Speeding Ticket: Any hope?

["Greg Koehler (Volt Computer)" <a-gregk@microsoft.com>]

Not too late at all.  Join the National Motorists Association (NMA) at
http://www.itis.com/motorists/index.html and rent their excellent Legal
Resource Kit ($20/mo.).  If it was instant-on radar from a moving
vehicle it should be relatively easy to create doubt in the judge's
mind.  Cops are supposed to create a "tracking history" when they use
radar.  Tracking means following a suspected target through the radar
beam.  If the reading on the radar drops as the target goes by it's a
good indication of correct identification.  Can't do this with
instant-on because it just takes a snapshot of the strongest radar
source, whether that source is a truck behind you, a car in front of the
cop (up to a half-mile away), a chain link fence, or a radar tower.
More errors introduced if the cop is moving -- you have shadowing error
where the radar unit mistakes the target's speed for the cop's speed and
subtracts the wrong way.  Get the cop to show up in court and ask him
how far he can see ahead and accurately judge speed (a few hundred
feet--maybe).  Then ask him how far his radar can see (1/4 mile to 1/2
mile) and ask how he knows it was your vehicle and not another vehicle
or a false radar source.

- Greg
'90 80Q

>I just got a ticket in my 1 week old A4Q, bummer! 50 in a 35 mph zone; $100
>and a raise in insurance. On the ticket, the boxes RADAR and ESTIMATED are
>checked off. I believe he was driving towards me as he clocked me which
>makes me believe he estimated his own speed and subtracted it from the radar
>reading. My crappy BEL radar detector sounded only as I was passing him..too
>late. 

Greg Koehler
Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia
(206) 882-8080 x26919