Help with ticket

[03rollas]

Hey all I had a quick question. I got a ticket for doing 95 in a 55(he said he paced me, tho he was never around me). So I was going to send the ticket in to contest it. There are 2 options, trial by jury and trial by judge. Which one would be a better choice?
Oh yea the ticket was in IL given by a state trooper. And its my first ticket.
TIA
Ps I read all the ticket posts and advice given so have searched already :).

[pnoygts]

Trial by judge Gluck!

[marc]

Well, here's the deal.

If you think you have an AIRTIGHT ****ing case, then you can contest it. If a reasonable man couldn't find beyond a reasonable doubt for your case, then you lose.

So, if you don't think this is a 100% win, go with a plea bargain - they'll reduce your sentence. You go in and talk to the DA. I got a 98 in a 55 and they dropped it to a 60 in a 55 because I plea bargained.

If you actually go to trial for a stupid speeding ticket I suggest a jury trial. Juries are made up of your peers - they will be more sympathetic to your side. Judges hate people, especially "punk kid ricers" who speed and drive Celicas.

[03rollas]

Yea from other people I have heard most Judges are ****s who wont listen to you. So trail by jury would be the way to go. The thing is the trooper said he paced me doing "about 90 or 95", and wrote 95 in a 55 for ticket. I was doing maybe 80-85(i was overtaking 3 semis). As for having an airtight case, I dunno. Itd be my word against his and I can bring up when was the last time the troopers speedometer was recalibrated. Also I have a clean record. BTW what exactly will happen in a plea bargain? Do I set up an appoint for the DA before the court date or what? Thanks alot for your help guys :)...
(btw im not a punk ricer kid speeding in a celica ;), its a corolla :D)

[teletubbies]

I also got a ticket recently, I was driving at around 55, the cop said he paced me and that I was driving at 75~80, so he wrote me a ticket that I was driving 75

the cop can basically make up what ever speed that you were driving if he says he paced you? this system is so unfair.

[marc]

when its your word against his the cop wins, always.

[alphasubzero949]

Here's what you do...strap on a pair of physics cajones.

Start with V = d/t (remember the equation for velocity?)

Let Vy = Your velocity and Dy = your distance traveled. Vo = Officer's velocity (what he wrote you up for) and Do = Distance officer traveled.

So t = (Dy / Vy) = (Do / Vo)


Why? Time doesn't matter...it's the same for both of you.

Rearrange and solve for Vy:

Vy = (Dy*Vo)/Do

However, we must also take into account that the officer had to drive an additional distance to catch up to you. This was the distance he was behind you at first (when he testifies that he followed you for 1/4 mile). So we have his initial distance behind you (we'll call this Dob for "officer behind") + the distance it took for him to catch up to you in the distance you traveled:

Do = Dy + Dob

Now substitute for Do:

Vy = (Dy*Vo) / (Dy + Dob)

Factor and divide Dy to arrive at the final equation:

Vy = Vo / [ 1 + (Dob/Dy) ]

Where Vy = your true speed
Vo = the speed the officer claimed to pace you at
Dob = Distance the officer was initially behind you
Dy = Distance traveled when he closed in on you and made the stop.

Example:

The speed limit is 65. You observe the officer behind you 1/4 mile. He closes in on you and follows you for 1 mile before pulling you over. He accused you of doing 80 MPH, since he assumed that because he had to do 80 to catch up to you that you were doing the same speed. So,

Vy = Vo / [ 1 + (Dob/Dy) ]
Vy = 80 / [1 + (1/4 / 1) ]
Vy = 80 / (5/4)
Vy = 64 MPH <-- Clearly you were innocent

Be careful, this can also work against you. If the numbers do not come out in your favor, testify to ones that will. If the testimonies significantly differ, then tell the judge that you SAW him bearing down on you so fast that you thought he was going to rear end you. NEVER testify or admit that you were speeding.