Speeding ticket issue, Can anyone help?

[sledge]

Google Juno Beach, FL and you will find a bunch of info on their traffic safety van/red light cameras. Short story: Small town with 5 miles of US-1 gets a free van from a private company out of Ga. Van shoots laser/radar out of the side and snaps shots of speeding vehicles (9+ mph over limit). PRIVATE COMPANY mails you a $125 ticket. Town keeps 47%. No points but they threaten to send to collections if unpaid. 2nd violation $250.
If you protest, you have to pay $50 up front to contest the fine.

Town got sued by local lawyer on grounds if violates constitutional rights (to face your accuser in court). Juno Beach wanted Ga. company to "escrow" all fees collected in case they lost the court case (this could bankrupt town since they have collected 750K in ticket fees). Ga. company said no way and town yanked the van off the road last week......

Van was painted all white, no lettering. IF it was geared for safety why wouldn't they paint it a bright color and letter it like a school bus or fire truck?
People were boycotting local businesses to try to punish the town....Sad thing was locals never got caught since the van was very visible and mostly out of towners got bagged.

I never realized this, but cities were advised to issue these red light tickets as "code violations" because there is no state traffic law to back them up. Within the last couple weeks a guy in Aventura got his tossed. I think it was ticket cricket that made it happen...

 

[htrdlncn]

No more dangerous than running that big motor in your chapperal. Florida was great before Charlie Crist(the gay gov) ruined it with the b.s. speeding laws and fines in search of revenue. Can't ride my gsxr without constantly searching for the cops.

Nowhere in my post did I pass judgement saying it was dangerous,
just that its against the law and that in this case seeing as it was more than 30mph over the limit the officer could have easily made it much worse ..
If the speed limit is 70mph anything over is breaking the law regardless how safe you feel.
Dont see why that is such a hard concept for some guys to grasp. As I said, i have gotten caught myself and and have dealt with it, if your gonna break the law you have to accept the penalty if you get caught.
Many many moons ago I recieved one for 135 in a 35 racing down US1 ,
I got caught,I dealt with it, simple as that. Didnt blame anyone except my stupid ass and didnt try to weasel out of it.
Doesnt matter if your driving a 1million dollar Bugatti that can safely do 200mph. If you are going a measly 75mph you are still breaking the law. Get caught and be a man and deal with it.

 

[Expensive Date]

Could have been worse....... just saying.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsllEk4wcjw

 

[Buoy]

Nowhere in my post did I pass judgement saying it was dangerous,
just that its against the law and that in this case seeing as it was more than 30mph over the limit the officer could have easily made it much worse ..
If the speed limit is 70mph anything over is breaking the law regardless how safe you feel.
Dont see why that is such a hard concept for some guys to grasp. As I said, i have gotten caught myself and and have dealt with it, if your gonna break the law you have to accept the penalty if you get caught.
Many many moons ago I recieved one for 135 in a 35 racing down US1 ,
I got caught,I dealt with it, simple as that. Didnt blame anyone except my stupid ass and didnt try to weasel out of it.
Doesnt matter if your driving a 1million dollar Bugatti that can safely do 200mph. If you are going a measly 75mph you are still breaking the law. Get caught and be a man and deal with it.

I happen to agree with you.

To change the subject, but driving related, .08 is the law. Over it, you're guilty, and some people will nail you to the cross. Myself, I have quite a tolerance, as I know many others around here do. But, .08 is the law and the line. I don't risk crossing it anymore. I learned my lesson.

 

[gerritm]

Get used to it guys. Tax revenue is down, this is a way to bring in revenue. It is only going to get worse. Living here south of Houston in a small community, we call it running the gauntlet. There are 5 small communities with traffic cops lining the highway and back-roads. All they have to do is write tickets. The locals know about it, but their favorite targets are the truckers coming to the port. Constant harassment. They always have someone pulled over. They are getting so bad that the cops are following people into their subdivisions and checking if they make full stops @ stop signs. It is short of ridiculous, but it is the main source of revenue. I do have a Valentine One in all of our vehicles. Limit for drinks at dinner is 1 drink. They are blunt about it when they pull you over, they have a quota and need to fill it. There are very few warnings. I have never had a ticket in 40 years of driving (not saying I didn't deserve one) and I got a speeder and a failure to come to a complete stop @ a stop sign in my subdivision within 2 weeks of moving. Needless to say I have changed my driving habits. Same thing with my wife and son.

