Fight Your Speeding Ticket With Simple Math
December 10th, 2007 Posted in Speed Limits, Traffic Tickets
Many speeding tickets are issued as the result of motorists being clocked with devices that measure how fast a vehicle covers a known distance.
Because some judges and district attorneys are not comfortable with mathematical calculations it is important for the well-prepared defendant to present mathematical based arguments in the simplest of terms. We will start from the end and work backwards.
A vehicle moving one mile per hour will cover 1.47 feet in one second.
If you wish to determine how far a vehicle will travel at a specific speed just multiply that speed by 1.47 feet. For example, if a vehicle is traveling 60 mph it will cover 88 feet in one second. Obviously, it will cover 176 feet in two seconds, etc.
If you are trying to determine how many seconds it would take a vehicle to cover a known distance at a specific speed just divide the distance by the speed and divide the result by 1.47 feet.
This will yield the number of seconds it would take the vehicle to cover a known distance at a known speed.
For example: A vehicle traveling 60 mph will cover 300 feet in 3.4 seconds—-300 divided by 60 divided by 1.47 = 3.4 seconds. If need be you can verify this calculation by multiplying 3.4 seconds times 88 feet (the distance traveled in one second at 60 mph) and the result brings you back to 300 feet.
If you are challenged on the validity of the 1.47 feet per second figure you can prove its validity in very simple terms.
- There are 5280 feet in one mile so a vehicle traveling one mile per hour will cover 5280 feet.
- There are 60 minutes in one hour so a vehicle traveling one mile per hour will travel 1/60th of that distance in one minute, or 88 feet.
- There are 60 seconds in one minute so a vehicle traveling at one mile per hour will cover 1/60th of the distance it covered in one minute, or 1.47 feet.
You could also state that there are 3600 seconds in one hour and divide that number into 5280 feet and the result would be the same, 1.47 feet.
Once the court accepts and understands the source of these numbers you can apply them to your defense.
If you receive a VASCAR ticket you should obtain a description of the distance over which you were clocked, the time it took your vehicle to cover that distance and the speed you are charged with traveling.
If the citation or incident report claims you covered 300 feet in 4.2 seconds and you are being charged with speeding at 60 mph in a 50 mph zone you can readily verify the accuracy, or lack thereof in this case, of the speed you were claimed to be traveling.
At 60 mph you would have traveled 370 feet, not 300 feet. However, at 50 mph you would have traveled 309 feet in 4.2 seconds, indicating that you were driving within the speed limit.
Even if the calculations indicated the error was in the opposite direction, that your speed was underestimated, the speed-reading should not be allowed as evidence against you, thus eliminating the prosecutions principal evidence against you.
In other cases involving radar or pacing, time over distance calculations can prove serious inconsistencies in the officer’s testimony.
If the officer testifies that he clocked your vehicle for 5 seconds and you were going 80 mph, you can prove, by using time over distance calculations, that the officer could not have seen you for more than two seconds, because of a curve or sign, if you had been traveling 80 miles per hour.
For more advice on how to fight an unfair speeding ticket, consider joining the NMA.
Image Credit: JonOakley
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174 Responses to “Fight Your Speeding Ticket With Simple Math”
By LynnB on Dec 1, 2008
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Uhm, Crush, I think you and so many others ought to be given a RESPONSIBILITY test to see if you qualify to drive. One must ALWAYS accept the RESPONSIBILITY for ones actions, and speeding just because YOU think the limit is unfair is NOT being responsible.
I’ve seen more cases in Colorado where the speed limit had been raised from the prior limit than the other way around. And buddy, here, anyway, they DO take into account the highway conditions, traffic volume, number of side road intersections, etc., and even radar check the “natural speeds”, that is what the general traffic is traveling, to set those limits.
Sure, there are podunk little towns like Morrison who have NO sales tax income, so rely on traffic tickets for revenue. So you obey their preposterous limits rather than FIGHTING them, and you’ll be just fine.
Oh, and driving is not a “right”, it is a privilege which can be taken away thru the due process if you don’t respect that privilege and the laws, whether YOU personally agree with them or not. Your “RIGHT” is to be able to fight a ticket in a court of law, and golly gee….the judge just may NOT agree with YOU and you may just learn the difference between a “privilege” and a “right”.
