Hey everyone i got a ticket on my way to work this afternoon. I have a pretty nice cobra radar detector thats always served me well but today it never went off. I was going down the highway and passed a cop. I never even slowed down cuz i didn't think i was really speeding my speedometer showed like 69 or 70. Then came the lights. The cop asked me for my drivers license said he didnt need my insurance. Came back with a ticket it and asked if my radar detector worked. I said no it didn't go off but i don't even really use it. He said its because they got a new system. Well then he told me about my rims. I have 20's on now and he said that would throw off my speed quite a bit. He said he clocked me at 85 in 65. He wrote the ticket for 79 in 65. Should i try to fight it on the basis of my rims. i thought it changed it in the opposite direction? What do you all think? i don't mind paying the ticket because apparently i was speeding but i cant afford a hike in insurance. Let me know what you'd do?
It would be in your best interest to go to court and tell the judge. Not really fight it but let the judge know what happened and the cop should be there also to testify that you had the new rims. YOu will pay something but the judge MAY not allow it to go on your record so your insurance does not go up. It is always in your best interest to show up for the court instead of just paying the fine to give yourself a good chance that it does not show on your record for insurance reasons.
Good luck!
No you are out of luck. It is your responsibility to get your car re calibrated to the new rims size. I do not think you have a chance on this one. Sounds like he was cool about it though. I got a ticket for that one time long ago.
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2002 Saleen S/C Coupe
#293 Torch Red
Power in the hands of a few
I think I can add a couple of points from personal experience.
First, while the rims can change your speedometer, it's more likely the overall diameter of the tire that has the greatest impact on your speedometer. For instance, my F-150 has rather small tires, and reads 3 mph slower than actual. I have verified this via GPS and radar. My Mustang is spot on. This is in their favor, as it's up to you to know the actual speed of your vehicle.
On the other hand, it also depends on your driving record. If you have a good record (here in Virginia we can rack up to 5 positive points) then your insurance rates might not increase, even if convicted. You might also get let off with a warning or probation if you go to court, which would have no impact. The charges may also be dismissed if for some reason the officer fails to appear, although that is less likely.
If this is your first offense in 5 years, then I'd say go to court and ask for leniency. If you have a poor record, again go to court and you might be able to attend traffic school rather than a conviction.
Again, it all depends on your record.
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'05 Sonic Blue GT w/ '07 V8 engine, 5-sp, IUP, Beige leather interior, nothing else -
just the way I wanted it. (1 of 113)
OK, so I've added a few things to it. Check my Profile - too many to list here.
go to court and ask the cop if you can plead down to a lesser charge or speed and get no points (they drive up your insurance). In today's economy, most local and state governments are putting pressure on cops to raise revenue through tickets, he may allow you to plead guilty to a lesser speed out of fear youll win in court and lose the fine. just my 2 cents, good luck
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2005 SCREAMING YELLOW GT WITH BLACK RACING STRIPES....enough said
So, im guessing you did the rims and tires yourself right? Usually places will tell you when your doing a change like that, that it will throw off the odometer. They can say that your pulling that story out of your butt, but at least the police officer will say that he wasn't aware of the odometer change when receiving the fine. Im just puting two cents in there because my sisters been there. Driving to martin, tennessee. hiting 78 on a 70, state trooper goes by, 20 seconds later,after her with the lights. He clocked her in at going 85. This was in my mothers 03 Tacoma with big Michelins on the truck, vastly changing the showing of speeds.
I would take your car to a shop and get the speedometer calibrated. Take the receipt or paper to the judge to show him that you have fixed the problem. That usually works where I'm from.
First off, what size tires did you have from the factory? Then what size did you put on it? Then you can go to the website at the bottom and compare tires and it will tell you how much your speedometer is going to be off. See my note at the bottom and think about a lawyer. But is it really worth it?
I don't see where going from the factory tires to a 20" will kick it up that many MPH over factory. If you have a hand held GPS, I would try it and see how much it is off. Sounds like he got you because you passed him. And he was probably trying out a new radar system and saw you had a detector. That is why he asked if it went off.
But either way, go to court. Be polite and explain what happened. Ask the officer to confirm the new wheels on the car. Explain that you didn't know your speedometer was that far off. You can plead No-Lo once every so often and it is basically saying I am guilty but I don't want it on my license. If you have a tuner, you can get the revolutions per mile off the website and calibrate your speedometer yourself.
