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Speeding ticket...caught by aircraft

playoutside

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Yesterday on the way up 93, I got handed my first speeding ticket. I was pulled over by NHSP just after going thru the toll, I was completely confused, had been traveling with all the other traffic, not especially fast. Cop tells me aircraft saw me doing 82 in a 65. I always knew they did this based on road marks, but never knew anyone caught by it. NHSP was out in full force Saturday on both 93 & 89...pretty sure they covered this quarter and next with tickets.

Anyone ever caught this way? Anyone know how accurate this is? How do i know it was really my car they spotted? Any suggestions on how to fight it?
 

thetrailboss

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Well, were you actually driving 82 or not?

And not a surprise considering that NH really enforces the speed limit around Manchester to catch out of staters.
 

gmcunni

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how long before the technology makes it so that simply setup a radar detector on the side of the road, clock you, take a picture and send you the ticket in the mail? like they do for abusing the EZpass lane or running stop lights.
 

playoutside

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Well, were you actually driving 82 or not?

And not a surprise considering that NH really enforces the speed limit around Manchester to catch out of staters.

I don't think I was going 82, especially because there were so many cars on the road. It's tough to know for sure since I don't know exactly where they claim I was going that fast. I don't normally go that fast. I was stopped just after going thru the toll where they had the cops lined up. It's a very diff experience than seeing the cop come up from behind and you quickly check your speed. In that case, I know around how fast I was going.
 

WJenness

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how long before the technology makes it so that simply setup a radar detector on the side of the road, clock you, take a picture and send you the ticket in the mail? like they do for abusing the EZpass lane or running stop lights.

They already do this in DC.

I 'donated' $50 to the district's budget thanks to this setup about four years ago...

It's pretty ingenious on their part too... You get the ticket in the mail, and if you pay it, it doesn't hit your insurance... If you ask for an appeal and you lose, it hits your insurance...

That fact, combined with the fact that it was only $50 made me pay it without thinking about it at all.

-w
 

Glenn

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Wonder how much money it costs to put a plane up in the air for a few hours...a pilot...spotter ect? I doubt they're breaking even. "We gave out $1200 worth of tickets today! And spent $2500 in fuel in personnel costs...winning!"
 

dmc

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yeah - lets lay off a teacher so we can bust people for speeding with a friggin airplane..
 

deadheadskier

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Wonder how much money it costs to put a plane up in the air for a few hours...a pilot...spotter ect? I doubt they're breaking even. "We gave out $1200 worth of tickets today! And spent $2500 in fuel in personnel costs...winning!"

right?

I'd imagine the cost of this should be public information as part of the State Police budget. As a resident taxpayer, I'd be curious to know what the cost/benefit is of such practices.
 

gmcunni

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right?

I'd imagine the cost of this should be public information as part of the State Police budget. As a resident taxpayer, I'd be curious to know what the cost/benefit is of such practices.

so we should only bust criminals when it is economically favorable?:smash:
 

dmc

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so we should only bust criminals when it is economically favorable?:smash:

We should continue to pursue people that commit violent crimes..

But smaller crimes like speeding - we should not be dumping/wasting cash on by using planes..
 

deadheadskier

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so we should only bust criminals when it is economically favorable?:smash:

police enforcement should be done as efficiently as possible. You don't call in a swat team to bust someone parking in a handicap spot.

The use of aircraft seems extremely excessive to me.

Maine does something similar to what the OP experienced without the use of an airplane. They station a spotter on bridge over passes. A guy standing on a bridge with a radar guns seems like a much less expensive option than someone up in an airplane or helicopter.
 

Nick

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Wonder how much money it costs to put a plane up in the air for a few hours...a pilot...spotter ect? I doubt they're breaking even. "We gave out $1200 worth of tickets today! And spent $2500 in fuel in personnel costs...winning!"

That's such an obvious point, I can't believe I didn't even think of that.

Maybe they should start checking highway speeds via space shuttle.
 

ctenidae

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Seems they could save a whole lot of money just pulling people over randomly after teh tolls and telling them they got clocked at whatever speed. Since you don't know when/where it happened, most people would probably just pay.

Me, I'd ask for the proof. If they have it, fine, I pay. If they don't, fight it.
 

playoutside

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Seems they could save a whole lot of money just pulling people over randomly after teh tolls and telling them they got clocked at whatever speed. Since you don't know when/where it happened, most people would probably just pay.

Me, I'd ask for the proof. If they have it, fine, I pay. If they don't, fight it.

This is exactly as I felt. I was going about 20 coming out of the toll when the trooper nearly drove into the side of me to get me to stop. I also drive a fairly common ski vehicle and was wishing I'd observed how many of cars that look just like me went thru that toll in a 2-3 minute window. It's a very strange way to receive a ticket.
 

gmcunni

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The use of aircraft seems extremely excessive to me.

to me too. i'd guess the plane is a safer option than having the cop pull out into traffic, accelerate to high speeds in order to chase down the criminal and then pull him/her off on the side of a busy highway. a plane or the spotter you mention probably allows for a more controlled situation.
 

dmc

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to me too. i'd guess the plane is a safer option than having the cop pull out into traffic, accelerate to high speeds in order to chase down the criminal and then pull him/her off on the side of a busy highway. a plane or the spotter you mention probably allows for a more controlled situation.

Why not just use drones?
 
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