By Randy on Dec 1, 2008
DeepCrush I suppose you also have the right to kill someone if your 20 mph or 30 mph over the limit contributes to killing someone? Are you going to let the guy off doing 30 mph over the limit if he kills someone? I guess he must have been traveling too fast then.
By DeepCrush on Dec 1, 2008
It’s not immature to protest an unfair law.
If you were doing 60mph in 45mph speedzone it’s not a question of whether or not you are “guilty” accoring to the “law” if the law is unjust. Speed limits are not scientifically established based on parameters such as conditon of the roadway, weather, driver experience, traffic flow, vehicle condition etc..
Anyone who is accused of “speeding” if I am on a jury is going to get off scott free, unless he was obviously driving recklessly (ie. driving 120mph in a 35 or weaving excessively in and out of traffic etc..)
Don’t accept “sanction of the victim” and pay the fine even if you were going above the posted “speed limit”.. fight for your rights.
By AF Tait on Nov 16, 2008
As a lawyer practicing traffic law in California for more than a decade I can attest to this simple, mathematical system for challenging speeding allegations. In fact, we coach this method in our self-defense course on http://www.trafficfighters.com
A GPS record of your location across time can also greatly help bolster your version of the events. The key is to use this math to determine what actually happened from your own recollection, and then get the testifying officer(s) to admit to facts (time, distance) that support your theory of the case during cross examination. Good luck!
By Officer Josh on Nov 16, 2008
Its 65 now, in MD anyway i mean im only 26 so i cant speak for before i started driving.
By Jeff on Nov 15, 2008
Officer Josh - why is the freeway speed limit in MD only 65? It used to be 70 prior to 1974.
By TT on Oct 30, 2008
John said:
It’s about money. Cities and states acrue allot of revenue via tickets and the way to handle this is not to get mad, but to get even. Everyticket you receive is redeamable for one NOT Guilty verdict the next time you serve on a jury. You will never see the other eleven people again and it costs the state a fortune, definitely more than your ticket, to re-try the case. The lost revenue cuts into the raises the police receive and upgrades to equipment required to do the job. When you are on a jury you have more power than anyone else in the courtroom INCLUDING the judge.
Use that power and spread the idea.
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Hmmmm… A misdirected use of jury nullification. A little on the overkill.
It does bother me though that speed limits were set along time ago before radial tires and anti-lock brakes,etc.. They have been kept artificially low in order to collect revenue. For instance in NYC there are no traffic courts instead you appear before an administrator who is required to to maintain 65% closer rate to fund the operation. Outside the city in a regular court if you show up the prosecutor usually drops the speed down to 10 over because the town gets the revenue. Above this number the revenue goes to the state so town courts drop the number down to keep the money local.It’s a scam.
Bottom line speed limits could raised an average of 20 mph across the board due to new technology in automobiles permiting safe driving at higher speeds. I’ve been driving fast for 30 years accident free and I drive in and out of Manhattan everyday. To me accidents are caused primeraly by drivers driving too slow..getting in the way, distractions, and fatigue.
As for John’s comment I guess it depends on when you get the ticket. If I were to get a six pointer on the way to or from jury duty, oh well:) If on the other hand its been along time then I wouldn’t take it into account.
By LynnB on Oct 29, 2008
John said: t’s about money. Cities and states acrue allot of revenue via tickets and the way to handle this is not to get mad, but to get even. Everyticket you receive is redeamable for one NOT Guilty verdict the next time you serve on a jury.
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That is one of the stupidest ideas I have ever heard. Totally disregard the fact, totally disregard guilt or innocence and instead act like a four year old throwing a temper tantrum.>>>
I totally agree. If you are guilty, then just fess up and pay up. Don’t tie up the courts along with all the defendants who have a LEGITIMATE GRIPE to fight whatever they are fighting in the courts. Wasting every body elses time and energy for your own pathetic selfish cause is just downright onerous to others.
I have personally went to court when I thought the officer was wrong, and have paid up when I was indeed guilty and got CAUGHT.
By Chuck on Oct 29, 2008
John said: t’s about money. Cities and states acrue allot of revenue via tickets and the way to handle this is not to get mad, but to get even. Everyticket you receive is redeamable for one NOT Guilty verdict the next time you serve on a jury.
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That is one of the stupidest ideas I have ever heard. Totally disregard the fact, totally disregard guilt or innocence and instead act like a four year old throwing a temper tantrum.
