Anyone fight, and win, a camera speeding ticket in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think the city and these speed cameras are getting a little out of hand. There's a total of 5 speed cameras on 295n starting from when you enter dc from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to before you enter the bw parkway smh. The speed limit goes from 45 to 50 back to 45 and that's just terrible. The first 2 cameras entering dc from va aren't even 50yds apart and I find that such a set up. I'm not condoning speeding but I think its ridiculous to have 5 cameras on such a short interstate. The one by the BENNING ROAD exactly on 295 is hidden and u can't see it and the flash doesn't work. It's on the left when they're normally on the right and its backed up to the wall between the guardrails smh. I've travelled 295 everyday and never received a speeding ticket not once now they put a hidden camera and now here comes a 125.00 ticket for supposedly doing 11 miles over the speed limit and might I add my bf was in the fast lane and I was in the truck with him and he doesn't speed because he knows I'll slap his face if he do. The District of Columbia is full of shit. I want to fight it because the law says all cameras should be seen not hidden.

This is fascinating. Could you please cite the relevant DC code that "says all cameras should be seen not hidden? That would be super-duper helpful!

Yes, it is such a setup 50 yards apart. It's so unfair that they give you no time to speed in between cameras. PLUS they hide the damn things, so you might have to drive the speed limit all of the time.

The kicker is that you are SO WORRIED about speed cameras even though your bf DOES NOT SPEED because he will get his face slapped. I hate to use the eyeroll, but seriously there is no other response. and one for your bf for putting up with that shit

First and foremost the disrespect is not needed so if you're going to respond to anything I write please refrain from using profanity smh. The camera is just a computer and computers make mistakes. The cameras can snap the incorrect vehicle if there are three lanes of traffic and there's three cars the camera doesn't know who's speeding or if I speed by between two 18 wheelers one of them will get the ticket because the trucks blocked me from getting caught by the camera. There's a lot of room for error with those cameras and speeding is speeding regardless if you're going 1 or 15 miles over so I guess we are all guilty of that crime so I guess you should slow down too. If you can actually comprehend what I wrote instead of trying to be sarcastically you would've picked up the part about me not condoning speeding and neither myself nor my bf speeds so clearly the wasn't meant for me. The camera doesn't click if you're going 1-10miles over but if you're going 11 or above it does. Clearly speeding is speeding so why not ticket everybody? I still think they're rigged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I personally think the city and these speed cameras are getting a little out of hand. There's a total of 5 speed cameras on 295n starting from when you enter dc from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to before you enter the bw parkway smh. The speed limit goes from 45 to 50 back to 45 and that's just terrible. The first 2 cameras entering dc from va aren't even 50yds apart and I find that such a set up. I'm not condoning speeding but I think its ridiculous to have 5 cameras on such a short interstate. The one by the BENNING ROAD exactly on 295 is hidden and u can't see it and the flash doesn't work. It's on the left when they're normally on the right and its backed up to the wall between the guardrails smh. I've travelled 295 everyday and never received a speeding ticket not once now they put a hidden camera and now here comes a 125.00 ticket for supposedly doing 11 miles over the speed limit and might I add my bf was in the fast lane and I was in the truck with him and he doesn't speed because he knows I'll slap his face if he do. The District of Columbia is full of shit. I want to fight it because the law says all cameras should be seen not hidden.

This is fascinating. Could you please cite the relevant DC code that "says all cameras should be seen not hidden? That would be super-duper helpful!

Yes, it is such a setup 50 yards apart. It's so unfair that they give you no time to speed in between cameras. PLUS they hide the damn things, so you might have to drive the speed limit all of the time.

