Do you know how fast you were going?
 

What's the correct answer to give?

If you answer "yes", you are admitting to driving over the limit and it seems to me as though you'd be more likely to get a ticket, but answer "no" and you admit to driving carelessly!

How does one handle this situation, correctly?

This is the kind of paradox that short-circuits my ability to process information. I dawdle around until my nen-verbal language decides for me, I guess.

Might the answer depend on the circumstances? If you're doing, say, 45 in a 35, you might lean toward oh I didn't notice my exact speed. If you're doing 65 in a 45 you might not want to admit it, but it's a stretch to pretend you didn't know you were going that fast.

When I've gotten speeding tickets in the past, I generally admitted to my crime. It seems like it depends on whether the officer needs to fill his quota or not. Sometimes, I'm let of with a warning; sometimes I get the ticket. Usually I get the warning, so maybe honesty is the best policy.

I got off with a warning, but answering "yes" to 45 in a 35 and trying to suggest I thought I the limit was 45 was a bad idea. Not only had I just passed a speed limit sign, I had passed two. The second sign, the officer noted to me, was an oversized sign with numbers twice as large as standard and that he was "very surprised" I could have "not noticed such an obvious marker". Ouch.

I think I got out of it because I just started bumbling like a moron at that point. ...or maybe I was showing a hint of leg...

Do not ever incriminate yourself - that is why the officer phrases the question that way - to make his job easy if it goes to court. When you acknowledge that you were speeding, you are waiving the presumption of innocence and its very difficult to get it back - sort of like withdrawing a confession.

It is not always necessary to answer the question as asked. You can say anything you want including a question of your own:

"Was I speeding?"
"If I was speeing, I didn't realize it."
"I would never intentionally exceed the speed limit."

Don't do the cop's job for him/her.

Well, I must admit that sometimes I've used the "I was concentrating on my driving and didn't glance down at my speedometer" excuse. This seems to work no better than an honest admission that you KNEW you were speeding, though. Here's something that worked once for me. I pulled my car over, got out, raised my hands over my head, and said, "You got me officer! I surrender. I'll go quietly." The cop seemed to think this was funny and let me off with a warning.

Yes, this is very true. And also, don't give any incriminating reply to the more general question: Do you know why I stopped you?

The best answer is the one given by Werner Heisenberg who was stopped one day off the Autobahn by a police officer who asked "Do you know how fast you were going, Herr Doktor?", to which the physicist responded, "No, but I know exactly where I am.".

That's very funny... sure it's not an urban legend?

I always invoke the fifth. (the fifth amendment, not the bottle)

speaking of the fifth (symphony, that is...)

I was stopped one time (doing 40 in a 30 area) but ....

as the cop stuck his head in the window, the Beatles tape I was playing reached the 'Piggies' track......

He went over that car with a fine toothcomb....

I'm sure it didn't happen. It's a joke, son.

I'll vote none of the above.

But of course, my usual answer doesn't work for everybody.

Just as soon as I get over the flashlight being shined into my eyes, my usual answer is, "Hi Chuck, how are the twins?"

You're over analyzing this. Answering yes, is admitting to guilt? He knows how fast you were going, he didn't stop you to chat. The question just gives him a reading on your attitude, that's all. He decides whether to write you or not. Treat him like an idiot, insult his intelligence and you can be sure he will be working that pencil overtime.

Once he writes it, don't kid yourself, your guilty until pr oven innocent. Usually it comes down to your word against his. Who's the judge going to believe? Do you have an officially calibrated speedometer?
The conversation between you doesn't mean a thing in court. Except, if you piss him off, he'll make an extra effort to get there.

Now you can tell me about all the friends, cousins, gardeners, that got off with some clever ploy, that you want to. I can tell you some too. But the bottom line is play it straight with the man...it pays. ;)

Neither, just sit up straight, unbutton the top button, smile real pretty, play with your hair and say: "Oh I am sorry officer (playful giggle), I did not realize i was so fast"

wait...are you a girl? ;)

Answering "yes," while an admission of guilt, is sometimes just the right admission of responsibility that results in a verbal or written warning rather than a moving violation.