By john on Oct 27, 2008
It’s about money. Cities and states acrue allot of revenue via tickets and the way to handle this is not to get mad, but to get even. Everyticket you receive is redeamable for one NOT Guilty verdict the next time you serve on a jury. You will never see the other eleven people again and it costs the state a fortune, definitely more than your ticket, to re-try the case. The lost revenue cuts into the raises the police receive and upgrades to equipment required to do the job. When you are on a jury you have more power than anyone else in the courtroom INCLUDING the judge.
Use that power and spread the idea.
By Randy on Oct 27, 2008
Sorry Tony I did not see anything in that article that talked about unmarked cars. It talked about car color is the only thing that I saw.
By Tony on Oct 27, 2008
Ok. I did say that he was speeding at 90mph when he cut me off.
But after that due to the traffic , he wasn’t able to go that fast. it was about 65-70mph (speed of traffic)
I flashed and honked..and he got scared and was taking the next exit.
Oh btw, according to california vehicle code a Traffic officer cannot give a traffic citation in a unmarked car.
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d17/vc40800.htm
By Officer Josh on Oct 26, 2008
Well, you should be ok if you go to court then Tony. Thats why most police should use lidar instead of radar. It cuts on mistakes such ast that.
By Tony on Oct 23, 2008
Josh,
I wasn’t speeding. Some retarded suv guy who was merging from 280 into 101 cut me off and i swerved from my lane into another lane for safety sake. I agree it really pissed me off to. So I followed that guy at his speed to note his license, but he took the next exit. When I was cut off, I had no time to turn on my turn signals. It was a split second, and I was taken aback. I tried to prevent an accident. Obviously this cop didn’t see that. And he wrote me a ticket for unsafe lane change. on his way to work on his unmarked car. I tried to explain to him, and he’s like “Say that in the court!!!”
What would you do if someone custs you off and you end up braking like crazy and he/she speed off at 90 miles an hour???
It’s a simple charge. But my insurance on my 3 cars and motorcyle will all be jacked up atleast $200 each per year for 3 years.
Now it’s going to cost me time and money, and stress to prove myself. And even if I win, the cop has no consequences. I lose time, money. I hate all of them.
Why can’t they mind their own busineess and do what they’re supposed to do (if you’re not a patrolling officer).
Sepcially if they see a nicer and powerful car, they discrimintae even more. Not to mention the racial stuff
By Officer Josh on Oct 23, 2008
Tony,
Were you actually speeding?
By Tony on Oct 23, 2008
If you know that the ticket is going to raise your insurance with fines, Fight every ticket. I agree completely. BTW, Just for warning for folks in california. Recently I got pulled over by a unmarked cop car (like a beige ford taurus or something) in San Jose and the bastard gave me a ticket or speeding on the highway. As it’s going to affect my insuracne I’m fighting it myself using some good books (How to fight a ticket in california by David Brown - great book). However using lawyers , is not very feasible due to the cost and also lawyers who regularly fight for a county (they know the judges) and sometimes don’t want to fight anything thi simple that hard as they usually have to deal with judges for othe rcases. Lawyers never worked for me. They always eat your money unless you’re a real celebrity or they get some attention in the news.
By Officer Josh on Oct 13, 2008
Chris,
Your absolutely right, i am a police officer for the gov’t and recently caught 10 illegal aliens in a van with fake licenses and 10,000 dollars in cash on a traffic stop. When i notified my superior about what i found, he came out and we called INS or (immigration)and they told us that it wasnt enought people for them to come out and told us to let them go!!! Thats rediculous!!! we locked them up for having fake licenses and they served time and were released. Later on and INS investigator called me and started asking me about them (5 months later) and he wanted to know why we didnt call. I told him we did and you guys told us “it wasnt enough people” he was baffled. They really need to get themselves together and start setting some standards and SOP’s for there agency.
By Jeff on Sep 28, 2008
Fight every ticket ! Why are you just paying?
By Diane on Sep 27, 2008
Does anyone know if the dollar amount per mile over the speed limit in Ga.varies with different counties? Was told by clerks office the fine is $84.00. Was going to pay on the net and it shows $104.00. Where would I find info. on how the fine was derived? Thanks
By James Young on Sep 14, 2008
catherine:
Leo. Not to be confused with LEO.
Thank you for the kind words.
