court ruling to reject speeding ticket in DC

 

This seems a rare successful case fighting speed camera..

https://wtop.com/dc/2022/12/md-man-fought-his-100-dc-speedin...

According to the court’s decision, D.C. can continue to rely on the default speed limit on streets with no signs posted. But once a speed has been posted, “then that speed limit cannot be enforced against a driver if the speed limit sign is obscured or blocked,”

Sweet. Score one for the

Sweet. Score one for the people. These speed cameras are nothing more than a money grab under the guise of safety.

DC DOT trying to play both ends of the stick, got beat by it!

someone needs to go to jail ...

... and I don't believe it should be the innocent motorist.

--

it's the dog's fault

--
Garmin DriveSmart 5 My other toys: IMac quad-core i3, Mac Mini M1. MacOS: Ventura 13.3.1 The dog's name is Ginger.

a couple of thoughts

Was the person speeding?

I was in a similar situation way back when and very certain I posted here. I was caught 52 in a 25 near my house. I did in fact drive 52.

I was not aware the speed limit was 25, I thought it was 40. Yes, I knowingly drove about 10 mph over what I thought was the speed limit.

I didn't need to go to the court of appeals, I went to the district court and told the truth. I thought I was about 10 over, turns out I was 2X+2.

They believed me, and threw in the obligatory, "We don't usually do this."

The fine was converted to a parking ticket, and I am fully aware today the speed limit is 25--I may get up to 35 at times, and I'm not bothered if someone flashes their lights or honks from behind. As I recall, the officer told me to appear in court, and I quote, he said, "We'll be lenient." I saw this officer last year at the township day and thought wow, our paths crossed like 13 years ago.

For DC to make sure all the signs are clearly readable? That's a good thing. But again I question the motive and the need for litigation. $100 isn't the end of the world and we needn't boil the ocean when we do something wrong.

I remember a DC case ...

I remember an interesting case involving a pole with both a speed and red light cam on it. They are focused on an intersection within Washington DC, however, the pole itself is located in Maryland. Some speculated that DC law prohibits this kind of thing and the tickets generated there should be tossed. This was back in 2014.

Here's the full story: https://wtop.com/news/2014/08/dc-police-remove-speed-camera-...

--
. 2 Garmin DriveSmart 61 LMT-S, Nuvi 2689, 2 Nuvi 2460, Zumo 550, Zumo 450, Uniden R3 radar detector with GPS built in, includes RLC info. Uconnect 430N Garmin based, built into my Jeep. .

I remember a College Park, Maryland Case ...

The speed limit was reduced to 25mph at the bottom of a big hill, which is where the camera was set up. Motorists were ticketed for exceeding 25mph before the speed limit had changed.
From https://www.kabircares.org/?s=speed+camera+refund: "A new pole-mounted automated speed enforcement camera began operating on September 7, 2016 in the 7100 block of Baltimore Avenue (north bound), replacing an older ground-mounted camera. The new camera was placed slightly south of the 25 MPH speed limit sign. The speed camera system was determined to be functioning and calibrated properly in accordance with the law. Vehicles photographed exceeding the posted 25 MPH speed limit by 12 MPH between September 7 and October 7, 2016 received citations, but because it has been determined that the focus of the camera was just before the posted speed limit sign, those 685 citations have been dismissed."

Related, duration of yellow

Federal guidelines stipulate "A yellow change interval should have a duration of approximately 3 to 6 seconds. The longer intervals
should be reserved for use on approaches with higher speeds."

A few years back, I appeared as an expert witness for an individual issued a ticket for going through a red light. He beat the ticket because I was able to establish that the duration of the yellow light was about 1 second.

--
John from PA

this

John from PA wrote:

Federal guidelines stipulate "A yellow change interval should have a duration of approximately 3 to 6 seconds. The longer intervals
should be reserved for use on approaches with higher speeds."

A few years back, I appeared as an expert witness for an individual issued a ticket for going through a red light. He beat the ticket because I was able to establish that the duration of the yellow light was about 1 second.

Is my concern with school bus stop arm cams. Whether the lights are red, yellow, nothing, brake, flashers, is up to a human being.

Granted it is frustrating to see mutliple cars blow a school bus' reds because they know the technology is not in place, but it could also be inequitable meaning a school bus goes from no indicators, to suddenly red, or, the buffer of yellow is too short.

Again, the sheer irony is how 5th graders are very good at staying onside in soccer and ice hockey, yet grown adults are seemingly unable to stop for a red light without going to the supreme court lol