the accuracy of the odometer on the officer's car. Therefore, it makes sense that the best way to win a speeding ticket case is to knock out the evidence the ticket is based on. Radar Also, you do not want to miss any deadlines. However, if you get a speeding ticket, your first reaction should be to treat the police with respect. Because of this, you need to know EXACTLY what the officer used to measure your speed. When it comes to speeding in Tennessee, the statistics vary from one county to another. All Rights Reserved. So a secondbut far less accuratemethod has been developed to check the accuracy of radar units. The odds might not be very high but you might just . Anything else, and youre playing with fire. Remember, everything you say or do will be documented by the officer so dont admit anything, especially that you were not paying attention. You must be sincere, or dont bother going at all. Was the Officer Properly Trained/Certified to Use the Equipment? He had adequate training and experience in radar operation, The radar unit was in proper working condition at the time of the arrest, The radar unit was used in an area where there was a minimum possibility of distortion, The input speed of the officer's car was verified; the car's speedometer was expertly tested within a reasonable period after the citation was issued, All testing was done without the radar unit's own internal calibration device being used. Like other States, the Tennessee pointsystem promotes safety on the roads by monitoring bad drivers and identifying reckless ones. Also, it's impossible to be sure that the officer has been able to accomplish this feat because the officer can't see the beam. (For example, at least one-eighth or one-fourth of a mile.) If you want to fight a speeding ticket, there are two things you must know first: This article focuses on how police measure drivers' speed. Typically, the required court appearances for fighting a traffic ticket in Tennessee include: If you're facing multiple and/or serious charges, consider hiring a traffic ticket lawyer BEFORE heading to court. On this ticket will appear your contact and personal information, the location of your offense, the officer's name, the posted speed limit, the speed you were going when the officer first signaled you to pull over, and a preliminary court date for the . That said, here are my secrets to getting out of a speeding ticket ordered chronologically, from the point of being pulled over to your final options in the courtroom. Dispute the Police Officer's Presentation of Evidence There are yet other types of tickets where the police officer's judgment cannot be called into question. Are aware points could be added to your record as a result of a conviction. (Editors note: this is not always the case, and while it can happen, its never a guarantee. If such a storm cloud is traveling at a sufficient speed, a false radar reading can result. Points on you record can have a dramatic impact on your insurance premiums. The attorney listings on this site are paid attorney advertising. A jail sentence of not more than 30 days (which will not happen unless you have a warrant in your name for other crimes), Your license may be suspended for a period of six months (as per the record point system; which is also highly unlikely). Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. $108.75. Note: All of this advice assumes that you are merely breaking traffic laws. Here are several pieces of advice from an attorney if you want to try and beat your ticket: You may need to notify your automobile insurance company after being issued a speeding ticket. There could be some room to negotiate. To increase your chances of successfully avoiding these penalties, you may begin the search for a lawyer online. },{ You pay his salary. In addition, it can raise your car insurance by a certain amount, which can be costly in the long run. Every scientific instrument used for measuring needs to be regularly calibrated to ensure its accuracy. 3. If any of your contact information is incorrect, notify the officer so that he or she can make the proper changes. Using VASCAR correctly isn't easy. Hill, curves, and traffic can also make it hard for the officer to keep a constant following distance and lead to an inaccurate speed estimate. If you're under 18 years old, your driver's license is probably subject to certain restrictions. Different states and municipalities have their own unique rules and regulations regarding speeding tickets. "@type": "FAQPage", Nichols \u0026 Green pllc does free consultations for anyone charged with a speeding ticket, reckless driving ticket, or other criminal/traffic charge in Northern Virginia. Speeding can lead to crashes and some of them are even fatalasmany Fast and Furious fans know about this (R.I.P. Because of this, its CRITICAL that you remember EVERYTHING that is happening around you and document it: As youre doing this, look for a safe place to pull over for you and the police officer. Because of this, the NHTSA has published guidelines both police agencies and officers MUST follow when operating radar or laser. And this simple fact often results in bad speed readings because a spread-out beam can hit two vehicles in adjacent lanes (or that are otherwise near each other). If nothing seems to work for you, you know what to do. However, the online speeding ticket payment procedure may vary depending