VASCAR is a lesser known way to catch speeders. This tactic does not require the officer to be on the side of the road with a speed gun, they can set up farther away from the road, or even in aircraft, making it very difficult to be aware of the law using VASCAR to catch you speeding.
What is VASCAR?
VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer And Recorder). An officer visually selects two landmarks (traffic light, crosswalk, stop sign, etc.). Then determines distance between the two landmarks and measure the time it takes a vehicle to travel between landmarks. It all boils down to a pretty simple equation:
Of course the officer is not going to scribble down this equation when calculating your speed. The “Computer” and “Recorder” are used to calculate and store your average speed.
The police officer operating the machine flips a switch when a vehicle passes a given point and then flips it again when the vehicle passes a second point. The machine then displays a speed on a small readout.
How to fight a VASCAR speeding ticket
Send the VASCAR speeding ticket back with the “Not Guilty” plea box checked. If possible, explain why you believe you are not guilty. You can also leave the space blank or state “Disagree with this ticket” if you need more time to develop your defense. A court hearing date will be sent to you in the mail.
Make sure you have a clear defense. A common defense is to claim that the equipment was faulty (you were not doing that speed).
Build up your defense. If you claim that the equipment is incorrect, you have to get permission to have someone analyze the VASCAR machine.
Go to court with your verbal defense rehearsed but also remember to bring some physical evidence (receipts, photos, etc.). Bring witnesses to your court case if possible. You will be required to go in front of the judge to state your case. Your verbal defense needs to be clear, detailed, and sensible. Your photographs and other physical evidence needs to be unmistakably tied to your case. For instance, if your defense is that you were out to dinner at the time of ticketing, don’t just bring a take out menu from the place. Bring a copy of the receipt with your name clearly signed and dated, match it up with your license signature for the judge.
Also worth checking out: Different Types of Radar and Laser Police Use to Detect Speeding
Creative Commons photos from Flickr: “2008-09-26_HPD_APD_G2_037″ by meltedplastic, “Fighting for fixed gears in court” by BikePortland.org “equation” by wikipedia.org Sources & more info: ehow.com, wikipedia.org thenewspaper.com
