Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Kenneth Brown · Dec 29, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

DD hit the nail on the head. Here in Texas you need to have all of this to prove your equipment is working properly. I don't think any of my units have any of the paperwork. If it is a DPS forget it. They change units about monthly and have GREAT paperwork. The reason for the question is called the 7 step violater contact. 1- Approach and announce name and dept 2- Reason for stop 3- Exclusionary reasons (is there a problem?) 4- Liscence check 5- Citation or warning 6- Return of information (DL and insur papers) 7- Release

deputydawg · Dec 29, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

They train that here in NE too, the 7 step contact. I push this on every officer I train over and over just so #1 they act professional and definate and #2 so they treat everyone the same. The only difference is sometimes we ask if the motorist knows why they were stopped. A little hint here, if a cop asks you that, they may not be certain it was you that committed the offense and are fishing for a confession. I do love the excuses though. I tell each new officer I train to keep a journal of things they see and do. Include excuses, stupid acts, even the every day stuff because in 30 years when I retire God willing, who knows what this job will consist of. When I do retire I am going to write a book.

SpinnerBait_Nut · Dec 29, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Just a sidenote on RD's. Don't get caught in Va. with one.

Sea Six · Dec 29, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Originally posted by kenimpzoom: [QB] Why does the cop always ask "Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit". Is it a law that they ask, or is it just part of the routine?

Whether you answer yes or no, you admit you were speeding.

Sea Six · Dec 29, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Good luck!

a_bullfrog_a · Dec 30, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

I know where all the nys troopers hide on my 40 mile daily ride to work. So what I do when I get cut off by some other $#@! is I keep up them till I'm about to get near a hiding spot. Then I back off and let them think they won. I know they won when I see all the pretty lights. lol, try it its a rush.

a_bullfrog_a · Dec 30, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

also whenever I get pulled over by nys troopers they never ask or say anything other then "licence-reg!?" they walk back to their car and come back with a ticket and tell you what it was for and what town court to contact, then leave.

TPD211 · Dec 30, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

We use Laser Radar in my area. In Flotida a portion of the citation fine goes to the issuing departments training fund. about 12.50 of each citation goes to this fund. Now try and get the time off or approval to go train other than manadatory departmental training. The reason the question is asked is to get you to admit you were speeding. The Officer will write on the remarks portion of the citation that the violater admitted to speeding or whatever offense is at hand. The Judge will read or ask the Officer at hearing day if the violater admitted to the offense. Armchair Attorney's dont get your feathers ruffled and ask about Miranda Rights to self incrimination. To a point, traffic stops and the exchanges between the Officer and the Violater do not require Miranda Warnings. "Admit to nothing, deny everything, demand proof"

kenimpzoom · Dec 30, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

I didnt make myself clear, they cop doesnt make a dime on the ticket, I know. I also know there is arent too many cops that enjoys giving a ticket. The worst are the small town cops, in which the ticket revenue makes up a large percent of the town's income. These guys do have a reason to give tickets, as they revenue is used to buy new cars and equipment for the police. Texas governement realized this problem and passed legislation about how much town revenue can come from traffic tickets. There were a couple of small towns that claimed bankruptcy because of this new law. It was a DPS officer, very nice, and very fast five minutes tops. I was guilty and will do the time. But the court costs are over and above what is normal. I have received numerous tickets, all had them dismissed by taking a driving safety course. Court costs on all of them have had a max of 50 bucks. Why all of a sudden does this court cost 97 bucks? This made me suspicious, otherwise I wouldnt have posted anything. Ken

a_bullfrog_a · Dec 30, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

no wonder a local cop called me a wise a$$ when I kept answering his questions with questions of my own. He couldn't get me to admit anything. and I really felt offended becouse I wasn't trying to be a wise a$$. got no ticket anyway. he thought I was drunk becouse I was riding the white line on side of road.

kenimpzoom · Dec 30, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Oh yea, I never admit anything. He asked the question and all I said is, "just trying to get home" I have been pulled over in my younger days by a cop who didnt have a radar detector, but he knew I was speeding. He asked several leading questions, all of which my reply was, "I am uncertain of my speed". Not a lie cause I was busy watching the road while I was ummm... going at a rapid pace. All I ended up with was a warning. I also was pulled over for "exhibition of excessive power". I did a normal start from a stop light... Normal for a Camaro Z28.

Honestly, I do quick starts all the time, and by the time the cop pulled me over, I had forgotten about it. He asked me did I do a burnout at the light and I said "I dont remember". I honestly didnt. Got a ticket, and took a driving course for that one. Also, I did a perfect Starsky and Hutch 360 on a road, where it just so happens an off duty cop was sitting in the parking lot. He called his on duty buddy, and next thing I knew I had the cuffs on me. Cop was trying to scare me, I just remained calm and said can we just take care of this with a citation. He came up with a long list of stuff, but at court all that stuck was speeding. I moved out of the country the next month, so no big deal, paid the fine, and never heard from them again. Man, I miss that Camaro a lot.

