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An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets: How to Beat & Avoid Them

An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets: How to Beat & Avoid Them

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $16.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good, but lacks important information.
Review: Since this book was written by a police officer and not a lawyer, it's strong on the traffic violation end but weak on the courtroom end of things. For example, it goes into great detail on the different methods used for judging your speed; what to say and what not to say when you're pulled over; different radar faults such as shadowing, bumping, and batching; and what a "tracking history" is. This is great stuff for planning a defense strategy in court.

However, this book falters when it comes to legal details. It tells you nothing about the forms you should use before going to court, like the "Informal Discovery Request" which allows you to request a copy of the officer's notes along with an engineering and traffic survey. Failure of the city to provide these documents (which is what usually happens) can result in dismissal of your case - something not even mentioned in Wallace's book. There is also scant advice on what to say in court, and when to say it.

I would recommend getting Wallace's book along with "Fight Your Ticket in California" by Attorney David W. Brown. These two books, taken together, will give you a more complete picture, from the traffic stop to the courtroom, of what you need to do to win your case. Despite the title, David Brown's book is invaluable no matter what state you're located in. Brown's and Wallace's books compliment each other - what one lacks, the other one has.

I just beat my radar speeding ticket in court today because the arresting officer failed to show up - even though I saw him in the parking lot just fifteen minutes before our court session started! Based on what I learned reading Wallace's book, I realized that the officer had a weak case. And because I sent an "Informal Discovery Request" to the city police department, the city attorney, and the district attorney as recommended in Brown's book, I believe that the officer realized that he would be up against someone who knew what he was doing, and thus he chose not to appear.

One weakness in Wallace's book is that it has a lot of needlessly repeated verbiage (For example, "This book is only to be used as a guide..." is found numerous times throughout the book.) and useless generalities such as "You must create doubt in any way to convince a judge to dismiss the case." Also, some advice is of dubious value, like Wallace's suggestion that you follow and videotape the officer as he drives home from his work.

Get this book, and Brown's book, and spend a lot of time studying them and planning your defense. You'll have a good chance of beating your ticket in court.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Limited usefulness in my case
Review: The book is very informative about the limitations of RADAR and the possible errors that can occur. Unfortunately, the Ohio State Highway Patrol has pretty air-tight procedures in place to prevent defendants from successfully challenging their use of RADAR in court, so it wasn't particularly useful to me. My suggestion would be to spend (money) on a good lawyer who is knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with traffic court cases. This may cost a lot more than the actual fine involved, but when you consider the hundreds (if not thousands) of extra dollars those extra points on your license will cost you in insurance premiums, it's worth it. A good lawyer will be more likely to be successful in challenging the RADAR as suggested in this book. I personally found the issues to be too complicated to address on my own, and subsequently lost my case in court.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Good Book
Review: The book is very informative, fast paced, and well organized. It has provided me with much needed information in understanding traffic court and the rules of discovery. I endorse this book. Mr. Wallace also is very good at returning calls.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good Book
Review: The book is very informative, fast paced, and well organized. The book is a quick read. Does a good job at detailing information needed for trial.Gives good information on how traffic court, and the rules of discovery work. I endorse this book.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: too abstract, no substance
Review: The content of this book is too abstract with no substance at all. It doesn't tell you exactly what to do and how to fight the ticket. After reading the book, you still have no idea of how to make a "discovery" request, or how to be prepared to cross-examine the police officer ... etc. With the same amount of money, I would recommend "Fight your ticket and win".

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: GREAT AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND
Review: The Educated Guide was very easy to read, follow and understand. I found the book extremely helpful and I was very sucessful in beating my ticket in court here in Florida, because the officer did not have his radar gun calibrated and the judge wanted to see the records,which apparently did not exist. So I lucked out! I also emailed Mr. Wallace at his company website and he responded back to me with some advice via email. I liked that and was surprised how helpful he was.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Decent, but not great
Review: This book covers topics such as different types of radar/laser devices and the shortcomings associated with them. It also gives tips on how to speed and not get caught (although most of them are common sense.) The book leads you all the way up to your day in court and gives good info on preparing for it. Overall, there is lots of good info here, BUT the main problem with this book is, there is LITTLE info on what to do/say once you actually get to court. If you're looking for a book with TONS of examples that you can use for your defense, I'd recommend "Traffic Ticket Defense" by Mark Sutherland. Together, these 2 books make a great pair, as they're drastically different.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Book, Easy Read, Great Information, Alot of Value
Review: This book read very easy, and was full of information that helped me prepare my case for traffic court in New York a couple of months ago. I only paid $15.95 for this book and beat my ticket in court and saved $120.00 for the fine and I have no idea how much I saved by not having to pay insurance rate increases, so YES, this book worked in my favor. The tip I used which I actually got by calling Mr. Wallace direct in his office after reading the book, was to challenge the officer on his shooting capability since my ticket was issued by an officer using laser. I asked the officer if he could shoot a moving car with his gun and he said maybe, so I continued the questions along that line by asking him how could he be sure then he had the correct car stopped when he pointed the laser gun at me as my car was in a pack of like 6 other cars. The officer told me he believed he was sure it was my car. I told the judge there was reasonable doubt if the right car was stopped and the judge believed it and dismissed the case! What I found most helpful was that if you needed additional help with your case, you can call the author and he helps you out. I highly recommend this book to everybody! You gotta buy it today! It works very well.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Book and Full of USEFUL Information
Review: This is the second book I have read about speeding tickets, and altho it was purchased after I received a speeding ticket, I learned what types of information I need at the scene of the stop that will better prepare me in court should I decide to fight it. The book read well, contains useful information, made me aware of many things that I did not know about radar and other speed equipment the cops use. I feel I am better prepared to fight a speeding ticket in court now after reading this book. It is worth reading. And by the way, I am a lawyer and even I learned some things I never knew that will help me in the future. Thanks Amazon for carrying this book.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not Bad!!! Worth Buying in My Opinion...
Review: This no nonsense, fact filled book I found quite easy to read and follow it's instructions, helped me get my fine reduced in court for a speeding ticket here in New York on I-90. I used some of Mr. Wallace's suggestions as he called me over the phone, along with his book and was quite pleased with the results in court. Not the best book I have ever seen, but great for an ex-cop! I do recommend his book, it works and his personal help with ANY questions one has, its almost too hard to believe, this guy personally called me to offer advice! Thanks...and if you speed, his chapter on how to speed and not get caught, ain't so bad. Like speed during police shift changes,,,GREAT!! Worth buying.


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