Speeding Ticket Myths

Continued from page 1

Myth #6:
Officer must show radar reading if asked

Many people are under the false notion that if you ask an officer to show you the radar unit then he has an obligation to do so. Nothing could be further from the truth. An officer does not have to show the radar reading to anyone.

There is no law in any state that requires the officer to show the radar or laser reading on his gun. One of the primary reasons for this has to do with safety. The officer will not want to bear the liability of you getting hit by oncoming traffic. As a result, your request to view the radar unit will be declined.

Do not use this defense in court.

Myth #7:
Officer must read you your rights

During a routine traffic stop, an officer does not have to read you your rights. Many of you are familiar with the Miranda Law, which became effective due to the landmark case Miranda vs Arizona 384 US 436 (1966).

The warnings are required to be read during interrogations. This means that whenever a person is under arrest and they are asked a question about a crime, these rights must be read to them.

You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can not afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. You can choose to exercise these rights at anytime.

However, a traffic stop is an exception. The courts have ruled that an officer is not required to read the Miranda warnings during a traffic stop. But, that doesn't mean that they don't apply.

During a traffic stop, you do have the right to remain silent, it's just that an officer will never tell you this. He's betting you don't know any better and will ultimately convict yourself by saying the wrong thing.

Myth #8:
If I get a speeding ticket in another state my home state won't find out about it

Every state in the nation shares information with each other. As of today, there are 45 states which are members of what is called the "Driver's License Compact".

Basically this is a conglomeration of states that share driver's license information with one another. So, if you get a speeding ticket in one of these states, your home state will find out about it.

The 5 states which do not belong to this pact are Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

Myth #9:
Driving with your lights on will defeat laser guns

Car and Driver Magazine reported in their November 1993 issue that the use of powerful lights may reduce - and sometimes defeat - laser's effectiveness and buy time for drivers to slow down after their detectors go off.

Every state has laws on how bright and how many lights you can have on the front of your car. Whats allowed, typically no more that 300 candlepower total, is far below that required to defeat police lasers.

Myth #10:
Honking your horn like a maniac will defeat police radar

This is yet another instance where science proves this myth wrong. By honking your horn, the beat oscillations emitting from the horn are sent into the surrounding atmosphere. This is supposed to alter the radar beams path. However, the oscillations from the horn are so small and under so much metal, that it plays absolutely no role in interfering with police radar.

Myth #11:
A police officer can not search your car if you are placed under arrest

A police officer does have the right to search your vehicle anytime you are placed under arrest. No permission needs to be granted by you.

Speeding Ticket Myths

Myth #6:Officer must show radar reading if asked

Myth #7:Officer must read you your rights

Myth #8:If I get a speeding ticket in another state my home state won't find out about it

Myth #9:Driving with your lights on will defeat laser guns