Interesting LEO encounter coming home from lunch. I was on a side road and had just turned right onto the main road (60 MPH speed limit). Gave it maybe 1/3 throttle, accelerated briskly, and stopped at 62 MPH and set the cruise at 62. Saw a state LEO on the opposite side of the road maybe 1000 feet later and didn't think anything of it. As I went past him, he pulled out onto the road: still didn't think anything of it. Maybe a half mile later, there he was behind me, lights on. So I signaled and pulled off the right shoulder into the grass to give him room to safely walk up to the driver's window.
He comes up to my passenger window, leans down, and this was the conversation:
LEO: I clocked you at 74 MPH; is there a reason for the speed?
Me: Uh, what? My speed showed 62.
LEO: I got you going 74.
Me: I never go that fast on this road (true) and I know my gauge said 62 and no higher.
LEO: OK, can I see your license and proof of insurance?
Handed him those, he says he'll be right back, and maybe 3 minutes later he came back with "Gonna let you off with a warning this time but watch your speed". I thanked him for the warning but I did end the conversation with:
Me: I'm not being argumentative and appreciate the warning but I swear to you my gauge said 62 and never went any higher. (only reason I said this is maybe his gun is miscalibrated and if he hears it from multiple people, maybe he'll check).
Leo: My radar got you at 74 and we don't just make up speeds.
Me: Thank you. I'm sure your equipment said 74. But mine said 62, so I guess I'll have to double check my gauges to be sure my speedometer is correct. (of course, that was just for his benefit and because I do know when to "take yes for an answer". I know my speedo is dead nuts accurate).
So, as someone who very rarely goes more than 5 over the speed limit (unless passing), I have to ask. It was already going through my mind, "I'm gonna fight this one because HE IS WRONG!". Do you think he clocked someone else? Behind me? In front of me? Do you think he was just pissed because he saw 62 and since, after seeing him, I didn't slow down 2 MPH, he wanted a reason to pull me over? Do you think him quickly coming back with a warning for (what he thought was) 74 in a 60 zone was an indication that he either wasn't sure or was lying?
This begs the question (again), would a dashcam that shows GPS speed help if I had gotten a ticket? Are those even admissable? How would YOU combat being accused of something you didn't do? I know 20 years ago my buddies would always say "Ask to see the speed on the radar gun". I never bit to that "myth" for two reasons: (1) it shows you are implying he's lying and (2) what would it prove anyway since he could have cleared it or even had an old speed from some other car displayed. Never really thought about this because I guess I never thought I'd be pulled over for doing 12 MPH more than I was really doing! Man I wish I had a dashcam so I could share the video!
Mike
He comes up to my passenger window, leans down, and this was the conversation:
LEO: I clocked you at 74 MPH; is there a reason for the speed?
Me: Uh, what? My speed showed 62.
LEO: I got you going 74.
Me: I never go that fast on this road (true) and I know my gauge said 62 and no higher.
LEO: OK, can I see your license and proof of insurance?
Handed him those, he says he'll be right back, and maybe 3 minutes later he came back with "Gonna let you off with a warning this time but watch your speed". I thanked him for the warning but I did end the conversation with:
Me: I'm not being argumentative and appreciate the warning but I swear to you my gauge said 62 and never went any higher. (only reason I said this is maybe his gun is miscalibrated and if he hears it from multiple people, maybe he'll check).
Leo: My radar got you at 74 and we don't just make up speeds.
Me: Thank you. I'm sure your equipment said 74. But mine said 62, so I guess I'll have to double check my gauges to be sure my speedometer is correct. (of course, that was just for his benefit and because I do know when to "take yes for an answer". I know my speedo is dead nuts accurate).
So, as someone who very rarely goes more than 5 over the speed limit (unless passing), I have to ask. It was already going through my mind, "I'm gonna fight this one because HE IS WRONG!". Do you think he clocked someone else? Behind me? In front of me? Do you think he was just pissed because he saw 62 and since, after seeing him, I didn't slow down 2 MPH, he wanted a reason to pull me over? Do you think him quickly coming back with a warning for (what he thought was) 74 in a 60 zone was an indication that he either wasn't sure or was lying?
This begs the question (again), would a dashcam that shows GPS speed help if I had gotten a ticket? Are those even admissable? How would YOU combat being accused of something you didn't do? I know 20 years ago my buddies would always say "Ask to see the speed on the radar gun". I never bit to that "myth" for two reasons: (1) it shows you are implying he's lying and (2) what would it prove anyway since he could have cleared it or even had an old speed from some other car displayed. Never really thought about this because I guess I never thought I'd be pulled over for doing 12 MPH more than I was really doing! Man I wish I had a dashcam so I could share the video!
Mike