[kenafein240]

Ok in all my years of driving, i'd never got a ticket, and now that I have a sports car I've gotten 2 in the last month. The first one ok, it was legitimate, I didnt like it but ok. The one I got today I feel was profiling. First off I was driving about 60 on a 50mph road. I was speeding, but I was driving with the flow of traffic on a 4 lane road. I was packed in with several other cars going the same speed as me. I was in the middle of the pack of cars, and the officer on her motorcycle, navigated between several of my pack members to single me out for the ticket. She stated I was going 65 which i seriously doubt. My speedo was just fixed to match my diff, granted the car can accelerate 5mph in a brief span and I can't watch the speedo all the time but i doubt everyone else bumped up to that speed. Granted she was in her rights to nab somebody, but I can't help think it was because of my car.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm not really interested in fighting the ticket,as I was speeding, but I would like the officer to be investigated and perhaps the whole department for unfair and prejudicial policies. Should I go to the court date and speak to the judge? Calling the police department will do no good, they all stick together and I doubt if any thing i say would be taken seriously. Maybe if I called Internal Affairs? I have no idea, it just angers me to be a victim of prejudice as I find this no different than racial profiling, just harder to prove.

 

[kenafein240]

sorry i posted this on the wrong board

 

[Unknown User]

Is your car red? Very bad heat score color!

Paint the car yellow, when a cop walks up to a yellow car they go mellow on you, believe me it works. When my Z was red the cops used to line up at the foot of my driveway!

 

[mark71z]

Re: Is your car red? Very bad heat score color!

My z is yellow and i got pulled over but i got a warning. He just thought i was going fast cause I left the traffic light kinda fast, hehe 240 with headers and 2 1/2 exhaust makes it sound fast and a schneider cam. The time before that I got pulled over before I got the paint and body redone and he just gave me warning also. My speedo was way off and he trusted me. It really was. Laterzzz Mark

 

[kenafein240]

Re: Is your car red? Very bad heat score color!

You've had nice cops mine, while polite, both gave me tickets

 

[RebelZ]

My advice to you is to just suck it up and learn from it. Invest in a good fuzz detector. To prove if this particular officer is guilty of any kind of profiling would take too much of your money, and to perform the kind of investigation that would yield the kind of result satisfactory to our yearning would take much more than many agencies are willing to allocate to such a project. Beside, those agencies get a piece of the revenue they just got from you.... It is unfortunate that this thing happened to you, but hopefully she was cute and you got a badge number, phone number or something.... I think she just might like a ride in a Z.

 

[kenafein240]

HAH no luck there! I guess I'll just join the legion of cop haters well traffic cops and highway patrol. The two groups of cops that have nothing to do but pester the common man. Part of it is the laws though, they need to be revised. Traffic tickets should only be given to people who are a real danger to other drivers not because the department needs an air hockey table.

 

[luggnut73]

If you have the time go to traffic court and tell your story, tell the judge of your privious driving record , and about how you were in the middle of a group of other cars and just going with the flow of traffic , the least that you will come out with is the same fine and most likely the judge will reduce it . Good luck Gary Portland Ore.

 

[escanlon]

Even if you go to court you'll more than likely still get stuck with the ticket, BUT if they call the cop in to testify against you, you might get stuck with paying her wages or some other fee. Yes, there is a good chance that you might luck out and the cop not show, at which point it will be up to the judge to decide if you're guilty or not. In my experience and that of some of my friends....mail in the fine and don't waste any more time on it.
I tried to fight one of these years ago. I had just pulled out of a gas station, had not gone even half a block (less than 50 yards) and the cop's radar picked out this station wagon that was barrelling down the street, (in fact, I got scared cause the guy pulled up so **** fast I thought he was going to put the rear bumper through my a**). Anyhow, I got cited for doing 45 in a 25, I brought my RECEIPT for the gas to court, questioned the cop (cause you can't have an attorney there) and the end result...Fined for Speeding, Paid Fine, Paid Court Costs, Paid Cop's Appearance Fee and had all the cops in that town keep looking for me and that car for about 2 years.

Prejudice? Profiling? Harassment? Probably yes to all three. Proof? Yes, to all my friends who would ride with me and discover that we were prone to be stopped if we were the first ones at the light, if they hadn't met quota, if the sun was shining, if it was over cast, if it was night if.....
Proof to the court? HAH!

Trust me, suck it in, pay the fine and forget about it.

