I thought it'd be a good idea to make a thread where we can pool together our knowledge and experience to avoid speeding tickets. Almost all of my advice is related to driving on the highway/interstate system. And of course, the most foolproof way to avoid tickets is to not speed at all.

1. Don't excessively speed in the first place. Most cops set up in speed traps don't bother pulling anyone over unless you're doing 15+ over the limit.
2. Always be aware of areas that seem like good spots for a speed trap. I.E. coming over a hill, or around a bend. Places with bad sightlines are always good candidates.
3. Team up with a group of cars speeding and try to be somewhere in the middle (instead of in front or in the back)
4. Stay out of the left lane as much as you can. You should only be using the left to pass anyway, but unless you're passing stay in the right (or center) lane. Cops in speed traps usually pay more attention to cars in the left lane, as they're more inclinded to be speeding.
5. Stay constantly aware of all cars around you, especially at night b/c its harder to see. At night if someone's coming up pretty fast from behind its usually a good idea to slow down (at least a little bit) and get over and try to act more innocent. (of course you should always get over for a faster car anyway!)
6. Don't be the only one speeding on the road. If you're speeding and there's no one else within sight in front or behind you chances are good you could get napped if there's a trap set.
7. Always be more cautious at the end of the month. Cops have quotas, they need to meet them.
8. Cops are always more active around holidays so be careful then. Christmas, 4th of July, New Years, etc.
9. Invest in a good radar detector such as the V1. They're very helpful but you have to be careful not to rely on them too much. I haven't had a detector in years but I've noticed no increase in getting pulled over, just about being smart.

Most of this advice is just common sense, but IMO its good advice. Feel free to add to this list, or if you disagree with something I've said feel free to say so.

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 4:54 PM. Reason : k]

8/25/2008 4:52:27 PM

shit, well done

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 4:56 PM. Reason : a]

8/25/2008 4:53:28 PM

^see my rule #3

8/25/2008 4:54:38 PM

Actually we can simplify this list down pretty fast into one simple rule.

1. Don't speed

/thread

8/25/2008 5:01:35 PM

Quote :

"And of course, the most foolproof way to avoid tickets is to not speed at all."

^can you read? If you have nothing to add, just move along

8/25/2008 5:06:28 PM

HOW BOUT YOU TRY NOT SPEEDING IN THE FIRST PLACE

/doss2k, other users to follow

8/25/2008 5:11:03 PM

I would say to stay out of the passing lane as much as you can. Cops in speed traps usually pay more attention to cars in the left lane, as they're more inclinded to be speeding.

8/25/2008 5:11:21 PM

I don't like the slow-down-speed-up aspect of trying to speed excessively (15+), so I just keep it at a max of 10-over.

My advice is.. if you're passing everyone and no one's passing you, slow down.

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 5:19 PM. Reason : ]

8/25/2008 5:13:35 PM

^in some areas you don't have to worry about that, like low traffic areas. For instance I-95 from Southern VA all the way to Miami.

Hey fellas, if I already stated something you don't have to repeat it. Or maybe people aren't reading my original post all the way through?!

8/25/2008 5:20:41 PM

Quote :

"Always be more cautious at the end of the month. Cops have quotas, they need to meet them."

HA HA HA HA um yeah

Tips to AVOIDING speeding tickets......stay under 15 over the limit and you should be ok

8/25/2008 5:25:32 PM

Yeah, the only two times I have been pulled for speeding I got tickets, both for 17 over. The last one was 4 or 5 years ago. I have since pretty much kept to 9-11 over and haven't been pulled.

Now excuse me while I knock on every piece of wood within a 1 mile radius.

8/25/2008 5:28:26 PM

Quote :

"Always be more cautious at the end of the month. Cops have quotas, they need to meet them."

this is true??
i always thought this was a myth.

8/25/2008 5:30:12 PM

mebane, nc police have a quota

8/25/2008 5:31:51 PM

what do you know about mebane?

8/25/2008 5:32:19 PM

is there any list of common speed trap spots? like the offramp from 40 to hwy70 heading towards clayton?

8/25/2008 5:47:40 PM

when you actually do get pulled over just admit you were wrong and don't try to pull some BS excuse like 'my wife is in labor'

cops are much more lenient on you if you admit fault and are courteous

8/25/2008 5:48:39 PM

^^there's another thread on speed trap locations. Also, I've driven on that ramp a million times and have never seen a trap there.

