patrick, it was CHP.

honest question, what difference does this make?
are CHPs more likely to show up in court and be prepared?

ckwik- thanks for the advice, you seem to know a lot ^_^

anyways, i'm trying out this http://ticketassassin.com/ a couple members have recommended

if any other of you have opinions on this please offer input! thanks!

 

CHP showed up EVERY time for me.

City cops didnt show up twice.

So actually seems like CHP would be more likely to show.

Sidenote: On city streets when I've been pulled over its "heres your ticket have a nice day". CHP ALWAYS hassles the hell out of me. The instant they walk up to the car its "roll your window back up. Oh this tint illegal". (No shiz sherlock is what I feel like telling him). Then walk to the front of the car "oh you have no license plate". etc. etc. CHP seems to be more **** about things in general so yeah they'll probably show.

Worse thing is, drag it out and go into court. 50/50 shot and if the cop DOES show the judge (As long as you're eligible) will ask you if you want to take traffic school before you start to fight the ticket. So at least you have an out...

 

the whole aircraft thing works this way:

there are lines on the road every so ___ feet... 1 person in the airplane flies and the other times how long it takes for you to pass the certain amount of lines.. using Rate X Time = Distance or in this case Rate = Distance (divided by) Time.. they use that to find your speed, then radio down to a cop to pull you over... saw it on the news

 

How about not speeding? Seems like it would be a lot easier.

 

COPS ARE WORTHLESS SCUMS.
I got pulled over last night at 3am. Guess what was the Pig's reason.
For apparently not signaling 100ft. before making my turn!
WTF...the piggie was a young looking white kid.
He looked at my documents and just said "ok my boss, have a great night". Can we say, RACIAL PROFILING!"

 

Ah yeah but what I meant was, according to California Vehicle Codes 40802, 40801, and 40804 (I always have that page bookmarked ) it is illegal for you to be cited by an aircraft radioing ahead like that. I know somone that went to court with this defense and instantly was found innocent.

Things like THIS is why I fight all tickets.....

 

Keep in mind if you live in CA, bars close at 2am anytime between 1am and 330am cops are looking for any reason to pull you over to see if they can get another DUI. I've been pulled over so many times at night for no front plate, loud exhaust, illegal headlights (never thought the stock head lights were illegal, ignorant cops) weaving (I used to have a lifted truck that was out of alignment) no plates (had new tags in window) radio too loud. All happening between 1 and 3am. Some where CHP, some where city cops (especially Irvine and Santa Ana) and some were OC Sherriffs (south county and unincorp Santa Ana AKA Lemon Heights) All were very polite except Santa Ana which can go and (favorite 4 letter word) themselves, but thats a another story lets just say I was the Des. Drvr and went through a DUI checkpoint, and they didn't appreciate the fact that I was the designated 100% sober driver with 3 drunk friends in the car and proceeded to write me a slew of fix it tickets.

As far as radar detectors go, I'd get the Escort 8500, had one for the last 2 years and have never had a ticket since. I drive the I-15 to vegas atleast once a month and have had my butt saved so many times I can't even count. In OC all cops and CHP use KA band radar, they also use laser, however laser only works while the cop is stationary, and is usually only equipped on motorcyles. LA county uses mostly K band and a few KA band radars. If you get a radar detector, do your self a favor and shut off the X band because no law enforcement agencies use this outdated band. X band is put out by all sorts of things from garage door openers to automatic doors at the kwikimart. Just remember that no matter what anyone tells you, detectors are 100% LEGAL in ca and 47 other states, just if you do get pulled over for speeding and have one, the likely hood of getting a warning drops dramatically. I never fly without my detector and even bring it with me on trips and when I ride in friends cars. Don't get a "jammer" as they are all gimmicks, not to mention even if they don't work, they are still very illegal.

Remember that if you fight a traffic ticket in OC and lose, you forefit your privilage of traffic school (yes privilage not right), so depending on how much your ticket will be (estimated $170-215) it might not be worth fighting for what it can potentially do to your insurance rates.

CHP officers show up 98% of the time, its their job to enforce traffic laws, no matter how petty you think it is, that is their duty. Like others have said, just be thankful you didn't get popped for 100mph, which is a 3 point violation and possible suspension of you license, not to mention your insurance, if not dropped by your provider, would skyrocket. Getting tickets is extremely frustrating, but remember, most of the time the tickets are legit and you messed up. I feel for you because it sucks, but the damage is done.

 

I'm on my lunch break... so I cant read all the replies to see where this thread has gone.

Ok, first off, you were going 100mph. 95 and over can get you thrown in jail and your car impounded and charged with attempted man slaughter. Also, CHP are trained to be able to estimate how fast a car is going by sight.

Also, he said he was going 72mph, and you sped up on him, and passed him. If thats the case, you really dont have any case, or angle to fight this in court.

Cops only use radar/laser if they're standing still

 

I repeaat plead not guilty and hope cop doesnt show, if he does, just change your plea you have nothing to lose

 

You could always argue that the cops was speedy as well. What was the need for him to drive 72mph? There obvisously was no emergeny cause he had the time to pull you over. Just cause he is the law does not mean he can break it.

 

Aircraft can also use Radar/Laser and also pace you. The circumstances do inherently present credibility issues, but most people don't know this. Pacing leaves a lot of room for error as it's harder to make sure they are maintaining a specific distance and being able to match your speed. But like a patrol car, if they are travelling a certain groundspeed and you are passing or pulling away from them, then it may hold up quite well. Radar/Laser brings up accuraccy issues. From the distance and movements of the aircraft involved, it can be tricky. I'd speculate this will probably not be used much but can. If they indeed use a time measurement to pass a marked distance, it is considered a speed trap and would not be admissable in court. As far as using the radio to have a patrol car pull you over, that is perfectly legal. But what most people do not realize is if you fight it, the cop in the air must show up to testify if his observations were used to cite you. Though if the cop in the car observed your speed by pacing you or by radar/laser, he can testify to his observations. If the officer in the car tries to testify to what the air patrol officer saw, you can simply object and explain it is hearsay. From what I hear, the officer in the plane almost never shows.

As far as my experience with no shows, of the 7 or so times I took it to court, only one time did the officer not show. Consequently, my case was probably the strongest of any I've had. And it was a city cop. Only fought one against the CHP.

As far as waiving the right to traffic school, it still wouldn't hurt to ask the judge if he finds you guilty. It's ultimately up to the judge. I do know of one court(Westminster - Orange County) which requires you to sign a paper waiving your right to traffic school if you fight the ticket.

 

Arguing that the cop was speeding is pointless. That doesnt help him at all. If he proves that the cop was speeding, all that really does is make him even more guilty by saying that he was driving faster than the cop.... making it an easy 80mph.

 

Dont you lose the right to traffic school if you go to court? Or is it if you plead not guilty and fight it, only to lose and be found guilty? I recently got a speeding ticket too. I was speeding a little... but with the flow of traffic just as I got on the freeway and was trying to get to the outer lane. He only picked me out because I was changing lanes, and because my car stands out.... bastard!

And I heard that CHP ALWAYS show up to court... is that true? And the ticket he wrote me is screwed up. First off... he wrote that I have a white car... its silver! He also didnt write down, or tell me how fast I was going. The ticket says:

"Speed Approx. = 60" and "P.F./Max Spd. = 65"

And he circled "max spd."

What the heck does all that mean? Theres a box that says Veh. Lmt, but its left blank!