Deceptive traffic citations

[senecal_tony]

First, let me introduce myself; I am a 69 year old man that has been driving since I was 16 years old and have never received any driving citation or ticket except in Louisiana, specifically the Lasalle Parish. For the past 15 + years we have owned and driven motor homes. Currently, my wife and I are retired and travel extensively. We do most of our travel in a 34 foot motor home pulling a jeep (4 wheels down). Something to keep in mind while reading our story; I follow the traffic laws and do not go beyond speed limits. When you are an experienced driver of an RV and know that length and weight of specifically a motor home while pulling a vehicle have an impact on stopping distance; most of the motor home community knows to go below the posted speed limit.

On September 21, 2019 we were traveling through Lasalle Parish, US 165, back to our home in DeRidder Louisiana. Approaching the city of Tullos, we noticed several speed limit changes (65 mph, 55 mph to 45 mph) and we adhered to each by reducing our speed to below the posted limit each time. It should be noted that the notice of the speed limit reduction and the posted speed limit was short in distance in each instance.

As we approached a so called “construction zone” in the city limits of Tullos I noticed several cones and the sign alerting me to reduce speed ahead from 55 mph to 45 mph and immediately began slowing down. Motor Home drivers know that when you hit the brake and have the “Jake Break” on, the vehicle immediately starts to slow by virtue of the engine compression and this was done by me as soon as I seen the notice to reduce speed. One other important item; Two other vehicles went directly in front of me entering into the reduced speed area going much faster than we were.

The police officer writing the citation for 55 mph in a 45 mph zone stated on the ticket that the speed was determined by radar. I was not going 55 mph. The only explanation I could have is the radar is inaccurate or the the radar was shot or initiated just into the notice to reduce speed. Also, why were the two vehicles in front of me ignored?

The purpose of the letter is to warn fellow drivers that the city of Tullos and or Parish of Lasalle in Louisiana has a significant campaign going on to fund city budgets via traffic tickets (commonly know as speed traps).There are many reasons for my getting to this conclusion:

Motor Home drivers are some of the safest drivers on the road (we understand our restrictions to maintain safety).
Who gives a ticket for 55 mph and a 45 mph zone? Is there any room for an equipment malfunction by needing to be recalibrated?
Why were two other vehicles allowed to go through the area faster than myself? I can’t be sure but maybe they were locals and not an out of town tag.
Our home location is 112 miles from the city of Tullos. We could fight this in court with the proverbial “he said she said argument”; may or may not work with the judge. But, why would we travel back for court with an uncertain ending? Could this be part of isolating out of town people for citations know they would more than likely just pay.
I made call to the Tullos mayor’s office on September 24, 2019 to discuss my dissatisfaction with the citation and how the facts and process materialized. The mayor was unavailable but I did speak to a representative in the office. After explaining my displeasure with the citation and requesting the mayor call me back, I was told that the mayor would not call back and that any further objections to the ticket would only be addressed in court. In addition, I have attempted to locate a website or email for the Tullos LA Mayor’s office but could not find anything. That brings me back to the “out of town people receiving citations argument”.
The charge for this citation is $230 (really). They do offer the opportunity to pay the ticket online for an extra $11 and change. There is also an added charge for paying over the phone.

My plan moving forward is to share this experience with the many RV clubs and travel organizations we are members of. I hope that my fellow travelers take notice of the unreasonable citation issuing practices and stay clear of Lasalle parish. Below is what I’ll be sharing so there is no confusion.

Fellow travelers: Stay away from this, in my humble opinion, deceitfully run city of Tullos and or Lasalle parish. The local officials obviously can’t think through ligament and reasonable ways to fund and run the city effectively and turn to trickery or worst by trickery and penalizing law abiding out of town people.

Last but certainly not least; I have paid the $241.50 to the city of Tullos, against my better judgement.

Debton

[Lynnmor]

opnspaces wrote:


If this is true then yep, you got unfairly targeted. Radar comes out it an ever expanding cone from the radar gun. So if two other cars raced past you at the time the gun was active then it recorded the faster speeds of the cars and the PO decided to pull you over. You can't really do much unless you have real proof to back up that the cars were the speeders.

Yep, you were the easy pickins', motorhome equals money.

