Speed trap in Massachusetts: are they legal?

Question

I got a speeding ticket at 1:45 AM from a state trooper who was sitting in the median of the highway with his lights and car shut off. I actually thought that the car was abandoned at the side of the road before I realized it was a cop. I know this is a stupid question but can I fight the ticket?

Answer 1

You can fight it but you won't win.  Speed traps are not illegal as long as there is no profiling involved and obviously police must attempt to remain hidden in order for them to be effective.

Answer 2

You sure can fight it. Thats the right you were given by the constitution. Doesnt mean you will win. A police officer can sit and run radar anywhere he likes. He doesnt have to tell you that he is running radar ahead so you can slow down before you get to him.

The speed limit is set by our lawmakers and that is that. Go over the limit and get a citation. No more, no less.

Answer 3

You can try to fight the ticket more then likely you will not get out of it, speeding is speeding and you should just pay your fine and move on..

Answer 4

You were speeding. You deserve the ticket. It doesn't matter that you didn't know a cop was there. That's the whole point. People never speed when they KNOW a police officer is around.

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Answer 5

Yes they are.

Answer 6

There is no law that says a police officer must announce his/her presence in any way in this situation.  You got a speeding ticket because you were speeding.  If you hadn't been speeding you wouldn't have been stopped.

Yes, you can fight it, but you will not win with that argument.

Answer 7

The idea of a "speed trap" is just plain ridiculous.  It's like saying there are "burglar traps" and "vandalism traps" when an officer is on patrol through a neighborhood.  There is no such thing.  Officers don't have to announce to the world they are running radar any more than they have to notify potential burglars that they are being watched.  YOU were speeding.  YOU got caught.  YOU take responsibility for your actions.

Answer 8

It's not illegal for a cop to have his lights out.  They usually keep them on for safety, not because they "Have to alert you of their presence."

My suggestion is to pay the ticket and slow down so you don't kill anyone.  1:45 is when the drunks are out driving and they're easier to hit.