8/25/2008 5:57:45 PM

OMFG DON'T SPEED CRIMINAL

8/25/2008 6:01:59 PM

keeping it to a max of 10 over and staying in bunches of cars works for me

I've never been pulled over

8/25/2008 6:05:24 PM

Quote :

"when you actually do get pulled over just admit you were wrong and don't try to pull some BS excuse like 'my wife is in labor'"

I always hear people saying they got warnings cause they were just honest and polite. Shit has never worked for me. I'm always nice, I always just admit I was speeding and apologize.(except once when he told me how fast I was going and I was seriously like 'wut???'). I always just get the ticket.

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 6:11 PM. Reason : .]

8/25/2008 6:10:59 PM

Quote :

"when you actually do get pulled over just admit you were wrong and don't try to pull some BS excuse like 'my wife is in labor' cops are much more lenient on you if you admit fault and are courteous"

Not true in any of my experiences. I look 18, might not help my case. I don't speed on highways so when I get pulled over I'm usually pretty far in the wrong but they usually lack evidence (radar).

"I saw the nose of your car plant and got you at 12 over, how fast were you going?"

8/25/2008 6:11:15 PM

if there are a bunch of cars 200-300 yards ahead of you, and you see one or two show their brake lights

then they probably just saw a cop hiding

8/25/2008 6:12:25 PM

10) If its late at night and the convertible car in front of you's V1 is blowing up, stop tailgating and slow down.

8/25/2008 6:15:04 PM

Being nice to get a warning only works if you are female or look like opie.

8/25/2008 6:40:03 PM

Don't be so keen on the safety in number rule anymore. I've seen a few times these past few months where a trooper has pulled a whole line of cars at once.

8/25/2008 6:43:30 PM

^I've heard of that happening, but really how do you let that happen? If you're the 3rd, 4th, 5th car, etc how in the hell does the cop pull them all over? He can't exactly block off an interstate.

8/25/2008 7:18:51 PM

^^how does that work?

if i saw someone behind me getting pulled over, i'd just keep going

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 7:23 PM. Reason : .]

8/25/2008 7:23:47 PM

1. Don't speed.

8/25/2008 7:32:31 PM

I just heard back today that my 25-mph-over ticket was reduced to 9-over. Happy birthday to me!

8/25/2008 7:33:03 PM

this is what has always worked for me: candor.

that's it. i've been pulled over 20 times now, and i still have only had 2 written warnings, 1 speeding ticket, and the rest were verbal warnings. one of the written warnings was complete bullshit though. the cop was too much of a tool to admit he pulled over the wrong vehicle. i know he did because a) he said i peeled out of a parking lot when i was nowhere near that store and i was actually just entering town from i-95 from raleigh; b) the description of the vehicle given to him over his radio described a blue tahoe. i drive a black jeep. i didn't give him any shit for the warning ticket though. if he would've searched my car, i would've been fuuucked (weed and x).

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 7:42 PM. Reason : .]

8/25/2008 7:41:37 PM

Actually we can simplify this list down pretty fast into one simple rule.

1. Don't speed

/thread

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 8:02 PM. Reason : omg i'm so cool]

8/25/2008 8:02:27 PM

Quote :

"4. Stay out of the left lane as much as you can. You should only be using the left to pass anyway, but unless you're passing stay in the right (or center) lane. Cops in"

I swear noboby on US17 south on my trip from Wilmington to Myrtle Beach
believed in slower traffic keep left.

Quote :

"7. Always be more cautious at the end of the month. Cops have quotas, they need to meet them."

Fucking cops

Quote :

"Invest in a good radar detector such as the V1"

I need one; my 2.0 turbo is asking for a speed ticket. I had a cobra
but someone stole it. It definitly saved my ass a few times but
on the other hand I have also gotten complacent with it and got speeding
tickets.

Quote :

"when you actually do get pulled over just admit you were wrong and don't try to pull some BS excuse like 'my wife is in labor"

I got pulled going 90 on a 70 going back to Raleigh from wilmington. I told him the truth
that i was moving in that weekend, had to go back to Raleigh for summer school class, and should have left earlier
because i was running late. My bookbag was in the front seat and he let me go with a warning only giving me a ticket
for my out of inspection

Quote :

"I've seen a few times these past few months where a trooper has pulled a whole line of cars at once."

how does the cop pull a caravan of 4 cars over.