The kicker is that you are SO WORRIED about speed cameras even though your bf DOES NOT SPEED because he will get his face slapped. I hate to use the eyeroll, but seriously there is no other response. and one for your bf for putting up with that shit

First and foremost the disrespect is not needed so if you're going to respond to anything I write please refrain from using profanity smh. The camera is just a computer and computers make mistakes. The cameras can snap the incorrect vehicle if there are three lanes of traffic and there's three cars the camera doesn't know who's speeding or if I speed by between two 18 wheelers one of them will get the ticket because the trucks blocked me from getting caught by the camera. There's a lot of room for error with those cameras and speeding is speeding regardless if you're going 1 or 15 miles over so I guess we are all guilty of that crime so I guess you should slow down too. If you can actually comprehend what I wrote instead of trying to be sarcastic you would've picked up the part about me not condoning speeding and neither myself nor my bf speeds so clearly the wasn't meant for me. The camera doesn't click if you're going 1-10miles over but if you're going 11 or above it does. Clearly speeding is speeding so why not ticket everybody? I still think they're rigged.

[Anonymous]

You are a speeder. Stop it now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are a speeder. Stop it now.

+1

Those fixed position units are accurate and regularly tested. And it's easy to see who the speeder is because they can show the wide angle shots to show which car is moving fastest if there is any doubt.

Stop making excuses.

[Anonymous]

Here is someone who did. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009/09/dc-camera-ticket-overturned-over-accuracy-doubts/

There is something else that is kind of interesting. Your ticket, this ticket that was overturned, the two tickets I just got are EXACTLY for 11 mph over the speed limit. In both of my camera tickets I just got there are other vehicles in the picture. So I plan to fight them and point to this ruling as the reason the tickets I received are invalid.

[Anonymous]

An YES it is absolutely rediculous. The ticketing system is being used as an income generator. And when enforcing the law becomes a way to make money, then you have more laws ... because let's face it you can never make "enough" money. And for those of you that think people should stop complaining because they got "caught" breaking the law ... go to the law library and look up all the laws in DC and then ask yourself, how many of these did I break today? Because when the face recognition software becomes good enough and cameras are placed all over the place, you'll get a letter for each and every one of those laws you just broke. It's a matter of principle. Some laws are made and enforced by bad people, and when you put this sort of power into their hands unchallenged it eventually leads to corruption.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is someone who did. http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2009/09/dc-camera-ticket-overturned-over-accuracy-doubts/

There is something else that is kind of interesting. Your ticket, this ticket that was overturned, the two tickets I just got are EXACTLY for 11 mph over the speed limit. In both of my camera tickets I just got there are other vehicles in the picture. So I plan to fight them and point to this ruling as the reason the tickets I received are invalid.

What don't you stop being a self-centered "me, me, me bit--", just slow down for safety and try obeying the law??!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:those of you who are naive or stupid enough to say quaint things like "don't speed = no ticket" are utterly clueless about the vagaries of radar, calibration, etc.

Ever see the test in which radar clocked a stationary tree going faster than the speed limit?

I didn't think so ....

Oh please, that was decades ago and the speed cameras are operating from a fixed position aimed down at one spot on the road. You are dreaming if you think those speed cameras are catching a tree blowing in the wind.

the physics principles etc. behind those false readings are just as applicable today, IIRC those readings were also fixed readings, not moving.

the point is that the technology is still highly susceptible to error, first; and second, these cameras are pure income generators and do nothing to get bad drivers off the road at the time of the violation (since no one is stopped), nor will they result in license supensions.

they're simply disguised tax collectors ...

[Anonymous]

Stop speeding. You do to have the right to speed. Speeding is unsafe.

[Anonymous]

They should up the fines for repeat offenders....maybe $5,000 for second offense, 10k on the next.

[Anonymous]

I hope they keep collecting your tax. Keep speeding = paying fines = your DC Taxes?? Funny Arlington County has cameras on their side of the Key Bridge. Making people like you drive the speed limit is a great public service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:those of you who are naive or stupid enough to say quaint things like "don't speed = no ticket" are utterly clueless about the vagaries of radar, calibration, etc.

Ever see the test in which radar clocked a stationary tree going faster than the speed limit?

I didn't think so ....

