Traffic ticket myths

[Shelly]

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20070815_traffic_ticket_myths_a1.asp

Click on the link for details of the myths.

8 common ticket myths


1. If the officer makes a single mistake on your ticket, the case is dropped.
2. If the officer doesn't show up in court, you automatically win.
3. Red cars get more tickets.
4. You need a lawyer to beat a ticket.
5. If you get a ticket in another state, your home state won't find out about it.
6. You can make up an excuse to get out of the ticket.
7. A radar detector will ensure that you never get pulled over.
8. If you don't sign the ticket, it will be dismissed.

[Shelly]

In some states, such as Texas, refusal to sign a ticket can mean a trip to jail. Houston attorney Robert Eutsler says that if you don't sign the ticket, the officer has the choice to either take you to jail or write on the ticket "refused to sign."

[Oh, Gee!!]

9. If you paint your car with invisible paint the cops can't see you.

[CubanMustGo]

10. You can go faster than police radio.

[Oh, Gee!!]

11. You can flirt your way out of a ticket

[BigBeezie]

12: All cops go to heaven

[ZStomp]

:lol

[E20]

I heard if you are a really hot chick and if you offer sex anytime for the officer you will get out of the ticket.

[Oh, Gee!!]

ooops!! you have to be a chick for that to work?

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Myth #13
If an officer attempts to pull you over for speeding you should slow down under the speed limit but do not stop. When the officer attempts to pursue you he will not call for back up, because when the other cars arrive and see you driving the speed limit he will be laughed at.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Of course, getting out of a ticket is as simple as remembering a few simple phrases:

"Yes, I was speeding, but only because I am very drunk. I figured that the faster I go, the less time that I would be on the road. And the less time I am on the road, the less danger I am putting my fellow motorists in. If anything, your irresponsible actions are only prolonging my drunken driving. If you hadn't stopped me I'd probably be home by now. Shame on you, officer."

[Oh, Gee!!]

Myth #13
If an officer attempts to pull you over for speeding you should slow down under the speed limit but do not stop. When the officer attempts to pursue you he will not call for back up, because when the other cars arrive and see you driving the speed limit he will be laughed at.


lolz. that's just drunk talk--sweet, beautiful drunk talk

[florige]

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/auto/20070815_traffic_ticket_myths_a1.asp

Click on the link for details of the myths.

8 common ticket myths


1. If the officer makes a single mistake on your ticket, the case is dropped.
2. If the officer doesn't show up in court, you automatically win.
3. Red cars get more tickets.
4. You need a lawyer to beat a ticket.
5. If you get a ticket in another state, your home state won't find out about it.
6. You can make up an excuse to get out of the ticket.
7. A radar detector will ensure that you never get pulled over.
8. If you don't sign the ticket, it will be dismissed.


I'm a Baltimore City Police Officer and here 1&2 are true. Even though with one it's still better to get a lawyer. If the officer doesn't show up the case is normally dismissed. Number 3 is a myth here. Number 4 depends on what kind of ticket, Driving on a suspended license almost at all times requires a lawyer being as though you can serve jail time if convicted by a tough judge, and depending on why it was suspended. (DWI,DUI, etc....) Number 5 is not true. Number 6 I guess depends on the cop and the circumstance. Number 7 is tricky especially if they are banned in your state. Number 8 here in MD not signing a ticket and lead to your arrest in some cases.

[Shelly]

I'm a Baltimore City Police Officer and here 1&2 are true. Even though with one it's still better to get a lawyer. If the officer doesn't show up the case is normally dismissed. Number 3 is a myth here. Number 4 depends on what kind of ticket, Driving on a suspended license almost at all times requires a lawyer being as though you can serve jail time if convicted by a tough judge, and depending on why it was suspended. (DWI,DUI, etc....) Number 5 is not true. Number 6 I guess depends on the cop and the circumstance. Number 7 is tricky especially if they are banned in your state. Number 8 here in MD not signing a ticket and lead to your arrest in some cases.

Re: #1 Clerical mistakes, such as a wrong number or wrong order of a person's name, are usually overlooked. Material mistakes, like the identity of the driver, the direction of travel, the street where the citation occurred or the description of the vehicle, can usually help a driver win the case.

I'm guessing it's up to the judge's discretion?

[florige]

Re: #1 Clerical mistakes, such as a wrong number or wrong order of a person's name, are usually overlooked. Material mistakes, like the identity of the driver, the direction of travel, the street where the citation occurred or the description of the vehicle, can usually help a driver win the case.

I'm guessing it's up to the judge's discretion?


