Today,

[dcseain]

I went to the DMV and got a certified copy of my driving record. It shows a speeding violation of 15-19 over in a 55 zone in March 2004, and that i'm +1 point - that charge cost me 4. It also shows i've lived in VA since 2003, and changed addresses twice since then.

Also had the speedometer calibrated. It's off by an average of 6.729% over the 10-65 MPH range. Ergo, at 75-80 MPH by the speedometer, the car is actually going 70.6-75 MPH. Here hoping for a reduction of charge to at least Speeding 15- 19 MPH above speed limit - EX55. I doubt it'll go down to 5-14 MPH above. Update on all this tomorrow.

Comments

[lionessprite.livejournal.com]

I believe that - in both VA and MD - since it is the vehicle owner's responsibility to keep it maintained, that this argument won't fly. I have, in fact, heard it not fly in both states. But that was a while ago. Probably wouldn't hurt to try though.

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

In VA, that does fly, as no speedometer in a standard vehicle is 100% accurate, and there's nothing maintenance-wise any owner can do to change that.

[stevemb.livejournal.com]

Do you mean your speedometer, or the gadget the cop was using when he gave you a ticket?

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

The officer paced me, so 2 speedometers were used, no radar, no vascar.

[papertigers.livejournal.com]

how/where do you get your speedometer calibrated?

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

My lawyer referred me to these three shops:

Advanced Automotive - this is the one i went to
4007 Westfax Dr
Chantilly VA 20151
703.802.0688

Dulles Auto Clinic
Oakgrove Rd
Sterling VA 20165
703.481.6300

M & M Restoration & Repair, Inc.
3165 Campbell Dr
Fairfax VA 22030
703.591.9601

They use a calibrated computer and a device like the one used for emissions inspections to compare the calibrated reading to the speedometer display, at 5 MPH increments up to 65 MPH. Mine, across that range, is 94.21% of the speedometer speed on average - mean.

[papertigers.livejournal.com]

wouldn't the speed recorded on the ticket have been based on the officer's radar detector, not your speedometer?

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

I was paced, no radar was used.

[buubala.livejournal.com]

Good Luck!

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

I've seen cases like that thrown out or reduced to "improper driving", as it's hard to
make a conviction stick, when it's obvious you intend to contest it. They generally
prefer to fry the easy fish and not spend effort trying to collect from the occasional
ones with a half-decent case and a backbone*. It does, of course, depend on the
judge you get and the mood she's in that day.

* Yeah, I know fish are chordates and it's a horribly mixed metaphor.