First Ticket In 7 Years!

[WyrreJ]

FWIW, in most (all?) states, the only mandatory speed limits are those printed in black on a white sign. Many states use black on orange for construction zone limits, but those are only advisory (same thing with black on yellow). Some states have wised up and started to use the mandatory black on white signs in their constructions zones, I dunno about NJ. Even in those cases, it may not be a legal speed limit - in many states there are baseline speeds defined for different types of areas (like 30mph in residential areas with less than 100 yards between houses, 35 in industrial areas, etc) and any posted limit that varies from the "standard" for the type of area requires a speed study by the state DoT. Many, many municipalities just put up speed limit signs and skip the speed study for money, convenience or even ignorance of the law. In many cases, having an illegally posted limit negates the whole shebang leaving you with no actual limit.

Unless the state laws have been written to provide for mandatory construction zone speed limits, then posting a black on white speed limit sign could have the opposite effect - removing any speed limit at all.

And while in such a case, there may be no specific limit, you may still get ticketed for reckless driving or somesuch. But, if you were just "keeping up with traffic" such a charge may not stick.

I'm no lawyer, and I've never been ticketed for speeding, not even warned. The above is all stuff I wandered across when I was bored one day.

[Mark B]

about a year ago, I was late for my tee time going to play golf. Was doing 65 in a 45 mph. Got caught and pulled over. The cop was giving me the speel about speeding and saw my golf clubs in the back. We talked about golf for the next few minutes. He said he had to write me a ticket. He did for a moving violation not speeding. Could have been a $ 200.00 speeding ticked but was a $ 35.00 moving violation. In Florida, you can go to a 4 hour driving school and the ticked will not show up on your record. Not even the insurance company will know.

[etlsport]

speed limits are dependent on access road visibility, peak traffic flow, radii of turns and a whole host of other factors.... even if the speed limit wasnt "calculated" its still a posted speed limit and you can get pulled over for failure to obey traffic signs, which is very hard to argue... basically the best way out of a ticket is to show up to court dressed up (with a tie at very least) and talk to the judge, tell him you dont think you were going as fast as they said, and that you realize you were going too fast but you felt safe going that speed because you weren't flying past the traffic already there

remember, you have to get voted in to be a judge, which means that 95% of judges are really cool people, they aren't out to screw you

i had 30mph taken off of a ticket i got because i showed up and was the only one in the entire courtroom wearing a suit, the judge commended me on my appearance and professionalism and i just talked to him for a bit and made him like me so he was more lenient

[Ascinder]

Oh come on now Bart, you know he just wanted to see the VX up close.....

Also, I agree with the court thing too, I had a friend in Reno that has gotten over 15 tickets for mostly speeding, but also falling asleep at the wheel. All were dismissed because he went and argued with the people over at the DA's office and fought each and every one. He hasn't had to pay a ticket yet. I really don't think it's right(especially the falling asleep), but I can attest that it does work.

[TexVeX]

Here in Texas a speeding ticket is double the regular price in a construction zone. More bang for your buck, huh?

[Mr.Badguy]

A lot of good stuff was brought up. I can't remember if the 35 MPH speed limit in the construction was black on white, or black on orange. I'm inclined to say it is black on orange. And about showing up to court really dressed up, that was me. I was the best dressed person in that court room, aside from the judge and prosecutor (whom i didn't have to deal with, i just dealt with the judge). Would you beleive there were people there dressed in beer slogan T-shirts??!! I thought it was simply something that you do when you have a court appearance-dress really nice. I guess the other people there didn't get the memo. there were about 15 other people there for the same violation i had. most, like me, pleaded guilty, but some others pleaded innocent. I did have a discussion with the judge about how i was moving with traffic and about the red car that was tail-gating me. He listened, but ultimately i got the fine for what the cop wrote out, plus 30 bucks for the court. The fine was doubled because it was a construction zone. I don't know...reading what everyone posted here, i am beginning to think i should have fought it. Like i said, it was my first speeding ticket..and there seems to be a lot of other factors that could have been in consideration. thanks.