Do you know how fast you were going?

Kitsune · 04-06-2006, 09:38 AM

What's the correct answer to give?

Kitsune · 04-06-2006, 09:41 AM

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?

xoxoxoBruce · 04-08-2006, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsune

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?

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.

Flint · 04-06-2006, 09:43 AM

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.

SteveDallas · 04-06-2006, 09:50 AM

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.

04-06-2006, 10:19 AM

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.

Kitsune · 04-06-2006, 10:24 AM

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...

Beestie · 04-06-2006, 10:48 AM

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.

04-06-2006, 10:55 AM

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.

barefoot serpent · 04-06-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beestie

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.

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?

MaggieL · 04-07-2006, 04:33 PM

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.".

SteveDallas · 04-07-2006, 06:05 PM

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

MaggieL · 04-07-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

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

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

Trilby · 04-07-2006, 06:13 PM

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

JayMcGee · 04-07-2006, 06:27 PM

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....

View Poll Results: Do you know how fast you were going?
Yes, officer, I do and I'm sorry I was speeding.	14	66.67%
Actually, officer, I don't. Was I speeding?	7	33.33%
Voters: 21. You may not vote on this poll

04-06-2006, 09:38 AM	#1
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	Do you know how fast you were going? What's the correct answer to give?

04-06-2006, 09:43 AM	#4
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	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. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

04-06-2006, 10:48 AM	#8
Beestie -◊\|≡·∙■·∙≡\|◊- Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Parts unknown. Posts: 4,081	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. __________________ ♠ ♥ ♣ ♦

04-07-2006, 04:33 PM	#11
MaggieL in the Hour of Scampering Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Jeffersonville PA (15 mi NW of Philadelphia) Posts: 4,060	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.". __________________ "Neither can his Mind be thought to be in Tune,whose words do jarre; nor his reason In frame, whose sentence is preposterous..."

04-06-2006, 09:41 AM	#2
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	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?

04-06-2006, 09:50 AM	#5
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	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.

04-06-2006, 10:19 AM	#6
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	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.

04-06-2006, 10:24 AM	#7
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	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...

04-06-2006, 10:55 AM	#9
marichiko Guest Posts: n/a	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.

04-07-2006, 06:05 PM	#12
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	That's very funny... sure it's not an urban legend?

04-07-2006, 06:13 PM	#14
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I always invoke the fifth. (the fifth amendment, not the bottle) __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

04-07-2006, 06:27 PM	#15
JayMcGee Cardigan-wearing man Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Much Binding In The Marsh Posts: 1,082	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 like wearing cardigans...... my current favourite is an orange cable-knit with real leatherette buttons.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)