Hello!
I just got my very first speeding ticket a couple days ago and wanted to see what my options are. The situation is as follows: I bought a car on Saturday that has a great deal more power than the car I was driving previously. Saturday night the speedometer began malfunctioning. I brought the car to the dealer ASAP, Monday morning, to have it looked at. They confirmed that the speed sensor was broken and ordered the part, gave me a 3-5 day estimate for arrival and a document stating that the sensor was broken.
Tuesday morning on my way to work my speedo reads 0 on the highway, I am travelling in the far right lane and approach a truck, I signal left and change lanes to pass the truck. To pass I hit the gas slightly overzealously and quite possibly get up to 85, I don't know because my speedo doesn't work. CHP bike cop pulls me over, writes me the ticket, doesn't mention how he got the 85 mph number, and I leave.
I think that there's some mitigating factors in this case that merit the judges attention. My question is: what is the best way to communicate this information?
Should I do a TBD? Or is that only when pleading Not Guilty, not for explanations? Should I be pleading Not Guilty? Should I bring evidence of my speedometer's malfunction and subsequent repair to my arraignment? I'm just unsure about what legal procedure is advisable under the circumstances. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks in advance!
P.S. I checked the California Vehicle Code and driving with a malfunctioning speedometer is not illegal.

