CA Speeding Tickets Information

In the hustle and bustle of today's fast paced world, everyone is in a hurry. We're always rushing to get somewhere or do something. It is this haste and rash behavior that can get us into trouble with the law at times and the punishment can be heavy and tough to bear. The cities in CA are known for their big problem of traffic congestion due to the prevailing trend of 'car culture'. The fast growing population is taking a toll on the CA traffic and the transportation system. Speeding vehicles only add to the chaos and confusion. Speeding tickets are a common phenomenon all over.

There are various traffic violations according to the law of the state of California. These offenses can be divided into two categories: Moving violations and Non-moving violations. Moving violations occur when the vehicle is in motion and are more serious of the two; hence the penalties and CA speeding tickets imposed are more severe. Non moving violations occur when the vehicle is not in motion. Among the moving traffic violations, speeding is the most common offense. If the manner of speeding poses a threat to the lives of other people or traffic, the driver can be charged with reckless endangerment. Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also considered to be a serious traffic violation. Traffic offenses vary from one state to another.

There are different types of speed limits in different states.

Absolute Speed Limit

Many states follow the speed limit norms as dictated by the Uniform Vehicle Code. Thus exceeding the speed limit is illegal whether it is safe or not.

Prima Facie Speed Limit

In some states you can get away in court for exceeding the speed limit by arguing that the speed you were driving at was safe and reasonable. You will have to provide the judge with sufficient evidence.

Mixed Speed Limit

In many states there is a state absolute maximum speed and only those limits below it are considered as Prima Facie limits.

Official Tolerance

Some states have laws providing that points are not assessed for minor speeding. The Federal Highway Administration recommends that police tolerance never be less than 5 MPH.

California's Basic Speed Law states that you must never drive faster than is safe for the current condition.

Maximum Speed Limit

The maximum speed limit on most highways is 65 MPH (unless 70 MPH is posted) and 55 MPH on two lane roads. All speed limits are based on the best driving conditions.

Reduced Speed

You are advised to drive at a reduced speed in any of the following conditions: • In heavy traffic, bad weather, and construction zones, you must reduce your speed to avoid accidents and chaos. • While towing vehicles or driving buses and trucks, make sure to drive in the right hand lane or the lane marked specially for slower vehicles. • Within 500-1000 feet of a school where children are walking, playing, or on the streets, the speed limit is 25 MPH. • At a blind intersection the speed limit is 15 MPH. Remember to drive extra slowly at such an intersection as the obstruction of view can lead to serious accidents if people are speeding or driving rashly. • The speed limit is 15 MPH within 100 feet of a railroad crossing where the track is not visible for 400 feet on either side. • The speed limit near trolleys, streetcars, and buses is 10 MPH. • In business or residential areas, the speed limit is 25 MPH.

There are various methods used by the police to track speeding and issue CA speeding tickets.

Radar

Radar stands for Radio Detection and Ranging. In the case of Stationery Radar, an officer stands on the side of the road with a hand held radar gun and when your vehicle is spotted, he will point and shoot. The radio wave that is sent into the air bounces off your vehicle and back to the radar gun. Depending on how quickly the wave comes back, the difference in frequency is calculated as the speed which shows up on the screen of the radar gun. Moving Radar works in more or less the same way but can be used when the police car is in motion.

Laser

A laser uses pulses of light. This light is beamed onto a moving object, in this case the vehicle in question. The laser makes calculations depending on time and distance. Each pulse of light travels a certain distance in order to meet its target. As the vehicle approaches, the distance travelled by the light becomes shorter. Depending on the time taken for the distance to get shorter, the speed is calculated.

Pacing

This is the most common and simple method to track speeding vehicles. An officer will follow your vehicle for a certain distance and then record the speed you are travelling at by looking at his speedometer reading.

VASCAR

VASCAR stands for Visual average Speed Computing and Reading. Two markers are placed on the road, usually a quarter of a mile apart. As you cross the first mark, the police officer will start his stop watch and when you cross the second marker, he will stop the watch. The amount of time it takes you to get from one marker to the next is divided by the distance between the two markers. This calculation gives the officer the measurement of speed.

Photo Radar

An apparatus is set up on the side of a road. This apparatus consists of both, a camera and a radar gun joint together. When the radar gun detects a vehicle travelling over the designated speed limit, it sends a message to the camera. The camera in turn takes a picture of the whole vehicle. From the pictures taken, license plate information of the offenders is obtained and the drivers are then contacted or mailed a speeding ticket with a fine.

Find out all you need to know about traffic rules and regulations as well as speeding tickets only with Thank Our Troops.

Discover other details about California speeding violations such as:

Types of California speeding ticket fines

How to pay California speeding tickets

Ways of Fighting a speeding ticket in California