Re: de plane, de plane

["STEVEN P. ADAMS" <adams1@webspan.net>]

Steve Buchholz wrote:
> 
> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 12:34:40 -0700
> From: steveb@falcon.kla.com (Steven Buchholz)
> Subject: Re: de plane, de plane
> 
> > I don't know where you got your definition of a speed trap, but most
> > states use lines painted on the highway and merely start timing you as you cross
> > the first, and stop as you cross the second.  The distance between the two being
> > fixed, the calculation is usually reduced to reading your speed directly from a
> > pre-printed chart.  BTW, VASCAR is another of them time-distance calculatin'
> > muthas...
> >
> ... it turns out that in the state of California the law states that
> speed traps are illegal.  In this definition prohibits the CHP or local
> REOs from measuring a distance and timing how long it takes you to cover
> that distance.  The way they sneak around the law is that they match
> your speed with the plane and time how long it takes the plane to cover
> a known distance.
> 
> On another part of this thread ... I do not believe that it is necessary
> for the plane operator to sign the ticket ... there is probably some
> sneaky way to obviate the observing officer from signing the ticket.

The officer pilot can sign tickets for the ground officer before he/she
is airborne.
> 
> Another definition of a speed trap in CA is related to the applicability
> of RADAR evidence.  They must do a RADAR survey of the stretch that they
> want to monitor and demonstrate that 85% of the traffic travelled at or
> below the posted limit.  If this is not the case it falls under the speed
> trap definition.
> 
> Steve Buchholz
> s_buchho@kla.com
> San Jsoe, CA (USA)
I am interested in the outcome of any court decision.  The only
legitimate way the aircraft can enforce speed is from measuring time
travelled between two fixed points.  As far as pacing, police vehicles
must have current documentation showing speedo calibration to
effectively pace another vehicle.  There is no way of calibrating the
airspeed indicator of an aircraft that I know of due to changing wind
speeds and directions, and how can the ground speed be calibrated.     
Unless they are using some new type of radar/laser certified for the
aircraft, I'd be looking for painted lines or overpasses in the area
where the violation occured.  Let us know the outcome anyway.

Sorry I wasn't going to get involved.

Steve Adams 
Long Beach Twp. Police, N.J.