Cops can be OK

I actually used my GPS to show a cop my maximum speed for the last hour and he didn't give me a ticket due to that.

Also, if you are driving any of the freeways in Phoenix and use the red-light speed traps file that POI-Factory has, you should get many alerts. They are all over the Phoenix area.

I've had several experiences like that with state troopers/highway patrol. I've never gotten a break from a city policeman though.

Cops are just people. You'll have your good ones, bad ones, nice ones, mean ones, etc.

Great point, one frequently overlooked I'm afraid.

For most cops, I think the way you act has a lot to do with it. With most people, humble and apologetic works better than complaining and confrontational. One time I thanked a highway patrol for stopping me because I needed the reminder to slow down. He was writing on his ticket pad, so I expected the worst, but he just handed me a note that said "Slow down".

Sounds like the cop in question isn't a technocrat;

How in the heck could you prove to him that this was the max speed over the past hour and that you didn't just reset the max as you went through the trap and started to decellerate?

Believe it or not....there are many of us who try to use traffic stops as a 'teaching moment.' The main purpose of a fine is to 'teach' the motorist that they should follow the speed limit etc and that it can be expensive if they don't. The old addage that you can get more with honey then vinager is often true...as in your case. Having said that there are those cases where a ticket is justified. Glad you had a good experience.

A VT Cop

...on Friday of Labor Day weekend on my way to meet people for dinner at about 8PM. I was kinda flustered with a migraine ... I was on far north 7th Street in Phx (the burbs) where the speed limits change a lot. It was probably 30 when it really should be, by all rights, 45. I had the Nuvi up but it was in the initial screen & there were no cars around me to speak of (they probably couldn't keep up) but when I glanced in my RV mirror I noticed a cop filling it completely... and my heart sank... I had already been slowing down a bit. I didn't notice my speed but figured I was going a bit too fast. I drive an Xterra... On go the bubble lights.. my heart stopped. So, over we go....

His co-pilot w/flashlight is on the right side (checking for bodies I guess) and he is on my side, to collect my papers. He says "do you know how fast you were going" (one should NEVER answer that question - admission of guilt never a good thing)... since I really didn't I said probably a bit faster than I should be with a slight smirk. I could already tell he was pretty cool... young, and seemed to be showing off a bit for his partner. He wanted me to guess and pointed to my Nuvi. I said, well, I hadn't gotten it up in mode and my speedo is way off (bigger tires - off-road vs. mud/snow that came with the Xterra but not an anti-social redneck SUV).

So, he says, "you were going 21-mph over." I said, wow... he says, "and that criminal speeding...." I said, "oops" (over 20in AZ is criminal vs. civil - bad bad karma). His co-pilot chimed in and agreed. Well, I've been around awhile and know there is no sense to begging. And sort of just say "darn" and that's about all. They REALLY hate it when you make excuses. They generally have already pretty much made up their mind what they are gonna do when they talk to you anyway.

So, I figured pieces will fall where they will.. I had no traffic record for along time.

So, back they come... he says, "so, what do you think I should do?" I couldn't resist... and said with a chuckle, "well, seeing how I have no record and all, I think you should just let me off but, you gotta do whatcha gotta do " and just smiled at him knowing that's what he was planning on doing (rather than taking up his time when there are DUIs to catch). Well, he said "That's exactly what I'm gonna do. I drive fast too so just slow down and stay safe." I thanked him sincerely (you have nooo idea how sincerely) and off we went.... I drove 4 mph over the limit just to be sure he knew I was not a pussy .

They were really after the DUI's because I'm sure I would have been snagged otherwise.

It was a Nuvi 200 which has since broken (USB connector is bad) and been replaced with a clearance 265T ($159 at Walmart on clearance) that shows the speed limit in the map screen along with my speed unlike the Nuvi 200 and is loaded with the speed/redlight POIs.

That's the best story Ive had in years (since the NJ State Trooper pulled me over in NJ after my ORIGINAL Escort went off and I slowed my little VW GTI quick as can be. He pulled me over and said (after checking the papers, etc.) "that little box on your dash went off just before the little box on my dash but I know you were speeding so slow down..." I'm sure it helped having the Disabled Vet plates too. That has now story #2.

I have to agree with the person who said cops are just people. Some are good and some are bad.