How does police radar work?

[Wayne Maybury]

I have had my share of speeding tickets, especially when I was much younger. I never complained since I knew I was guilty. However I got a ticket 2 weeks ago that I feel was totally wrong.

Without going into a long explanation, I was being passed by a pickup truck who was going faster than me just as we got into range of a police radar trap. Instead of stopping the pickup, the officer stopped me instead. The officer was inside the car with the radar mounted on the outside of the rear left side window. I have to assume that he didn't see the pickup in his mirror. When he pulled me over, I explained that it was the pickup speeding, not me. His answer was "the radar told me it was you that was speeding". Can modern radar specify which vehicle it has spotted?

I have pleaded not guilty and I will have to go to traffic court soon. This was not a hand held radar gun, this was a window mounted unit. My understanding is that this type of radar unit will pick up the speed of the fastest moving vehicle but it really cannot state which vehicle unless there is just one there. Can anyone tell me if that is correct?

I think that the officer simply made an error but I do not want to make a false statement in court. Any help would be appreciated. By the way I was following several other cars all in the right lane so I couldn't possibly be going faster than them or I would have run over them. The pickup passed me and was about to pass the other cars when he spotted the police car at which time he pulled in the opening in front of me.

Wayne