they take. But - they need to a) be truthful and b) honor their oath to defend the constitution. If they do that I'll represent them for free.

 

[timwinters]

For years they busted dozens of drug runners on I-44 just east of Sringfield, mo.

The state patrol would erect a lighted reader board sign on the shoulder of the eastbound lanes that flashed "drug checkpoint 2 miles ahead". 1/2 mile ahead was an exit that went to nowhere...it may have served three or four houses on a dead-end gravel road but it essentially went nowhere and no one had a good reason to take it. Better yet, eastbound traffic couldn't see the top of the exit.

So...the drug runners would take an exit that goes nowhere to avoid the checkpoint ahead and the cops and dogs were actually at the top of the exit waiting.

They did this for YEARS on end and somehow they just kept catching the bad guys with the same ol' trick. Drug runners don't talk to each other??

 

[SCCutler]

Here in Texas, many jurisdictions are, if the driver suspected of DWI declines to blow, the police secure an order from a judge authorizing them (the police) to take a blood sample by force.

I am all for law and order, but this is out of line.

 

[comanchepilot]

Here in Texas, many jurisdictions are, if the driver suspected of DWI declines to blow, the police secure an order from a judge authorizing them (the police) to take a blood sample by force.

I am all for law and order, but this is out of line.

Wel yeah, that makes sense - if the person is placed under arrest for suspicion then the police have the ability to seek a test. While that may be over the top - it makes senses. You get caught either reeking of liquor or failing an FST because you are dumb enough to either do one or to tell the officiers you had 'two beers,' [which is universally what I hear people have said!] then you deserve what they get. . . .

Look - you want to drive you AGREED in ADVANCE to consent to a blood, breath or urine sample if you are arrested for suspicion of DWI. Thats why I"m not seeing it as big a problem as you . . .

 

[HerrGruyere]

I'm talking about the section heading south out of the city, not in.

OH! Yeah, that part definitely needs to be upped to 55. However, I gotta admit that it can be a bit hairy merging onto that section of 395 from the GW Parkway. Nobody wants to let me in, so I've resorted to just gunning it in second gear up to about 60.