MassCops - Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network - Speeding ticket on 146 N into Worcester

Quote:

Originally Posted by OutOfManyOne

Dear Retard,
Didn't you see ALL that construction going on, WARNINGS that it is a construction zone and WARNING that all SPEEDING FINES ARE DOUBLED, WAY before you even got to the construction. Appeal it all you want, in fact appeal it twice and please stop showing up on this police site bitching and whining how good of a driver you are and you should not gotten a ticket. It's a construction zone, trucks are in and out of there and officers are out there on foot and cruiser. I hate YOU f*cking people.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

First off - There are plenty of decent people around, so don't gove up on New England. It's tough to beat something like that, especially with it being on radar/lidar. But it's worth a shot. All speeding violations is MA carry a mandated 50 fine for a head injury fund. If nothing else, by going to court the fine will often times be reduced to the minimum which is 100. It stays on your record for a few years, roughly 3 to 5 depending on how many you have. (It's a rather complex point system in MA) Driving through a speed trap is tough - it's a trap. Meaning that there isn't much one can do to avoid being caught. You don't have to peak an officers attention, as you normally do to get pulled over, when rolling through one - you simply have to drive through. Multiple cruisers sitting idle under an overpass is common in MA, especially on curves or hills. You need to watch your speed so as to avoid fines, but more importantly to avoid collisions. Also common is MA and NE are multi-laned Highways punctuated by traffic lights and other odd intersections and ramps along with RAPIDLY CHANGING SPEED LIMITS such as 146 N as you approach Worcester/290. Unlike in other parts of the country where roadways are, generally speaking, more appropriately designed, it is for this reason that the officer's that responded to you are Appropriatly harping on the point that you were going too fast. You probably were. The signage may also be poor. Go back and check it out, see what's there. (As a footnote, Officers need to pay attention to speed if there're going to ruthlessly defend that stance that they've taken here - many policeman and MSP Troopers routinely drive 15 to 20 MPH + over the limit. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE and unprofessional.) There moral of the story is, that you were probably going at what WAS a reasonable speed, until you approached the area in question. Then it became to fast for the conditions. The officer's that day were most likely simply doing as directed by superiors. It's a tough dilemma for you to be in - though one may have a silver lining in the courtroom once you have a more enlightened and reasonable clerk magistrate to contend with - who may also be faced with a flurry of appeals from the many people driving on 146 that day. Let us know how you make out!

This is too one of the foul mouthed guys with an ego and a half that responded to you ...
P.S. BREAKing that law, is spelled as such. Brake, means to destroy something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Good point. If it's that well marked - then he should've heeded the warnings and slowed down. (the other unregistered guy seeking advice that is.) or at least been doing somewhere in the ballpark of 38 - 40 at a maximum. My responses were based on what the original poster claimed ... in his or her own words.

In any event, it's all about perspective and you two seem to have the right angle on things in life, what's important and what's not ....

As for me, I simply stumbled across this thread upon searching for something else on google the other day. I am unregistered because I was directed straight to this particular thread, for whatever reason, and hadn't seen the main page of this site nor had I ever heard of it at that time I wrote the above comments. I didn't realize the importance some of you placed on having a screen name or profile, those that mentioned you had little respect for me b/c of lacking a name and profile. I figured that my thoughts and comments should be able to speak for themselves, regardless of who I am. Whether i'm a patrolman, Lt., Captain, or Cheif, attorney, district court clerk, judge, or any one else someones ideas are what counts.

And speaking of Iraq ... it's so sad to watch this unfold. Sending these kids over there to face such a dangerous environment with no strategy whatsoever on what we're seeking - should be a crime in my opinion. I thought we'd learned something as a nation in Nam. Strange how history has a way of repeating itself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by massguy

The CM hearing was in a clerks office with an officer present. The CM did not swear anyone in. She just explained that she would ask for the officer's side of the story, then mine. She would then make a decision which I would be able to appeal if I wished.

The officer read the details of the ticket and then the CM asked for my side of the story.

I explained that the speed limit of 55 reduced to 30 in 1/8 mi, that the road had curves and was reduced to one lane, and that I used reasonable and due care, in the safest manner possible, to reduce my speed to comply with the new limit given the short 1/8 mi distance. Then I mentioned my clean driving record with no prior speeding tickets and asked for a Not Responsible finding.

The CM asked if I had been going 55 before the 30 zone, and 30 afterwards. I said yes, I was not speeding. The officer asked if I had seen the blinking yellow sign, to which I replied yes, there was the Reduced Speed Ahead sign, followed by the 30 MPH sign, followed by the blinking yellow 30 MPH sign. Then the CM asked how I could be going the speed limit if the laser showed 60. I replied that perhaps the laser recorded my speed before the 30 MPH zone, given the short distance involved (probably a mistake on my part, since that doesn't explain why it read 60 instead of 55). I then asked what distance the LIDAR/laser read my speed at. She said it doesn't say.

The CM then mumbled something to the officer about not being able to find me Not Responsible for such a high amount over the limit, and then she told me that she was finding me Responsible, but would reduce the fine to the minimum of $100. She asked me if I would like to appeal, and I said yes. I got a court date of January 22, paid my $20, and left.

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Speeding ticket on 146 N into Worcester