Good luck.
On a side note - You would have to be running over a 33" tall tire on that 20" rim (factory tire is 27") to get 15 MPH over. Something around a 275/60 R20. That is a truck tire. As a reference, that tire would be almost as tall as the door knob on a standard door.
I would just go in there and be apologetic, tell them you have since gotten your speedometor correctly calibrated and hope the judge has mercy on you. They like it when you go in there and admit you were wrong, but apologize and fix whatever problem may have caused you to speed, worked for me once.
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-A7X- ~Stang Syndicate Boston~*2006 Torch Red GT*10/10/07 Performance:Borla FRPP Stingers w/ True Dual Midpipes, Magnaflow High Flow Cats, JLT CAI, Bama 93 Race Tune, Ford Racing 4.10 Gears, Nitto 555 Extremes. Visual: Black AVS Tail Light Trim, Honeycomb Tail Light Vinyl, Black Racing stripes, 35% Window Tint, Trunk Blackout Panel, Billet Antenna Delete, Mirror Covers, 17" Konig "Further" Rims, Quarter Window Louvers, 20% Tinted Head Light/Turn Signal, Boss C-Stripes, CS/GT C-Scoops.
Just got back from court with my son...he had 4 tickets. Got them knocked down to 4 months supervision and 40 hours community service, and of course $135 in court costs. That was it. And one of them was for an open bottle of alcohol in the car while parked by a minor. Hell yeah it's worth fighting.
But I doubt you can actually beat the ticket. What you can do is plead guilty and explain your case (extenuating circumstances) and hopefully point to a good driving record in the past. Usually the judge will give you something like supervision where if you stay out of touble for the specified period of time your record is wiped clean and your insurance never knows. You can't avoid the court costs. And you no doubt will have to pay the fine associated with the ticket.
You might be able to avoid the fines if you can show the wheels were in fact the cause and you have since had your speedometer recalibrated to resolve the issue. Larger wheels will cause your speedo tyo read slower since they cover more ground per revolution. Also, don't even mention the radar detector. The only people that have them are ones who want to avoid getting caught for speeding. It won't reflect well on your story if you're trying to convice the judge your speeding was an accident.
The judge wants to rip thru these cases. All they really want is the money. What you did didn't pose a risk to anyone else or cause an accident so they should take it easy on you.
You need to read up on the laws for your area. Here in AZ. You would get a civil traffic tickets for that speed. Only options are pay it, go to school or fight it (no school option after this). The "excuse" would not be enough to find you not responsible at which time you would be responsible for paying the fine. No probation in Arizona for civil offenses, no community service. Pay is the only option.
Go to school if you can, that eliminates points. The court does NOT have the authority to eliminate your points unless they find you not responsible or suspend the fine.
Criminal speed however, the court can order you to go to school. Depending on the court they can dismiss it after you attend.
Again check your laws there.
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Getting ready to love life again! Dreams do come true! __________________________________________________ 2006 Mustang GT
I think he's got you. You went that fast no matter what might have caused it. Too bad, though. It's a good idea to get it right the first time because you can't go back and do it over again. It works. I got my last ticket in 1966 and decided that was it. Not bad for driving tractor/trailer all my working life.
Is your Radar detector in plain view? Did you ask to see the radar with the accused speed? I have not heard of any 'NEW" radar being allowed by the FCC. I have heard however of cops radaring a violator then not clearing the radar and looking for people with radar detectors and just pulling them over and feeding them a line of crap, then if they want to see the radar they show it to them. This might explain the fact that your radar never went off and the descrepance between what you think you were going and what he said you were going.
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06 Vista Blue Premium GT, Automatic, CDC Shaker Hood System, Pioneer AVIC Z2 DVD/ Navigation System with Rear View Camera, Rear Window and 1/4 window Louvers, CDC Classic Chin Spoiler, SHR Honeycomb Panel, Stainless Tail light Bezels, FRPP Stingers, 3D Carbon Side Scoops, C&L Street CAI, SCT X2 W/ 93 Street-Race Tune, Sequential Turn Signals, CDC Hood Struts, TCI Street Fighter Shifter
Got Ticket: Is it worth fighting? 
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