What to do at the scene.
It is critical that you start contesting your ticket at the scene of the alleged offence. . You must judge the officers temperament and situation and decide for yourself . You are more likely to get let off by a normal officer (black hat, black uniform) than by a traffic officer (white hat, green overcoat). Remember, its a traffic cop's job to catch you, the normal cop probably does not want the added paperwork (I know someone who was let off in town for doing 70mph because he said he thought he was still on the motorway). If the officer asks you how fast you think you were going you can take one of three approaches.
- You can deny it outright and tell him you weren't speeding, that you checked the speedometer. DO NOT get into an argument, but do not admit guilt. This is unlikely to prevent him from giving you a ticket, but you can tell judge at a trial that you were not speeding and you checked the speedometer, you can have the officer confirm that in your cross examination of him. This will serve to make your case stronger.
- You can say that you are not sure, your mind was elsewhere. If he insists you were speeding, then sidestep by saying something like, "I guess I must have been otherwise you would not have stopped me DO NOT admit guilt, this approach simply reiterates the officers accusation. This is difficult to use as evidence in court on both sides.
- Be honest and admit guilt. If you are stopped by a traffic officer, then you are going to get a ticket anyway so this is a stupid approach. If it is a normal officer, you may get off for being honest. This approach relies on luck. Forget fighting it in court if you admit guilt.
NEVER admit guilt, even if you do not intend fighting it, none of the I have a plane to catch, I'm late for work, my house is on fire.
All speed pacing police cars have to have their Speedo's measured and certified. Only traffic police cars are done, and the Speedo will have increments of 1 mph's. If you are stopped by a non traffic officer, and told that he/she followed you and you were speeding, simply ask as a matter of course when his Speedo was last calibrated. It is likely he will let you go since normal police (Beat) cars do not have certified Speedo's, theirs is the same as mine and yours.
NEVER surrender your licence at the roadside, you will get a chance to take it to a police station. Surrendering you licence at the roadside is an admission of guilt. Surrendering it at a police station later is just abiding by the law.
This is unlikely to prevent him from giving you a ticket, but you can tell the judge at a trial that you were not speeding and you checked the speedometer, you can have the officer confirm that in your cross examination of him. This will serve to make your case stronger.
If you are given a ticket, study it carefully before leaving the scene.
The officer will ask if you have questions about the ticket, and you will: DO NOT get cocky at the scene, you have nothing against the police officer, he/she is only doing his/her job. It is the system that you want to fight (legally I mean!).