I remember in one case an officer in my precinct had given a guy a speeding ticket without actually getting it on radar. The officer's case was that the driver was driving say westbound on lets say route 40. The officer was driving eastbound on 40. The officer saw the guy was speeding and made a u-turn and stated to the judge that she had to do about 85 to 90 to catch up with the guy. But the guy/defendant countered that it took her at least 40 seconds to a minute to catch up to him due to the fact that she had to slow down to make the u-turn and then had to make up the time she lost while he was still according to him "driving the speed limit" Now while the guy was probably speeding the judge had no choice but to throw the case out because the guy made a valid argument. Just because the officer had to do 85 to 90 to CATCH UP to the guy doesn't mean that the guy was necessarily speeding. The guy had pictures, feet measurement and everything. We to this day haven't let her live that down. The officer herself said she was shocked that the guy went through so much trouble. But in that case it was too evident. But alot rides on the judge. It's one judge here in MD whose son was killed by a drunk driver some years ago. So you can guess that judge takes no BS when it comes to DWI's. But if you are talking about strictly the clerical end of it like street names and directions traveled, that matter due to the fact that you can make the case that you weren't even driving on that street in that direction. Those kinds of mistakes are pretty uncommon, but do occur.

[Shelly]

Interesting!

Thanks!

[ShoogarBear]

I'm a Baltimore City Police Officer http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/television/wire/w_logo.jpg

[spurs=bling]

pay the fucking ticket and get over it.

[CosmicCowboy]

That "Texas State Troopers Association" sticker on your back window won't keep you from getting a ticket. It just tells the cop that he pulled over a gullible idiot.

[MrChug]

That "Texas State Troopers Association" sticker on your back window won't keep you from getting a ticket. It just tells the cop that he pulled over a gullible idiot.

No, but the truth is that the "San Antonio Police Officer's Association" (yes, the yellow one) one does. IF you're pulled over by SAPD of course. They are very hard to attain and you have to be pretty close someone in the department (because the tags are meant for the officer's own cars). So upon noticing it, the officer (while pretending to write) may ask you "So who do you know in the department?"

If your acquaintance, brother, boyfriend, uncle, or whoever is slightly know and not hated, the officer will probably let you go with a warning (their discretion of course) and drop a "Tell your _____ Dave he owes Officer ______ one."

[UV Ray]

Myth #14

A traffic cop cannot be bribed by a jelly donut.

[ZStomp]

I rarely give tickets...:)

[mrsmaalox]

I think #2 is true here in Texas too. I know from personal experience, if the cop DOES show up but doesn't being a witness to testify against you, the case is dismissed.

[mrsmaalox]

I think #2 is true here in Texas too. I know from personal experience, if the cop DOES show up but doesn't being a witness to testify against you, the case is dismissed.
sorry, I meant "bring" instead of "being"

[Das Texan]

this is the way a lot of cities obtain their reveune for those damn fine dodge charger patrol cars, cause you know they are oh so necessary 99% of the time.

[ZStomp]

Them Chargers are sweeeeeeeeeeeet

[spurs=bling]

this is the way a lot of cities obtain their reveune for those damn fine dodge charger patrol cars, cause you know they are oh so necessary 99% of the time.


But they are very nice cars.

[ALVAREZ6]

I rarely give tickets...:)So is it true that cops have certain quotas they have to fulfill every month?


Because people always say watch yourself at the end of the month.

[Nbadan]

If an officer asks you to 'step out of your car', you have the right to automatically lock all your doors....make em work for a search...

[ZStomp]

So is it true that cops have certain quotas they have to fulfill every month?


Because people always say watch yourself at the end of the month.


NO!

I hear that all the freaken time....:lol

I give about 5-10 tix a month. A guy that works with me gives over 200 tix a month.

Go figure.....

[ZStomp]

If an officer asks you to 'step out of your car', you have the right to automatically lock all your doors....make em work for a search...

True that.

But if you have nothing to hide- why would you want to be put through that?

[UV Ray]

True that.

But if you have nothing to hide- why would you want to be put through that?

Maybe 'cause I don't want a nosy stranger going through my crap?

[ZStomp]

Whatever floats your boat.

[UV Ray]

Whatever floats your boat.


The Fourth Amendment floats my boat.

[ALVAREZ6]

ZStomp, if you try to pull me over, it'll turn into a high speed pursuit.



That is if you have the balls to pursuit me.


http://www.copseek.com/shop/shopimages/products/normal/lose_cop_black.jpg

[E20]

ZStomp, if you try to pull me over, it'll turn into a high speed pursuit.



That is if you have the balls to pursuit me.


http://www.copseek.com/shop/shopimages/products/normal/lose_cop_black.jpg
There is a another shirt that deals with cops with the top 3 excuses to get out of a ticket, same layout as the one above.

