[MissTwisties]

yeah....that's right. That's about my third speeding ticket in like...17 years. I was on my way to Quebec yesterday, but took a different route, instead of 91 N all the way to the borders, I went on the masspike up to Worcester and took the road to go thru the White Mountains in NH.

There was 2 police cars who already pulled over other cars. I kept following a few cars in front of me in the fast lane. When I saw the 2 cop cars, I did slow down my pace a little, I was going 85 miles/hour. I kept going for about half a mile at about 75-77miles/hour that's when the 3rd cop saw me and turned on his lights. Now I was not sure if he was to go get the faster drivers in front of me, or if he would get me, so I slowed down and started to proceed right away to move in the slow lane, and when I saw him coming behind me, I pulled over right away. Lowered my window, had my license and rental car papers ready to give before he got to my window. Gave it to him, saying "hello officer" and nothing else, didn't even try to get my way out of it. He came back later with the ticket, he checked those boxes:

-Posted
-Lidar
-Estimated

Estimated 85mph in a 65mph zone

Description of offense: LL PT LIDAR 85.8 462.9FT

What does that mean?? He estimated my speed but did not get me on radar. That was near Worcester...If I go to contest this ticket and say I was not going that fast, they might reduce the charge, right? I'm not in a good place right now, and I wish money grew on trees because I have no clue how I'm gonna pay this, I could use a break. Now I am NOT bitching at the ticket persay, even tho I was not going 85, I was STILL speeding. I'm just pissed he didn't go after the 2 other wicked fast drivers in front of me tho? And also about his comment that I took too long to stop...that is so far from the truth. And what does putting in the comment box about my little dog barking at him has ANYTHING to do with a speeding ticket...wtf?? Also, how many points am I looking at getting on my license? I have a perfect score right now...

[SVRACER01]

Originally posted by MissTwisties

-Posted
-Lidar
-Estimated

Estimated 85mph in a 65mph zone

Description of offense: LL PT LIDAR 85.8 462.9FT

What does that mean??

Lidar = laser radar
462.9ft = how far away you were when he radared you

estimated = some room for error. laser said 85.8 so he rounded down to 85.

[ssg]

well, I see no comments about a dog barking or taking too long to stop...so, I'd suggest less alcohol all around


Lidar means he had you on laser at 469 feet, In Ma., Laser at ~1000' is not admissable in court. Unfortunately it's sucky to fight as well, and they will tell you how accurate laser is yada yada.

He didn't go after the 'faster drivers' (you were keeping up with, btw ) because he didn't need to - he could just write you a ticket.

I'm also confused, were you in Worcester or white mountains?

Id say contest it to the magistrate and take it to the higher court when the magistrate tells you to screw, and hope the guy doesen't show up.

[MissTwisties]

ahhh...so Lidar means radar. Yuk. Yeah I was keeping up...those guys were going probably a little over 90 miles an hour. I was speeding and I know that. I was on my way to go across NH to get to Quebec, but I got caught speeding on the Mass Pike near Worcester. When I saw the first 2 cops cars, I did slow down, and I didn't think I was going over 80 miles an hour... I probably didn't see the third police car in time and he caught me going 85 just before I started to slow my pace. When he put his lights on, I tought "he's gonna go either after those guys, or he's gonna get me" so I proceeded right awway to pull over in the slow lane and when he came to place himself behind me, proceeded to pull over on the side of the road. That's the comments he put in the "court address" box:

SLOW TO STOP
Small yapping dog

I was pissed to read that, because I always make a point not to ever try running from cops. And the comment about the dog...wtf...irrelevant!

Hmm...those 2 other guys kept going on their merry way at the same speed passing all 3 police cars....wtf?? LOL MANIACS.

[MissTwisties]

Hmmm...so is it even worth it to go to court to try to lower the fine? What should I say in front of the magistrate? Do you guys know how much points this is gonna cost me? Is my insurance company will find out if I don't tell them? (I had a speeding ticket in CT about 2-3 years ago but my insurance cie never heard about it, but this ticket is in MA....)

[beet]

Don't speed in or around Worcester ...........

