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Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

physicscentral.com

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Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#61

Post by joshu »

reneherse wrote: post #56
rdl wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GT-R is a $1mm supercar that happens to be underpriced at $80k.

Which is what happens when the techniques of lean manufacturing are applied to the supercar design brief. First of this vein was the Honda NSX, I believe. I have a hunch that the reliability of these cars far exceeds that of the big Italian names...

I belong to a car club that lets you take these out. Supposedly the GT-R eventually disintegrates its own transmission. So did a Ferrari F430. The newer Ferraris don't anymore, supposedly.

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#62

Post by [deleted] »

KingOfB wrote: post #51
joshmlewis wrote: post #16

Yeah, that took some dedication, and because we aren't all as dedicated or physicist here are some practical tips I've learned: 1. When an officer asks how fast you were going, never say anything over the speed limit or that's automatic guilt. Just decline to know or tell. A lot of people say within a +5-10mph range over the speed limit because they think that is "ok", but in fact anything over the speed limit is spe…

Other Helpers: - Use the most official title: 'Yes Trooper', 'Thank you sheriff', etc. - Be honest, authentic and remorseful, but not apologetic. (I don't agree with #1) - Be well groomed. After I got my beard and hair cut, I stopped getting tickets. I've gotten 8 consecutive warnings, most verbal. Before getting 'cleaned up', I got 9 tickets and 1 warning. - Have a woman in the car. Doesn't have to say anything, jus…

[deleted]

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#63

Post by waiwai933 »

kelnos wrote: post #35
0bs1di4n wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My friend always appears in court after getting speeding tickets because it is apparently more costly for the court to pay for the session and the officer's time than what they will get from a ticket, so they usually dismiss it to save money. Sometimes the officers don't even show up. He has told me it works every time.

If you lose in court, though, aren't you required to pay the cost of the session? (I have no idea, never done it before, just curious.)

In criminal court? I can't think of any jurisdiction that charges a fee for pleading not guilty, going to trial, and being convicted.

In civil court outside the US, the loser pays attorney's fees. I don't know about court fees, since those are usually relatively tiny compared to attorney's fees.

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#64

Post by michaelcampbell »

A buddy of mine tried the same thing (math in court) using the weight of his SUV, the HP of the engine, and other things to show he couldn't have been speeding at the location the officer said he was.

Result: "Too bad. Pay me."

Like they say in the movies; with law it's what is the truth, and what you can prove. He failed the latter and got a hefty fine.

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#66

Post by nopassrecover »

vacri wrote: post #60
DerKommissar wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem is one of statistics. Whenever they pull someone over, which is often, they have to judge what you're going to do. For them, the chances of you doing something crazy like speeding off, pulling a gun, etc. is not insignificant. That's what they're thinking about when they're walking up to your car. They've been trained about what things to look for. And getting out of your car is the way many violent inter…

I have found the police to be politer and less patronising when I'm standing out of my car talking politely than when I'm sitting in my car at random traffic stops. Also, where I am, people are not armed as a rule, so fear of guns is there, but at a minimum. If having guns means you have to be too scared to get out of your car for fear of arrest, I'm not interested in having them. It's a somewhat ironic twist that th…

"since on their part you need to be managed"

You have been very lucky to get reasonable officers. Most I have talked to (or seen in media / documentaries) have been trained to escalate with force if you are not submissive - get out of your car leads to "GET BACK IN THE CAR NOW HANDS ON THE WHEEL", answering back ("Why? I'm doing nothing wrong") leads to verbal escalation/shouting, shouting yourself leads to handcuffs, resistance (even passive) to physical force or (according to media accounts) tasering. Granted my sample size is potentially biased, but I thought this was the norm. On the other hand, when I've been relaxed, calm, and collected while remaining in the car I've had no issues and otherwise pleasant conversations with officers.

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#67

Post by lmm »

joshu wrote: post #61
reneherse wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which is what happens when the techniques of lean manufacturing are applied to the supercar design brief. First of this vein was the Honda NSX, I believe. I have a hunch that the reliability of these cars far exceeds that of the big Italian names...

I belong to a car club that lets you take these out. Supposedly the GT-R eventually disintegrates its own transmission. So did a Ferrari F430. The newer Ferraris don't anymore, supposedly.

IIRC if you use the launch control that explicitly (as in documented in the manual) puts several hundred miles' worth of wear on it - and I'd guess anyone who takes it out in a car club like that will try it at least once (I know I would). Could it just be that?

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#68

Post by joshu »

lmm wrote: post #67
joshu wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I belong to a car club that lets you take these out. Supposedly the GT-R eventually disintegrates its own transmission. So did a Ferrari F430. The newer Ferraris don't anymore, supposedly.

IIRC if you use the launch control that explicitly (as in documented in the manual) puts several hundred miles' worth of wear on it - and I'd guess anyone who takes it out in a car club like that will try it at least once (I know I would). Could it just be that?

It depends on the car.

On the 2010 GTR, using it at all voids the launch control. And had automatic ejection from the club, losing your membership. On the 2012 GTR, it doesn't have launch control anymore.

Meanwhile some other cars have launch control which doesn't void the warranty (eg BMW 135i w/ dual clutch. Of course it has half the HP...)

They sold the 2010 at around 50k miles. Similarly a f430's gearbox is only rated for 20k miles.

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#69

Post by dmd »

kelnos wrote: post #35
0bs1di4n wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My friend always appears in court after getting speeding tickets because it is apparently more costly for the court to pay for the session and the officer's time than what they will get from a ticket, so they usually dismiss it to save money. Sometimes the officers don't even show up. He has told me it works every time.

If you lose in court, though, aren't you required to pay the cost of the session? (I have no idea, never done it before, just curious.)

Actually, you even have to pay a court fee in many districts if you WIN in court.

In the above case, I had to pay a $25 "court fee", even though the case against me was dismissed.

Re: Physicist Uses Math to Beat Traffic Ticket

#70

Post by arantius »

0bs1di4n wrote: post #10
dmd wrote: post #6

> or maybe he was simply impressed by the sheer dedication Krioukov put into avoiding this ticket. This seems more likely. I beat a speeding ticket with GPS data once - except the judge didn't even ask to see the data. I just said I had it. (Yes, the officer was there in court too.) The judge said he'd take my word for it.

My friend always appears in court after getting speeding tickets because it is apparently more costly for the court to pay for the session and the officer's time than what they will get from a ticket, so they usually dismiss it to save money. Sometimes the officers don't even show up. He has told me it works every time.

And what is your own time worth?
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