My question involves a traffic ticket from the state of: Washington, Whatcom County
Hey y'all,
I just got a speeding ticket (46.61.400) for supposedly going 87 MPH in a 70 MPH zone. However, the officer issued a ticket for speeding 5 MPH over limit which is a penalty of $105. I feel like I want to contest the ticket because I'm not sure that the situation that occurred was completely accurate. I don't want to ask for mitigation or defer this. It still goes on my record, so my goal is either to get this voided or simply pay the fine. An attorney would cost more than the fine, so I don't think that's worth it either.
To summarize, I was on two lane stretch of I-5, in the left lane. The patrol SUV was on the right lane, ahead of several other vehicles. I had accelerated to pass several of those cars behind the patrol vehicle, but I had the feeling the white SUV at the front was a squad car about 3-5 car lengths ahead, and proceeded to slow down. When I passed the squad car (and then was pulled over), I believe that I was not exceeding the speed limit at the time I passed the police SUV.
I was told by the officer that they had used a radar gun from the back of the car that measured my speed. She also mentioned that she saw me passing other vehicles and that since there was no emergency which would allow me to exceed the speed limit. She said "absolutely not" when I asked if I could receive a warning instead. This is my very first traffic infraction (in Washington State or elsewhere), so I did not ask for details about the radar equipment. At no point did I believe that my maximum speed during these few minutes was equal to or faster than 87 MPH. I totally could be wrong, but I don't think I was as fast as what the radar had purported me to be.
Thus, primarily, I want to know that this reading was accurate and the equipment had been maintained properly. I'm not sure if there's another defence to this speeding ticket. What should I be looking for and asking about in my discovery to make sure that this infraction was legitimate?
Finally, I can always still pay the fine before the hearing, right?

