California Driver Ticketed for Speeding in Washington

**responsible driver** · 08-16-2007, 05:01 PM

Got a speeding ticket in Wa. driving on Hwy 90, going east on the left lane just coming out of the curve when a state patrol that is parked right hand side off the road facing the same way as I am going, motions me over by hand, informing me that this conversation will be recorded, I did say I was from California and I know I was going a little faster
than 65 and that this would not be punished in Califronia, in my own estimates I was going 72 mph, he takes my drivers license and registrations, comes back and hands me a ticket saying I was going 80,7. I ask him how he determines how fast I was going, at that very moment he looks out on the street and hand waves another car driving on the left lane over to a stop, never answers my questions and hurries forward to this particular car. How can this officer judge a speeding by standing next to my car is this legal and what kind of method did he use on me?? He could not have used a radar, since he was in fromt of me and not facing me from the opposite, and he could not have used a Vascar since I was just coming out of a curve and he needs to see me clearly from point A going to point B. And if he used his own estimation how would that work? He sat in the car and he could have seen me in the mirror but I was just coming out of the curve. So do I have a chance to contest, I received a form for a mail hearing since I wrote them a letter shortly explaining what the officer did. What else could I do?? Thank you,

**responsible driver** · 08-17-2007, 10:46 AM

Nobody replied, I was hoping to get some sort of an answer, I wanted to know if it is legal to cite you for speeding without using radar, vascar and so on????? Has anybody an answer?? Thank you!

**aaron** · 08-17-2007, 11:01 AM

If you can't wait even one day before you get an answer, consider hiring a lawyer to assist you. This is a free service and nobody owes you an answer at all, let alone on an expedited timetable.

What does the ticket say about how your speed was measured?

**responsible driver** · 08-17-2007, 12:25 PM

Sorry to be anxious, but I have to reply by mail here soon, the ticket says SMD. What does that mean? Would I have a chance if I hire a lawyer, I am not sure if I can afford it.

**aaron** · 08-17-2007, 12:43 PM

If you want to hire a lawyer, call some area law firms and hire a lawyer.

SMD presumably means "speed measuring device".

**responsible driver** · 08-17-2007, 12:53 PM

Thank you!
Now I am thinking he could not have used VASCAR, since I was coming out of a curve and he was parked a little ahead on the right side, and Laser he would have had to point it at me but I was in a curve and when I came out of it he was sitting in the car not facing me. And than the next Driver he pulled over while he was handing me my ticket. How could he have used a SMD?