Caught a break in Denver!
 

Last Thursday I was leaving Denver International from a business trip. Once you leave the parking garage the speed limit is posted at 45MPH and when you swing around a long righthander it jumps to 65. I started to accelerate a bit too soon and there in my windshield was "John Law" with a radar gun aimed right at me. He lit up the lights and I knew I was doomed! I didn't even wait for him to pull in behind me, I just worked my way over to the shoulder and stopped and waited. After the normal exchange of registration, DL, etc., he said, "Know why I stopped you?" "Guess I was a little over the limit" I replied. "63 in a 45" he said and returned to his cruiser for about 5 minutes. I was already balancing the checkbook for the big fine when he came back. "Not supposed to give warnings for speeding out here, but I didn't notice you signal that lane change," he said. "I'm sure you spend plenty on insurance for this thing, so I'm going to write a warning for faulty equipment...inoperable turn indicator." No fine, no appearance, "just slow down a bit in the future OK?' "I will sure do so Officer, and thanks, you guys get a bad rap sometimes and I truly appreciate the warning." A little coutesy and cooperation seem to go a long way sometimes. Just thought a story about a 'good cop" might be of interest!

Musta been a car guy! And thanks for the Good Cop story. Those poor guys never know who's ready to blow their head off after a "routine traffic stop."

I give all the respect in the world to Officers and FireFighters. Most are great guys just doing their job. In fact I caught more breaks from them then i deserve.

Two mistakes,

1) NEVER speed on Pena blvd, no matter what the idiot who just passed you by was doing. It's a 24 hr/7 day speed trap.

2) NEVER admit to how fast you were going. I'm really suprised he didn't give you a ticket, you admitted guilt. "I don't know." should always be your answer to the "Do you know why I pulled you over?" question.

Congrats on the warning.

2) If you lie, your definitely getting a ticket.

Actually, if you admit guilt, you're getting a ticket. Then good luck fighting it in court. It's the way the law works.

You are better off to say I don't know because 99times of 100 you will get a ticket. See it's soo odd he didn't he had to post it on an internet message board. So I Don't know is the answer cause you ARE getting a ticket. With I don't know, and what the hell are you talking about and even was that radar gun calibrated recently will all get you a ticket, but give you fighting power at the court.

There's a reason why the Police ask "Do you know why I pulled you over or do you know how fast you were going?". If you answer that you were speeding, how fast you were speeding, illegal lane change, ran a red light - that's taken as an admission of guilt. Any admissions are written on the back of the ticket. If they ask if you knew how fast you were going and you admit you were 10 over the limit - they'll probably give you a ticket for 10 over the limit even if they had you at 15 over. Basically, you admitted it - you can't fight it.

I've been pulled over numerous times but only received 3 tickets. One when I was 17 (my dad got nailed in the same place a week later). The second in college on my 920 Virago - I got that one dismissed since he claimed he got me going away from him across traffic (no way that was me). The third in New Mexico - he just chuckled and handed me a ticket for $165.00.

Here are my rules for getting dealing with Police when pulled over:

The minute you notice you're "nailed" - pull over as soon as it's safe to do so. (make sure to signal!)

Shut off the car.

Keep your lights on (if at night).

Keep your hands on the wheel (don't start looking for registration/insurance).
Roll down the window or crack it so they can speak with you.

Follow all instructions.

Be polite (Yes Sir, Yes Officer)

If you have papers in your wallet or a console - tell the police what you are doing.
("My registration is in my glove box - I'm going to open it and get it").

Only admit to the infraction if it's serious enough that you'll probably get a ticket anyway (doubling the speed limit or racing, for example). I generally use, "I'm not really sure, but it sure looks like I did something". If you are going to admit to something - make it general ("Yeah, I was being stupid and speeding") and make sure you do it with an apologetic tone. Beligerance is only going to make it worse.

If they say something about how "I guess you can afford to speed" or "I guess you can afford the insurance" - I've used "Not really" or "My wife sure doesn't think so". This actually got me out of a ticket.