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From: daveb@reed.UUCP (David Billstrom)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: It isn't always radar in the West... (or, "finally caught")
Message-ID: <1278@reed.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 16:23:13 EST
Article-I.D.: reed.1278
Posted: Mon Apr  8 16:23:13 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Apr-85 05:27:36 EST
Organization: Reed College, Portland, Oregon
Lines: 40

Thought I'd share a recent unhappy experience applicable perhaps to
all of you.  Maybe you can learn from it...

Despite my PASSPORT radar detector, my left-hand mirror angled towards
the sky behind me, my normal state of absolute paranoia-of-traffic-cops
(marked or unmarked), and my sunroof open, I was nailed 2 weekends ago on
I-5 in Washington State, a few miles north of Everett.  I spotted the marked
car as soon as it came down the ramp, and as we both rounded a curve 1/2
mile ahead, there were several other marked cars, lights flashing, each
with their own victim.  Two more pulled in after us.  All of us (private
citizens) had been going with traffic, I was quite sure of 65 mph.  Aircraft.
My ticket says 69 in a 55.  High overcast, and the private pilot in the car
with me thought it could have been VFR.  I never saw the plane (and I was
looking!). 

I was surprised at the "69" figure and told the officer of the car so; he
indicated perhaps my speedo was off, but that "the airplane has a calibrated
timer".  I saw no obvious timing marks on the ground (as I have in the past).
In California I have been able to spot the plane first, and slow down 
adequately.

Any ideas to get out of this ticket?  I'm presuming not, since it seemed to
be quite a production (several traffic cars) and thus I'm presuming they
made sure the exercise was legal.  I figure I don't have much of a chance
claiming mistaken identity, since my black VW GTI is pretty distinctive.
I WAS going faster than 55.

Any ideas for avoidance in the future?  (Don't bother replying "obey the law"
I understand that argument already).  What height do the planes usually
fly for this sort of thing?  Where in the sky should I be looking, I presumed
behind me (and presumed wrong, obviously).  If the conditions are VFR, doesn't
the plane have to be many of thousands of feet above (per FAA) ?
Any ideas?  

I caution those of you driving in Washington State (traditionally a radar
state with X band) for this relatively "new" threat.  I also detected K band 
radar in the Seattle area, on I-5.
Oregon, last I heard, has no state patrol airplanes.  Confirm?

David Billstrom  (consultant)  ...tektronix!reed!daveb