How to get out of a ticket:
1. Tell the officer you thought we were racing.
2. Tell the officer you were speeding to get home to watch Cops
3. I forgot the third one.

[missmyzte]

One of the guys in my office gets several tickets a year, always has them dismissed. He's a genius at it, no one else could pull off what he does.

One of the girls I work with got out of a speeding ticket on the way to a meeting - she started crying and was 7 months pregnant. Cop let her go.

[Nbadan]

You can get one moving violation dismissed by simply taking a defensive driving course, or renting a D.D. video, and you can get another dismissed by pleading not guilty on your plea date, going to your court date and they offer everyone differed adjudication...

[Nbadan]

(as long as your not going 100MPH+)

[CubanMustGo]

ZStomp, if you try to pull me over, it'll turn into a high speed pursuit.



That is if you have the balls to pursuit me.



Ah, yet another tough guy courtesy of teh internets.

[Nbadan]

The best place to carry small-amounts of 'contraband' if you are a passenger is in your hand. If you get pulled over - eat it....you cannot be arrested for being a passenger and smelling like a dope....

[Nbadan]

The best place to carry small-amounts of 'contraband' if you are the driver is stuffed in a compartment under your dash board....

[Nbadan]

Always wash your hands before touching any part of your car after handling said contraband.... dogs react to resin on door handles...that's how most people get busted....

[Nbadan]

The best place to hide larger amounts of contraband is mixed in with prepared food. Food will always throw dogs off....

[The sone]

wheres my pinche sapoa sticker!

[Nbadan]

The best way to travel with contraband over large distances, even through those pesky immigration check-points, is baked into brownies and cakes....

[jman3000]

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/television/wire/w_logo.jpg

:lol that's the first thing i thought of too.

[ploto]

I got a guy I was riding with out of a ticket- by DPS none the less- by bitching at him when the trooper came up. I asked the trooper what the speed limit was; it was 55 on this road, and I started to gripe at the driver, telling him, "See I told you the speed limit was 55 not 65- you never listen to me..." The guy figured he was in enough trouble and only gave him a warning. :D

[exstatic]

ploto, bitching at someone. Who'da thunk it?
:p:

[florige]

http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/television/wire/w_logo.jpg



It's alot worse here (well now anyway) than it looks on the "Wire". If thats at all possible. And as for the Chargers.... If our department just managed to keep our Grand Marquis up to standards that would impress me. Now some of the surrounding counties around the city do have Chargers. They are mostly used for traffic I hear. Plus most of the fictional characters on "The Wire" are narcotics already. Thats where I hope to be in another year. :king

[florige]

I rarely give tickets...:)



Where, and how long have you been? Patrolman??

[Das Texan]

But they are very nice cars.



so?

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

pay the fucking ticket and get over it.

Aren't you the same person who called her relative, a high-ranking law enforcement official, when she was caught breaking a city ordinance (or law, I don't know what crazy shit Uvalde does anymore)?

[ShoogarBear]

It's alot worse here (well now anyway) than it looks on the "Wire". If thats at all possible. Wow.

Actually, I guess The Wire mostly makes things looks bad because of the politics; they mention funding problems, but don't really show a lot of it.

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Yeah, Baltimore's nuts.

I remember that time I went to a ballgame at Camden Yards and nothing happened. Well, nothing unless you count the assault the Red Sox committed against the Orioles.

Of course, nothing happened to me considering I was watching the game with Russell Simmons.

[ShoogarBear]

Yeah, I know you're used to a more intense baseball experience.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/photo/photogallery/japan_series/1109/03.jpg

[Johnny_Blaze_47]

Remind me to leave you the next time I have the rental car at Camden Yards.

[Spurfect]

NO!

I hear that all the freaken time....:lol

I give about 5-10 tix a month. A guy that works with me gives over 200 tix a month.

Go figure.....

but do cops get any sort of incentives or rewards or anything for the tickets you do give out? anything at all?

[ploto]

ploto, bitching at someone. Who'da thunk it?
:p:
Did you miss the point-- I did it on purpose to get him out of the ticket when I saw the trooper was male.

[ploto]

but do cops get any sort of incentives or rewards or anything for the tickets you do give out? anything at all?
NO- I know someone who is SAPD and he almost never writes tickets. One time when he was writing a woman a ticket, she said something to him about getting rewarded for writing tickets, and he told her -- yes! 2 more and I get a toaster! :lol

[ZStomp]

but do cops get any sort of incentives or rewards or anything for the tickets you do give out? anything at all?

Nothing. At all.