[FazerChic]

It's the end of the month. They need money. I slow down at this time to avoid tickets.

[ssg]

Originally posted by MissTwisties
Hmmm...so is it even worth it to go to court to try to lower the fine? What should I say in front of the magistrate? Do you guys know how much points this is gonna cost me? Is my insurance company will find out if I don't tell them? (I had a speeding ticket in CT about 2-3 years ago but my insurance cie never heard about it, but this ticket is in MA....)

sure, maybe no one will show up.

2-4, cant remember - I think 2.

Your insurance company will know, Ct. was probably not reciprocal at the time you mentioned your last incident. Ma to Ma insurance reports/knows everything. Thankfully they will not submit this till your done in court and have a finding.

[MissTwisties]

Originally posted by somestrangeguy
Thankfully they will not submit this till your done in court and have a finding.

Well what difference will it make if they find out now or later? My insurance rates will increase anyway, right? If they reduce the fine in court, I will still loose the same amount of points on my license, right?

[Nikon]

estimated means that he thought you were going faster than the posted limit and then proceeded to get you on radar/laser to confirm it - he wasn't just checking everyone that went by but thought you were speeding before he checked/confirmed.

LL PT LIDAR 85.8 462.9FT

LL = Left Lane
PT = Passing Traffic
Lidar - laser
85.8 = your speed
462.9 ft = the distance from the laser to your car

[richw]

I think anything over 20 over gets you kicked up to some like mandatory suspension.

SO be thankfull..

My last Ct went and saw DA. Made the fine less then 1/2 but would not talk about the MPH on the ticket.

[97BladeRider]

it will add 2 points...

read more:
http://www.mass.gov/doi/Consumer/WaysToSave_SDIP.html

[Stoneman]

D) Kham...

[MissTwisties]

Originally posted by Stoneman
D) Kham...

hey! I didn't bitch about my ticket!

[mycirus]

Originally posted by MissTwisties


I'm not in a good place right now, and I wish money grew on trees because I have no clue how I'm gonna pay this, I could use a break.

Maybe spend less time with your 6067 post and maybe get a job? I dunno, just a thought.....

Bruce

[slaps76]

If you go to fight it, most likely they'll reduce the ticket, but it's still going to increase your insurance. Not sure how many points your insurance will go up, but you can obviously call your agent and ask.

You COULD play the fact you're a step 9 to your advantage. Tell the court you were behind other cars going faster and don't feel you were speeding, and you have a clean record. Maybe they'll throw it out.

And FYI, the first time you go to fight a speeding ticket in MA, the officer doesn't show up, there's a trooper that just reads the tickets to the magistrate. If you appeal their first decision(ex. if they just want to cut the fine in half), you then go to a second hearing, where the officer has to go. If he doesn't show it'll get thrown out. However, nowadays cops usually attend, since they're paid overtime.

[dhuze]

The last time I went to court in Worcester I was the only person who didn't try to kill anyone. I was driving without a license. I had to pay $50 court costs and not drive until I got my license back (ya right I drove back up to bike week in NH only to go to Lowell the next day for "driving without a license". Same outcome.

[JeffL]

2 points, pay the ticket and suck it up.

If you didnt want a ticket, either dont speed in the first place, or dont CONTINUE SPEEDING after you've just passed a line of police cars.

Both are fairly obvious choices, both of which you apparently overlooked.

Originally posted by somestrangeguy
sure, maybe no one will show up.

Does'nt matter in Ma. The cop does not have to show up. One cop will read the write up to the Magistrate and then he will fine you. 10 over last year cost me $100.
Lee

[Stoneman]

Talk to Kham! HE'LL know what to do!

[stoinkythepig]

They probably had you on LIDAR before you ever passed the first two cops. Odds are there was one cop, well hidden, running LIDAR from a location where you could only see him after you passed, and using his radio to tell the other three cops which car to stop. This could explain why they tagged you rather than the cars in front of you; you probably blocked their line of vision to the cars ahead of you. I cannot imagine a way out of this ticket but best of luck to you.

Doesn't everybody know the MA Pike is the most heavily enforced road in the state? Terrible place to speed.