8/25/2008 8:21:18 PM

he will drive along side the group and tell or motion for everyone to pull over, if you want to keep going, then take one for the team, he will go after you only, because you just committed a felony evasion

8/25/2008 8:30:05 PM

Quote :

"Being nice to get a warning only works if you are female or look like opie. "

[NO]

If I had to guess, I would figure that I've been pulled over maybe 75 times or so. I've had maybe 6-8 tickets (and half of them weren't speeding...they were stuff like seatbelt, illegal right on red, following too closely, expired registration--that one really wasn't my fault, but that's another story...)

I don't act like some sort of passive doormat when I get pulled over, either. I would say that I behave in a confident, assertive manner with the cop, but also very polite and professional, with a good dose of friendly and personable (which is by far my default setting as long as you're treating me with respect, anyway). I also roll down my window and keep my left arm/hand outside or on the top of the door in plain sight, and my right hand atop the steering wheel. If I need to get anything for the cop after he gets to the car, I tell him where I'm reaching, what I'm doing, and then move in a kind of deliberate manner. I also turn the car's engine off and if it's dark outside, I turn on the interior lights before the cop arrives at my window.

Having my military ID first up in my wallet has helped a couple of times, too (my driver's license is behind it, because I use it a lot less).

When riding a motorcycle, I generally ride in full roadrace gear or at least jacket/jeans/gloves/boots...not looking like some dumbshit kid in shorts and flip flips helps, I think (I've hardly ever been bothered on a sportbike).

I've even gotten smartass/torn into a handful of douchebag cops who were acting like, well, disrespectful douchebags. I'm sorry--I'm not gonna take that shit, even if it increases my odds of getting a ticket. To date, though, I don't think a single one of these cases has issued more than a written warning. My theory is that these types are the equivalent of a dog that bites out of fear--they're the few who ended up with a badge and a gun because they had their lunch money stolen once too many times in school...but they tuck their tails and slink off when an alpha dog puts them in their place. Either that, or I've just gotten lucky a few times despite myself.


I guess in general, though, it's beneficial to come across as a member of the Good Motherfucker Club. You don't want to look like some redneck or ricer disregarding laws at the potential peril of the general public. You want to be the smooth (but not slick) professional out having a responsible good time with a high performance car or motorcycle, even if it's well outside the technical limits of the law. There is a significant difference--both real and perceived. You also don't have to kiss any cop ass by any means, but coming across as one of the guys--though one who has his shit together--helps your cause. Finally, it's like anywhere else...acting like a cocky prick will buy you all kinds of trouble, but I'm convinced that acting like a quivering bitch will invite problems for you, too.

...and if you get a speeding ticket, oh well. these things happen from time to time. gotta ante up for the fast driving tax every once in a while.

8/25/2008 8:34:18 PM

Quote :

"when you actually do get pulled over just admit you were wrong and don't try to pull some BS excuse like 'my wife is in labor""

yeah, don't make up a BS excuse, but do NOT admit to breaking the law. If the cop asks "Do you know why I pulled you over?", the correct answer is "No." Same thing for "Do you know how fast you were going?" Do you think he's asking you that just out of friendly conversation? Hell no. He wants you to admit guilt.

8/25/2008 8:38:37 PM

If a cop already made up his mind about giving you a ticket, nothing you say will change his mind. If it's one thing you shouldn't ever do is beg though. Just be honest and don't play with the cop. Theres a reason he pulled you over. He doesn't need your admittance to write you up a ticket.

8/25/2008 10:38:11 PM

Quote :

"inclinded "

8/25/2008 10:39:16 PM

^^exactly!

^^^Yes, never admit guilt. Don't argue or lie to the cop, but don't admit guilt.

Quote :

"I don't act like some sort of passive doormat when I get pulled over, either. I would say that I behave in a confident, assertive manner with the cop, but also very polite and professional, with a good dose of friendly and personable (which is by far my default setting as long as you're treating me with respect, anyway). I also roll down my window and keep my left arm/hand outside or on the top of the door in plain sight, and my right hand atop the steering wheel. If I need to get anything for the cop after he gets to the car, I tell him where I'm reaching, what I'm doing, and then move in a kind of deliberate manner. I also turn the car's engine off and if it's dark outside, I turn on the interior lights before the cop arrives at my window."

Duke, I dunno what to tell you but I do that every time. The last time I got a warning (for speeding) was back in 2001. Every time I've been pulled since then (3 times) I've gotten a speeding ticket.

