CA - Eyes in The Sky Helping CHP Stop Speeders

[StlouisX50]

Eyes in The Sky Helping CHP Stop Speeders


Last Update: 8/14 9:22 pm
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From 1,000 feet above ground, CHP officers are putting the brakes on speeders. But you may not see them coming. Flight officers say they spot drivers going too fast, pace them using mile makers and a simple stop watch, and then radio ground units to stop the driver.
"You can come in here two or three hours and maybe the officers will stop 20 to 30 vehicles. Now one officer by himself probably is not going to do that," Flight Officer Daniel Freeman said.
Once a CHP air officer determines your driving too fast, officers like Ronald Rush take over. "Once you tell the violator that the plane paced them, they pretty much don't have a lot to say," Officer Rush said.
Air officers nabbed a truck pulling a trailor at 70 mph and the speed limit for him is 55. He says he is proof drivers who check their rearview mirrors, may also need to take a look up.
"I guess they are always there," Ken Manly said while still smiling after Officer Rush pulled him over.
CHP air officers out of Fresno cover Kern County and about four other counties in Central California. With 16 planes and 16 helicopters, the CHP randomly patrols highways all over California.
CHP officers say they have nabbed drivers going as fast as 120 mph from up above. So the advice from officers, when you feel like driving a little faster on the road... don't, because they'll be watching from the sky.
CHP air officers also warn all drivers to slow down and say excessive speed is the number one cause for injury related accidents.



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[FlyinZX-10R]

That method is considered a 'speedtrap' in CA and not admissable in court. Now if the plane/helo radios a CHP car and they pace you, then your toast.

California Speed Trap Laws (additional info in link)

40801:
No peace officer or other person shall use a speed trap in arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, any person for any alleged violation of this code nor shall any speed trap be used in securing evidence as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution under this code.
40802 A "speed trap" is either of the following:
(a) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.

[Lucky225]

I was just going to point out that that's considered a speed trap =)

[gustog]

Might want to take a look at the following link for explanation of how the CHP measures speed from aircraft. I believe they "pace" you from the aircraft.

I recall an old C&D or MotorTrend article where they rode along with the CHP and they had something along the lines of a "bomb sight" that they used to measure the aircraft speed between painted lines on the highway. I can't seem to find the article however.



Aircraft [Archive] - CHPForums

[Lucky225]

Might want to take a look at the following link for explanation of how the CHP measures speed from aircraft. I believe they "pace" you from the aircraft.

I recall an old C&D or MotorTrend article where they rode along with the CHP and they had something along the lines of a "bomb sight" that they used to measure the aircraft speed between painted lines on the highway. I can't seem to find the article however.



Aircraft [Archive] - CHPForums

40801:
No peace officer or other person shall use a speed trap in arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, any person for any alleged violation of this code nor shall any speed trap be used in securing evidence as to the speed of any vehicle for the purpose of an arrest or prosecution under this code.
40802 A "speed trap" is either of the following:
(a) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.

You know, like painted lines or mile markers (boundaries marked)

[gustog]

Maybe I'm not making myself clear. They place the bomb sight on the car and keep it there. Then they time the *plane* through the measured marks. Technically the car is not timed. The car is "paced".

[Lucky225]

Maybe I'm not making myself clear. They place the bomb sight on the car and keep it there. Then they time the *plane* through the measured marks. Technically the car is not timed. The car is "paced".

I don't know, that sounds like the same thing to me. In any event, the pilot would have to radio to a ground car anyways, so that means both would have to appear in Court since the ground car didn't witness the speeder and his testimony that "the pilot told me he was going so-and-so mph" would be hearsay.

[gustog]

Sorry couldn't find the exact article that I was thinking about, but found the following which is similar. The quote below is from one of the officers midway through the article.

“Contrary to popular belief, we don’t time speeders between known points on the ground,” Texiera explains. “The courts have ruled that that’s illegal because it represents a speed trap. Instead, we must match speed exactly with a speeder and time ourselves between those two points.

Pilot Journal - CHiPs In The Sky=

Totally agree the tickets are beatable due to hearsay evidence.

[Lucky225]

Sorry couldn't find the exact article that I was thinking about, but found the following which is similar. The quote below is from one of the officers midway through the article.

“Contrary to popular belief, we don’t time speeders between known points on the ground,” Texiera explains. “The courts have ruled that that’s illegal because it represents a speed trap. Instead, we must match speed exactly with a speeder and time ourselves between those two points.

Pilot Journal - CHiPs In The Sky=

Totally agree the tickets are beatable due to hearsay evidence.

Yea, I think the whole timing yourself through the known points is the same thing though, cops are so full of it sometimes.

40802. (a) A "speed trap" is either of the following:
(1) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and
with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order
that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it
takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.


What, is the aircraft not a vehicle? I mean they're doing a speed trap on themselves to calculate YOUR speed and
somehow that's not a speed trap? 40802 doesn't specify WHICH vehicle (the speeder or the pacer), just 'a vehicle', so
I think it's still technically a speed trap, I mean come on if they're timing 'their self' then how do they know
YOUR speed unless they're also timing you between those points? That's like merchants who charge for using credit
card but get around the rules by saying if you pay in cash/check you get a "discount".

[gustog]

Seems like the aircraft is not a vehicle.

According to CVC 670. A "vehicle" is a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.


Nonetheless, your credit card analogy hits the nail on the head. The LEO's play their game and we play ours.