By catherine on Sep 14, 2008
I just got through the first page and a half of this and think it is fab! I got a ticket today and the cop full out falsified information on it. I was so sad because one often has no recourse when dealing with shady types in positions of authority, and searching for info on crooked traffic cops, I found this site. James Young makes me smile. I think he’s a Virgo. I wish there were more people like that with the ability to use logic and facts rather than emotional regurgitations of what they were taught ‘The Law Is The LAw’ Les Miserables style. To be that patient in the face of all the bluster and blather, I’m envious. I find dealing with said Les Mis types so soul killing. Can’t wait to read more of it all but it’s so long! JAMES! VIRGO? Gemini? Hmm. AI? hehheh -A researcher who needs to know.
By Joe on Aug 29, 2008
Billy Bob says “As an older wiser person than all of you here is how I handle the slow/fast crowd. I put ’student driver’ magnetic signs on my car and a ‘tophat’ made of yellow plastic that mounts magnetically to the roof that also says ’student driver’. Whalla! All you a-hole speedy gonzales types see that tophat a mile away so you switch over to the fast lane and zip right the heck by me. The other slow pokers line up right behind me.”
I thank you Billy Bob, what a great Idea. Why can’t we do the same thing to all the white knuckled two fisted nose on the steering wheel drivers out there? I mean I would like to know who are the ones who are scared out of their wits and which ones are comfortable enough to make a quick decision if need be. I want to be as far away from the those drivers as I can be since they are usually the ones swerving into the opposite lane and slamming on the breaks when a rabbit gets near the road or if another driver goes to pass them. You can see the fear on their face as they death grip the wheel. The highway is like a war zone to them.
I mean to think someone would be so scared they would put magnets all over their car in an attempt to keep everyone away from them except the other inexperienced drivers. Wow. If only they could make that law, or make you drive around in a car covered in neon lights or something. Or have you take a drivers course once a month or something.
By Seth on Aug 29, 2008
Good post Joe,
I drive about 30,000 mi/year on interstate highways, and most unsafe acts or conditions I’ve observed have a single cause: lack of lane courtesy — i.e. failure to keep right unless passing.
Regardless of the speed limit or level of enforcement, not everyone is going to travel at the same speed. Safety is enhanced when drivers can reasonably predict what other drivers will do. Any time there’s a car in the middle or left lane that isn’t actively passing someone to their right, that predictability is lost and safety is compromised.
By JOE on Aug 29, 2008
chris says: (its a fact that speed is a major contributing factor in a majority of crashes.) (And knowing my job means that I know from experience, fact and statistics in our area)
Easier said then backed up by facts. If you care to back up your statements lets see some of those REAL figures. You can find accident data all day long but when it comes to enforcement data where is it? How are we to know what enforcement works and what doesn’t? Why do municipalities almost never publish their enforcement data? Hiding something?
And how do you explain these articles;
Virginia Traffic Fatalities Hit 17-Year High. One thousand motorists died on Virginia roads despite crack downs on motorists and massive speeding ticket fines. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/21/2148.asp
6/25/2008
Study: Higher Interstate Speed Limits are Safe
Purdue University study concludes raising the interstate speed limit in Indiana had no negative safety consequence. http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/24/2442.asp ….. just to post a quick couple of many on the Internet.
I recently had to take a “Human Factors” class required by the FAA. We were told that most accidents are the result of multiple factors. Guess that just doesn’t apply to terrestrial travel. Humans are “analog” creatures that don’t adapt well to the “digital” domain of your so worshiped “absolute” treatment of “the Law”. While I have no proof, I believe most legislators intend for their laws to be enforced “in the spirit of the law” and not absolutes.
That’s why you LEO’s have enforcement latitude. As James has eloquently explained small towns and the LEO’s that work for them in Oklahoma are the worst. But our bigger cites are catching up. It’s been proven clearly that their main goal is revenue.
The small town of Roland OK., not even visible from the Interstate, made over a million dollars in 2002 mostly assuredly for speeding violations. I believe they have about 5 miles of jurisdiction on I-40. If you travel in this area, beware.
And Chris, contrary to your mantra I doubt that all these citations had much effect on the accident rate which was probably very low to start with.
By Billy Bob on Aug 29, 2008
As an older wiser person than all of you here is how I handle the slow/fast crowd. I put ’student driver’ magnetic signs on my car and a ‘tophat’ made of yellow plastic that mounts magnetically to the roof that also says ’student driver’. Whalla! All you a-hole speedy gonzales types see that tophat a mile away so you switch over to the fast lane and zip right the heck by me. The other slow pokers line up right behind me.