I was pulled over at 2am in the morning on I-285 (around chamblee tucker rd. for GA guys). Police said he clocked me with laser for going 86mph in a 55 zone. it was a clear night, no rain or anything. There were 2 cars in front of me going at the same speed, but I was the one that got pulled over. Maybe its b/c my headlights are the brightest (HID). Any suggestions here? thanks

 

tapwr3000:
Dude that totally sucks. I was pulled over there too doing 79, but he let me off (after Hot Import Nights). Come on man, I used to live in ATL and go there all the time...you know there are tons of cops on 285 up by CTR . Okay so enough of that messing with you...

So I guess...what I should ask. You have any other tickets on your record? That 31 over is a big offense...hmm...if you don't have any on your record I'd try to bargain it down to something else...if you do...lawyer.

Austin519

 

I think the HID's are exactly the reason. Since you were moving at 86 mph I assume the cop had to chase you for a little bit. Since it was night I'm sure he had to pick you out from other cars. The one thing he can remember/identify with is the Xenon white in a see of halogen yellow. I say this because a similar thing recently happned to me and the above is an exact quote from the cop. Only I'm very pleased to tell you he did not give me a ticket. Until Xenon's become more common the CL is easily identifiable at night. Good Luck!

 

I actually do have another speeding ticket, that happened about 4 yrs ago. I pleaded no contest for that one, and I ended up doing community services and taking driving school so they wouldn't take any points off. This was in a diff county though.

 

i got nailed 2 weeks ago doin 87 in a 55, and here's my take:

an attorney is the way to go...plead NOT guilty...hire the attorney and see if he/she can plea bargain...the attorney i'm talking to says she handles cases like this all the time and is in traffic court 3 days a week...she typically gets pleas down to 2 points, $160 fine...yer speed's an 8 point offense if it stands...take a 4-hour defensive driving course...it should take up to 4 points off yer license...the rest will take approx 18 months to come off.

this is how it is here on Long Island...every state varies of course

 

I thought someone just posted that Laser can't be used at night, who wants to clarify ?

 

I say laser can't be used in the dark, inclement weather, or at night. Not to say it can be used but it is less effective. So less effective that it is rather useless. I've never used one at night but this is my understanding.

First thing you need to check is see if laser or the appropriate statue is noted on your citation.

Second, decide if you want to fight this.

Third, if you'd rather not spend the money on a lawyer and prefer to do the research yourself, I'd look into this one about laser being used a night.

Let us know what you find. It's hard to believe that an officer can sight in a laser gun on approaching headlights only. I'm pretty sure there's something out there that goes against this; what about the car's headlights (overpowering the laser beam)? How can he properly ID your vehicle (thru the scope/lens)? What about the other vehicles around you? 285 is a multi-lane road, I'm sure he wasn't in the center lane, across how many lanes of traffic are we talking? Was this the State, or Atlanta PO, Fulton Cty? Since when do they even use laser?

 

I think Kensteele is right about the laser not being useful at night.

I remember reading a Car & Driver article about radar/laser jammers effectiveness, and the BEST defense against laser wasn't all these fancy jammer mounted to your license plate holder... it was running with your HIGH BEAMS on.

If I remember correctly, high beams reduced the distance the gun could get a reading by something like 90%.

Not that you had your high beams on... but hope that helps a little.

 

Lidar can and is used at night. The equipment does work accurately but, although as mentioned here previously, at a slightly reduced distance due to the inherent interference of an outside concentrated light source that contains an infrared component. Inclement weather is the same. The rain will reflect, refract and absorb some of the signal but the device will still function. Older lidar units had a real problem with rain, but newer ones have a "weather" mode that counters this interference.

And BTW, for those of you that have changed light bulbs in search of a "bluer" looking HID, remember that as you approach the blue end of the light spectrum, you are getting further away from the red spectrum. Infrared is just outside the visible portion of the red spectrum. That interference that C&D discovered with the highbeams is almost null with standard HIDs because of this. As you get bluer, you have less of a chance of interfering with a lidar device. Score one for halogens.

 

Damn, sorry to hear that. But you should know better in the stretch betweem 400 and 85. The Chamblee police love to watch 285.

