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dj
dj Reader
4/11/11 3:58 p.m.

I was just...curious.

What is the validity of these speeding tickets holding up in court? Do any GRM'ers have any personal experiences/stories from FL traffic court about these aircraft stopwatch tickets? The only thing I know is that the state essentially certifies the stopwatch operators and that both officers (stopwatch and trooper) would have to appear in court but that doesn't necessarily guarantee a dismissal. I'm all ears...

alfadriver
alfadriver SuperDork
4/11/11 4:45 p.m.

I can't answer your question, but I have talked to an officer who was going out on "patrol" when we were going to fly with my uncle.

This guy LOVED his job. Explained that the measurement is very accurate, since it's a fairly long distance, so +- a second or two didn't really matter for a speeder. But in good weather, you get paid to fly.

Sorry that it's the best I have...

Toyman01
Toyman01 SuperDork
4/11/11 4:52 p.m.

They have been doing it in SC for a long time. I have never talked to anyone that has gotten a ticket from them. but you see the lines on the pavement all over the county.

Salanis
Salanis SuperDork
4/11/11 4:58 p.m.

It's really well calibrated. Compared to other speed measuring techniques, it's like measuring skid-pad acceleration with a stopwatch and defined cone circle as opposed to an in-car g-meter.

Basically, the hash marks on the street are measured specific lengths and specific distances apart. The officer counts how many hash marks you pass in a given space of time. A little simple math and you get a very accurate number for average speed during that time period.

Only thing I can really imagine you being able to argue against the police officer is location, if it were a curvy stretch of road, as opposed to a strait one. In a strait line, it's really accurate.

DILYSI Dave
DILYSI Dave SuperDork
4/11/11 5:02 p.m.

Speeding tickets hold up regardless of validity because Tickets = revenue, and the judge knows who signs his check.

barrowcadbury
barrowcadbury New Reader
4/11/11 5:23 p.m.

I got nabbed by an airplane one time about 10 years ago... I exited the highway thinking everything was fine, and was promptly greeted by a State Trooper just standing in the middle of the intersection pointing at cars to pull over. So, I obliged, and was told an airplane clocked me at so and so of a speed, then presented with a ticket. Haha, It really felt like being a victim of cheating... Now I'm older and wiser to their tricks ;-)

914Driver
914Driver SuperDork
4/11/11 6:08 p.m.

When you see a white stripe perpendicular to your line of travel and it ain't a crosswalk, slow down. Another line is coming up.

Time from one line to the next = average speed; they watch from an airplane or helicopter. I've seen them sitting on a hillside with a radio talking to the chae car up the road.

Dan

Streetwiseguy
Streetwiseguy Dork
4/11/11 6:53 p.m.

Only way to beat a VASCAR ticket is to not make it to the other hash marks.

Years ago, Jean Lindamood, when she was still writing for C&D, told of driving a 911 across Texas, or some other large flat underpopulated area, when she noticed a plane above her. She stopped, "Took off my cowgirl boots, repacked my luggage, and as my average speed gradually approached 55mph, the plane left."

friedgreencorrado
friedgreencorrado SuperDork
4/11/11 7:21 p.m.

Wow, I didn't know there were places still doing that. Back in the day, I'd have the passenger scout the skies when the lines showed up (and back off if they saw something), but never got a ticket from it. These days, it seems every time I see the lines, they haven't been repainted in years. I guess with all the cutbacks, Southern cops can't afford airplanes anymore..

EDIT: "still doing that"

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
4/11/11 7:40 p.m.

Validity:
I will say that a number of years back I was driving one of the fastest cars ever made (you know, a rental car.) As I crested the hill (slight rise) in the road there was an Ohio State Trooper, waving me over. He felt an undying need to speak to me by the side of the road.
In short, I managed to get the 98mph ticket reduced to a more simple 2 point violation but even that required the help of a lawyer.

For those interested; an ugly green Saturn Ion sedan with the bigger 2.4L engine

stuart in mn
stuart in mn SuperDork
4/11/11 8:06 p.m.

