POSTED: Friday, June 18, 2010
UPDATED: 10:46 am EDT June 18, 2010
A new warning to Michigan drivers going through Ohio.
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that police in Ohio can legally issue speeding tickets if they think a driver is speeding.
In a 5-1 ruling, the court said "a police officer's unaided visual estimation of a vehicle's speed is sufficient" as long as the officer is sufficiently trained and experienced in estimating speeds.
The ruling came when an officer on radar duty stopped a motorist for driving 81 miles per hour in a 60 miles per hour zone.
The judge dismissed the case when the officer couldn't produce his radar certification in court.
The judge did not agree that he could make an estimated guess.
The court now says police officers can estimate someone's speed and pull them over accordingly, although, radar evidence is better.
Michigan does not have plans to change their standards at this time.
"Sir, do you know how fast you were going?" "Neither do I. Here's your ticket, chickenfucker."
I heard a ridiculous story a little while back, this guy I talked to got a ticket for doing an insane amount of speeding in a Dodge Ram, I think a diesel. Anyway, the judge asked him how it was even possible to go that fast in that vehicle. I think he got a ticket for doing like 150 or so. He said the truck was in the air.
The judge looked at him and asked how that happened. Apparently they were doing something with this truck they built in his driveway and were testing something, so they put the truck on jackstands and jacked it up. A cop rolled up, took out his radar gun and pointed it at the tires or whatever, got that reading and gave them a ticket for it. The judge let them go and had a talk with the cop haha.
I remember getting pulled over 20 years ago in PA for 76 in a 55. Cop had a stopwatch and 2 lines on the road. Not sure if they still use that system or not.
It is actually bs. They tell you this so that you can't argue with them. My uncle was OSP. They especially hate Michigan people and make a point to bust them as often as possible.
so it is literally the officers word against yours, with no way to prove anything either way...guilty until proven innocent...better hope you dont piss off a cop by doing anything they dont personally like (like standing up for your right to not incriminate yourself by not speaking to him), you'll get a huge speeding ticket if they cant find anything else to cite you for...this is a complete crock of shit
Ditto...I would also take that ticket to court and drill the cop in front of the judge (Exactly how fast was I going officer?) (You have me on radar?) (Oh your taking an educated guess!) I would then throw something like an ink pen to the back of the court room and ask the cop how fast it was going...I don't see something like this standing up in court!
I was just down in Ohio 2 weekends in a row. I guess they're really in the dump for revenue. They had on the news that OSP would pull people for 5 and under now.
I was getting passed doing 70 down the Ohio Turnpike and passed a hand full of cops just sitting there.
i got a ticket for "basic violation of speed law" on my motorcycle. the cops said his radar couldnt clock me i was going so fast but he knew i was speeding... so
We are heading to SE Ohio next month.
Anyone have an old Ohio plate I can put on the front ot the car?
I bet they are hoping they write the estimated tickets to people from out of state with the hope people will just pay them and not try to fight.
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