As you stated you WERE speeding, yes, she did pick YOU out of the pack, yes you could argue that you were singled out because of the type of car you drive, but do you have any of the other driver's names or affidavits to support your claim? Probably not, and what you are looking at is a simple fact, it will be your word against the cop, and in a court of law.....you lose. And what's worse, you could be setting yourself up to be "monitored" like I was.

 

[kenafein240]

Yeah I know what you're saying, and I'm afraid of that also. If I say anything will the cops be targeting me. I just don't like it though, dang crooked cops! Maybe I should quit my job and become an IA cop and put some fear into the pigs.

 

[JKL3]

I was going to ask if your car is red also .I've been driving Z cars for 25 years
silver and light blues and haven't got'en a ticket ,[ knock on wood ]...Now back
when I had a new '67 mustang ,witch was green ,I had them following me
around waiting for me to do something wrong !!!

 

[surfer18]

JKL3 Its not the color, its the car

Silver does get speeding tickets. My first speeding ticket was in my silver 280z. First off i was going only about ten miles over the limit (I know, Thats what they all say) and he said i was going 20 over. No warning, just a straight up 20 mph over ticket. I think cops have it out for Z cars.

 

[GBlalock]

I have a good one for you....you know how in Africa, on the plains, when there is a heard of animals...and the cheeta or lion is after one.....they follow the heard...and the one that is weaker and lags behind....is the one they go for? I had the same experience on the highway! I was not in my Z at the time - but rather my commuter car (Ford escort! of all things!!!). And I wasn't keeping up with the flow of traffic....I was falling behind! But I get stopped - and given a ticket for speeding! I was going about 5 mph over the limit....so, technically, I was exceeding the limit. But really!
But when I am in my red Z.....I always play it very carefully....because I suspect they will be expecting me to do something!
I am learning.....pay the lawyers a little....and they can take care of everything! It's a money racket! Just pay a lawyer! There are ads in the paper! It amazes me! Don't pay the ticket - that's just an admission of your guilt - but rather, pay a lawyer!

 

[ariem]

Funnt, most of the cops here in Canada just pull you over because they want to check out your car. They tend more to ticket the hoped up little Hondas and I think that's cool, the Datsun can handle high speed maneuvering, it's a sports car after all and designed for it...thos little Hondas...all I can say is I feel safeer at 100Mph in the Z than at 80 in a Honda

 

[Zuber]

Here is some advice.

Don't crap in your own nest. If you must speed, do it in another town. Not your own. Cops get to know you. If they think you are a regular speeder, you will be targeted. Really.

Here is another one that people won't agree with.

Don't buy a radar detector. Or if you do, only use it on long trips out of town in unfamiliar areas. I used to use one all the time, and received tickets anyway (instant on, laser, etc). When I quit using it, and used my common sense instead, I haven't had one since. With it, you feel invincible, and will speed all the time, or whenever you feel like it. Without it, you pick your speeding more carefully, pay closer attention to your surroundings, and know what chances you take. Also, there is almost no way (short of the high dollar Valentine systems) to hide the detector when the cop walks up to your car. They can see it through your rear window before they get out of the car. They don't like them very much, and you are much more likely to get a ticket rather than a warning if they know you are using one. This is a fact.

As far as fighting the ticket, don't bother. Most towns have a very good system set up to bring in this revenue, and they seldom let things like truth or justice get in the way. I tried once, and it came down to their word against mine. Who do YOU think won? Besides, it will only disgust you when you see the cop lie on the stand, and the judge go along with it. I'm speaking about the case where you are innocent. According to you, you weren't innocent. The cop can pull over anyone in the speeding line they want. It sucks, but too bad.

One last thing. I'm not sure how big a place you live in, but if there are multiple Z's, try not to make yours too distinguishable from the rest of the herd. No racing stripes, no stickers all over the car, that sort of thing. It has to do with becoming a target. You have already been pegged twice. Want to make it a trend? Low key my man. Pick your moments. Be a good citizen otherwise.

AND DON'T SPEED IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. I know you don't want to kill any little kids that might wander in your way.

 

[charles 75 280]

Zuber has lots of good points. Simple fact is that for the most part traffic enforcement is a racket. Everyone who reads this will agree that there have been times you have seen someone weaving in traffic, speeding like a SOB, or driving recklessly and said to yourself, "Where the **** are the cops when you need them??".

