Speeding tickets in the US (CA, AZ, NV)

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Are you always stopped by the police and get your ticket in person or is there an automatic process like in Germany where a picture of the car and license plate is taken and you get the ticket in the mail a few weeks later?

This depends on where you are speeding. The vast majority of speeding tickets happen via speed traps (that is, a radar trap) and not by speed cameras.

Most of what I found on the web read like people talked to the police when getting the ticket, but I was unable to find a definite answer. So, does not being stopped by the police mean we are in the clear here?

This depends entirely on where you were driving. Generally speaking, if there are no speed cameras in the area, then to get caught speeding you have to be either:

  1. Observed speeding by a radar gun/trap.
  2. Be observed speeding by pacing (this means, they are following you and you are speeding).

Either way, you are stopped by the police. Having never been stopped by the police in Europe, but having done so in the US a few times this is the normal procedure:

  1. You are pulled over to the side of the road.
  2. Do not get out of your car.
  3. Keep your hands on the steering wheel (don't start reaching for your documents/licence/wallet); ideally in a position that is visible (ie, at the top of the wheel).
  4. The officer will approach the driver's side and ask you for your documents, only then should you start reaching around for them.

They will tell you why they stopped you.

You will be asked to present a driver's license and proof of insurance. If the officer writes you a ticket you generally have to pay at the court house for that county. You can ask the officer where to pay the ticket if you are unfamiliar with the area.

Upvote:2

It varies by state. In some states, speed cameras are not allowed; in others, there are speed cameras. You can see lists of camera enforcement laws by state from reputable sources here and here.

For your case, there are no speed cameras in California or Nevada. There are in Arizona.

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