# Can you get ticketed for going 1 mph over the speed limit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754 "2002-12-10T13:25:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Bones\_Daley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@Bones\_Daley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bones_Daley)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754/81 "2017-09-21T13:33:11Z")
> [@redvett](#): > > 1 mph let alone 4-5 mph is not enforcement able. Tire diameter/rpm’s per mile vary with MFR’s tires in the same size. Take a size 235/55zr17 from Pirelli @ 768 rev’s per mile and BF Goodrich 235/55zr17 will have a 766 rev’s per mile. Error of the vehicle alone not counting tires will be around ±5-7 mph. Take in account law enforcement eager to meet ticket quotas and you have a SPEEDTRAP. Good honest law enforcement agency’s wont ticket less than 10 mph. > Canada had a driver get a ticket recently for 1 mph and the ticket was rescinded. Reminds me of that 1974 TV movie “The California Kid” …as I recall, a very young Martin Sheen blinded the deranged sheriff with science when the sheriff tried to ticket him for going one mph over the limit. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754/82 "2017-09-21T14:17:22Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > Thanks for the clarification. Do you know of any local or county governments in Florida that have added a fine for 1-4mph over? I bet if anyone is doing it, Waldo is. Those bastards. [Waldo got busted several years ago, and their speed trap is no more.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-town-infamous-for-speed-traps-disbanding-police-force/) ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754/83 "2017-09-21T20:41:01Z")
> [@redvett](#): > > 1 mph let alone 4-5 mph is not enforcement able. Tire diameter/rpm’s per mile vary with MFR’s tires in the same size. Take a size 235/55zr17 from Pirelli @ 768 rev’s per mile and BF Goodrich 235/55zr17 will have a 766 rev’s per mile. Error of the vehicle alone not counting tires will be around ±5-7 mph. Take in account law enforcement eager to meet ticket quotas and you have a SPEEDTRAP. Good honest law enforcement agency’s wont ticket less than 10 mph. > > Canada had a driver get a ticket recently for 1 mph and the ticket was rescinded. I recall reading somewhere that tickets within a certain margin of error aren’t really enforceable but I imagine lots of people just pay the fines. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754/84 "2017-09-21T22:54:59Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I recall reading somewhere that tickets within a certain margin of error aren’t really enforceable I posted this earlier: > [@pkbites](#): > > \*What does the operators manual say as far as accuracy? Most of the radar/laser equipment I use say they are accurate within 0.5mph. But a few say 1 mph. In other words, how could I write you at 1 over if the manual says the unit could be off by 1. A smart attorney would get to see that manual in discovery and blow the case out of the water. Some of the older radar units said they were accurate +/- 4 mph which is where the 5 over standard came from. Tires and speedometer discrepancies are not a defense to a speed violation. In my 35+ years on the job every time I’ve seen someone come into court and tell the judge the reason they were speeding was because of their tires or their speedometer the judge has convicted them instead of an equipment violation. This is still a moving violation, it still goes on your driving record, the fine is the same, it still will affect your insurance rates. The only difference is you’ll be assessed 2 demerit points instead of 3 or 4. ---
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754/85 "2017-09-21T23:24:35Z")
> [@zuma](#): > > Come on… no cop is going to pull you over for going 2 mph over the limit. Not gonna happen. Unless of course you are driving around in a crappy 20 year-old bondo-held-together car, a 1978 sedan with thumping stereo, or another suspicious vehicle. You mean like my friend’s car who gave me a ride once, in which, unbeknownst to me, he had to put on the parking brake in order to stop? We were _so_ pulled over. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-get-ticketed-for-going-1-mph-over-the-speed-limit/141754.md?page=4)