First ticket in 22 years... off to Traffic school

In most places where traffic cameras are legal, they don't have to "prove" it's you by a standard of "reasonable doubt". The standard is the much lower: "preponderance of the evidence". Not a hard hurdle to make...
It isn't a very hard hurdle to clear, but it cuts both ways.

When I lived in Arlington, I got a traffic ticket in the mail with a traffic cam picture from DC indicating I was doing 50 mph in a 45 mph zone.

The options they gave me were to pay the fine or provide the name and address of who ever was driving my car if it was not me, with a threat that if I did not pay it in X number of days the fine would double.

Well...ok...challenge accepted...largely because I knew that particular traffic cam and it was in an area where they kept changing the speed limit on a regular basis and then ticketing people who were just going with the traffic flow, anytime they could get just one car in the "cone" at a time.

Since the photo was date and time stamped, I replied with a name, address phone and phone number. It was not however the name of my girl friend who had borrowed my Jeep that day, but rather the person I was working with in a suburb on the north side of Baltimore at that particular date and time with an invitation for them to contact that person who could verify I that I could not have possibly been driving my Jeep in DC at that time.

I also advised in my letter that I had absolutely no legal obligation to provide the name of the person who had been borrowing my vehicle at that time, and that I was neither obligated nor paid to investigate anything for the DC traffic police (or more correctly the contractor that operated their traffic cams).

I didn't hear anything at all back from them for several months, but I eventually got a letter stating the ticket had been dismissed. No big surprise there.
 
You betcha...

O.K. Capt. S. lets see if you really are a 100% student. Here's your pop quiz. You are in the left lane of a one way street at a red light. Is a free left turn legal?

After a full stop, and assuming you are turning left onto another one way street that is going from your right to left, just like a right turn on a red light... yes.
 
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Cap'n,,

We usta call those things performance awards! Not making light of your circumstances. Yeah, I used to issue them, but they sure weren't as expensive way back then!! And yeah, I've been on the receiving end a time or two as well. But I always figured if I added up all the times I coulda been given one if I'd have been caught, then I really got off pretty light. I appreciate your comments and attitude about the whole thing. You have my admiration and respect!
 
Yeah, I got my first speeding ticket in 14 years a couple of weeks ago. Here in WA you are allowed one "administrative deferral" every 7 years.

That means you pay the fine, plus and extra fee, and as long as you don't get any other moving violation within the next 12 months it never shows up on your record.

If you do get ticketed again within the next 12 months, the deferred ticket instantly goes on your record. So I'm kinda on "probation" and have to be extra good for the next year - 'cause if I get a ticket its a two-fer hit on my record.
 
When the ticket came in the mail a couple of weeks later I could not believe the fine - $225 which seemed more than a little steep for 5 over on the freeway but then it has been 22 and half years since my last ticket.
I believe in some of the European countries the cost of the ticket is based on a percentage of income. So if you are rich, you could pay thousands of dollars for a speeding ticket that a poor man would pay hundreds for.
 
Been pulled over a couple times... last time was a about a year ago. Stopped for no current sticker on my tag. Wasn't wearing a seatbelt nor had my registration or proof of insurance. Curiously... the wife seemed agitated that I didn't get a ticket. :D
 
I believe in some of the European countries the cost of the ticket is based on a percentage of income. So if you are rich, you could pay thousands of dollars for a speeding ticket that a poor man would pay hundreds for.
In 2002, Finland assessed the largest speeding fine in history ($103,600) to an executive riding his Harley too fast (47MPH in a 31MPH zone). The guideline for the assessment is that the fine be equal to 2 weeks salary of the offender.

BBC News | EUROPE | Nokia boss gets record speeding fine
 

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