I have probably gotten at least 6 tickets over the years (I am 45) in everything from sports cars to cycles and with one exception I can honestly say that I was speeding at the time I got them. However, I define speeding probably more like all of you do. To me if I am out on an interstate in the middle of nowhere with a 65 posted speed limit and I am doing 75 I don't consider that speeding. Doing 45 in a 30 zone in town to me is speeding. What gripes me is that every time I have gotten a ticket over the years it has been where it really made no difference to "public safety" that I was 5-10 miles over the limit.

The one time that really pissed me off happened in 87. That was when the Feds finally dropped the 55mph speed limit on the interstates and raised them back to 65. The law had already been passed and was in effect but along this stretch of I-10 just west of Lake City, FL they had not yet changed the signs. I was in a 3 car group seperated by about 200 yards each and we were cruising at exactly 65 and a FL HP pulled us all over and each of us got tickets. After I said my peace to the officer he flat out told me that technically I was right but that he was told by his bosses to raise as much revenue as possible before the signs got put up.

Needless to say that was the point in my life when I quit looking to the police for any kind of justice........................

Charles

 

[george79zx]

Go to court. Take a copy of your driving record (from your state DMV), tuc your tail between your legs, be nice and polite and maybe the cop wont show up.
Most of the time the cops have other matters in court that day, that take more time than a simple speeding ticket. In NC, speed reduction is almost a given, depending on your record, but a PJC (prayer for judgment continued) or your states equivelent, is great.That means that the judgment is put off until screw up again. In between those is an equipment violation (improper equipment), which is a non moving violation and no insurance points.
Now, your court date may be a admistrative court where you go before a magistrate instead of the judge. The same rules apply, but the cop will not be there. If you plead not guilty then a new court date will be assigned and you will have the oppurtunity to face your acusser. Remember the judges and the DA's drive too and dont like to hear cops pulling sneaky stuff like pulling one car out of the bunch, and especially for 10 over or less. Cops dont like to be made to look bad in court, and most speeders dont come to court.
More. Hear are some questions to ask. If you got 'clocked' going the same direction then the cop just used the speedometer to pace you or maybe if it was radar, then it was a new 'same direction' radar or 'fastest car' feature. Find out which. If it was a pace ask if and when the speedometer was calibrated. If radar ask if the officer is certified in that specific radars operaton and to see a copy of the certificate. Ask if there were any posibilities of interferance with the radar unit, bridges, large trucks, weather, electronic devices in the area (the same ones that effect your radar detector). It dont hurt to try. Be nice and dont get pissed if u lose.

 

[Jason k]

First off I don't agree with the others that you should pay the fine.Fight this and every other ticket you get.The system is nothing more than uniform tax collection diguised as public saftey.Yes there are times that officers need to write citations,but this is alot les than the quota or standard impodes by ALL DEPARTMENTS if they tell you there are no qoutas they are lying or are to nieve to understand he or she who brings in the most revevue gets the quickest promotions,the best shifts ect.Instead of telling you to blindly go forth and fight this I'll give you a few tips.First off if you can afford it get a lawyer.If you are stuck doing this on your own there are any number of good books on the subject or try your internet search engine under speeding tickets.There is one site that charges about 8.95 for 50 pages of info written by an ex state cop that I highly recommend.You did not ask but here is my opionion.You did not say but I'm assuming you where paced or radar(If she was estamating GO to court you will win) either way its up to you to show in court either faulty equipment or to give resonable doubt of the skill of the officer in it's use.For pacing you will want a copy of the state motor vehicle code(pacing is allowed in some while not in others and code about length of pace varies also)then during your right of discovery request vehicle service records,cops qalifications(radar,laser ect have D.O.T minimum training suggestions that very few officers meet)cops log book,note book,ect all this will help you in court to either show that the officer was either negligent,improperly trained,or issued faulty equipment.One or more of these is more common than you think besides the fact most officers don't care since very few people fight these.I totaly disagree that this will make you a target, just the oposite they will leave you alone and concentrate on easier targets.

 

[JetBlack82]

I think you cought her eye not the Z. Cops get a kick out of pulling over sports cars.
I wouldn't fight it, the judge will always favor the cop, they have barbaque's all the time.
She must own a HONDA..

 

[JetBlack82]

I think you cought her eye not the Z. Cops get a kick out of pulling over sports cars.
I wouldn't fight it, the judge will always favor the cop, they have barbaque's all the time.
She must own a HONDA..