 

[fund razor]

Get used to it guys. Tax revenue is down, this is a way to bring in revenue. It is only going to get worse. Living here south of Houston in a small community, we call it running the gauntlet. There are 5 small communities with traffic cops lining the highway and back-roads. All they have to do is write tickets. The locals know about it, but their favorite targets are the truckers coming to the port. Constant harassment. They always have someone pulled over. They are getting so bad that the cops are following people into their subdivisions and checking if they make full stops @ stop signs. It is short of ridiculous, but it is the main source of revenue. I do have a Valentine One in all of our vehicles. Limit for drinks at dinner is 1 drink. They are blunt about it when they pull you over, they have a quota and need to fill it. There are very few warnings. I have never had a ticket in 40 years of driving (not saying I didn't deserve one) and I got a speeder and a failure to come to a complete stop @ a stop sign in my subdivision within 2 weeks of moving. Needless to say I have changed my driving habits. Same thing with my wife and son.

Sounds like their evil plan worked.

Our cops "harass" shoplifters, muggers, rapists and burglars too. But I am one step ahead of those bastards. I don't shoplift, mug, rape, or burgle anybody. So far it's working. I haven't been harassed at all.

 

[GENERAL LEE]

Our cops "harass" shoplifters, muggers, rapists and burglars too.

But I am one step ahead of those bastards. I don't shoplift, mug, rape, or burgle anybody.

So far it's working. I haven't been harassed at all.

 

[high-tide]

So basically If I am reading this thread correctly, the question is if I break the law and am dumb enough to get caught doing it. Then get charged with a lessor crime to boot out of compassion how do I get off the charge because it is going to raise my insurance rates. Have I missed something of substance here? WOW.
HT

 

[tommymonza]

Naples got the cameras a year ago. Alot of ticketing for not stopping at the whiteline which is bs.I avoid going into Naples because of the cameras and so many cops aching to pull you over.

 

[fund razor]

Naples got the cameras a year ago. Alot of ticketing for not stopping at the whiteline which is bs.I avoid going into Naples because of the cameras and so many cops aching to pull you over.

While I am not sympathetic toward people who speed, run stops signs, etc and get caught, I hate the cameras. I think that the ticket should be written by a cop.

The only accident that I have ever had was when a guy in front of me slammed on his brakes for a green light because he was afraid of the camera, and thought that the light was about to change. (In essence, he locked them up at a green light) I was pulling a boat in a light rain and although I was able to stop... his hitch helped. And my front end was toast.

I am 100% opposed to the cameras.

 

[Chris]

I am 100% opposed to the cameras.

When they first hit, I didn't like the "big brother" feel of them at all. And I questioned the Constitutional issue- the Confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment, which most states circumvented by moving the offense from being a criminal misdemeanor to a violation of a civil rule.

But at the same time, I spend alot of time on the roadways. And I live one block in either direction from a school. I basically live in a school zone. So I get to see a pretty fair sized chunk of driving behavior.

So on this topic, I'm torn. I know about the impracticality of having an officer sitting in every school zone and at every busy intersection in the country, all day long. But at the same time, I believe a school speed zone should have every possible measure to ensure safe driving is occuring at all times. And we all realize that many, many severe and often fatal accidents occur in intersections and that many times it's people running red lights. Innocent people obeying the laws are injured and killed every day by motorists who are either negligently or purposefully violating traffic laws in these high-risk areas.

In the end, these cameras should be and most likely are a deterrent. I would think their ability to generate revenue would taper off quickly. I've been driving 35 years now. I've caught on to where the best places for the locals and the Highway Patrol to set up are all located. And I remember them as I drive. I'd think the intersections and school zones would quickly get this reputation. And when that happens, we'd have compliance by deterrence. And in that situation, doesn't everyone win?

 

[Birdog]

Sounds like their evil plan worked.