[Grit_dog]

Omg , haven't seen a thread grow legs like this in a while!
First gdetrailer, chill out! Wtf man? You're yelling about this, lol.
Second, yup there's speed traps in some places. Got one down the road.
Third........Mr. Tony, no tickets ever in your long and esteemed life til now?
WOW! That's either admirable or unbelievable, but hats off to you.
Don't take it so hard. Really, you can die saying you speeded....once. That's something to be proud of, actually.
Last, how many tickets has someone received at once? I'm good for 5 and didn't go to jail, but the prick, I mean officer, had my car towed. Best part is I wasn't doing anything wrong at the time. But heck, I had about 10 traffic tickets by the time I graduated high school.....
Cheers boys.

[time2roll]

Did I ever tell the story of the local NV police enforcing a school zone at 2am?
Not a soul on the road or in sight anywhere. Just pay and move on already.
Otherwise take your fight to the judge. We have all been there, done that.

[wowens79]

Georgia passed a law trying to prevent speed traps, but it also has so many regulations that cops can't hardly use radar. the state DOT has to actually certify the location meets all the criteria to use radar.

Because of this stupid law virtually no street in a residential neighborhood can get certified. I have people blowing down my street at 40-45mph in a 25 zone everyday, and the PD can't do anything about it.

[Planning]

senecal.tony wrote:

I made call to the Tullos mayor’s office...In addition, I have attempted to locate a website or email for the Tullos LA Mayor’s office

Law enforcement is an executive branch function.

The court is a judicial entity.

The mayor is analogous to the legislative branch.

Communication with a legislative type of functionary is not the appropriate venue for an issue dealing with either law enforcement or judicial review. An intelligent and wise mayor (or other legislator) will refrain from getting involved in a law enforcement or judicial matter.

Once executive functions are completed (no longer detained by LE), your recourse is in the courtroom with the judge, either with an attorney (preferred) or by yourself.

[bgum]

One Parish in La on I49 had about 75 yards of I49 running thru a corner of the Parish. Guess what that was the only place in that Parish that speeding occurred. The legislature had to address the problem. There was a small town near New Orleans that ran the town budget on income from the highway through town . The state clamped down on them and they have been in final trouble each year since then. That is the definition of speed traps.

[CavemanCharlie]

Thank you for the Heads UP

[down_home]

I'm not going to quote the long post by fellow Rver from PA...but... no speedometer ss accurate to one mph except at one point in the wear of the tires perhaps.
There is no Judge unless he is running a ticket factory going to fne your for one mph over. He does appeal, though costly will get it thrown out and maybe that judge counciled.
here in Tn and in parts of Pa I have been in a car on cruise and especially a Mh, or your foot on throttle and brake cannot keep speed on the mark! Our little AMG with tremendous torque engine braking might in fifth gear but not 6th or 7th but I doubt it becau of the hills and even minor rises and dips.. They tried that trick on downgrade of Interstate 81 I think, north of Knoxville years ago, and in many places around the Country until the State got involved.And in VA years ago using it as excuse for drug checks or something and the money.
State put an end to that too. Around here 10% or 10 mph on the interstates or more. Keeping with the flos of the traffic as is the wise logical and safe thing to do.

[minnow]

Google traffic lawyer for that town and give them a call. Chances are they can get the ticket reduced to a non moving violation which will not affect your insurance.

[T18skyguy]

There are two places in my neck of the woods tha run ticket factories. Medford Oregon, and Coburg Oregon. Don't dare go 1 mile and hour over on I 5 in Medford or they nail you. Coburg is so bad the state was going to legislate against them giving tickets. They would sit at the overpass at Coburg and nail everyone. The state invalidated their authority to do that, because I 5 is not Coburg property. Coburg responded by annexing the land on both sides of the freeway so now they can continue to do it. The follow up story was the Coburg police department was rife with corruption and the money misappropriated then resignations by many.

[Gdetrailer]

senecal.tony wrote:


#1 As we approached a so called “construction zone” in the city limits of Tullos I noticed several cones and the sign alerting me to reduce speed ahead from 55 mph to 45 mph and immediately began slowing down. Motor Home drivers know that when you hit the brake and have the “Jake Break” on, the vehicle immediately starts to slow by virtue of the engine compression and this was done by me as soon as I seen the notice to reduce speed.

