Does anyone know of a place that I can get a speedometer calibration done in NJ? I got a speeding ticket in VA this past August and I'm having a lawyer fight it for me, trying to get the points off. He wants me to get my speedo calibrated but I can't find anyone to do it.

Any ideas?

Cabowabo

 

First of all, have you played around with the calibration as it is (I mean non-OEM size wheels/tires). Whether or not you have, most factory speedo's are off at most only about 3-4 miles per hour (at 60). Sounds like a pretty long shot and iffy try at arguing this ticket.

 

all I want them to do is reduce the point value. It's a 4 point ticket here in Jersey but if they bring it down to 2, then my insurance co. will forgive it and wont raise my rate.

That's what I hate about insurance co's, I've been driving for 11 years and never got a moving violation of any kind. Get one ticket, all of sudden i'm a bad driver, bill me up the wazoo.

Cabowabo.

 

oh...

still, not sure if you will find a calibration shop...ever notice how most police don't pull over until about 4-5 miles over the posted limit (unless in a school zone)? Alot of that has to do with the acknowledgement that all factory speedo's are not dead on...however, by the time you are over 5 mph (again relative to actual speed since this 'range of error' is based on statistics compiled at 55-60 mph) it is fairly evident that it is the driver and not the speedo.

I don't think there are many places to calibrate factory speedos simply because of the 'understanding' above.

In any event, as crazy as this sounds, call the local police department to see who they use (if they use anyone). Since the ticket is in VA, I don't think this would be damaging to you in NJ to ask them.

 

you should call down to your local department and see if you can find an understanding cop who will clock you.

You can also use a GPS. On a level, straight, open stretch of road, you will find it accurate to tenths of a mph. You need to set the cruise control at 60 or 70. Works like a charm. This wont help you at all in court.

My stock GLE with 16's was doing 68 @ 70 speedo reading.. after putting on 2k2 17's, it's dead on at 70. I've had my GPS in many cars, most are 2mph over (you see 70, you are doing 68). I've been some domestic SUVs where they are 5mph under! doh! and they had gotten lots of tickets they didnt think they deserved.

 

It'd also be nice to see if Nissan had a recalibration service themselves. I had my speedometer replaced due to a short in a light circuit. Ever since then, my speedometer is off by over 6 miles. When I'm going 70, the speedometer says 63. It's quite annoying here in general, but here in Florida it's even worse, considering no one even drives the speed limit. A speed limit is 55, (most) Floridians are driving 45-50 (on a good day), and my speedometer is reading 37-42. Now how messed up is that?

 

be real messed up if your ODO doesnt match the mileage on your ECU.. your resale will be totally cheesed

 

I agree that the calibration wont do me any good but the lawyer keeps on insisting. Since it is in a court, I don't think my gps readings will do me any good.

Thanks for you help guys, I'm just trying to stop my insurance rate from going up.

Cabowabo

 

Though it's probably not legal unless you have 18 witnesses, 4 of which are saints, in your car. Drive down the highway (max 65) at 60mph. 1 minute a mile. do 20 miles on cruise it should take you 20 minutes. The calc +- is fairly simple. (you do it in 19, your spedo is slow (it should have been showing 65)) vice-versa.

 

OT: studman did you tint your front windshield too?

 

Yep. Sides are 14% (verified by state trooper who wrote me a ticket because he said that my "windows" looked dark while I was driving by) and the front is 40%.

 

Well my lawyer went to bat for me and he got my speeding ticket completely dismissed if I go a driver safety class and send them the completion certificate. That will save me a ton in insurance costs.

Anyone else ever been to this safety class? I heard it REALLY BORING. True or not?

Thanks,
Cabowabo

 

Yeah, a lot of states have that. I've never been, but my dad went to court and got his ticket dismissed if he went to the class. He did, said it was the most boring period of time in his life. Oh well, I'd rather do that than deal with insurance costs and

 

Hmmm, I called a million auto places around here when I went with a low profile tire, and they said you can't calibrate the speedo. didn't call Nissan bout it though.

 

For awhile, I don't know if they still do it, the state was outsourcing these driver ed. classes. There was a lot of competition so these classes became something of a joke. To differentiate themselves the people teaching the class would do all kinds of things. I personally went to the class entitled "You Got A Ticket To Laugh". It was taught by a woman who did stand up comedy and B-movies. For the most part it was the boring regime you would expect, but she interspersed some humor. When looking I saw several others, there was a class for meeting singles, for cooking, etc. Now remember all of this was to satisfy at least a county requirement that you took a driver's ed class. This was 10+ years ago and I believe they finally clamped down on this and its now taught by troopers. Luckily for me I haven't gotten a ticket since.

 

not sure if it applicable where you live, but with the enormity of the ticket writing industry here in Texas, they actually APPROVED the attached site to fulfill the 'class' requirements...

http://www.defensivedriving.com/ddo/index.html