REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

03terminator · 03-05-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !SG

TAKE PICS!

its confusing, to the point that i actually travel that area once in a blue moon and am now curious myself.

if im in the area, hopefully i wont get a ticket for pulling over, ill snap some pics. with all the construction in that newwest/burnaby/richmond connector area (burnaby side of queensborough, i find im constantly looking at the road signs to see which lane im suppose to be in now to get to my destination.

I took pics, sign measurements and I even have a video, but I could only get 1 truck in it. If I can shrink it from 25m, I might be able to post it. The specific area in question is from Nelson Ave where there is a light and the speed is 80k. The three trucks left the light as it turned green and as I approached I moved to the left lane to pass them, as I gradually passed them in the left lane, my view of the 70k ahead, 70k, 50k ahead and 50k sign were blocked by the trucks. The officer had lidar and said I was doing 70k and he must have hit me very near the 50k sign and right next to the front truck, judging from when he ran out into the road. I don't know the distance on those things.

03terminator · 03-05-2009, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !SG

you can also argue that they used the oppurtunity of the construction to address the concerns of that part of the highway. if it was difficult for you, then it must have been addressed by other ppl as well, that could be the reason why the made changes to the area during the construction...

I asked Burnaby for traffic engineering studies on Marine Way. I believe that there is none and they randomly threw up the signs where convenient and with new construction they just placed the signs on new poles where it was easiest with no regard for driver visibility on a designated truck route. The sequence of signs hasn't changed but the size and location/distance did for sure.

wing_woo · 03-05-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03terminator

I took pics, sign measurements and I even have a video, but I could only get 1 truck in it. If I can shrink it from 25m, I might be able to post it. The specific area in question is from Nelson Ave where there is a light and the speed is 80k. The three trucks left the light as it turned green and as I approached I moved to the left lane to pass them, as I gradually passed them in the left lane, my view of the 70k ahead, 70k, 50k ahead and 50k sign were blocked by the trucks. The officer had lidar and said I was doing 70k and he must have hit me very near the 50k sign and right next to the front truck, judging from when he ran out into the road. I don't know the distance on those things.

Oh, you're talking about that part. You know, I used to think that was an 80 zone all the way till Boundary. I know it isn't anymore right now ever since they put the traffic light at Nelson.
Also, to !SG, the construction that is happening there has nothing to do with the way the road is; it's due to the fact that a new industrial park is going up there, I think.

03terminator · 03-05-2009, 03:44 PM

I have an idea that won't help me but will help future users of Marine Way. If you know that area of Marine Way and feel it is a problem, send an email to;

engineering "at" burnaby.ca

Make a complaint about inadequate speed signs west bound Marine Way from Nelson Ave to Boundary Rd on a truck route. Speed signs are not visible when trucks are in the right lane. If they don't address the situation then they should not be setting up speed traps there. If they are notified by all the readers of this thread and do not fix it, then that establishes a defense for future ticketed drivers, not to mention a dangerous situation on that road.

Just to keep them honest.

03terminator · 04-26-2009, 08:43 PM

Update, I got a response from BBY Traffic Engineering

In regards to secondary signing, while the document you quote is from a
US agency, the recommendation is sound. We do not install overhead signs
however a complementary centre sign could be of benefit. These
complementary signs could only be placed where a centre median exists.
There is currently a median between Nelson and Glen Lyon in the area of
the reduction to 70k. We will install the additional signing here. The
other locations do not currently have medians however if and when one is
constructed we will install the additional signing at that time.

I still have a pending court date.

Soundy · 04-26-2009, 11:21 PM

^That letter will be a HUGE help in your defense! What would be ideal, of course, is if the person who responded could accompany you to court...

CRS · 04-27-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundy

^That letter will be a HUGE help in your defense! What would be ideal, of course, is if the person who responded could accompany you to court...

If you do get this, make sure he/she stays outside until they are summoned to be the expert.