Google "205 Tilley" to find an example of airplane timing gone awry.

novaderrik
novaderrik HalfDork
4/11/11 9:51 p.m.

isnt this how they nailed that one guy going something like 250mph on a motorcycle a few eyars back? turns out that the bike in question wasn't anywhere near capable of those kinds of speeds, but the cop swore up and down that his calculations had to be right on..

HappyAndy
HappyAndy HalfDork
4/11/11 10:07 p.m.

Every time I see those lines I want to come back in the middle of the night and paint a bunch more lines parallel to the real lines to "foul" the timing

Mental
Mental SuperDork
4/12/11 8:26 a.m.

In Bellevue Nebraska on NE 75, they have the back side of two light poles painted special and the distance marked. Didn;t need planes, they could do it with a squad car on the hill. They were very good about nabbing folks when revenue was down.

foxtrapper
foxtrapper SuperDork
4/13/11 5:01 a.m.

It's frequently called VASCAR, and it holds up just fine.

stuart in mn
stuart in mn SuperDork
4/13/11 7:50 a.m.
novaderrik wrote: isnt this how they nailed that one guy going something like 250mph on a motorcycle a few eyars back? turns out that the bike in question wasn't anywhere near capable of those kinds of speeds, but the cop swore up and down that his calculations had to be right on..

Yes, that's 205 Tilley.

stuart in mn wrote: Google "205 Tilley" to find an example of airplane timing gone awry.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker
Giant Purple Snorklewacker SuperDork
4/13/11 8:38 a.m.
914Driver wrote: When you see a white stripe perpendicular to your line of travel and it ain't a crosswalk, slow down. Come to a stop. Take a spray can of gray paint out of your trunk and paint the line. Now, grab the white can. Walk 300' back in the direction you came and paint a line.

Fixed for constructive content.

mad_machine
mad_machine SuperDork
4/13/11 10:23 a.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:
914Driver wrote: When you see a white stripe perpendicular to your line of travel and it ain't a crosswalk, slow down. Come to a stop. Take a spray can of gray paint out of your trunk and paint the line. Now, grab the white can. Walk 300' back in the direction you came and paint a line.
Fixed for constructive content.

Now THAT's funny!

pinchvalve
pinchvalve SuperDork
4/13/11 11:06 a.m.

If you are hoping the cop will be too busy to show up for your court date, know that they schedule all of their traffic stops for the same day and court days are a part of their regular weekly duty. Unless they get injured or something the night before, they will be there. If you did the crime, pay the fine.

spitfirebill
spitfirebill SuperDork
4/13/11 1:16 p.m.
pinchvalve wrote: If you are hoping the cop will be too busy to show up for your court date, know that they schedule all of their traffic stops for the same day and court days are a part of their regular weekly duty. Unless they get injured or something the night before, they will be there. If you did the crime, pay the fine.

And a lot of times the judge will just reschedule it.

Beer Baron
Beer Baron PowerDork
7/16/12 4:39 a.m.

Wow. These canoes are getting better. That actually made sense in context up until the very last line. And there's a profile picture, and the name isn't weird.

JoeyM
JoeyM SuperDork
7/16/12 7:17 a.m.
Beer Baron wrote: Wow. These canoes are getting better. That actually made sense in context up until the very last line. And there's a profile picture, and the name isn't weird.

Thanks for the heads up. Deleted.

You're right about that particular canoe (helenawright101@hotmail.com.) I've deleted accounts from them before, and they definitely seem more literate in English than most. Regardless, they're still an annoyance....Feel free to sign that email address up to 10,000 catalogs.

rotard
rotard Dork
7/16/12 9:09 a.m.

RC51's are capable of 212mph, per plane cops.

N Sperlo
N Sperlo PowerDork
7/16/12 9:11 a.m.

Very well calculated regardless of curves. Usually there are set points to start and stop timing. If you are speeding and think you are being clocked, pull over and stop for a few seconds.

alfadriver
alfadriver PowerDork
7/16/12 9:12 a.m.
Beer Baron wrote: Wow. These canoes are getting better. That actually made sense in context up until the very last line. And there's a profile picture, and the name isn't weird.

Oddly enough, a thread from 2006 was brought up just today on another group I read. can't tell if it's spam or not- it appears to be a legit post.

But it was a thread about post count.

spammers are an odd lot.

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