How does police radar work?

[bomelia]

Wayne,

I think you are SOL. I once got caught in a "trap" where about 10 cars were all going over the limit (in town, rush hour). I got picked out of the middle, no one else. When I asked about that, the cop said it was a judgment call. Sucks. But "conciousness of guilt" will trip you up in court unless you are a very good actor and/or liar (I am neither, though I have tried). The judge will ask you if you were knowingly speeding, in any case. Now, what are you going to say? "Well yeah, but the bigger truck was going faster!" Remember, you will be under oath, and that is a powerful thing to deal with.

You'd be better off to hire a lawyer to do the dirty work (maybe Jamo can do it) now that you are in this deep, or beg out of going to court. You are going to end up having to pay the ticket and the court costs. Not to mention any other crap the judge might throw at you for wasting his time.

If you were not speeding, then I would most def go to court on principle alone. Lack of "consciousness of guilt" would really work in your favor.

I hope you do not take this as snide remarks. I am speaking from experience.

Most of all, I sincerely hope I am wrong.

Mike

Originally Posted by Wayne Maybury

To answer a couple of the remarks / questions.

Yes I was speeding but not nearly at the speed he said. The police car was just inside a construction zone where the speed was decreased from 100 kmh (65 mph) to 70 kmh (45mph). When I entered the zone I was decreasing my speed from about 110 to eventually 75. I believe that I was doing 90 to 95 kmh when I first entered the zone. He ticketed me for 114 kmh which is higher than the speed I was travelling in the 100 zone.

I was following 3 or 4 smaller cars with my Explorer but I was being passed by a duel wheel crew cab Dodge pickup which is definitely bigger than my Explorer. I'm not even sure the pickup was doing 114. The pickup did pass me then cut in front of me once he saw the police car. He knew that he had been caught as he kept looking in his mirrors waiting for the cop to pull him over.

First to pull over once the flashers are on is a good one. Well that is interesting. As I said there were 3 or 4 cars ahead of me, then the pickup pulled in directly in front of me and the police car began following directly behind me. We continued on that way for about a mile at which time I had to take an exit but all of the other vehicles kept going straight. The police car follwed me and only turned on his flashers once I had taken the exit. I had no choice but to stop and everyone else was long gone by then.

Wayne

[Wayne Maybury]

Mike

Thanks for the candid remarks. I am not insulted at all. I plan on pleading not guilty to doing 114 in a 70 zone. I am prepared to plead guilty to doing 90 or 95 in the 70 zone. The ticket is $249 and 3 points. I figure that the court costs will be another $30 or $40 if the judge thinks that I have no case. Of course I am also hoping that the police officer doesn't show up for court.

I will let you know how I make out, in a few weeks. The court date hasn't been set yet.

Wayne

[Ron61]

Wayne,

Do they set up those road side radars up there from time to time? If they do, watch it and especially if there is other traffic around you and you may be surprised. I was trying to see how accurate my speedometer was and one of them kept jumping from one speed to another and I was the only vehicle close to it. I knew that I wasn't doing 60 MPH as I was in a 40 zone and finally figured it must be picking up cars that were almost a block behind me. It would jump from 40 to 60 to something else and back and forth. They aren't exact as to correctness but give you a god idea of how fast you are going and are good to check your speed with.


Ron