Obligatory title. Jk though.

Anyways I have a question, I got pulled over tonight on my favorite windy road. 51 in a 35 he says. Bummer.

My question is this, what is the deal with cops pulling you over when they are completely invisible with no lights on their cars?

Is it just common misconception that a cop has to have at least his parking lights on so his presence is known when he decides to pull you over?

I wasn't driving erratically or swerving or anything, just going too fast. I have a clean record so I'm gonna try to fight the ticket, we'll see what happens.

 

Lots of law breakers on this board lately, haha. Cops need to turn their sirens, those lights on top and headlights if they are pulling you over.

 

Well the way it happened was I drove past this area, completely pitch black on the side of the road, and then I saw lights come on, his parking lights I mean, and then I kept driving and he then followed and around the next corner he put his lights on and pulled me over.

I always thought they were supposed to have their presence known when they are patrollin da streetz, with their parking lights on at least.

 

 

I believe that you are partially correct (at least in Massachusetts). If they are parked on the side of the road they are supposed to have their parking lights on. When it comes to court it your word against theirs and you probably lose.

 

dude you're guilty...and got caught...don't worry about the little details...

sorry to be harsh and shut down your questions, but this is coming from someone with 7 tickets, 4 traffic schools, etc...and i am NOT proud of it! i used to care about stupid details about how/why i got pulled over but then i just realized its better to just drive speed limit and not get caught and not deal with any issues.

but yes, to answer your Q, i also feel police should show their presence at least somewhat especially when they hide and all...

from now on, just pick the right streets to go 5-10 to even 15 over where you know its both safe and easy to get away with...

 

My cousin was with me too! I got a witness

I don't want to know if anybody agrees with me! I just wanna know if it's true. I gotta find me a MA police officer who is friendly and ask him this "hypothetical" question lol.

 

I wouldn't recommend going in there and saying, I didn't see the cop because he didn't have his lights on.

 

Clearly, haha.

I understand that I'm at fault, but I don't think going to court will hurt. Plus it extends the payment due date.

 

Also gives you a chance of getting the ticket thrown out if the officer doesn't show up.

 

If I can't get it thrown out, I hope there's a class or something I can take to prevent it from affecting my insurance!

I'm a responsible driver, but I effed up!

 

dude....you're effed

 

Remember, when trying to fight a ticket you forfeit your chance to take traffic school, if you lose you're screwed. If you don't have any points on your record I would suggest paying the ticket and take traffic school, this way you will definitely not have a point on your record. However, if you aren't eligible for traffic school and already have points on your record I would take the chance and fight it, what do you have to lose? Good luck!


I know in CA the cops have to have their parking lights on and be visible. One time I had a buddy who was taking law enforcement classes in college and got pulled over by a sneaky cop with no visible lights. My friend said something and the cop was surprised that my friend knew that law, he ended up letting him go. I'm not sure if this varies from state to state.

 

Shit, I should have asked the cop! He said "do you have any other questions for me tonight?" After he handed me the ticket, then I said nope, and he walked away. I may have missed my chance to use that excuse. Gahh.

 

How do I find out about driving classes or something like that?

 

I wouldn't worry, he already gave you the ticket. No real chance of him taking it back

 

After you pay the ticket they will send you a list of traffic schools that you can take. I suggest taking an online course, they are stupid easy and you don't have to sit in a class for 8 hours.

 

Same thing happened to me just a few weeks ago. Three lane road, speed limit 55, was doing about 70, saw him on the shoulder with all his lights out. It was an unmarked car too - one of the new Chargers. Even though they're not marked they stand out like a sore thumb. Anyway.
Rolled by and looked behind me but didn't see him pull out. About three miles down the road - wham! Lit up like a Xmas tree. He said he saw me go by at about 68 then slow down, but then I sped back up again. Damn! He did pull out! And paced me! This was about 1:30 AM to and I had my gf with me. We had just gone down to DC to pick up her daughter and two friends, drove them back to George Mason, and we were on our way home.
Anyway he let me go. State cop too which is really surprising. They write up their own mothers.
When he pulled me over I stopped and did everything I could to make him feel at ease. These guys never know what the hell they may be walking up to, especially at night. Turn on ALL the interior lights, roll down ALL the windows, put your hands where they can clearly see them and wait. Do not look for your license before he gets there, do not rummage through the glove box or console, do not move around at all. Simply wait. He will tell you exactly what he wants you to do. Then do nothing but what he asks.
I may be pushing my luck by even saying this, but I haven't gotten even a written warning in the last six or seven times I've been pulled over.

 

Where the hell did you learn that? I always challenge my tickets, and when I lose I take traffic school.

