I don't know about NKY but around here cops don't write tickets for court cost or the fine, they write them to get traffic school full. The money from traffic school goes to the city and almost everyone eligible goes because it saves them time and money.

Honest question, what is the purpose of marking a ticket down?

Once a ticket reaches a certian speed over (I think 26), it becomes a mandatory court date. Anything dropped below 26 can be marked as a prepayable ticket, which also makes that person eligible for traffic school. If you live in Pikeville, you might not mind the Paducah officer marking the ticket down to save you the drive back to court.

Officers drop it down for various reason and being a "nice" guy or gal is one of them. I think it makes it harder for the violator to challenge in court if they were actually going 20 over but only cited for 5 over. Also, I think individual cities get a very small amount of money back from the state on each ticket but not near enough to justify writing a bunch.

 

The narrative should include the actual speed of the violator and the method used to record the speed because that is evidence.

 

I will add the cost of a ticket is a joke these days. If you want to stop bad driving the state needs to put points on each license and then suspend at 12 points. However, that rarely happens and in my opinion (again my opinion) the high costs are nothing but money makers. In other words, I think the state has it wrong, it has become about the money more than safe driving.

 

I'm not completely 100% on this but I believe the state use to give each cities some funding to assist with officer's court pay. Now, I believe a few years ago when the state began having budget issues the state took that funding away.

Once a ticket reaches a certian speed over (I think 26), it becomes a mandatory court date. Anything dropped below 26 can be marked as a prepayable ticket, which also makes that person eligible for traffic school. If you live in Pikeville, you might not mind the Paducah officer marking the ticket down to save you the drive back to court.

 

Like I said, I fully understand the benefits of having your speed marked down. Fewer points on your license, a smaller fine, and your point, not having the mandatory court date.

 

My question was why, as an officer, would you mark a ticket down?

1. How would the courts/Police departments determine a margin of error?

 

2.. How does the police department calibrate their radar guns? The last ticket I got, the officer noted on the ticket, that the equipment was "calibrated" that morning. Is that an attempt to keep people from challenging the ticket?

A friend of mine has a problem with a trooper....

 

Has been wrote 4 tickets this year, And all four have been 72 in a 55, Before you say the cop may have cut him a break, He once dated the KSP current Girlfriend....And the ex wife.

 

Just sayin..

 

I don't think you can gripe when you're going 72 in a 55. That's a speeding ticket more times than not, and rightfully so.

I recently got a ticket coming back from a WKU game a few weeks back. We were traveling through Todd County and the oncoming car had its high beams on, so I politely flashed mine to remind the driver that his/her high beams were on. The driver dimmed the lights, then put them back on high....to which my response was to put mine back on high....it was a cop. He made a U-Turn and came after me.

 

I pulled over and got a ticket. I wasn't about to argue with him out there in the middle of Todd County....but, I do believe that he could have let me go with a warning......HOWEVER, we were in my wife's Honda Pilot, and she has a license plate frame that says, "Proud Parent of a Falcon State Champion" on it. It's got the FC Logo and helmets on it as well........the day that I got the ticket was 10 October 2009, the day after FC put 78 unanswered points on the board against Todd County Central.

 

Later.

1. How would the courts/Police departments determine a margin of error?

 

2.. How does the police department calibrate their radar guns? The last ticket I got, the officer noted on the ticket, that the equipment was "calibrated" that morning. Is that an attempt to keep people from challenging the ticket?

 

Can anyone answer these questions?

1. How would the courts/Police departments determine a margin of error?

 

2.. How does the police department calibrate their radar guns? The last ticket I got, the officer noted on the ticket, that the equipment was "calibrated" that morning. Is that an attempt to keep people from challenging the ticket?

 

Can anyone answer these questions?

After consulting with an officer of the law, let me try.

 

I know Hopkinsville has days of zero tolerance where they advertise that they will be looking for speeders on day X between the times of X and X. Their limit is 3-5 over the posted speed. They write tickets at three over. And to my knowledge, those tickets hold up in court.

 

As far as calibration goes, every radar comes with a tuning fork or two. The forks have a certian pitch on them that equates 33 mph. You strike the fork against another metal object to obtain the pitch, and then stick it in front of the radar. The speed shown on the display should equal the pitch on the fork. Most courts have recognized that this calibration is enough to determine that the radar is operating properly.

 

Let's be honest here. Speeding is the most commonly broken law in the world. Everyone does it. Every day. How do you stop it? Especially when speeding results in traffic crashes and sometimes death.

 

As far as a margin of error, what if shoplifters were given a margin of error in court. Anything under $5 gets thrown out. What does that teach?

 

If you have a problem with speeding, how about using the cruise control function. You ought to try it one day. Use it everywhere you can. My guess is it won't last long because you are too conditioned to speeding.

 

I have no problem with zero tolerance speeding tickets. I've seen too many firsthand results of speed-related wrecks.

As far as a margin of error, what if shoplifters were given a margin of error in court. Anything under $5 gets thrown out. What does that teach?

.

 

With all due respect, this doesn't make much sense. Many speeders going 3 or 4 miles over the limit may be doing so without consciously knowing it, ie; gaining speed down a hill in town (gravity), speedometer error, etc. Sure cruise control on the highway makes sense, but not so much in town. Personally, I haven't had a speeding ticket in 25 years. Reason? I consciously control my speed. However, I'm sure I've exceeded limits by a few mph's on occasion due to previously stated reasons. If a Danville cop stopped me for going 4 or 5 mph over the limit, I'd immediately begin a campaign to reduce public safety staff levels (and yes I'm serious). Most shoplifters I've heard about don't unknowingly shoplift. Your comparison simply falls flat (with all due respect).

^ OK. Overdraft on your checking account. You unknowingly write a check that puts you in the hole by two dollars. The bank doesn't have a margin of error here. Bounce a check by two dollars or two hundred dollars. The punishment is the same.

 

As far as a margin of error, what if shoplifters were given a margin of error in court. Anything under $5 gets thrown out. What does that teach?

 

If you have a problem with speeding, how about using the cruise control function. You ought to try it one day. Use it everywhere you can. My guess is it won't last long because you are too conditioned to speeding.

 

I have no problem with zero tolerance speeding tickets. I've seen too many firsthand results of speed-related wrecks.

 

I don't have a problem with refusing to acknowledge the margin of error. I just think there are times when it is acceptable to go 5 over the speed limit. Such as when it's necessary to pass a semi who you think is dangerous or late at night when there is nobody else on the road.

 

I use the cruise control function daily and as often as possible. The problem is, I typically set my cruise control for 74 in a 65.

Just heard a story from a relative who recently got a speeding ticket for going 5 over. They were going 40 in a 35.

 

The speeding ticket is only $5; however, court costs are $143.

 

I couldn't help but laugh.

 

They should be happy that they weren't pulled over in VA. (*The fines in this story apply to VA residents...)

 

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/18/1818.asp

I don't think you can gripe when you're going 72 in a 55. That's a speeding ticket more times than not, and rightfully so.

 

By the same cop, Same speeds...Four different times?

 

No, that's the cop having it in for him, Because he dated the cops girlfriend, 2 months before they got together...

By the same cop, Same speeds...Four different times?

 

No, that's the cop having it in for him, Because he dated the cops girlfriend, 2 months before they got together...

 

No, that's consistently breaking the law and refusing to learn from your mistakes.

 

72 in a 55 is too fast. It's appropriate on the expressway, but you'll get pulled over more times than not. I think you're giving the cop too much credit on this one.