Ken

eurolarva · Dec 31, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Question Why were you speeding. Answer I did not know you were there. It usually gets a smile out of the cop then he gives you the ticket.

pjc · Dec 31, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Here is an interesting link that may be helpful. Your Rights "Dear Officer, if, in your opinion, I have violated a traffic law, please follow due process. Understand, I do not wish to have a conversation with you, and condescending behaviors and commentary on your part are not acceptable to me."

NOSLEEP · Dec 31, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

As mentioned above the officer is fishing for a confession. There can be several different reasons for the statement " Is there a reason you were speeding". Its makes his job easier if you confess on the spot. A proper response from the driver should be. I wasn't speeding, what makes you think I was speeding?, Then the officer has to prove you were speeding in a court of law. But then again you could always make his job simpler by just confessing on the spot.

Fly Rod · Dec 31, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Yes!!! Had to hurry up and get to a non inportant place, to wait another hour for the show, that I did not care to see, to begin and my vechicle runs smoother when I'm speeding!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Mark42 · Dec 31, 2004

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

A few years back I had a bad day at work and took it out on my '97 red Camaro going home. I was going fast when I saw a cop disapearing in my rear view. So I slow down and he comes flying up behind me. I point to the right and put on my signals and continue to slow down to legal speed then stop on the shoulder. Officer asks me "do you know how fast you were going?". I paused, and replied "the last time I looked at the speedo it read 97 and climbing....". He looked surprised as my answer and said "yeah, you were doing 115, I couldn't even catch up until you slowed down." I gave him my papers and waited a while for him to run me down on the computer. He comes back and gave me a ticket saying "this is for being honest". He left and I read the ticket. It was for "creating a traffic hazard". No points and $60. That was a gift.

deputydawg · Jan 1, 2005

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Honesty goes a long ways with me. If someone is speeding within reason, less than 25 over the speed limit, and they admit to it and are open and honest they will get a warning. The only exception I make is if I have written this person a warning before. I have a database in my laptop with all of my tickets and warnings. If they give the attitude that a warning won't slow them down, they get a ticket. Unless of course they have a really good excuse for me. I work a small town, around 1100. We still don't and have never had any of the fine money given to us. It has always gone to the states for the school districts. In Nebraska it is illegal for county law enforcement to keep any accounts or collect any money for ourselves. All income we generate from jail or civil process or whatever has to go to county general to be used by other county offices. We call it the black hole because the other departments do not have to account for the general fund the same as their budget. We however can't draw from the general fund. We can keep an account for one thing, the STOP fund. This is a drivers diversion program. Take a class and have the ticket dismissed. We get a small percentage of money from those who choose to take the class. We can only use this money for public education and public service things like booths at the fair or kids school programs. The state crime commission gets $1 from each ticket for the law enforcement improvement fund, but that doesn't effect me or my department. This dollar comes from the court costs and pays the directors salery or something.

kenimpzoom · Jan 1, 2005

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

deputydog, I agree, I have been in trouble with the law before prety serious, and was honest, and got off very light, by the cop, not the judge. He asked me if I did it, and I said yes, I sure did. I watch COPS enough to realized lying is futule. Plus I am a terrible liar. Sounds like Nebraska has the funds going to the correct place. In Texas it was a serious problem, up untill 3 years ago when they passed new laws. Ken

Parrott_head · Jan 1, 2005

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Stories I can share.... Driveing a '67 Malibu, 327 engine, Muncie rock crusher 4-speed. Headed East on SH 9 in a rural area, Hiway was being repaved. No lines marked yet. Crested a hill and saw a black and white headed the other way, saw his brake lights come on. By the time he got his car turned around I had pulled over and was sitting on top of the hood of my car digging my drivers license out. He pulls up behind me and motions me to get in the cruiser. I get in to the Dodge Monaco and grap the strap that is use to close the door. When I pull the door closed it comes off cleanly in my hand. I look over at the trooped holding the strap in my hand and an expression of surprise. He says just stuff in back in the best I can. He asks if I know how fast I was going. Told him the motor and transmission were not stock and I had no speedometer, that I just drive where the motor sounds comfortable. He informs me that the motor sounds fine a 72 MPH... Then he tells me that since the hiway is unmarked and under repair the posted speed limit is 35, but he is only enforcing the 55 since the work is nearly done. Still I am above that. If he enforces the 35 limit I am twice over and change. I guess since I pulled over so quickly and didn't BS him half to death he takes pity on my an writes me a warning ticket. Another time an officer pulled me over and asked if I knew how fast I was going.... Told him that like most folks I don't look at the speedo until I see the patrol unit.... He laughed and said that was the most honest reply he had heard yet, gave me a warning... The worst officers I have dealt with are those that have been let loose from metropolitan departments and are now working in small towns....there was a reason the bigger departments cut them loose. Still only account for maybe 3% of the law officers but they create a lot of the image problems the others later have to deal with. We are all human....

DJ · Jan 2, 2005

Re: Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

Isn't that kind of like saying; "so when did you stop beating your wife"?

Is there a reason you were exceeding the speed limit?

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