Police van: North PDX..questions ahead

[MikeM]

So I was coaching soccer at Roosevelt HS last night from 7-9pm. On my way home I go just north of the school onto Colombia Blvd. There is a 3-way stop at Smith and Colombia way. I take a left onto Colombia way and just driving down the street when I get to 3rd gear (at 3k rpm) and FLASH. A police van is randomly parked amidst a bunch of other cars on the side of the street with all of their lights off. The radar never showed that I was speeding until I was right next to it. I went back to the spot right after it happened and parked. There was a 25mph sign behind a tree in the dark at the 3-way stop that I honestly didn't see, but the street has three lanes and is set up to go faster than 25mph. While sitting I saw the van take pictures of 75% of the remaining cars that drove past...given it is now 9:30-9:45pm. Another thing to note, is that there is a 35mph sign on Colombia way just passed the Fessenden st intersection.

First violation of any kind for me and I would like to not have to pay for what seemed like a complete scam. All of the drivers were set up for failure and I swear I wasnt going too fast for that area (another coach for our club got flashed right after I did too). Any advice?

[Thizzelle]

Take pictures of covered speed sign

[10Toes]

So this it just a speed camera ticket that you are worried about? If so they have to prove that it was you driving the car and if it flashed from the back(?) that is kinda hard for them to do.....

[ST1G]

Yeah, I'm kinda confused about the situation in general here.

[colorado_cabrio]

One MAJOR flaw with all camera based systems is that without a person handing you the ticket is is VERY difficult for the agencies to verify that you were the person operating the vehicle at the time.

I have received a number of these tickets; contested every single one, and they have all been dismissed.

[MikeM]

thats interesting...I was wearing a beanie as well. I was planning on contesting it. I'm not scared of the ticket, but just disappointed in the fact that it seemed like a trap. The flash was going off non stop I mean so many people were getting it when they weren't driving excessively fast.

[10Toes]

Was this one of the portable signs that tell you your speed? I have seen some of these that flash a white light (like a camera flash) if you are going over the speed limit but it is not taking pictures just telling you to slow down.

[MikeM]

Was this one of the portable signs that tell you your speed? I have seen some of these that flash a white light (like a camera flash) if you are going over the speed limit but it is not taking pictures just telling you to slow down.

it would be nice if that was the case. It was on the back of a van though and there was a cop just posted in the front seat on his phone.

[delamaize]

1: Find Van again
2: scope it out, wait for it to be unoccupied.
3: BURN THE MOTHERFUCKER TO THE GROUND.
4: ?????
5: Profit!

[Matt-B]

I would have gotten pictures that day. I have had a few friends get these, and saw "it wasn't me driving." Then they started to question them about who was driving the car etc.


If you have no tickets etc, In Washington you can defer the 1st violation you receive.

[I got it, yes!!]

They have to prove you where driving, and "its registered to you" is not proof. You also have no legal right to incriminate someone else. It is their burden to prove, see this for more detail(and example of defense)

http://virginiacopblock.org/580/how-to-beat-a-photo-enforced-speeding-ticket-or-red-light-ticket/

[ST1G]

Was this one of the portable signs that tell you your speed? I have seen some of these that flash a white light (like a camera flash) if you are going over the speed limit but it is not taking pictures just telling you to slow down.

In Idaho we have these. They are annoying, but not speed traps. They wouldn't dare put up camera speed traps here. They would be removed by the pubic very quickly.

[CorvallisBMW]

I live about 20 blocks from this spot, and I agree Columbia Way can 'feel' like more than 25mph. But it's also a residential neighborhood, so keep that in mind. Best bet is to snap a picture of the covered-up speed sign and try to contest it.