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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What is the source for your expertise on this point? And why is it wrapped in Charmin?

[Anonymous]

This person must be soooo boring in bed. 10 over is nothing on a highway....my husband is a cop and doesn't even bother until they hit 15-20 over, unless we are talking about a residential area....this is a highway. Another reason I loved living in Europe. This anon would die on the autoban....you have to hit 85 to survive. Their accident rate is lower than ours too. The reason they say is because they found decreasing and increasing speed limits causes more accidents. Plus, people just know how to drive at crazy speeds over there. Only in America do we have these stupid arbitrary speed limits.

[Anonymous]

39!!! I got ticketed going 30 at 20 speed limit on 3 lane road. WTF ..F&@& you DC dirty crooked city.

[Anonymous]

Protections under the law:
1.) Do they have to place a sign telling you there is a camera up ahead?
2.) When was the camera last maintenance and was the person testing it qualified?
3.) The camera was it after exiting onto a new highway? Often excessive speed is needed there to ensure ones safety and you would be looking all directions so a flash could cause you potential injury. Emphasis a crash to the rear is almost always fatal or with long lasting whiplash.
4.) Were there other vehicles in the photo?
5.) Was it raining?
6.) Would repainting your car be cheaper than paying the ticket? Tell them the plates may have been forged because after all that is a possibility in any situation and forging is generally a term related to metal working.
7.) Is there a second lane with a dotted line that you could perhaps be merging in to. Perhaps you were speeding up to pass another vehicle.

As to the feeble minded, apathetic and ignoring members that seek to attack thought rather than think towards a solution. If you don't like living in a nation of rebels in a democracy that dwells on the belief of constructive criticism I suggest you get your gung ho carebear patriotic ass out of here. Here we acknowledge natural rights of all man kind and we only give them up in exchange for our mutual benefit. In short... kiss my ass.

[Anonymous]

Corner of Constitution Ave & 15th St., NW west Bound. Got a violation T113 Signal pass Red Lite for $150.00. Did not speed, did not run red light but stopped between lines before corner & was not in the intersection. How can this be a ticket. No pedestrians were present.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Protections under the law:
1.) Do they have to place a sign telling you there is a camera up ahead?
2.) When was the camera last maintenance and was the person testing it qualified?
3.) The camera was it after exiting onto a new highway? Often excessive speed is needed there to ensure ones safety and you would be looking all directions so a flash could cause you potential injury. Emphasis a crash to the rear is almost always fatal or with long lasting whiplash.
4.) Were there other vehicles in the photo?
5.) Was it raining?
6.) Would repainting your car be cheaper than paying the ticket? Tell them the plates may have been forged because after all that is a possibility in any situation and forging is generally a term related to metal working.
7.) Is there a second lane with a dotted line that you could perhaps be merging in to. Perhaps you were speeding up to pass another vehicle.

As to the feeble minded, apathetic and ignoring members that seek to attack thought rather than think towards a solution. If you don't like living in a nation of rebels in a democracy that dwells on the belief of constructive criticism I suggest you get your gung ho carebear patriotic ass out of here. Here we acknowledge natural rights of all man kind and we only give them up in exchange for our mutual benefit. In short... kiss my ass.

These are ridiculous, and please I want to see someone repaint their car for less than the price of a ticket. Get out the Rust-O-Leum and PLEASE post the results!

BTW your natural rights do not include speeding.

[Anonymous]

I just got 2 in 1 week due to a recently installed camera (unbeknownst to me) on my M-F commute. Maryland.
Any luck fighting it in MD? TIA.

[Anonymous]

I'm not from DC and when I visit I never drive but travel by train or plane. Recently I did drive to DC and got a speeding ticket by mail a few weeks later.

Since I don't ever plan to drive to DC again what will happen if I just ignore the ticket? Will DC MVC contact my state MVC or ????

Thanks,
Herman

[Anonymous]

Herman, if you ignore the ticket DC will send it to collections and you'll have a major ding on your credit score. Happened to a client if mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not from DC and when I visit I never drive but travel by train or plane. Recently I did drive to DC and got a speeding ticket by mail a few weeks later.

Since I don't ever plan to drive to DC again what will happen if I just ignore the ticket? Will DC MVC contact my state MVC or ????

Thanks,
Herman

If you have the type of job that requires you to travel to DC regularly by train or plane, you have the $50 to pay the ticket. What makes you think you are not obligated to do so? I would LOVE to hear the answer, seriously.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I have not heard from the DMV in over 6 months after I appealed a camera ticket. Will it get thrown out?

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

Ave K NW in the underpass. Ticket said 46 mph and $200 fine. Can see the license letters but the state is blurry. Is it worth claiming the license picture is incomplete or there was inadequate signage? There were no speed limit signs posted in the underpass. Does anyone have a current photo from the intersection on the east side of the underpass? I remember there is a downhill grade going into the underpass which could be an explaination of the high speed.
I'm a dad but not from DC so I can't go to a hearing. I at least would appreciate the fine lowered.

[Anonymous]

Interesting to find people that think they are the "Thread Monitor" police. Go out and get a real job!