Can a cop give a speeding ticket based on a 911 complaint?

by **piaras91** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:49 pm

In my subdivision, the legal speed limit is 18 mph. I'm going 25. Twenty yards in front of me, I see two women and a little girl walking, so I decelerate to about 13 mph, and pass them up. As I pass them up, she yells "the speed limit is 15, slow down!". Looking at my speedometer, I see that I'm going 13, so I just ignore her. After being 20 yards in front of the car, I accelerate to 20 mph. I assume one of the women called the cops and notified them of my car. After running an errand, I notice that the same group is still there with a cop. She yells out that I'm the culprit and I immediately pull over so the cop can talk to me. He nicely talks to me and then threatens to arrest me if he gets another complaint again about me. Can he give me a ticket based solely on a complaint from another person? Can he actually arrest me if he gets another complaint? Also, I'm in college, and I have taken government classes. My belief was that a cop needed direct evidence (pacing, speed radar, etc.) or indirect self-confession to arrest you. Am I wrong?

by **larenzo** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 4:52 pm

In Georgia (the state in which I live) you can only be arrested for speeding for two reasons:
1) Speeding in excess of 25 mph over the posted limit
2) Reckless Driving... which, depending on the circumstances, speeding can be used to help to articulate R.D.

If what you're saying is 100% the truth, then the cop was just blowing smoke. He would need to pace, or radar you to write you a ticket... someone simply saying that you were speeding does not provide enough evidence to justify a ticket... let alone an arrest.

Also, where do you live in which the speed limit in a residential area is 18 mph? That's such a random number... In GA., the speed limit in all residential areas is 25 mph.

by **curadhan74** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:07 pm

They could definitely issue a ticket based on a complaint. However, unless you were caught speeding by an officer, or your speed was recorded by an approved device, it would be easy enough to overturn it if you took it to court.

by **sheridan93** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:10 pm

no ur right in order to get arrested from a complaint is they have to place charges on you and set a court date.

if you recieve a court date and you dont show up for it and get warrants then you can get arrested but that cop is just being an *** if he's trying to scare you and he needs proof to give you a ticket. it doesnt have to be the speed gun but if he knows for sure your goin to fast ex faster than him when hes goin to speed limit or a camera that clearly sees you driving reclessly

if that lady press charges you can counter by saying your doin nothing wrong your goin the speed limit and she is harrasing you. if they cant prove your goin over the limit then you'll win for her wasting your time and harrasment

by **voliny13** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:19 pm

It would not be a speeding ticket because they do not know the speed. It will be worse, careless or rec less. Yes the person and the cop would have to appear in court for the judge to decide. If it ever does, do not take it lightly, get a lawyer. Even if you know you do not deserve a ticket, people and cops lie, or misrepresent the truth in court.

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