RE: Another speeding ticket question

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

> However...  they are not that reliable.  If either the 
> speedometer isn't
> calibrated correctly or the radar gun isn't calibrated right, 
> than it can
> VERY easily come up with an inacurate speed reading.
> 
> If fighting such a ticket ask to see his calibration proof.  
> Cops (since
> they are using it for such usefull purposes) have to have 
> them calibrated
> often, and if it isn't, than it is usually deemed 
> inadmissable in court.

... I don't know that I'd go so far as to say the cop's speedo is inaccurate
... since that is the primary evidence against you when you are paced they
have to be accurate enough to be used as evidence.  

My point here though is don't assume that the cops are required to produce
things like calibration proofs upon asking in court.  I thought that the
court would have the radar survey in the court (radar is not admissable in
California unless they can prove that 85% or more of the cars sampled in a
traffic survey were obeying the speed limit).  Well, they didn't, and since
I didn't subpoena it I was dead in the water.  

Don't take _anything_ that is posted here alone for preparing for a court
case.  Do your own research in the laws for your state ... and think long
and hard about hiring a lawyer!

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)
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