[stashtrey]

Got popped by CHP last week doing 87 in a 70. There were several of us that all got snagged at the same time. Trooper up and down the interstate!

I didn't argue or ask any questions.

Curious if anyone has had this happen to them? Does the plane track you by mile markers? Radar?

There was a helicopter floating around over the same stretch on my drive back later that morning with a cable hanging from it...just hovering over the road.....could that be the CHP?! It was blacked out and wasn't moving anything or working ....all farm land there so thought maybe it was doing some work.

Anyways....I'm lucky as I was flying for a while much faster than was I was caught doing. Lesson learned. Flame on!

[The Wind Breezes]

They use markers and time you. As far as I know most civilian aircraft don't have that kind of radar, but it's been around since the 60s.

[stashtrey]

Originally Posted by The Wind Breezes

They use markers and time you. As far as I know most civilian aircraft don't have that kind of radar, but it's been around since the 60s.

I figured it was a tracking type deal with the markers. I was shocked. Really wasn't out pacing many as I5 is always fast moving left lane. Oh well....I shouldn't have been going that fast....probably would have been OK doing even 80. Felt fortunate given my higher speeds prior to getting popped!

[EALm4]

It's about timing. It doesnt have to be mile markers tough... you measure the time from when the car starts at one point to another. It can be telephone poles, mail boxes, anything that can give a solid visual reference with a solid reference to distance. So yes, mile markers but if telephone poles are equally 60yards apart, they can use that too.

Speed = Distance / time

The blacked out heli is most likely police. There are ton here and they are all blacked out except for the sheriff's office which is black but with yellow lettering on it.

[EALm4]

A ticket is a ticket so as long as you've come to terms that you were in the wrong, just forget it or fight it. No use in beating yourself up, you know?

[The Wind Breezes]

Where I live you'd be eligible for a defensive driving which you can do once a year for ticket dismissal. Not sure how it works in California but since the whole thing is a revenue scheme I imagine the rules are similar. You pay the court some fees for the privilege, and the charge gets dismissed. The real problem with tickets is the points on your license and insurance hike, so it's very important to get rid of them if you can.

[JMilley]

17 mph over the posted speed limit is enough to get you popped most anywhere, even I-5. I believe it when you say you were coming off of the accelerator a bit, it is easy to hit 100+ on I-5 without even trying.

That said -- odds are on your side to win this if you want to take the time and effort to fight it. Ticket Assassin has been a very valuable resource for me in the past and I don't think it should be any different for you.

Here are some links that should start you off in the right direction:

• http://www.ticketassassin.com/how-to...raffic-ticket/
• http://www.ticketassassin.com/docume...on-strategy-4/

Read up and you'll see that you have a good chance at beating this. I don't want to give you false hope, it's not a slam dunk. But the odds are in your favor.

Best of luck!

[FogCityM3]

Would take my chances and fight it.... would think the pilot who timed u would have to show up. What are chances of that happening?

[The Wind Breezes]

Originally Posted by FogCityM3

Would take my chances and fight it.... would think the pilot who timed u would have to show up. What are chances of that happening?

Probably extremely high, and first of all it wouldn't be the pilot, it would be an observer / camera operator. Second, courts have wised up to the no show / get off long ago and now schedule traffic officers in paid blocks to accommodate a ton of people ticketed just by that one officer on a given day. I doubt you'll be able to fight the ticket, but there's always a slim possibility. The more professional the department and better funded the traffic unit, the less likely that is though.

[n55x3]

It happens. Only ticket I've gotten in 15 years was by plane on my afternoon commute. Sucked because that is the only way I'd ever get a ticket on that stretch of highway. I have been driving it for so long I know where to look for parked cop cars, never thought to look in the air. Same scenario as OP posted, line of highway patrol cars waiting to just pick cars off based on feedback from the plane.

[MightyMouseTech]

See them quite often near the border from Ontario to Quebec. Look for large yellow triangles painted on the road. They use those to time the vehicle.

Or markers like this:

[fhaze3]

Maybe they DID get you Triple Digit Sightseeing, but didn't feel like being that big of an asshole, and waited till you slowed own a bit. Still revenue for the State, but no silver bracelets for you.

