Avoiding Traffic Tickets

Here are some tips from a speeding maniac on how to avoid traffic tickets. Not all may apply to your country or location though. I am speeking from past experience in the US and in Germany.

• If it is legal in your country, get a radar detector. But don't just buy anything. I spent perfectly good money on a Cobra once and regretted it. The thing works but it fires all the time and you start ignoring it. I just bought the Passport 8500 x50 Radar Detector by Escort after reading lots of reviews and test that said it is the best all around detector. On my recent trip I was surprised how well this thing works. Sometimes it took almost a minute until I saw the cop. It warned me around corners and over hills before I could even see the cop.
• You would be foolish to rely on a detector alone. Even though the all have laser detection, the reading on the laser is instantanous. So when the thing fires it may be too late. Lets face it, cops need to stand and take aim. They cannot sit in their warm cars looking at a display (as with radar). So get into the cops heads and imagine if you were them. I have rarely seen one with a laser gun.
• On a long and empty stretch of US freeway, there is no way for a cop to hide. So they prefer to stand behind an overpass or a bush. If you are speeding and there is one overpass every 10 miles, it doesn't hurt to slow down there.
• Some other driver comes at you (from the opposite direction) flashing his/her headlights for no apparent reason. Brake ! The person is most likely kind enough to let you know about a speed trap.
• Look at your mirror frequently to see if a cop is following you. Watch the traffic ahead and try to see ahead as far as possible to see how drivers react.
• Only be the fastest car on the road if you have to. There is no problem doing 90 mph if there are other cars doing 95. However keep in mind, there is no guarantee the cop won't pull you over (I have heard from people that had this happen). However its more likely the cop will go after the faster cars (Every ticket I got so far I was the fastest).

Things to remember in Germany

• No proof no ticket. This means if you pass a cop car while you are way over the speed limit, don't panick. If they didn't have their radar on or laser on you, they have no grounds to keep you. If you are pulled over, never admit anything. When asked, insist you drove at the speed limit.
• They have a catalog how much you will pay and they actually calculate the money based on days of your income (e.g. 40 days income). So you could pay a LOT if you make a lot. There wont be any adverse affects on your insurance cost and it is pointless to argue.
• The Polizei uses neutral cars on freeways. They are equipped with cameras and they measure your speed. No way to deny anything. However keep in mind, the cars are all german brand cars (usually Audi, VW, Mercedes, BMW sometimes Porsche or Opel). If you are speeding and passing one of those, they will most likely get behind you. So if you ever pass a german brand car going way slower than you and they start following you for no apparent reason, slow down. It takes them around 15s or so to get your speed.
• They use automatic cameras to measure your speed. No radar will be involved, the speed is measured with lasers perpendicular to the road. These things are usually hidden. They will fire a flash (usually red). If you ever see a car in front of you being flashed, brake. Ask locals about known speed traps (some are permanent).
• Turn on your radio and listen to the traffic report. Almost every radio station reports speed traps (people call in to report them).

Allright. These are probably the most important things. Remember, usually there is a reason for speed limits. The best thing is to always drive below the speed limit and follow all rules. Be good

Oh I almost forgot. In Germany and the USA (and I guess most other countries) you do not have to incriminate yourself. It is not against the law to lie to a cop when he asks you how fast you were. Never play dumb though. Cops are not stupid. Insist you drove at the speed limit. Don't argue. Cops don't react well to arguments. If they cought you, just take the ticket. And treat cops like persons. They are just doing a job and are normal humans like yourself. Most people don't like that kind of work and I am sure the cops don't like that part either. So show them the respect they deserve for their jobs.

Andre

Travel Photography

Wow thanks Andre for the tips. Over the weekend we traveled to Sawtell on the coast of NSW you wouldnt believe the amount of speed cameras along the highway. They where everywhere. But some people still seem to overtake us and we lose sight of them even though we are doing the speed limit.

In Australia we have speed camera's along a lot of busy roads and freeways if you are speeding while passing them your licence plate will be photographed and you will be sent a fine in the mail. But we also have the police who have radas in their cars and who pull you over and give you a fine on the spot. Sometimes you will find a police car trying to hide out of view and they have a rada then up a head you will find more police that pull you over if the previous police car has clocked you speeding,

Over here in Australia we have Demerate points on our Licence. So every time we get booked a point or more will be taken of your licence depending on what you get booked for . Do you all have this on your licence's? And over here at Christmas time or any long weekend they put the points up to double that can be taken off. So instead of one point for speeding you would lose two.

Our point system here in Australia seems to be similar to yours in Germany only difference is we dont have to go to driving school to get them back every three years you automaticly get your points back. It used to be that if you got booked in one State say Queensland and you lived in NSW you didnt lose any points because you where out of state but you still had to pay the fine. They have changed that now If you get booked in one state it will effect your licence no matter where you come from.

You guys just need to drive slower to avoid trouble with the LAW