The more tickets you give the higher chances you get at being called to court.
If you go to court and you are not on duty then you get overtime. I guess that's the only 'incentive'.

[Soul_Patch]

Yea it seems like to me, writing tickets is more of a pain in the ass for the officer. Which is why i always get preterbed about getting pulled over for going 52 in a 45 or something similar.

I sware when i moved to shertz (dont live there anymore this was 5 to 8 years ago) i got about 6 tickets within the span of 1 year. I couldnt fart without getting a ticket there, it was absolutely ridiculous.

In the 5 to 8 years since ive moved away from there, ive gotten 1 total ticket.

[Beno Udrih]

pay the fucking ticket and get over it.
:rolleyes

[spurs=bling]

Aren't you the same person who called her relative, a high-ranking law enforcement official, when she was caught breaking a city ordinance (or law, I don't know what crazy shit Uvalde does anymore)?

Si.

My uncles and cousins always say that, so I just wanted to say it. :lol

But what I did isn't as bad killing some guy over a girl and a dog.

[exstatic]

Did you miss the point-- I did it on purpose to get him out of the ticket when I saw the trooper was male.
E moh tih khan.

[Avitus1]

What if you tell the cop that your wife/girlfriend/lover is having a baby and you are trying to get to the hospital?

[florige]

but do cops get any sort of incentives or rewards or anything for the tickets you do give out? anything at all?



Not necessarily bonuses of any kind because we are only doing our job. But you do get awards like cop of the month of August, Say like if you pull over a certain amount of DWI's, DUI's things of that nature. That sort of thing helps when it comes time for your raise, or if you are trying for a higher rank, LT, Sgt, Narcotics Detective, Homicide, etc. Now while there is "technically" no quota system, I'm sure if I'm primarily doing traffic and I only come in for the month with 2 tickets in my book my watch commander will be wondering what the hell I'm have been doing out there for the entire month. It's no different than a sales job, the folks up top want to see results. In our case arrest, tickets, drug seizes, etc...

[florige]

Wow.

Actually, I guess The Wire mostly makes things looks bad because of the politics; they mention funding problems, but don't really show a lot of it.



It's alot worse here with the crooked politicians that currently hold office who really could care less about us. They think throwing up police cameras on every other light pole around the city will cut down on the murder rate here. I think we are right around 200 or so now. The record was 301 back in 99 or something like that. I guess the idea of putting up the police cameras is that now we can see the murders first hand. :rolleyes But the problem we have is that it's hard retaining officers here because the the city doesn't keep up with the pay raises. So we end up losing alot of officers to neighboring jurisdictions that pay alot more, and with alot less headaches to worry about. We have been through like 4 police chiefs in less than 10 years. Actually one of the guys on "The Wire" was our former boss. I don;t know his name on the show, but he got jail time for using city funds for personal trips. (at least that ths short version of a long and complicated mess)

[E20]

I heard if you don't pay a ticket they fine you even more.............

[florige]

If you don't pay a speeding ticket you automatically get summoned to court because the courts are assuming that you are going to fight the ticket. Parking tickets are the ones that draw interest if you don't pay them when you are supposed too. Some parking tickets start out as low as 32 dollars and sometimes ends up around 500 dollars. People either lose the tickets, or just plain forget about them. But here in Baltimore every few years the city offers what they call a parking ticket Amenesty. Basically for one day you get all the interest and late fees removed and you get to pay the original ticket, the city loses craps loads of money by doing that. But I think that it's a good thing to have personally. Alot of citizens were complaining that they were only getting notices once the tickets got to be outrageous amounts, which I can believe.

[E20]

I heard if you Speed you get a ticket.

[florige]

I heard if you Speed you get a ticket.


Thats new to me. :lol

[ploto]

Just watch out in Shavano Park!

[MrChug]

Just watch out in Shavano Park!

Fuck those posers...those glorified security guards only get a 21K base from what I understand. No wonder they're so pissed. Either that or their wives are getting porked by rich guys, pissed because they can't afford to live anywhere near that area.

[The sone]

witness!

[Hotjohnny]

There are many myths out there and most of it is junk. It is very hard to get out of a ticket. It's probably best to just obey the law. I have had my fair share of tickets and I stumbled onto a cool website that I thought was helpful.

