Speeding ticket on busy freeway, 3 lanes away from where officer was sitting

[pm787]

I received a speeding ticket for going 25 over the limit on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago (basically a limited-access freeway). The speed limit is 40, which is ridiculous and adhered to by absolutely no one, so suffice it so say that everyone around me was going at least 20 over. This stretch is 4 lanes in each direction, the police officer was sitting in the median and I was in the third lane from the left. It was fairly busy, so he could have easily clocked one of 2 or 3 cars that were in the 2 lanes to my left. All other arguments aside, would this give me a fighting chance if I brought it to court? I didn't say a word to the officer other then hello and okay.

 

[Zigner]

I received a speeding ticket for going 25 over the limit on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago (basically a limited-access freeway). The speed limit is 40, which is ridiculous and adhered to by absolutely no one, so suffice it so say that everyone around me was going at least 20 over. This stretch is 4 lanes in each direction, the police officer was sitting in the median and I was in the third lane from the left. It was fairly busy, so he could have easily clocked one of 2 or 3 cars that were in the 2 lanes to my left. All other arguments aside, would this give me a fighting chance if I brought it to court? I didn't say a word to the officer other then hello and okay.

Is your defense "everyone was speeding so why should I get a ticket?" Or is it "sure, I was speeding, but I think the officer clocked the guy next to me?"

 

[pm787]

Is your defense "everyone was speeding so why should I get a ticket?" Or is it "sure, I was speeding, but I think the officer clocked the guy next to me?"

The latter. I know the whole "everyone else was doing it too" is no defense. Just trying to provide context.

 

[not2cleverRed]

The latter. I know the whole "everyone else was doing it too" is no defense. Just trying to provide context.

"Sure I was speeding, but I think the officer clocked the guy next to me."

Still admitting to speeding.

Still not a valid defense.

 

[pm787]

"Sure I was speeding, but I think the officer clocked the guy next to me."

Still admitting to speeding.

Still not a valid defense.

I'm not going to admit guilt. What I meant to convey was that my defense will simply be "the officer must have clocked the guy next to me."

 

[NeilTheCop]

I'm not going to admit guilt. What I meant to convey was that my defense will simply be "the officer must have clocked the guy next to me."

And the chance of going before a judge who has'nt heard that excuse many many times in the past is 0.

 

[cbg]

And your evidence that this is the case, that the officer was clocking someone other than you, is...?

 

[LdiJ]

I am very familiar with Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and I am dumbfounded that the speed limit is only 40. It moves like an interstate highway.

 

[Just Blue]

I'm not going to admit guilt. What I meant to convey was that my defense will simply be "the officer must have clocked the guy next to me."

And that means you were speeding. Otherwise the "guy next to you" would have been 1/2 mile ahead.

 

[not2cleverRed]

I am very familiar with Lake Shore Drive in Chicago and I am dumbfounded that the speed limit is only 40. It moves like an interstate highway.

And? The legal relevance of this is?

Many of us have driven on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. It is what it is: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-biz-lake-shore-drive-speeding-20180822-story.html

There are speed traps. When you know there are officers looking for someone to ticket, you keep a low profile to minimize the probability of being ticketed. No one is happy about being ticketed, and the judges have all heard the lame excuses before.

The fact of the matter is that if you are ticketed for going 25 over the speed limit, it because the officer believed you were going at least 25 over the speed limit. So, OP was going over 65 mph.

 

[FlyingRon]

You're lucky, the only times I ever end up on Lake Shore it's been stop and go.

 

[aldaron]

Use the states certification process to defend against the radar gun if you can, officer needs to be certified to operate it also. You might get lucky. Subpoena those records and see if certs are up to date. Lots of work for the police so they might just not show up if your lucky, it happens. With Chicago's dysfunctional PD you might get lucky.

 

[HighwayMan]

Use the states certification process to defend against the radar gun if you can...

What makes you so sure a "radar gun" was used?

 

[aldaron]

"the police officer was sitting in the median and I was in the third lane from the left." I assumed it from that post and from experience. You could be right but vegas is on my side.​

 

[HighwayMan]

"the police officer was sitting in the median and I was in the third lane from the left." I assumed it from that post and from experience. You could be right but vegas is on my side.

Who was this directed at?