However, if you really want it dropped, get a laywer.

Otherwise go to court and admit guilt but explain you were merely following the pack and hope for a reduced sentence.

I have been hit doing 74 in a 35 on Ebenezer Road in North Cobb many years ago. About four years ago I got nailed doing 86 in a 45 on Chastain Road in North Cobb. In both case I explained that the roads were clear with no other cars around and was tesing issues with the car. The second one the cop was there and confirmed that I had a laptop hooked up to the car.

Being humble and admitting fault with an explaination seemed to work for me.

 

Ummm...

Laser can MOST CERTAINLY be used at night.


1st, it's an ultraviolet laser. It's not within the visable light spectrum.

And your bright lights will help, but not much... as they don't emmit much of anything in ultraviolet spectrum which would effect the laser gun.

Since the polce actually aim for things that reflect...

License Plate
Windshield
Lights

It's harder to use a laser gun at night. But it is certainly usable...

 

Interesting reading:
http://copradar.com/preview/chapt1/ch1d1.html
http://www.motorists.com/mi/laser.html

I think we all know that you if pull the trigger on a laser gun at midnite, whatever it strikes it will bounce back and give a speed reading. The point is do cops use laser at night? Does the operator's manual advise against using it at night? Can the operator really see thru the aperature and see your vehicle in the crosshairs? Are there enough shiny/reflective surfaces for the operator to get a reliable reading at night? Your white car is black at night. Your chrome surfaces are non-chrome at night. Your flat license plate is unseen at night. For the life of me, I can't see how a cop can use a laser gun at night. Headlights abound, how do you know who you are aiming at, which headlights are whom? I would fight this ticket because it's not like radar where radar is completely 100% unaffected by lack of visible light and radar beams bounce off the car ahead and out front and moving fastest and cops get a visual indication to ascertain the radar output. How do you do this (and this is what the book says you must do) with a laser at night? "Operators should bear in mind that the device confirms and corroborates prior personal observations." I don't think you can and that challenge alone in court might get you an unexpected win. I've seen the cops using laser at sundown, but who here has seen a cop using laser at midnight?

Here's an example of NJ restriction on using lidar in weather other than clear (regardless of whether the unit can function during rain, sleet, snow, or fog--which we know it can):
http://copradar.com/preview/chapt7/ch7d2.html#laseuse

 

I got pulled over doing 70 in a 40 zone. The cop got me on radar. I went to court and talked to the judge and told him I was a full time student and could not afford to pay a high bail amount for the ticket. So the judge lowered it down to 50 in a 40 and the ticket came out to a little over $100. I payed an extra $25 for traffic school and got it off my record. I'm not sure if this will help you or not, depends how old you are I guess?!

 

Some departments may have internal policies that restrict the use of the device at night or in inclement weather, but there is no advice against it as far as training goes. But chrome surfaces are chrome surfaces and license plates are still license plates at night. Just because visible light is not bouncing off them doesn't mean that infrared won't. But you do bring up a valid point--in any speed measurement conducted with a mechanical aid (radar/lidar), the officer must first visually estimate that the vehicle is violating the speed limit and then confirm the visual estimation with the device. This is true in all 50 states. Can this be done accurately at night? Absolutely. Is it much harder to do at night? Absolutely.

This is a common misconception about radar. A radar unit will display the speed of the vehicle giving the *strongest* signal return. It does not automatically guarantee that the vehicle is the one out front, the one moving the fastest (with some exceptions on certain equipment), or the largest. Reflectivity is the key element.

Bottom line: neither lidar nor radar is adversely affected in its accuracy at night. The only thing affected is the officer's visual ability to confirm that the speed reading indicated came from the vehicle observed. That is the issue you want to debate in court, not the equipment.

 

Matt, you are correct and you bring up some good points.

Yes you don't want to challenge the equipment and the accuracy of the equipment. My point was, at night, how can the officer see your license plate? Or even find a spot to aim? I didn't word it well, but Matt is right don't go challenging the equipment, you'll lose. Challenge the proper operation and use of it. That's what I read in some of those links.

As for radar, the new radars are more versatile. Same doppler principle, but using multiple antennae and different bands:

http://www.stalkerradar.com/same_lane_fastest.html