[Edited on August 25, 2008 at 10:43 PM. Reason : ^]

8/25/2008 10:41:17 PM

Just for your info, state troopers have never let me slide cept this one time where he was coming the opposite direction and it was dark. I saw him turn around in my rear view and when he pulled me over, I told him it was some other car that passed me and got off the exit ramp (which was true btw). Even though I was speeding, I never mentioned that to the trooper and just told him it was someone else he clocked. I got lucky but that was the only time. Point is the cops can never be sure whose speeding and they're making an educated guess as to who is unless its blatant such as you're the only one speeding with no cars around, then you're screwed. If it's pretty obvious he's gonna give you a ticket, just tell him you don't mind paying for the ticket since you broke the law but ask him politely if he'd be willing to lower it to 9 and under so you're insurance won't go up which he won't benefit from.

8/25/2008 10:54:09 PM

Speeding tickets really are not the end of the world. I guess its easy for me to say I have a clean record.

The biggest problem with the system isn't the personal financial impact. Its how the majority of the tickets are solved with the lawyers getting more income from the incident then/than the state. It's amazing.

8/26/2008 7:21:30 AM

Quote :

"this is true?? i always thought this was a myth."

I'm pretty sure that cops have quotas. The thing that I wouldn't be sure about is the quota deadline being at the end of the month and all cops having the same date to meet the quota.

[Edited on August 26, 2008 at 7:37 AM. Reason : -]

8/26/2008 7:33:50 AM

Quote :

"Its how the majority of the tickets are solved with the lawyers getting more income from the incident then/than the state. It's amazing."

OR the butt raping you take from your car insurance. I am glad the car insurance lobbyists convinced the NC legislature to beyond the actual insurance company taking extra revenue but actually having state mandated surcharges for every insurance point. IMHO traffic infractions should have no effect on insurance. By traffic infactions for those not law savvy this does not include misdemeanor speed 30+, misdemeanor reckless driving, felony DUI , felony street racing, etc

8/26/2008 7:47:56 AM

11. Be a cop

8/26/2008 8:46:49 AM

great thread Pat
i agree with all the points you made

Quote :

"I always hear people saying they got warnings cause they were just honest and polite."

the last warning i got i was lying my ass off

8/26/2008 8:50:59 AM

being polite is the key, your honesty is irrelevant.

8/26/2008 8:54:20 AM

The only time I've ever gotten a ticket: the trooper was a dick and didn't even let me speak. I couldn't understand a damned thing he was saying and kept asking him to repeat himself. He knew from the start he was going to give me a ticket. Asked me for license/reg and walked back with my citation. Fucking prick.

Oh, and should be getting my new XTR-695 today

[Edited on August 26, 2008 at 9:43 AM. Reason : Whistler]

8/26/2008 9:42:44 AM

don't speed in the city, ever.

if speeding on the highway, go 9 over.


always works

8/26/2008 9:43:39 AM

Quote :

"he will drive along side the group and tell or motion for everyone to pull over, if you want to keep going, then take one for the team, he will go after you only, because you just committed a felony evasion"

5 years ago I was behind a car on a 2 lane road keeping up around 15 over in a 50 zone. A state trooper topped a blind hill and we both slowed down, but he turned his lights on as soon as he passed us and turned around in the road. The car in front of me turned into a parking lot and I pulled over in the "driveway" to the same parking lot (no where else to pull over). The cop drove passed me and parked behind the other car and I left. Obviously the car in front of me was the one that got hit with the radar, but the trooper made no attempt to give me a ticket. I would think it would be a safety issue for a cop to pull over multiple vehicles.

8/26/2008 11:13:57 AM

ive seen cops pull over groups of people twice actually (once in PA and once in NY).

8/26/2008 11:44:17 AM

Once I was crusing through I-85 through northwestern SC speeding around 15-20 over. I was pacing an older light blue Cadillac, but was staying about 100 ft behind him. I stayed in the right lane as much as possible, he stayed in the left the whole time. We went through a speed trap without slowing down (couldn't see him till it was too late). The cop came onto the highway and drove past me and pulled over the Cadillac.

Details that might affect this outcome: Pretty sure the Cadillac driver was black, and my car was red.

Anyway, in that situation pacing someone else and staying in the right lane paid off.

[Edited on August 26, 2008 at 12:36 PM. Reason : k]

8/26/2008 12:36:13 PM