Cops know you're lying when you say "no, I don't know how fast I was going" because everybody checks the speedometer the second the lights and sirens come on.

play it streight , say something like " I didn't relize how fast I was going untill I saw your lights , then I looked down at the speedo . "

Yeah Zip, that's the ticket. Just say, "I didn't until you startled me with all that commotion, causing me to drop my cell phone I was trying to talk the 13 year old into meeting me in the alley, on, into my Gin & Tonic, splashing the child porn pictures I was rolling a joint on, causing me to glance down and in the process see the speedometer." Bet you don't get a speeding ticket.

Seriously, Zip's right....play it straight. :D

Neither choice is good. Simply answer "yes." They can't require you to give a speed. Was just talking to a CHP a few days ago, and he said they are trained not to ask that question.

I voted no, I don't speed, period. (not, intentionally,... am too laid back) If I was daydreaming and went a little past the limit,.. i was unaware.

I find the police prefer honesty over any attempt to worm out of a ticket. This is also coming from a few police officer friends. However, I stopped speeding after a $175 ticket in Georgia.

Pah, that would just make me stop speeding in Georgia.

That's very admirable of you.......now get the hell out of the left lane. :lol:

In the summer time I Always carry a cooler full of iced drinks and water in the back of my truck , if I get stoped in the summer I will grab my info , walk to the back of my truck , flip the tail gate down and grab a bottle of water , ( Oh and I offer the fine officer a bottle as well ;) ) Chatting and being friendly and respectful ( yes Sir , No sir , etc,,,, )
A few cops have wanted to search my truck thinking that I was trying to keep them from seeing something in the cab , My answer " search away , I have NOTHING to hide !!"

What a fucking pointless discussion you limp dick mother-fuckers - as far as I'm concerned you and your fast driving butt buddies can fuxk off and die!!!:rar:

DN

Suck up and explode BITCH !!!
BARAK
BARAK
BARAK !!!

Fuck you you worthless piece of shite!!!!!

And you sound like a cracker redneck mother fucker!!

and he says that like it was a BAD thing.

I get the "have you been drinking" thing a lot. It is popular around here.

I decided my new answer (as opposed to no, which is always the truth) shall be "NO, but it's on my list of things to do as soon as I get home."

I'll let you all know how it works out for me.

Do you know how fast you were going?

Responses that definitely don't work:

You stopped me. Shouldn't you know?

Yep. Sure was fun, huh? I was really flying there! Whee!

The same speed you were when you caught up to me.

My spedometer doesn't go up that far.

Why? You jealous?

Not half as fast as I wanted to go. Don't you hate breaking in a new engine?

Fast enough to get you to put down your donut.

I once got pulled over for "being in the left lane". There was no one else on the road. He said, "I don't mean to be petty, but that's our lane," meaning the state troopers. :rolleyes:
He told me I reminded him of his daughter... and let me off with a seatbelt citation. Even though I was wearing my belt, it was still cheaper than a moving violation.

New Jersey law....Keep right except when passing and no passing on the right.;)

Usually, flashing the badge works.
When it doesn't, I let them check the coffin in the back.
Haven't had a ticket in years.

That's Pennsylvania law too.

Now, in Jersey, strangely, pretty much the only time I end up getting passed is by someone on the right. I am usually doing at least 20 to 30 over the speed limit in the center lane at the time.

No, in PA you can pass on the right on divided highways and one-way streets therefore you can (but shouldn't) drive in the left lane.;)

Bruce is right. I get passed on the right all the time and I'm just seething... don't they know how dangerous passing a rig on the right is?

I don't want to kill anybody but some drivers just ASK for it!

[Haywood Banks ]If I had a Bull dozer !!![/Hawood Banks ]

I've never had a speeding ticket. I would tell them if I knew... but it seems like a stupid question. They pulled me over, shouldn't they know?

You give them one of those, "hmm, i don't know, i was just moving along with the traffic"

"I don't know, sir, but I'm never gonna reach warp1 if y'all keep stopping me like this, and I need to reach at least warp 9 to get Home (wink wink, stare up at the sky)"
"Sorry, officer, but my flux capacitor's been on the fritz, and this thing hasn't run right since... do you by any chance have a little plutonium on you?"

Alligator tears always seemed to work for me. Of course, I was younger, cuter, and had a car that would actually surpass the speed limit!