I've been professionally trained at poker and I can assure you that it doesn't make me good at it....and the cards aren't even moving.

No question, this guy was in court with the wrong trial attorney.

I think we need to see the actual wording of this decision.

I definitely have mixed feelings.

1. I dislike speeders rather severely.
2. I distrust some elements of law enforcement who now will be armed with this ruling (as we currently understand it).

Last Friday our local NPR station (WCPN) had their local weekly news roundup and this subject came up front and center. I was stunned that their NPR statewide bureau chief came out in favor of the court, basically arguing pm01's points above.

Fortunately a couple of callers to the station took the oppposing position and rather eloquently.

It's all well and good to assure us that there will not be "a rash of cites based on visual estimations only over this ruling". Particularly if it involves the State Highway Patrol, I have a pretty fair amount of faith in our very professional state troopers. That's not the danger.

It is that there are speed traps scattered around the state. This involves local communities, often enough, with those judical oddities called "mayor's courts", which as of yet, have not been outlawed by the state legislature (to my knowledge).

The possibility for abuse of this ruling seems to me to be very real when it involves the 25 and 35 mile per hour speed limits.

I really question the logic of stating that officers can be TRAINED to visually estimate speeds with any kind of real accuracy. What would be considered accurate? Within 5 percent? 10 percent? 20 percent?

Yes I agree that the specific case could be justly ruled in favor of the city, but it is closer calls that would be of concern. It seems that the ruling can be extended to cover them. That is worrisome.

Consider also that in many communities the fine is tied to how many MPH is excess of the speed limit is cited. In addition the amount of points accessed against a driver license by the Ohio BMV can differ depending on amount of MPH overthe speed limit in a conviction.


I repeat, we need to see the exact wording of the decision.

If cops can give speeding tickets based upon a subjective evaluation of speed, could we please pass a law allowing cops to give excessive noise tickets based upon a subjective evaluation of the loudness of car radios?

Last I heard the law was almost impossible to enforce due to lack of an objective measuring device comparable to radar. At any rate, Buffett should be immune to the law.