on the specific court that handles your case. This infamous case is known widely as the Miami Radar Trial. Driving-Tests.org is a privately owned website that is not affiliated with or operated by any state government agency. Speeding Ticket: Should I Fight it or Pay it? You'll need to plead to the municipal OR city court in charge of your case ON OR BEFORE the hearing date printed on your ticket. According to most operation manuals, a radar unit should be calibrated with the tuning forks before and after every shift. If you successfully apply all the information in this article, you should have a very good chance of beating your next speeding ticket. Your signature doesnt mean that you agree with the ticket, but make sure you sign it, A man and woman reading a speeding ticket, Check your contact information on your ticket copy, Make sure you know how to handle the citation, Read the instructions on how to pay your speeding ticket, Attend defensive driving school instead of paying the fine, Know your options if defensive driving school is not possible, Know what to say in court when fighting a speeding ticket, It was less than 5 10 mph over the speed limit. And when you receive that first ticket, it's possible will have to do more than an adult to . If you are considering fighting your speeding ticket, we have listed some strategies that might come handy: Show Up & Get Lucky. The speeds are computed accurately as long as the officer is within a ten-degree angle as you approach. The traffic laws in Tennessee define the maximum speed that you can drive on the roads and highways in Tennessee. The most common methods are explained in more detail below. If a settlement can't be agreed upon the TN municipal or city court will assign you a date to return for trial before a judge. 2. Remember everything you do or say is being documented and possibly even being recorded by the officer. Have the time to appear in court, possibly on multiple occasions. file size: 256 MB. It is your right, and you should claim it. In Massachusetts, half of the ticket money goes to the police department that writes the speeding ticket, the other half goes to fund the court that convicts the speeder or collects the fine from them. (Note: New lidars come with a Technician Certification from the factory.). Choose Your State. A traffic ticket is issued for moving or non-moving vehicle violations. If youre on the highway in busy traffic, put your flashers on, pull over to the right and consider exiting at the first exit. Officers must be properly trained in the use of lidar and that training must be documented. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, "absolute," "presumed," or "basic" speed law, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Here are several pieces of advice from an attorney if you want to try and beat your ticket: Here are a list of key terms and tips on verbage you should use when fighting a speeding ticket: Remember that speeding tickets are completely preventable. The first way is to plead guilty or not contest the ticket and pay the fine. Shadowing has and is being eliminated by interfacing the police radar gun into the vehicle's speed sensor. You may even be able to choose to attend defensive driving school in exchange for paying the fine and avoiding any points on your DMV record." He could tell that I really did care about this one ticket. 10. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life. However, if it is a moving radar, the consign angle could put you at a disadvantage. Describe the who, what, when, where, and why you were cited. Speed reading obtained by lidar are not affected by temperature, the degree of ambient light, or light to moderate rain. District Court in Ohio ruled that it was not possible to establish from the radar results whether the defendant was traveling at 43 mph or whether the Speedgun 8 radar unit was measuring the rotation of the ventilation fan at the sewage pumping station next to the officer's car. Now that you have all the information you need, it's time to go through all these manuals, training records, and training guides to discredit the officer and the equipment he/she used to issue you your citation. Contact us. The most common three mistakes that can cause error in a VASCAR measurement are: Generally, these errors become more pronounced and lead and lead to greater inaccuracies in the final speed estimate when the distance between the two passing points is small. In fact, on windy days, windblown dust or even tree leaves can be picked up by radar devices. Your points will stay on your driving record for at least a year. Yes. Many speeding tickets result from the police officer following or "pacing" a suspected speeder and using his or her own speedometer to estimate the suspect's speed. Oftentimes the officer will head back to his car to draft up the information needed for your citation. a traffic low but know that you are innocent until proven guilty. He will then present you with a paper copy of the ticket for you to sign. You may opt to enroll in a state-approved defensive driving course and reduce the number of demerit points, thus dismissing the charges against you. An overview of how to defend yourself against a speeding ticket. Reduce Your Car Insurance by Comparing Rates, Did you receive a Tennessee traffic ticket? by James Young | Nov 21, 2018 | Traffic Tickets | 0 comments. Thats just up to you, but