Speeding ticket in the mail from Calgary, AB.

Writing this from Canada.

I travel between provinces of BC and SK often. And i'm currently residing in SK(and have SK plates on my suv).

A month ago I was traveling through Calgary, AB as I always do. And last friday I received a letter in the mail advising me that I got a speeding ticket issued in Calgary. WTF???

Its a picture of my truck from the back on what looks like a typical street. No construction or anything.

I was never pulled over. I did not speed up through the lights. I have an outstanding driving record (not a single offense in last ~10 years).

Here's the kicker, the ticket is for traveling 47 km/h in a 30 km/h zone.
I have NO IDEA where there was a 30 km/h zone. If I see a posted speed limit I obey it (give or take some if circumstances warrant). If I'm not sure what the speed limit is I slow down to ~50 usually. Hence why I was going 47 in this case.

What kind of a zone was I in??? The address listed is 5800 Delhausie some-thing NW.

The ticket has an officers name and a budge number listed. However I never got pulled over. WTF!!??? How does this work????

This is ridiculous! 30 km/h! Where the hell was I??? Even school zones are 40km/h!!! I'm determined to fight it.

However as I have no time to stop and wait in court in Calgary on a business day, I wish to have court hearing somewhere where I reside. Is that possible to do something like that?

What are my options? Any advise would be welcome...

And please don't tell me not to speed, I wasn't. There was no speed limit posted where I could see, advising me of 30 km/h limit. It was a residential street so I was doing ~50km/h as I normally would.

Thanks in advance.

I have an idea, why don't you quit speeding in calgary? it is a huge problem out here and many violators are from out of town. It is not a conspiracy, you just got busted being absent minded. I just hope that i can return the favor someday and speed through were your kids play.

Originally Posted by Unregistered I have an idea, why don't you quit speeding in calgary? it is a huge problem out here and many violators are from out of town. It is not a conspiracy, you just got busted being absent minded. I just hope that i can return the favor someday and speed through were your kids play.

wow 30km/h sorry to hear you got busted coz thats sure is a big time money maker and nothing else.
and the guy above, you never speed? ever? get a life!

Ask the court staff/clerk if you can appear by phone.

Hello, Here in Calgary we have something that is known as a cash cow for the city. Peace officers sit in a unmarked vehicle with photo radar attached to the car. It automatically snaps a picture of your licence if you are speeding and you receive a ticket a short time later in the mail. The good part about this is they don't know who is driving the vehicle so no demerit points on your licence are given and it will have no effect on your insurance premiums. The bad part is you still have a fine to pay. There are so many of them around the city as well as red light cameras at many intersections. Bottom line is you just can't risk speeding anymore
because you never know where they are. Also for you info is all playground zones and school zones are 30 klms/hr. Now I need to find some info for my own stupid ticket.

There's no such thing as a perfect driving record. All that means is that you haven't gotten caught committing even the most minor infractions, as virtually everyone who drives does. The longer a person goes without ever being pulled over for a traffic violation, the more indignant he/she is when it finally happens. This appears to be your situation.

It is the driver's responsibility to observe all speed limit posted signs. Apparently you didn't.

Many area are now imposing mail-in tickets, in which remote surveillance catches infractions on camera and records the infraction, date, time, place, etc. This came about mainly due to the overwhelming number of people who blow through red lights and "almost" red lights. This has resulted in numerous accidents, many ending up with critically injured victims and fatalities.

I won't advise you not to speed, as you are going to do what you will. I will, however, advise you that if you are determined to fight this ticket, be prepared to lose.

Originally Posted by Unregistered There's no such thing as a perfect driving record. All that means is that you haven't gotten caught committing even the most minor infractions, as virtually everyone who drives does. The longer a person goes without ever being pulled over for a traffic violation, the more indignant he/she is when it finally happens. This appears to be your situation. It is the driver's responsibility to observe all speed limit posted signs. Apparently you didn't. Many area are now imposing mail-in tickets, in which remote surveillance catches infractions on camera and records the infraction, date, time, place, etc. This came about mainly due to the overwhelming number of people who blow through red lights and "almost" red lights. This has resulted in numerous accidents, many ending up with critically injured victims and fatalities. I won't advise you not to speed, as you are going to do what you will. I will, however, advise you that if you are determined to fight this ticket, be prepared to lose.

