What is the name of your state? Oregon
On Labour Day, I was on the way to work, and I was stopped and given a ticket for speeding. I had turned off of one 2 lane street onto another 2 lane street. The speed limit is 35 on the street I turned onto. About 2 blocks down, I saw an officer at the window of a car he had stopped, with his motorcycle parked about 4 feet behind the vehicle, its lights flashing. When I saw him, I looked down to check my own speed and saw that I was going 38 and so slowed a bit, but wasnt at all concerned.
I then continued down another 8 blocks (the 45 zone started right after where he had stopped the other car) and suddenly saw him in my rearview mirror with lights flashing. I thought he wanted me to move out of his way, as another car had gone zipping past, so I moved into the right hand lane - but he followed right behind me, so I pulled over to the shoulder and stopped the car. He came up to the window and said 'do you know how fast you were driving back there?" and I answered 'yes, why?" and he said "I clocked you at 52 mph'. And I asked him if he was sure it was *me* he had clocked as I was only going 38 at my fastest and he said yes, he was positive because his machine was 'vehicle specific and speed specific'.
My question is... HOW could he have 'clocked' me at all, if he was no where near his motorcycle at the time, was talking to the driver of the first car at their window, when I drove past. And doesnt the officer have to be holding the machine when someone drives past in order for it to be vehicle specific and speed specific? Ive seen them out on the freeway with the machine in their hands holding it out trying to catch people. And I know positively that I was going only 38 and had then slowed down to exactly 35 when I saw him talking to the other vehicle.
My driving record is impeccable. The last ticket I received was 30 years ago, when I had just earned my liscense, and apart from reading the instructions on the back of the ticket (the fine is $140 !!!) Im not sure WHAT exactly to do or say when I go to court. I do not feel its acceptable to be charged with, and fined for driving a speed I was not going. I was going 3 mph over the limit, that is true, but I wasnt going as fast as he says he 'clocked' me.
This is his word of honor against my word of honor... but he is mistaken, however I dont want to be disrespectful to the judge and explain that the officer is clearly in error. So how do I handle this?
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, as I cannot afford for my insurance to be raised, nor do I want my good record blemished. I also pride myself on being a careful and defensive driver and this ticket, in essence, is saying I am not and that doesnt sit right with me.
Thank you
On Labour Day, I was on the way to work, and I was stopped and given a ticket for speeding. I had turned off of one 2 lane street onto another 2 lane street. The speed limit is 35 on the street I turned onto. About 2 blocks down, I saw an officer at the window of a car he had stopped, with his motorcycle parked about 4 feet behind the vehicle, its lights flashing. When I saw him, I looked down to check my own speed and saw that I was going 38 and so slowed a bit, but wasnt at all concerned.
I then continued down another 8 blocks (the 45 zone started right after where he had stopped the other car) and suddenly saw him in my rearview mirror with lights flashing. I thought he wanted me to move out of his way, as another car had gone zipping past, so I moved into the right hand lane - but he followed right behind me, so I pulled over to the shoulder and stopped the car. He came up to the window and said 'do you know how fast you were driving back there?" and I answered 'yes, why?" and he said "I clocked you at 52 mph'. And I asked him if he was sure it was *me* he had clocked as I was only going 38 at my fastest and he said yes, he was positive because his machine was 'vehicle specific and speed specific'.
My question is... HOW could he have 'clocked' me at all, if he was no where near his motorcycle at the time, was talking to the driver of the first car at their window, when I drove past. And doesnt the officer have to be holding the machine when someone drives past in order for it to be vehicle specific and speed specific? Ive seen them out on the freeway with the machine in their hands holding it out trying to catch people. And I know positively that I was going only 38 and had then slowed down to exactly 35 when I saw him talking to the other vehicle.
My driving record is impeccable. The last ticket I received was 30 years ago, when I had just earned my liscense, and apart from reading the instructions on the back of the ticket (the fine is $140 !!!) Im not sure WHAT exactly to do or say when I go to court. I do not feel its acceptable to be charged with, and fined for driving a speed I was not going. I was going 3 mph over the limit, that is true, but I wasnt going as fast as he says he 'clocked' me.
This is his word of honor against my word of honor... but he is mistaken, however I dont want to be disrespectful to the judge and explain that the officer is clearly in error. So how do I handle this?
Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated, as I cannot afford for my insurance to be raised, nor do I want my good record blemished. I also pride myself on being a careful and defensive driver and this ticket, in essence, is saying I am not and that doesnt sit right with me.
Thank you
