re: How can I go about exposing a speed trap and racket in Jeanerette/Patterson, LA?

Now see theres a legitimate honest person.
Cares about people and is doing right by the law.

Nobthey dont

If in your life someone EVER uses a rule book or quotes a rule book or anything like that, use their book to win. Learn it better than they do and beat them with it. The law is no different. I've done this a couple of times with the state police. I had them change their policy around something within 24 hours over a law that they assured me was kosher. My response... prove it. Show me the law. You see, no one EVER reads the fine print. No one ever takes the time to learn the "rules". In 99% of the cases they heard it was that way but didn't see for themselves. That's where you win. That's how you win.

I wrote this a while back about the last ticket I got.

"My last ticket was on I-10 at Bluebonnet. In a construction zone. LA-32:63 was the law I "broke" it states the LA DOTD can set the speed limit if they have completed a traffic study. I called the DOTD and asked for the study. They didn't have one because the engineering company doing the construction work had all the engineering data. I called the DOTD sign shop and asked who put up the speed limit signs. Turns out the construction company did it themselves with nothing official telling them to do it.

Guess what? They don't have the legal authority to do that. On top of that the state police set up a speed trap to catch people violating a lower speed limit that didn't exist legally.

So legally the speed limit in that zone was 70 although the signs said 50. The DA argued that whatever the sign says is the speed limit no matter who put it there. I said "is the same statement true if I put up one that says 100 MPH"? Charges dismissed, case closed."

If you are really looking to dig into this, start at the beginning. Go dig up the traffic study that defines the speed limit. It will be on file at the clerk of court.

Also, the procedure that is required when performing a traffic study is SUPPOSED to be online. It just happens to be the one single section of the DOTD traffic rules and procedures book that isn't posted. It's deliberately missing from the online documents. I had the DOT engineer argue with me about that until I asked him to step me through finding it on their website. I had to get him to send me a copy which they didn't want to do. I may still have it.

If you want to win then WIN. Prove THEY are violating the law. People are lazy and cut corners. Find the corners they cut and hammer them with it.

Enjoy...

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If you want to win then WIN. Prove THEY are violating the law. People are lazy and cut corners. Find the corners they cut and hammer them with it.

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Jeez, all that for a traffic ticket. Just imagine what you could dig up in my situation...

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It's 65 in Jeanerette , I do 70 all the time with no trouble.

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I thought the same, until today...

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Asgard Device

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Aren't you an officer of some sort or do I have that way wrong?

If it were me, I'd file the FOIA at every dept. I was inquiring about. Remember, the worst thing you did was speed. File your forms and put them on notice that you are looking into it. I assure you, knowledge of wrongdoing can make a confident and dismissive demeanor vanish quickly.

How do you think I got the state police to change their policy around something in less than 24 hours?

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If it were me, I'd file the FOIA at every dept. I was inquiring about.

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Do you have to do it with your name? I'd prefer to do it through an intermediary if I have to put my name.

Waze those mofos

Good luck going to court