How does police radar work?

[Wayne Maybury]

VRM This occurred entering a construction zone on a major divided highway which has 2 lanes in each direction. I had been following 3 or 4 other cars for several kms at about 110 kmh in a 100 kmh zone. When we approached the construction zone, all of the cars including me in my Explorer began to slow down. As far as I know, no one jumped on the brakes, everyone simply released the gas pedal. I believe that I was about half way between the highway speed of 110 kmh and the final work-zone speed of 80kmh when I theoritically entered the construction zone.

Just as I entered the speed zone in my red Explorer a white duel wheel Dodge pickup passed me. This construction zone was being changed/modified at the time so we had to sort of zig-zag to the right, them immediately to the left as we entered the zone. I was in the right lane and the pickup was passing me in the left lane. The police cruiser was parked on the right shoulder behind some construction material about 200 or 300 feet inside the zone with the radar unit mounted on the left rear window. The only way the officer could see the oncoming traffic would be by looking at the left mirror.

As soon as the driver of the pickup saw the police cruiser, he immediately jumped on the brakes but by that time he had already passed me. He cut in front of me as soon as he could and the police cruiser then followed this line of cars and trucks for the next minute or two. The driver of the pickup knew he had been caught as he kept looking in his mirriors waiting to see what the police officer was going to do. My wife and I were laughing as this guy kept peeking at his mirrors in anticipation of getting pulled over.

Finally when we exited the construction zone, the officer stopped me instead of the pickup. I tried to explain to him that he had stopped the wrong vehicle but he basically told me to tell it to the judge which I intend to do. I like your idea of making a diagram outlining the position of the various vehicles as well as the police car and the construction equipment, etc. I admit that I was exceeding the speed limit (just like everyone else that I was following) but the fastest vehicle was the pickup as he was passing me.

Maybe the officer has been transferred to another district and will not even show up in court.

Wayne

[RAO-3]

Up to you how you want to handle it, but maybe you could talk to the prosecutor at the court just before court is in session and plead it down to a lower offense?

I haven't had a speeding ticket in a long time, but several people that I know have been successful in handling it in this manner.

Good luck!

Ray

[Wayne Maybury]

Originally Posted by RAO-3

Up to you how you want to handle it, but maybe you could talk to the prosecutor at the court just before court is in session and plead it down to a lower offense?

I haven't had a speeding ticket in a long time, but several people that I know have been successful in handling it in this manner.

Good luck!

Ray

I may do that since I do readily admit that I was going about 90 as I entered the 70 zone.

Wayne