Are you out of your mind? The guy was doing 47 in what he thought was 50. IMO, he was more than careful. He was literally crawling. I can pedal my bike faster than that. Would you give me a speeding ticket too? You're an self-righteous idiot. Your prolly voted for Bush too.

Dont know where you are but 30km/hr zone is there for one and only reason => $$$$$$$$$
Photo enforcement and mail-out tickets are just an efficient way to make money.
If safety was that important, a real cop would be there to pull you over and let you know what you did wrong so you dont do it again. RIGHT ON THE SPOT. Its better to let an unaware/stupid drive know what he/she is doing wrong right there and then, rather let them drive around for another 2-3 weeks collecting more fines before they might become aware of the "rules". Tell me how is that safety? BS that's what it is! Unless of course the whole point is to nab unsuspecting motorists and squeeze $$$$$$$$$ out of them. Oh wait that makes more sense...

I hope the guy wins.

t.

Originally Posted by Unregistered There's no such thing as a perfect driving record.

There is no such thing as a perfect law either. Not every "violation" merits the same punishment. So laws must always apply without any exceptions what-so-ever then according to you, good sir? Regardless of the circumstances?

If I was to rule in this case I'd side with the OP. He was driving well below what a typical speed limit would've been on the residential road. Although yes, he technically broke a law imposing 30km/hr. If the spirit of the law was to enforce safety and to make drivers more careful in that particular area, then the driver he was doing exactly that. Its just that the driver in question did not see the sign (could it be a temporary trap? obstructed sign? lack of sign? Perhaps he turned from the side road which had no signs indicating what the current speed limit was).

Thanks god we don't have morons like "there is no such thing as a perfect driving record" above who clearly lack any critical thinking skills to impose punishment on "criminals".

Because the last two posts are so idiotic in nature, I'm only going to say this... I only hope these people (sounds more like one who didn't get enough rant time in and came back to post again) don't have driver's licenses if they cannot even comprehend the most basics of why speed limits exist and why going 47 in a 30 is a speeding violation. Both sound paranoid and highly defensive. Both more than likely suffer from road rage.

If "they" could actually read, they would have noticed that the original poster did not even know how fast he/she was was actually going and was asking people on here what the speed limit is on such and such street. He/she admits to going "around 47" but was, by the officer's calculation (he knows the streets better than visitors would) in a 30k/h zone. Both might want to go back and read the original poster's words again. That is, if they are actually capable of reading and comprehending.

Further, speed limits are put in place to protect people. They are not put in place for the mere money of it. To even suggest such a thing is indicative of a paranoid persecution complex.

If you can drive faster on a bicycle, please do so. You're less likely to injure, or worse, kill an innocent person if you slam into them due to your careless and reckless regard for obeying speed limits.

47 in a 30 is 17 kilometers over the speed limit. That's hardly picayune. The officer did his job correctly.

Originally Posted by Unregistered Further, speed limits are put in place to protect people. They are not put in place for the mere money of it. To even suggest such a thing is indicative of a paranoid persecution complex. [snip] 47 in a 30 is 17 kilometers over the speed limit. That's hardly picayune. The officer did his job correctly.

Are parking enforcement laws also there to protect people or to make money for the city?
You really think that every law was made to "protect" people? Or was it merely sold as warm-and-fuzzy-feel-good safety law, but the driving interest is to raise money for the city account?
It's for the kids, right? Whoever would object to that. Coz if you do, you're labeled a Nazi or worse! Right?
Thats how a lot of bull**** legislature is passed. And you're only contributing to the growing problem as you swallow their line, hook, and sinker.

If the safety was the reason behind that ridiculus 30kmh limit, why didn't the cop stopped the driver right there and then?????????????? This would let an unaware driver know what he/she is doing wrong right there and then. Sitting in the car snapping pictures as cars go by is no safety at all. That's lazy cops wasting my tax dollar instead of doing what they're suppose to do.