#2 One other important item; Two other vehicles went directly in front of me entering into the reduced speed area going much faster than we were.

#3 The police officer writing the citation for 55 mph in a 45 mph zone stated on the ticket that the speed was determined by radar. I was not going 55 mph. The only explanation I could have is the radar is inaccurate or the the radar was shot or initiated just into the notice to reduce speed.

#4 Also, why were the two vehicles in front of me ignored?

#5 The purpose of the letter is to warn fellow drivers that the city of Tullos and or Parish of Lasalle in Louisiana has a significant campaign going on to fund city budgets via traffic tickets (commonly know as speed traps).There are many reasons for my getting to this conclusion:

#6 Motor Home drivers are some of the safest drivers on the road (we understand our restrictions to maintain safety).

#7 Who gives a ticket for 55 mph and a 45 mph zone? Is there any room for an equipment malfunction by needing to be recalibrated?
Why were two other vehicles allowed to go through the area faster than myself? I can’t be sure but maybe they were locals and not an out of town tag.

#8 My plan moving forward is to share this experience with the many RV clubs and travel organizations we are members of. I hope that my fellow travelers take notice of the unreasonable citation issuing practices and stay clear of Lasalle parish. Below is what I’ll be sharing so there is no confusion.

#9 Fellow travelers: Stay away from this, in my humble opinion, deceitfully run city of Tullos and or Lasalle parish. The local officials obviously can’t think through ligament and reasonable ways to fund and run the city effectively and turn to trickery or worst by trickery and penalizing law abiding out of town people.

#10 Last but certainly not least; I have paid the $241.50 to the city of Tullos, against my better judgement.

Debton

#1 Construction zone WAS "announced" BEFORE you got to it or the restricted construction zone speed.

YOU failed to appropriately take action and prepare to slow down properly by using ALL means including riding your brakes and not relying solely on the "Jake brake" which does not announce to motorists behind you that you are slowing down..

Your failure to obey the laws.

#2 IRRELEVANT. You made a personal choice to "follow" the two vehicles in front of you without taking appropriate action.

Your failure to obey the laws.

#3 Radar detectors used in the Police force ARE required to be properly calibrated AND CERTIFIED against a known good source. These are typically sent out to a third party periodically and recertified as required. That information is typically tracked and traceable.

I could possibly see maybe 1 or 2 MPH error if the unit is near end of calibration period or has suffered some sort of major damage.. But not 10 MPH. Perhaps YOU need to have YOUR MH speedometer calibration tested? Extremely good chance that your Speedo is off and not the Radar gun.

Your failure to obey the laws.

#4 Once again totally IRRELEVANT, what OTHERS ARE DOING IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS and has absolutely nothing to do with your error. YOU got caught, they didn't, still your fault for not obeying the laws.

Your failure to obey the laws.

#5 Warn all you like, but I bet from now on you WILL be obeying the laws and THAT is what counts.

WIN for law enforcement to at least get ONE person to obey.

#6 No, I have seen MH drivers doing things contrary to the law and quite often! I drive a lot of Interstate road for my commute, have seen many shady things pulled by MH drivers.

Just because you drive a MH does not mean you can swerve in and out of traffic like a Indy car..

MH drivers are not above the law nor are any other motorist, the difference here is you got caught and they didn't..

Funny story, at a previous job a co-worker was asked to take a server to the airport for a same day delivery.

Co-worker was being paid OT and had plenty of time to get the server on the plane.

Got pulled over for doing 15 over speed limit.

Company would not pay for the ticket so Co-worker took a day off to go to court. Had a bunch of drawings showing where the speed limit signs were and where the police pulled him over in order to get out of the ticket.

At the end, he made s stupid mistake of saying that the traffic behind him "may" have been "pushing" him..

Judge said something like 1 MPH over?

CoWorker replies yeah.

Judge replies well you admitted to being over, here is your fine plus court costs.. Judge told him that he WAS going to toss the case until the last remark.

1 MPH IS over and that IS the law, there is no "unwritten" law or rule that states they will give you "grace" period over the posted limit.

That leads into #7, ALL Police CAN AND ARE SUPPOSED TO pull you over for being over the limit, that is why there are called limits. They are NOT called "Suggested Retail Speeds".

