[s-cars] Speeding Ticket Question - speed tracked by airplane...

[Peter Schulz]

Folks:

Does anyone know how vehicles speed is calculated and the vehicle identified?
I assume that speed calculation is simple as stopwatch used to measure time 
between marks on the road.

I was given a ticket for driving 80 mph in a 65mph zone while driving my 
audi (mandatory audi content)...tracking was done by airplane
This happened Friday at the Hooksett NH tolls, where the state police were 
out in force, and pulling people over at the toll booths.
( and no,  I was far from the fastest car)

I'm trying to decide whether I should pay, or exercise my right to show up 
in court.

Does the airplane operator take down the license plate ( or take a photo) 
to identify the vehicle?  Is this kept as proof?
Or do they just radio ahead to the ground officer and say silver-colored 
car, clocked at xxx mph...stop and ticket.?
  ( which means that the car was identified and tracked until definite 
identification is made)

Since they were tracking multiple vehicles, and there was no ground 
confirmation of vehicle speed, I am curious as to how the police are making 
their case.
I.e. is it possible that they did not have my license plate until I came to 
a stop at the tolls?

Or would the likely scenario be that the officer in the airplane said " 
silver car, lane 3, stop and issue citation for xxx mph..."


Thanks!

-Peter



Peter Schulz
1990 CQ (perpetually awaiting S2 3b engine transplant)
1991 200 20v TQW indigo mica
1991 200 20v TQW titanium grey
Chelmsford, MA USA
peter at audifans.com