Question to LEOs. what does this mean Traffic citation

**Roadking** · #1 08/21/10, 10:07 PM

..and, No, it's not my ticket...

Just got the police report for the accident that occured outside my home. Most of it is easily understandable, but one point sticks out...
Driver was cited for "Driving at a safe speed", posted as 40 mph, and the report reads "Est. Speed (Pa) 999." We all know that number is unattainable in a passenger car, unless it's a Volt...LOL! What does that mean? They didn't figure it out, or simply, way too fast? Just curious.
Matt

tinknal · #2 08/21/10, 10:21 PM

I'm guessing it either means "fast" or unknown. I bet it is some kind of internal code.

whodunit · #3 08/22/10, 02:05 AM

Most state traffic codes have some variation of what is referred to as the "Basic Speed Rule", which states you shall not drive faster than is safe for the conditions at the time. "Conditions" could be other traffic, weather, road conditions, etc.

Usually this is regardless of the posted limit. If the posted limit is 65 MPH, and there is a sheet of ice on the roadway, the above rule means you must slow down.

It's kind of a catch-all section that is used when you really can't determine someone's speed at the time of the crash, but it's obvious they were going too fast for the conditions. i.e. they slid and hit someone else, lost control of their vehicle, etc.

Like someone else said, the "999" is probably a code of some sort that indicates the speed was unknown.

Finding someone's speed before a crash involves special equipment and a complicated (at least to me) mathematical formula.

Navotifarm · #4 08/22/10, 02:15 AM

I'm not a Leo, I'm a Pisces but the quote you gave is definitely weird. It's interesting to ask here and your responses were certainly logical and intelligent but if you want to REALLY know, then best ask the court deputy when you go to pay the fine. If you want to beat the ticket and get all lawyerly, then maybe you've got a good case because that is definitely peculiar unclear language for a layman! 999 just aint right. If they were referring to a code section there would be more to the number. (I think!)

Bearfootfarm · #5 08/22/10, 08:40 AM

Quote:

when you go to pay the fine.

There is no fine because it wasn't a ticket

READ the OP

WhiteWillow · #6 08/22/10, 08:58 AM

Ha, ha. Googled it in quotes and the only thing that came up was this thread.

fantasymaker · #7 08/22/10, 09:12 AM

LOl Id guess that there is a little mistake there.
Do you suppose the cop will get a ticket that fouls up HIS life and endangers HIS job and adds TON of stress to HIS shoulders?
I suspect he meant to write the word "UNSAFE" instead of "safe" in that case the 999 would simply mean that the actual speed was irrelevant

**Roadking** · #8 08/22/10, 09:30 AM

Nope, wasn't me, I was the witness and the owner of the stone wall the person took out. I've been getting more info from her insurance company than from the police, They really don't seem to return phone calls. From her insurance co, she has been dropped for multiple violations including a DUI 2 weeks prior to this incident.
The 999 just struck me as odd. Like mentioned by others, guessing an interal code.
Thanks all.
Matt

Navotifarm · #9 08/22/10, 10:39 AM

What's with being so snotty? "There is no fine because it wasn't a ticket. READ the OP." Okay, so I went back and read the OP. It says in part, "It wasn't my ticket." Well, in my area, words like "ticket" and "traffic citation" result in fines and costs. So don't reprimand somebody who answers your question based on their experience if you want a helpful neighborly answer. Unless you're a lawyer and only dare to ask questions to which you already know the answer.

WhiteWillow · #10 08/22/10, 01:48 PM

Yeah I was wondering the same thing, Navotifarm.

mylala · #11 08/22/10, 04:12 PM

Novotifarm....it wasn't the OP who fussed at you it was someone else. The OP seemed very courteous to everyone.

**Roadking** · #12 08/22/10, 04:33 PM

Perhaps, I would have caused less confusion if I used the proper term, "police report". Very sorry, my misyake.
Again, thanks for the input.
Matt

Navotifarm · #13 08/22/10, 06:03 PM

Okay, "police report" I understand very well because that is "expert witness" type data to be used in an insurance claim - or to get it tossed out!!!!! As a court repoter, Lord knows I had to listen to and type up all kinds of testimony involving police as witnesses even though they came upon the scene after the fact. But I hold to my answer -- go to the experts who can translate the verbiage because it is NOT plain English!!!!! And knowing what those words "officially" mean could amount to thousands of dollars in settlement (or loss) to persons involved. I think it was a really good question because I happen to have a lot of experience in this sort of thing and the quotes were gobblede---- to me. Maybe there's a local traffic cop on here who can translate or define, if that is what you meant by a "LEO"? In any case, if there was a police report, I bet there was also a concurrent "ticket" which WILL incur fines and costs. And if a DUI or DWI a little time in the local pokey.

jill.costello · #14 08/23/10, 06:46 AM

I'm retired MP, and LEO = Law Enforcement Officer.

That said, the officer who wrote the ticket meant "driving at UNSAFE speed", therefore the actual mph is unnecessary to document; I think the 999 was simply not to have a blank space on the ticket (some of our sergeants were touchy about empty spaces, lol).

Unfortunately, with a good lawyer, that person who got the ticket might get OUT of the ticket because of the LEO's mistake.....

anniew · #15 08/23/10, 01:32 PM

Actually, IN PA the law reads "driving at a safe speed" which means it tells people to drive at a safe speed, so when they quote the law and number, they list it as driving at a safe speed, not an unsafe speed....meaning the ticket (not the OP) is for FAILING to drive at a safe speed.