Rep Power: 0

I recently got a speeding ticket (53 in a 35) by a local cop. He got me right were the speed drops from 45 to 35. I don't know how he clocked me. Local cops can't use radar and there were no lines on the road. I know cops can use monuments to clock your speed, but it was night. The only thing across from her were to speed limit signs, one of which is cover by brush. How far do the monuments need to be apart? Any info would be appreciated?

 
Rep Power: 373

tell the judge that speed limit signs were covered up with brush. also take pictures of the sign to prove it to the court and it should be dismissed.

Injen

 
Rep Power: 0

The signs that were covered in brush were for traffic traveling in the other direction. The cop probable used them as monuments to calculate me speed, not sure though. I was hoping someone knew how far the monuments had to be apart in order to get an effective speed calculation.

 
Rep Power: 348

Why dont they have radar?

 
Rep Power: 0

In PA, local cops can use radar. State law or something. Only State police and Federal Officals (Park Rangers, etc.) can use it.

 
Rep Power: 373

if this is your first offense then i would ask for traffic school

Injen

 
Rep Power: 295

i find it hard to believe local police agencies dont use radar. just seems weird they would not be interested in traffic enforcement.....

 
Rep Power: 373

some agencies cant afford them so they use a technique we call "pacing" which sounds like what this officer was doing, which is even better then radar IMO.

Injen

 
Rep Power: 295

oh i know about pacing, but its just odd they dont have radar, i guess some towns really dont have the money. guess whoever lives there is lucking out.

 
Rep Power: 0

I think there's a law that doesn't allow them to use radar. Is pacing were they follow you? This cop followed me for less than a mile. I think he was using a VASCAR system.

 
Rep Power: 315

pa local cops cant use radar, only the state troopers can use radar, its a state law. its quite hard to prove ur speeding in pa locally unless u are really speeding obviously or like they are tailing you

 
Rep Power: 0

If you know how long it the officer was timing you, then you could figure out how far apart the monuments need to be. So far you know you were doing 53mph (which is the same as 77.73 feet per second), or so the officer said. Just take that number and multiply it by how long the officer timed you. That's how far apart the signs have to be. Or, an easier thing for you to do, measure the distance between the signs, let's just assume 155.46 feet. Then ask the officer how long you were timed. 155.46 feet / 77.73 ft per second = 2 sec. So, you would've had to have been timed for no longer than 2 sec. If you were timed for more than 2 seconds, then the officer's claimed speed is wrong.

So like I said, measure the distance between the two signs. Then take that number and divide it by your claimed speed, 77.73 feet per second. Then you'll get an answer corresponding to the time that you were clocked for. If his response is equal to or less than that time, then it would match the speed. But if the time is over the answer, then the speed is inaccurate.

Just remember distance = rate x time, or time = distance / rate

 
Rep Power: 330

to measure speed.. is it not distance/ time = rate

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah it is. That's the same formula with two of the variables moved around. Yours will give you the speed if you know the distance and the time. Mine simply solves for time, since he knows the speed and can measure the distance.

 
Rep Power: 0

psykh00 is right. I teach 9th grade physical science. I know all about calculation speed using the distance/time formula. You can also manipulate the formula like psyh00 did to solve for distance or time. You get an A+ psykh00!

 
Rep Power: 330

now that we all learned a little math lets go speeding Just kidding