More often they will let it ride up to 5 MPH provided your not doing something dangerous or any other moving violations have been seen.. However, pretty much any State are very serious about Work zones safety and will fine you at a higher rate (usually posted in the work zones that fines are increased).

#9 Folks often have no choice but to drive through areas, including the area that you are telling folks to avoid.

#10 You got caught, you paid the fine, you did the right thing. Failing to pay the fine could have eventually snowballed into much higher and costly fines and possibility of another court date and that judge may not be so nice to a scofflaw.

Move on. Nothing to see.

[JaxDad]

senecal.tony wrote:
I am a 69 year old man that has been driving since I was 16 years old and have never received any driving citation or ticket except in Louisiana, specifically the Lasalle Parish.

Last but certainly not least; I have paid the $241.50 to the city of Tullos, against my better judgement.

Debton

You need to be an optimist. You’ve been driving for some 53 years. That’s only $4.56 a year.

If that’s an issue, fight the ticket in court.

Beyond that, we’re all merely humans, we make mistakes, have bad days, have bad nights, don’t let it get too far under your skin, remember, life is short and none of use are going to get out alive.

[K_Charles]

Two towns in VT make enough money in speeding ticked to support the police. 3 small towns give out 1/4 of all speeding ticked in Vt Here

[down_home]

There is a county in Alabama not to far from Weiss Lake, that made a fortune on speeding tickets. I have forgotten the targeted roads but it was practiced all over the county. The judge even had a charge card machine set up in the court to handle the heavy load. Not many challenged, when you had to post a heavy bond. The court room was full and lines out the doors. Speeding? one mile over or not. In Va one Patrolman would ticket every Mercedes or other foreign car but not US made vehicles.In Tn I remember too many to post here instances of small towns expanding their city limits to include small stretches of Interstate Police and Sheriff's Departments, expanding their limits,for the revenue until the State stopped them. In Tn we have some great Law Enforcement and they don't stand for such stuff. I am not aware of any instances right now...but all Law Enforcement agencies work the Interstates and some other roads for the rewards of catching drug runners and those with large amounts of cash,theorized to come from unlawful sources. I tried to get this Un Constitutional stuff stopped but Last Dept of Safety, and various and several counties and Lawmakers from those Counties and cities killed it. I hope they catch every dope dealer and drug cartel runner but Asset Forfeiture Laws are not American not moral or Constitutional. The infamoussI40 stretch seemed vacant the last time through there.
Speeding or going strictly the speed limit , or too slow, raises suspicion and a stop just about everywhere.
I have a few speeding tickets over the years, and they do target youngsters or did.
Going to Church a Trooper, now deceased kept on our bumper with bright lights on and we felt endangered, and sped around a few cars to put some distance between us. Got a ticket for speeding.
Our little AMG on the way to VA in 2011, cruising with the traffic, al semis.Coming out of a construction zone that had not been working for weeks, a black BMW or Audi passed me and the semis,in the far left lane, I was in the middle. I got a ticket and 4 points for someone else's offense. 129.00 Most of which is Court Charges. Tickets use to be 2.00 until the County Court Clerks Association lobbied the Legislature 30 years ago. And no the Legislature won't get rid of it. Next time you have occasion to visit a Judges chamber or courtroom enjoy the walnut paneling etc traffic tickets pay for.
County didn't write tickets! If they stopped you they talked to you or you went to jail, such as DUIs. That is the way it should be.
Mom's Uncle Jim, I doubt he ever wrote a traffic ticket. he brought my Uncle home a number of times for driving a coal truck when he was only nine one time. He had to jump down and hit the gas or brake and back up and sat on a crate on the seat to steer.
Given enough time and space I can write a book on the several states around us and beyond on traffic tickets as part of some county or city budgets.

[wa8yxm]

The American Automobile Association (AAA) maps sometimes have towns underlined in RED.. IN fact this is where the term "Red lining" comes from...

It means the police in that town tend to issue more tickets than they should.

Was the Radar accurate.. Well It depends on how the ticket was written. A MSP trooper.. you'd be advised to plead guilty, responsible or no contest and pay the fine.... But many city police departments are not as well trained.

And in a very few cases a sharp non-violator did a bit of research and the city end up with like a million in federal fines for that radar ticket which was tossed based on illegal use of the radar...

But that's rare. (I know of one case in over 50 years of being told of those type of cases) .