Following Too Close

[AllenAyres]

I didn't want to tangent the Captain's topic too much but it reminded me about a topic I wanted to start.

I know on I-10 from Beltway 8 to Beltway 8 (and maybe a little more) it's 60MPH the whole way and that there's police in most stretches on most days. I know to not drive fast there (and routinely as a matter of safety/not wanting to pay for tickets I don't anywhere). I usually keep my speed ~67MPH depending on traffic speed (there are some days when it's 6-7MPH).

~10 days ago I was driving to Austin and passed through Houston ~3:00pm - moderate traffic, we were driving between 65 and 70, usually ~66-67. We passed a police car and I reflexively check my speed, whew! 68MPH, I'm good. A couple seconds later, his lights come on and I think he must have caught someone speeding so I watch him. He comes up behind me, traffic is pretty heavy so I work my way across traffic to the right. He follows me lights blazing, siren blaring and I finally get to the service road (no where on the I-10 to stop that one or both of us wouldn't be in danger). He barks at me for license and insurance and takes forever to do what ever he was doing in his car. Meantime I am thinking that if he says I was doing 71 just to get me for going 10+ MPH over the speed limit that I was going to complain. He finally walks back to my vehicle and said: Mr. Ayres I am writing you a ticket for doing 76 in a 60.

I said "I was only doing 68".
He said, yes you were doing 68 when you passed me but my laser caught you doing 76 before you got to me.

Huh? I was driving a 6 cylinder dodge nitro, terrible highway speed power, takes forever to speed up and I'd know if I was driving that fast. I know I wasn't doing 70, let alone doing 76.

Is it worth it/ possible to fight a ticket like that in Houston's traffic court? I know I wasn't driving that fast, I know to not drive that fast on that stretch of road. I wasn't driving faster than traffic flow and I know they weren't doing 70. I have no idea where/how he got his speed reading.

Later I was looking at the ticket, fuming, and read another citation at the bottom for "following too close" In Houston traffic? I was no closer than anyone else and he didn't mention that one...

Can I do anything? Either way I go it's going to take several hundred $$$ and a day of my time to take care of it.

[ChristopherCoy]

[Jeffery]

I said "I was only doing 68".

The above quote will most likely hurt you In court. I'm sure the officer noted that you admitted to speeding.

[Breezy]

If noone else chimes in like Murph let me know. DH knows all about the radars etc...
He worked closely with the CCPD and even took alot of their courses and the Navy paid for them.
And you should be able to look most of this up online. there are specifics on how often they have to be calibrated, how the gun has to be pointed etc...
obviously I don't know them cause I would get a ticket I am sure.
Good luck I would fight it.
Something similar happened to us in Seattle while on our Alaskan vacation. Dh was going to fight it but it wasn't worth him going back to WA for a 150 ticket. We paid it and it never showed up on the insurance thank god.

[ka5txl]

Pay the ticket and move on with your life. Bottom line is you were speeding, You admitted too that, were you doing 71 of 68 we will never know but the speed limit signs don't say 60mph + or - . Is it inconvienant, is it expensive? Yes to both and most of us have been there one time or another


Chris, pass the popcorn please.

[carrbowl]

I think something is going on with the Houston PD..they have been on a road that they have never been on in the last 10 years, now all of a sudden they are on the road and handing out tickets like candy. I suspect they need some money...and were told to get some. Sorry you had to be a part of it. It's bad enough when you are guilty, but when you are innocent...it would really tick me off. Can't you just pay one of those "lovely" attorneys $50 and be done with it?? Might be worth the PITA factor

[ka5txl]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I think something is going on with the Houston PD..they have been on a road that they have never been on in the last 10 years, now all of a sudden they are on the road and handing out tickets like candy. I suspect they need some money...and were told to get some. Sorry you had to be a part of it. It's bad enough when you are guilty, but when you are innocent...it would really tick me off. Can't you just pay one of those "lovely" attorneys $50 and be done with it?? Might be worth the PITA factor

It's pretty much the same with Dallas county as the Sheriff's Dept and The county Constables are now extensions of the Tax Office. I don't want to cross the line on political discussions but too follow truth in labeling laws maybe the sirens could be replaced with the Beatles "Tax Man" playing over thier pa system.

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by bung

The above quote will most likely hurt you In court. I'm sure the officer noted that you admitted to speeding.

And the only difference is going to be the amount of the fine... and 68 vs 71 isn't that much of a difference, since the fines are usually based on percentages. (i.e. 10% above limit, 20% etc. etc.)

ChristopherCoy added 7 Minutes and 44 Seconds later...Double Post Merged Below

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I think something is going on with the Houston PD..they have been on a road that they have never been on in the last 10 years, now all of a sudden they are on the road and handing out tickets like candy.

The new accident statistics were probably published showing that the particular section of roadway was one of the more dangerous ones....

[Breezy]

He wrote the ticket for 76 not 71
as far as I remember that would be considered reckless driving and carries a heavier fine.

[123canon]

when i lived in houston most cops would not show up for court and it usually got thrown out. don't know how it is now, that was ten years ago

[Buddha]

It's a little late, but you can politely ask to see the radar and they have to let you see it. It has to be locked onto the speed you were caught at so you can see it. That may be a good thing or a bad thing.
I'm a little curious to know how you can be doing 76 and still following too closely, and why he didn't mention it to you before you signed the ticket. Did you read it first?

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by Buddha

It's a little late, but you can politely ask to see the radar and they have to let you see it. It has to be locked onto the speed you were caught at so you can see it. That may be a good thing or a bad thing.

On the contrary... they DO NOT have to show it to you, and asking will probably only create more problems for yourself. And dont even try the 'its a law' thing, because it isn't.

[snydersnapshots]

Originally Posted by carrbowl

I think something is going on with the Houston PD..they have been on a road that they have never been on in the last 10 years, now all of a sudden they are on the road and handing out tickets like candy. I suspect they need some money...and were told to get some.

Several years ago the state of Washington went from vehicle licensing fees based on value to a flat rate that was the same for every vehicle. My father in law was a wheat farmer in Eastern WA at the time. Surprise surprise--during harvest the State Patrol was out with their portable scales checking for overweight grain trucks headed for the elevator; in fact, they started out trying to get the weights as the trucks pulled onto the scales, until the folks at the elevator ran them off. The funny thing about this was the fact that in the 40+ years of farming, this was the first time the State Patrol took an interest in "safety" inspections of grain trucks... One poor guy got a fine of around $2,000.

[KJ Smith]

Call the court, you may be able to take DD to get rid of one.

You may also be able to do DA for one, but I doubt you could get rid of both.

If you need the name of a ticket Lawyer I have one. General rule is its the same as the fine and they want cash up front.

Kevin

[Buddha]

I've never had a problem asking to see the radar when I've been stopped. Maybe it's just a Houston cop thing.
I can't recall at the moment why they have to let you see the radar, but I am firmly convinced that they do. Otherwise it's just his word against yours. The whole purpose of radar is to avoid that conflict.