Oh please, that was decades ago and the speed cameras are operating from a fixed position aimed down at one spot on the road. You are dreaming if you think those speed cameras are catching a tree blowing in the wind.

the physics principles etc. behind those false readings are just as applicable today, IIRC those readings were also fixed readings, not moving.

the point is that the technology is still highly susceptible to error, first; and second, these cameras are pure income generators and do nothing to get bad drivers off the road at the time of the violation (since no one is stopped), nor will they result in license supensions.

they're simply disguised tax collectors ...

No they aren't, and there are so many reasons you are wrong.

#1 a fixed position camera can be aimed so that it does not have trees waving in its field of vision. The setup is much more reliable than a cop aiming a gun at the top of a hill from the window of his car.
#2 radar's reliability decreases with distance, but these speed cameras in urban areas are a few hundred feet away, not 1/2 mile off.
#3 The technology they are using is usually Ka band with photo. The photo camera is aimed at a fixed position, and the detector is aimed at exactly the same spot. Sometimes there are even road sensors.
#4 They keep maintenance logs and to mount a defense you would have to subpoena the logs and find fault with them, or else you will find it hard to argue for inaccuracy.

This is why the only defense with some chance of success is that the picture is too blurry to identify you, and gosh you don't know who was driving your car that day. You can throw a hail mary and tell them it was raining, but they are going to ignore that.

If you don't believe me, google photo radar defense. The suggestions for defense are laughable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:those of you who are naive or stupid enough to say quaint things like "don't speed = no ticket" are utterly clueless about the vagaries of radar, calibration, etc.

Ever see the test in which radar clocked a stationary tree going faster than the speed limit?

I didn't think so ....

Oh please, that was decades ago and the speed cameras are operating from a fixed position aimed down at one spot on the road. You are dreaming if you think those speed cameras are catching a tree blowing in the wind.

the physics principles etc. behind those false readings are just as applicable today, IIRC those readings were also fixed readings, not moving.

the point is that the technology is still highly susceptible to error, first; and second, these cameras are pure income generators and do nothing to get bad drivers off the road at the time of the violation (since no one is stopped), nor will they result in license supensions.

they're simply disguised tax collectors ...

No they aren't, and there are so many reasons you are wrong.

#1 a fixed position camera can be aimed so that it does not have trees waving in its field of vision. The setup is much more reliable than a cop aiming a gun at the top of a hill from the window of his car.
#2 radar's reliability decreases with distance, but these speed cameras in urban areas are a few hundred feet away, not 1/2 mile off.
#3 The technology they are using is usually Ka band with photo. The photo camera is aimed at a fixed position, and the detector is aimed at exactly the same spot. Sometimes there are even road sensors.
#4 They keep maintenance logs and to mount a defense you would have to subpoena the logs and find fault with them, or else you will find it hard to argue for inaccuracy.

This is why the only defense with some chance of success is that the picture is too blurry to identify you, and gosh you don't know who was driving your car that day. You can throw a hail mary and tell them it was raining, but they are going to ignore that.

If you don't believe me, google photo radar defense. The suggestions for defense are laughable.

What's laughable is your Johnny Appleseed fixation on trees.... the point is that there can be radar error for any number of reasons yet you are obsessed with the waving tree theory.

But yes, you are also right to mention the calibration and maintenance logs and anyone who gets a speed camera, as well as anyone who gets a manned unit ticket where they believe the reading is in error, should subpoena the calibration records, the repair records for the unit, as well as the training records for the citing officer.

You would be surprised (as unquestioning a believer as you seem to be) at how often units are not calibrated properly, have spotty repair records, or are operated by officers without the requisite training.

You must work for the city or the speed camera operator from the sound of your sheep-like acceptance that these units are never wrong.

[Anonymous]

Yes you never speed, it's the cameras fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes you never speed, it's the cameras fault.

no ... only an idiot would derive that conclusion from the points made, but if the shoe fits...