Tickettutor.com (http://www.tickettutor.com)

[TDMVPDPOY]

ticket quota

revenue raising = ftl

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I remember in one case an officer in my precinct had given a guy a speeding ticket without actually getting it on radar. The officer's case was that the driver was driving say westbound on lets say route 40. The officer was driving eastbound on 40. The officer saw the guy was speeding and made a u-turn and stated to the judge that she had to do about 85 to 90 to catch up with the guy. But the guy/defendant countered that it took her at least 40 seconds to a minute to catch up to him due to the fact that she had to slow down to make the u-turn and then had to make up the time she lost while he was still according to him "driving the speed limit" Now while the guy was probably speeding the judge had no choice but to throw the case out because the guy made a valid argument. Just because the officer had to do 85 to 90 to CATCH UP to the guy doesn't mean that the guy was necessarily speeding. The guy had pictures, feet measurement and everything. We to this day haven't let her live that down. The officer herself said she was shocked that the guy went through so much trouble. But in that case it was too evident. But alot rides on the judge. It's one judge here in MD whose son was killed by a drunk driver some years ago. So you can guess that judge takes no BS when it comes to DWI's. But if you are talking about strictly the clerical end of it like street names and directions traveled, that matter due to the fact that you can make the case that you weren't even driving on that street in that direction. Those kinds of mistakes are pretty uncommon, but do occur.

Mucho coolio insight. Thanks man. :smokin

You do a tough job. Best wishes to you.

Hey, wasn't Homicide:Life on the Street set in Baltimore? One of the all-time great cop shows (although nothing like reality, I'm sure).

[CuckingFunt]

Hey, wasn't Homicide:Life on the Street set in Baltimore? One of the all-time great cop shows (although nothing like reality, I'm sure).

:tu

I still miss that show. One of my very favorites.

[ATRAIN]

I'm a Baltimore City Police Officer and here 1&2 are true. Even though with one it's still better to get a lawyer. If the officer doesn't show up the case is normally dismissed. Number 3 is a myth here. Number 4 depends on what kind of ticket, Driving on a suspended license almost at all times requires a lawyer being as though you can serve jail time if convicted by a tough judge, and depending on why it was suspended. (DWI,DUI, etc....) Number 5 is not true. Number 6 I guess depends on the cop and the circumstance. Number 7 is tricky especially if they are banned in your state. Number 8 here in MD not signing a ticket and lead to your arrest in some cases.


I got pulled over one time for going 4 miles over.....was the DPS officer just being a dick? I was actually shocked he was pulling me over.

[florige]

Mucho coolio insight. Thanks man. :smokin

You do a tough job. Best wishes to you.

Hey, wasn't Homicide:Life on the Street set in Baltimore? One of the all-time great cop shows (although nothing like reality, I'm sure).



Thanks dude!! Yeah that was filmed in Baltimore. At the time it was filmed it was probably the same on the show as in real life, but now it's MUCH more crime here than was is depicted on The Wire.

[florige]

I got pulled over one time for going 4 miles over.....was the DPS officer just being a dick? I was actually shocked he was pulling me over.


It might have either been one of two things, 1) a new officer whose trying to play STRICTLY by the book. or 2) An old school officer who plays strictly by the books. One time I was paired with this new recruit and someone went up a one way street, it was me and like 4 other officers and he was all ready to jump in the car and give the person a ticket. Me and the other officers were like dude, just calm down, it's not that serious. It takes new recruits like a month to let that little small petty stuff go alot of times. 4 over isn't nothing. You could have probably gotten that thrown out of you went to court.

[monosylab1k]

Plus most of the fictional characters on "The Wire" are narcotics already. Thats where I hope to be in another year. :king

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p288/elpresidente_02/ep22_bodie_gun.jpg
NARCO'S! NARCO'S!

[ATRAIN]

It might have either been one of two things, 1) a new officer whose trying to play STRICTLY by the book. or 2) An old school officer who plays strictly by the books. One time I was paired with this new recruit and someone went up a one way street, it was me and like 4 other officers and he was all ready to jump in the car and give the person a ticket. Me and the other officers were like dude, just calm down, it's not that serious. It takes new recruits like a month to let that little small petty stuff go alot of times. 4 over isn't nothing. You could have probably gotten that thrown out of you went to court.


Yeah only problem was it was in beeville which they are jerks any way and it was too far to make the court date, plus I had to work.

[florige]

Yeah only problem was it was in beeville which they are jerks any way and it was too far to make the court date, plus I had to work.


Plus A too, like you said with you getting the ticket in beeville, there are alot of Jurisdictions that are more tightly wound than Baltimore City Police. They are alot tougher (maybe even 4 over as ludacris as that is) on traffic. Don't get me wrong we do take traffic very seriously, but the concern may not be as high up on our priority list than say Montgomery County which may not have such a high murder rate as we do, but have more traffic related deaths due to reckless driving, DUI's, etc....

[ShoogarBear]

When I was in HS, the Windcrest cops pulled over somebody for doing over 20 . . . on a bike.