[MisterSkiMask]

the chopper with the cable is a 'sky crane' I've seen them all over NorCal doing power line maintenance.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

See them quite often near the border from Ontario to Quebec. Look for large yellow triangles painted on the road. They use those to time the vehicle.

Or markers like this:

Yep. There are markers on the road for the cop to time your travel between two points. The markers are typically a solid line which goes across the entire width of the road to ensure they get an accurate as possible trigger to start and stop the stopwatch.

I'm actually pretty surprised by the OP being caught by an aircraft for speeding. Many jurisdictions are abandoning the use of aircraft for speed enforcement due to the cost vs "benefit" being skewed too far over to the cost side.

[upstatedoc]

radar detector wouldn't have helped you in that instance. But this might:

http://www.rdforum.org/showthread.php?t=18449

[dsad1]

Is this really what we are wasting tax money on these days?

[lens]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Yep. There are markers on the road for the cop to time your travel between two points. The markers are typically a solid line which goes across the entire width of the road to ensure they get an accurate as possible trigger to start and stop the stopwatch.

I'm actually pretty surprised by the OP being caught by an aircraft for speeding. Many jurisdictions are abandoning the use of aircraft for speed enforcement due to the cost vs "benefit" being skewed too far over to the cost side.

Yeah. In canada it's very rare to get caught by plane. They say it's being monitored by air on the sign but 99% of the time there's nothing. You'll mostly get pulled over by undercover cops.

[infamousdiz]

Originally Posted by djsaad1

Is this really what we are wasting tax money on these days?

what a waste of resources, money would be better spent on keeping us safe from terrorist attacks

[stashtrey]

Thanks for all the insightful replies...not a single flamer!

I did some research last night. It seems as though it was a speed trap...which are not legal technically. Both officers (ticket writer and the pilot) have to be present and the ticket writer also has to submit a declaration of signature from the pilot. I also read that the pilot's name has to be on the ticket since they were the witness. If no car was pacing me from behind there is a basis for claiming another car like mine was near me when/prior to me being pulled over.

I'm going to fight it...even though I was definitely speeding. I think using planes to set up speed traps is BS and like others said...a huge waste of tax $$.

I will report back and update for those interested in how things shake out.

[Mr Tonka]

FL does this as well. Two seater, single engine planes causing the interstate timing how long it takes you to get from one white line to another. Busted. Seems to be more prominent towards the GA border though.

They even put a sign up on I75 just south of the GA border saying speed controlled by detecting devices and shows a picture of an airplane.

[Bobble]

It's by mile markers and timing with the CHP. Have several friends who have got the same tickets towing boats out to the river in Socal years back, usually the ticket has 2 notations where the officer signs one being the pilot. Was it a fairly desolate area as they use that to cover large enforcement areas like the I 10 and I 40 heading to AZ from Socal, you see the planes glimmering in the distance when driving into the sun and basically slow down to avoid it. Only know from experience what to look for and where on those routes and yes there are signs on the roadway to avoid the trap logic. Good luck.

[Mr Tonka]

Originally Posted by stashtrey

Thanks for all the insightful replies...not a single flamer!

I did some research last night. It seems as though it was a speed trap...which are not legal technically. Both officers (ticket writer and the pilot) have to be present and the ticket writer also has to submit a declaration of signature from the pilot. I also read that the pilot's name has to be on the ticket since they were the witness. If no car was pacing me from behind there is a basis for claiming another car like mine was near me when/prior to me being pulled over.

I'm going to fight it...even though I was definitely speeding. I think using planes to set up speed traps is BS and like others said...a huge waste of tax $$.

I will report back and update for those interested in how things shake out.

I think fighting it will only be another waste of money. It's your word against theirs and you'll be lying. Maybe set a court date, then reschedule it as many times as you're allowed. Then go in and plea no contest. Best case is the officer doesn't show up and it gets dismissed. Worst case is that you'll have to pay the fine and court costs, but you'll likely get some traffic school or get it bumped down to something with no points on the license. In FL that's a 4 point violation which stays there for 3 years.

Good luck.