GPS Tracking Device Beats Radar Gun in Court

MojoKid writes "According to a release issued by Rocky Mountain Tracking, an 18-year old man, Shaun Malone, was able to successfully contest a speeding ticket in court using the data from a GPS device installed in his car. This wasn't just any old make-a-left-turn-100-feet-ahead-onto-Maple-Street GPS; this was a vehicle-tracking GPS device — the kind used by trucking fleets — or in this case, overprotective parents. The device was installed in Malone's car by his parents, and the press release makes no mention if the teenager knew that the device was installed in his vehicle at the time."

Heh, heh, heh.

[Mesa MIke]

Take that, you oppressive pigs!
We've got counter-measures.

Damn you, technology!

[FlyingSquidStudios]

The highly accurate radio wave reflection system or the highly accurate satellite positioning system? One of you must be wrong! Machines can't lie?! MACHINES CAN'T LIE?!!??!!

Re:So... what was wrong with the gun?

[kauos]

After he provided his GPS data as evidence, the cops should have back tracked from the point in time where the speed camera and the GPS disagree. They know the spot in the road, they know the direction he was heading in. He's an 18yo kid so surely he was speeding somewhere within the last 5 minutes.

Re:Heh, heh, heh.

[von_rick]

All of this doesn't resonate with what I have learned in Hollywood movies. Malone should be the cops name. Its just doesn't sound right.

So where can I get...

[Anonymous Coward]

...a GPS device which will always produce data which shows I'm not speeding?

Re:Damn you, technology!

[_Shad0w_]

Computer says no.

Re:Heh, heh, heh.

[Anonymous Coward]

Forgot to say that his VERY OPPRESSIVE PARENTS installed the device on his car...

Re:So... what was wrong with the gun?

[retchdog]

Well, yeah. It's just harder to exercise what with the waterboarding and the electric shocks and the dogs and the deprivation, but you can still go ahead and try to remain silent.

Even a consumer grade

[www.sorehands.com]

I have a handheld Garmin GPS (with car mount) that specifications claim that it is within .75 knot accuracy on the speed display.

I used it to get out of a speeding ticket outside of El Paso. I said the GPS said I wwas doing 75, the cop said his radar gun said 76 and it is calibrated. I responded thatt my GPS uses government satellite signals. He let me go.
 

Re:Heh, heh, heh.

[Chris Burkhardt]

Forgot to say that his VERY OPPRESSIVE PARENTS installed the device on his car...

Only to protect him from the cops.

Re:mixed feelings about this

[grolaw]

Hey, Libertarians don't follow rules, they make them up as needed!

Meanwhile, those of us lucky enough not to be hit by a speeding Libertarian exercising his/her "rights" - unconcerned about the speeds the road was engineered for - get to enjoy the benefits of the progressive fine system that creates an incentive for Libertarians to OBEY SPEED LAWS.

This message brought to you by your local municipal/traffic court.

Re:So... what was wrong with the gun?

[Anonymous Coward]

I would say your instantaneous speed at any one point in time would be zero. Without references to any other oints in time it is impossible to determine speed.

Re:So... what was wrong with the gun?

[pintpusher]

dude, take calculus.

Re:How he did it

[phagstrom]

0) Put your own GPS sats, which you can control, into orbit.

Might be taking it too far, but what the hey.

Re:Heh, heh, heh.

[something_wicked_thi]

I am not infalable

We can see that.

(Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Re:So... what was wrong with the gun?

[Anonymous Coward]

I am not a lawyer, just interested in the law.

You'd better get that seen to, before it gets any worse.

"Hello this is Onstar...."

[space_hippy]

And the following fines have been automatically removed from your back account:

Rolling though a stop sign 5th and Main at 9:21am: $120

Parking meter expired for 3minutes 18 seconds at 11:57am: $50

Speeding 38mph in a 35mph zone at 5:58pm: $80

Failure to use turn signal while making a lane change at 7:09pm: $35

and your oil is over due for a change by 51 miles: Manufacture warranty now VOID

Due to these violations you vehicle will no longer be allowed to operate [arstechnica.com] , sorry for the inconvenience of leaving you stranded on the highway in the middle of nowhere at 3:47 am. But it's your own fault for not doing what your told.

Re:Heh, heh, heh.

[ichthyoboy]

Seriously...won't someone think of the speeding tickets?!?!

Re:Damn you, technology!

[Slightly Askew]

"There...are...four...lights!"

Re:mixed feelings about this

[Anonymous Coward]

Of course it doesn't. By the way, you're double parked at the moment.

Re:Heh, heh, heh.

[T-Ranger]

I'm confused. You seem to have foiled my ability to parse numbers.

80,000 what per hour?