 

I agree, being polite and cooperative can go along way and has gotten me out of quite a few tickets.

 

As long as I can remember this has always been the law, I've even been told this by judges and law enforcement officials in the past. If it's not true, than damn, me and everybody I know have been duped! Dude you just passed your bar (congrats by the way), can you elaborate on how CA traffic school laws work? I do know that after you take traffic school you can't take it again for 18-24 months. But I always was told that you take a chance in forfeiting traffic school if you fight it and lose.

 

I've done this both times I was stopped and it seems to help break the tension; I got off with warnings both times and neither violation was for speed. You have to remember that you know you're harmless but they don't know that.

To the OP...the cops have no legal requirement to turn on their parking lights if they are performing a speed trap. I know here the cop cars have reflective striping on the sides and damn does it show up at night! Its so effective at getting your attention that even Hellen Keller would say, "Hey...watch out for that cop."

 

Eh, reflective crap was not the case on this cruiser. At all.

 

Cops can pull you over when ever they feel and when it's completely safe for them and the offender.

Stop crying, pay your lawyer to fight the ticket or just pay the piper.

 

I resemble that!

 

Find out if you have what is called a Deferred Sentence in MA. I got that the last time as I had a clean record. If you have it and the Judge grants it, you pay a fine (mine was $100) and if you have no moving violations in the next 12 month, the speeding ticket goes away. BUT, if you get caught again, it is a double whammy!!!

 

Lawyer? For this kind of crap?

 

What is this business? I like the sound of that

 

deferred means it kind of goes away unless you're a douche and get caught again during your deferment.

Fuck yes! Fight all traffic tickets! I've fought mine and won. Just 300 a piece...I refuse to get pulled over again. My fast days have been over for a long time.

 

Meh, it doesn't really matter if their lights are on or off. Drive the speed limit and you don't have to worry about it. I got caught doing 70 in a 55 at night. It was a speed trap on a well known country back road. They got me and then not even a minute afterwards they pulled over a big rig just ahead of me. I took traffic school and paid the fine.

 

So how long is traffic school? And how much does it cost?

 

It's an 8 hour class, but I don't remember how much it is. It's been a few years. I'd check online for internet classes or go through the phone book and call around for quotes.

 

The only thing I was ever aware of forfeiting when you contested a ticket (usually by written declaration) was your right to a speedy trial. Traffic school always was an option, and often your fee included the traffic school cost. When I have gone in with the police officer I always was still offered the opportunity to do traffic school. It is not available if you do over 25, but you can petition the judge for a chance. Often if you have two tickets within 18 months you can ask for the "special" traffic school, which is just basically a 12 hour course instead of 8.

This only applies to Marin County. I have no idea if it is the same in other counties.

 

I don't know if you realize this but everyone who's talking about traffic school is in Kalifornia. Unless your location is listed incorrectly or you were really really far from home when this happened, their advice is useless for you.

I've had a few issues over the past 19 years with traffic incidents all in the state of Taxachusetts, I have never heard of traffic school getting anyone out of a speeding ticket here nor have I heard of a deferred sentence for a traffic incident. I was fortunate enough to receive a "continued without a finding" for my stupidity when I was 17 when I got charged with "driving to endanger" however, driving to endanger is a criminal charge in MA where as speeding is a civil offense.

As for insurance points, you will either win in court and receive no points or you will lose and get one point. A reduced fine won't stop the points.

If it makes you feel better, I racked up 5 points in about 40 seconds with that incident when I was 17.

 

First of all he gave you 16mpg over the limit...What (I think) you need to do is show up in court and beg for mercy, explain your clean record, and how good of a boy you are. This will likely get the ticket reduced....what you want is anything 10 or under above the limit. MA allows you to have up to two speeding infractions per year without affecting your insurance, so long as they are below 10mph. In other words, they don't report them to the insurance. If you get that just pay the ticket and move on....

The two ticket thing came from my father in law, a lawyer in MA a few years back....how accurate is it today? I don't know.

Good luck

 

This green movement has gone too far!

 

Thanks for the info, that is pretty much my plan, i'm a responsible hard working kid who is also going to college, that has to hold some favor for me since i'm from a city where the majority of the citizens are crack-heads, drug dealers and murderers



EDIT: I spy stogie moseying about. I've been waiting for you to chime in.

 

You know what I meant...plus, I got it right the second time..

Where are you from, if you don't mind answering.....

 

Fitchburg! I'm over generalizing a bit, but it really is an awful city.

 

It doesn't matter. By the time you see them, they already got you. They can tell when you slow down and by then, it's too late.