I was driving behind 2 cars that according to my speedometer were going 55-ish in a 60mph area. I decided to pass them. (for my part, it's a road I take often and there is a Y in the highway, one leading through a curvy and hilly road which I usually take, and one that leads through several small towns but is easier driving. I was passing, not because thier speed was completely unbearable despite being under, I was actually fine with that. But if they are going under the speed limit on vast straight aways and they take my path, it's 35 in a 55 the whole time.)

It's a two lane road, one each direction, meaning in WA it is legal to exceed the speed limit for a reasonable time and distance to pass. I understand that you can't pass a person going the speed limit to begin with, but I am comfortable saying the cars I passed were moving under.

The officer was moving in the on coming lane. I had finished my pass and returned to the speed limit with out any undue "Oh boy! That was a cop!" breaking and by a more than safe margin before the patrolman passed us in the opposite direction. The rest of the story is as one would expect.

I have been reading the laws (the citation is for base speeding 80 in a 60, but the passing laws, speed to pass etc.) Also, due to reading other posts here, I learned am not elegible for a deferral since I had my first speeding ticket deferred 4 years ago.

So, in short:
-Can officer gun/guess speeds of 2 oncoming cars accurately?
-Can I make a case for 'only surpassed speed limit to pass safely, and I had returned to speed limit in safe and reasonable time?'
-If so, would this be a hearing to mitigate or a hearing to contest?

Also, the WA fine schedule for a ticket like mine (20 over) places the fine at $79, but the ticket is $175. Where does the extra money come from?