just be really nice and try to bridge that officer-civilian gap with a personal story and plead for mercy. The second option is to appear in court to see if you can get the citation dismissed. "text": "If you feel that you have received a speeding ticket undeservingly, then it is worth a chance at fighting for it's dismissal. When requesting Tennessee traffic ticket details, drivers may be required to provide personal information such as: the citation number, the amount of traffic fine, the court appearance date or the due date of your ticket. Do not be scared to do this. Was the Officers Heater or Air Conditioner On? This case is significant since it established the criteria of testing before and after a citation is issued. In this landmark case, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin set minimum conditions for the use of radar as evidence. If you know you broke the law, admit it vehemently and tell the officer that he was completely right for pulling you over. The estimated means that he visually estimated you were traveling faster than the posted speed limit. The lidar must be tested according to procedures recommended by the manufacturer. The first step to fighting your Tennessee traffic ticket is pleading not guilty" to the charges. Understand you could face jail time if found guilty of a serious charge, like. If you establish the officer's training is insufficient in conjunction with a circumstance that shows the lack of training, a court can dismiss the case. Call the clerk often, and address him or her by first name. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice. In some states, radar detectors are illegal. Any incorrect information can lead to undeserved stress, fines, and penalties down the road for you. Although that alternative wasnt accepted, the officer was pretty surprised at my tenacity, and it motivated him to let me off the hook. Readings shall not be accepted during heavy rainfall or while snow is falling. There a few violations in which the accuracy of the issuing officers But, at least ask, then ask a few more questions to show that you are watching. Our course helps you learn quickly and easily, using state-specific questions and easy-to-understand answers. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. As some point, the officer is going to either have you sign the citation or just hand you a copy. This technology reduces but does not eliminate the chance that the speed of a nearby car will be measured instead of the speed of the car at which the operator aims the gun. This is true even though laser detectors use three separate beams because the combined width of the three beams is still much narrower than a single radar beam at the same distance. During operation officers must understand and follow a proper tracking history (11.4 Lidar Tracking History) and be prepared to testify as to visual observations and speed estimates prior to clocking with lidar. Receiving traffic tickets in TN will result in penalty points that are added to your driving transcript. Usually, you will have the option to pay online, by phone or at your local municipal courthouse. Stewart Rutledge is in his final year of law school at the University of Mississippi. The radar gun or lidar gun the police officer used to issue you your speeding ticket is a scientific instrument and because of this the officer must be certified and by law, must follow certain requirements. Get your case reviewed for free now. This means to be accurate the officer must hold the combined beams on the same part of the car during the test. If you drive at or below the posted speed limit all of the time, you will never have to worry about the hassle of a speeding ticket. Drivers who are wondering How do you contest a speeding ticket in Tennessee? need to have the citations in their possession before contesting a traffic ticket. Ive even gone so far as to offer alternative punishment. The following schedule contains values assigned to moving traffic violations or contributing to the occurrence of accidents: Moving Traffic Violations Speeding in Construction Zone (Non-Commercial Vehicles) Contributing to Occurrence of Accidents Other Violations Moving Traffic Violations (Commercial Vehicles) Since 1997 Radar Roy has helped thousands of people just like you beat their speeding tickets in court through his helpful guides and resources found on his website RadarBusters.com. But, dont go to the meeting and just say, Will you let me out of this ticket? You better have a story or some reason to motivate the officer to let you out. Its really not scary at all, and you have every right to participate fully in this process no matter how much you are intimidated. 5. This is an example of mechanical interference as the police car's heater/air conditioner fan was producing the erroneous speed-reading. Do not lie, but do plead for continuances to delay your trial date as long as possible. 3 attorney answers. When the officer sees the target vehicle pass one of two points, the officer pushes a button to start the electronic stopwatch, then pushes it again to stop it when the vehicle passes the second point. It's also possible (especially in heavy traffic) for one beam to hit the target car and another beam to hit a nearby car. You want the officer to be comfortable. In this case the court ruled that an officer should not be required to know the scientific principles of radar.