Our cops "harass" shoplifters, muggers, rapists and burglars too. But I am one step ahead of those bastards. I don't shoplift, mug, rape, or burgle anybody. So far it's working. I haven't been harassed at all.

I dont see many cops hiding behind the aisles at my local store. Maybe just me though.......

 

[Smarty]

So basically If I am reading this thread correctly, the question is if I break the law and am dumb enough to get caught doing it. Then get charged with a lessor crime to boot out of compassion how do I get off the charge because it is going to raise my insurance rates. Have I missed something of substance here? WOW.
HT

Nope, your summarization is on point. When a driver is ticketed for speeding he or she should expect to pay between $200 to $400 per point, per year for three years due to an an auto insurance ($$$) increase on the policy, so it is a significant monetary issue for those charged (the $200-$400 statistic is from the auto insurance industry in NJ, not my opinion).

 

[fund razor]

I dont see many cops hiding behind the aisles at my local store. Maybe just me though.......

No. They have "loss prevention" people who do that. They are hiding behind the aisles, mirrors, and cameras. They only call the cops after you have been detained.

 

[fund razor]

Nope, your summarization is on point. When a driver is ticketed for speeding he or she should expect to pay between $200 to $400 per point, per year for three years due to an an auto insurance ($$$) increase on the policy, so it is a significant monetary issue for those charged (the $200-$400 statistic is from the auto insurance industry in NJ, not my opinion).

Your summarization of what you thought was his point is on point.

 

[X-Rated30]

Your summarization of what you thought was his point is on point.

This thread is pointless...


Except for me to brag about the fact that even though I get a few tickets, my driving record is clean. Last one was coming home from the airport the Monday after I went to the Superbowl. The ticket hasn't even made it to the appropriate DA's office, yet I have it in writing that it will be dismissed. I LOVE my job.:driving:

 

[mosi]

When they first hit, I didn't like the "big brother" feel of them at all. And I questioned the Constitutional issue- the Confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment, which most states circumvented by moving the offense from being a criminal misdemeanor to a violation of a civil rule.

I thought Sister Ferdinand taught me the 6th Amendment was "Thou shalt not kill"

that came right after "Honor thy Father and Mother."

I guess you can't trust those Catholic Nuns!!!


.

 

[DollaBill]

Nope, your summarization is on point. When a driver is ticketed for speeding he or she should expect to pay between $200 to $400 per point, per year for three years due to an an auto insurance ($$$) increase on the policy, so it is a significant monetary issue for those charged (the $200-$400 statistic is from the auto insurance industry in NJ, not my opinion).

I just used to laugh when my ex wife would get all pissy when the insurance bill went up. She'd yell at me to slow down. Don't know how much insurance is but i guess it goes up considerably

 

[Smarty]

Your summarization of what you thought was his point is on point.

Thank you sir...

 

[Perlmudder]

When they first hit, I didn't like the "big brother" feel of them at all. And I questioned the Constitutional issue- the Confrontation clause of the Sixth Amendment, which most states circumvented by moving the offense from being a criminal misdemeanor to a violation of a civil rule.

But at the same time, I spend alot of time on the roadways. And I live one block in either direction from a school. I basically live in a school zone. So I get to see a pretty fair sized chunk of driving behavior.

So on this topic, I'm torn. I know about the impracticality of having an officer sitting in every school zone and at every busy intersection in the country, all day long. But at the same time, I believe a school speed zone should have every possible measure to ensure safe driving is occuring at all times. And we all realize that many, many severe and often fatal accidents occur in intersections and that many times it's people running red lights. Innocent people obeying the laws are injured and killed every day by motorists who are either negligently or purposefully violating traffic laws in these high-risk areas.

In the end, these cameras should be and most likely are a deterrent. I would think their ability to generate revenue would taper off quickly. I've been driving 35 years now. I've caught on to where the best places for the locals and the Highway Patrol to set up are all located. And I remember them as I drive. I'd think the intersections and school zones would quickly get this reputation. And when that happens, we'd have compliance by deterrence. And in that situation, doesn't everyone win?

In Toronto most intersections have the large metal box that they hold the camera in. Funny thing is, the city doesn't have cameras in all of them, so they rotate them up every couple weeks.