BNR32_Coupe · 04-27-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 03terminator

Update, I got a response from BBY Traffic Engineering

In regards to secondary signing, while the document you quote is from a
US agency, the recommendation is sound. We do not install overhead signs
however a complementary centre sign could be of benefit. These
complementary signs could only be placed where a centre median exists.
There is currently a median between Nelson and Glen Lyon in the area of
the reduction to 70k. We will install the additional signing here. The
other locations do not currently have medians however if and when one is
constructed we will install the additional signing at that time.

I still have a pending court date.

Not only did you help the community by pointing an issue out, but I can bet my money that if you word your defense properly and mention this letter, you'll have the ticket thrown out. Well played. Even if the ticket isn't thrown out, at least some good came out of this, and others won't get the similar tickets.

For future reference, get a valentine1. Just sayin'....

03terminator · 04-27-2009, 11:35 AM

There is no way the Traffic Engineer would be a witness. However, I have elevated this to Provincial and that spot that I was tagged is a very well used spot. There must be many 1000's of tickets written there per year. It is possible that I create a precedent and get them all wiped. It is my first speeding ticket ever and I have a spotless record. So, I have have nothing to lose and will take the gamble.

Berzerker · 04-27-2009, 12:00 PM

You probably just fucked over Officer Joe's special quota meeting speeding trap. Good job man. Its to bad you can't get records of other people having gotten tickets at that same spot and and WHEN you get off on your ticket, send them the info to have their revoked.

Berz out.

Soundy · 12-08-2010, 08:32 AM

So, any update on 03terminator's court date?

Speed2K · 12-08-2010, 02:37 PM

^lol, looks like he hasn't posted since! Are there signs along the centre median now?

sebberry · 12-08-2010, 03:18 PM

I'd be surprised if this ticket was dropped. Just because you can't see the sign doesn't mean the speed limit doesn't apply to you.

Oleophobic · 12-08-2010, 03:41 PM

^
it's unfair because to the driver who is not familiar with the road, he is not gonna know the speed limit changes if he is in the middle of passing a few trucks. As mentioned, there needs to be signage visible to drivers in the left lane, and perferably on the left side like the centre median if possible.

You're basically saying it's the driver's fault for not taking that route more often.

sebberry · 12-08-2010, 03:52 PM

Ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law.

Oleophobic · 12-08-2010, 05:37 PM

when you compare:

1) someone driving 70 in city streets, getting a ticket, then claiming they had no idea there was a default limit of 50 in the city unless posted otherwise

2) someone not realizing a speed limit change due to a sign that exists, but is impossible to see when you're in the left lane and large vehicles like trucks are in the right (ie. no signage on left side).

I'll say there's a big difference and #2 is not a case of "ignorance of the law" and using that on the OP is definitely not the way "ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law" is meant to be used.

BallPeenHammer2 · 12-11-2010, 01:36 PM

Given the evidence the OP has already got in his hands, I think he'll win it.

03terminator · 08-07-2011, 10:28 AM

Sorry, just saw this thread, thought that I had posted the result..

I won the case but not the way I had thought.

The officer gave testimony... from notes.

I asked if he had any recollection of the incident other than notes, he said no.
I asked if the speed was higher than 50k along Marine Way (Yes, prior section)
I asked the total capable distance of the laser, (can't remember his answer but a think 1000+)
I asked the distance to the last speed sign (400m) He claimed he shot it with the laser. (remember the speed was higher before that sign)
I asked how he knew he had shot the speed sign, there are many signs and you can't read it from the back. He claimed that he drove passed it and maintained view of it at all times. (Don't think that is realistic)
(I knew that the last sign was within the laser range)
I asked if he recorded my distance and speed from laser. He looked puzzled and said no, he did not record the distance.

(He later told me that I had won at that point)..

..

sebberry · 08-07-2011, 09:43 PM

Now imagine you were 40kph over because your view of the signs were blocked by trucks...

ninjatune · 08-08-2011, 03:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebberry

Now imagine you were 40kph over because your view of the signs were blocked by trucks...

You'd have to take a day off from work to spend posting on RS of the tragedy!

Soundy · 08-08-2011, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebberry

Now imagine you were 40kph over because your view of the signs were blocked by trucks...

If you were, you would have been going at least 90 where the speed limit is 70, and you deserve a ticket anyway.