1966 Barracuda Speeding Ticket

brkooduh66 said
Hello fokes,
I need some help. I just got a speeding ticket, the cop claims i was going 75mph. I claimed i was going 45mph.

Car: 1966 Barracuda, 318 (mild cam, 650cfm carb, electronic igition, 2.85 gears, bald tires, basiclly stock except for the cam & carb)

Conditions: dry, concrete road, smooth (excellent day to hook up the rubber)

Here's what happened:
I turned right on the main road off a side road, took note of the conditions, and felt the urge to "open it up", so i matted the pedal, accelerated hard, but not hard enough to break traction of my bald assed tires. in about 1/8 of a mile, i saw a motorcycle cop: i took note my speed was 60mph, let off gas, pressed the brake to slow down to 45 (quickly), i claimed 45mph because of this procedure.

Question 1: would my vehicle be capable of 75mph in an 1/8 mile considing my hole-shot was out of a right hand turn?

I want to start there because i've been down this argument before in traffic court, and the cop has the advange. the burden of proof is on me to show my old Cuda can't do that speed.

maybe if someone has a desktop dyno we can plug in some numbers, then i can cross that with a little "Myth Busters" trial runs.

I hate to say this because I usually don't get a warm welcome. But unfortunately for some, I am frequently the guy on the other end of that laser device. If the officer was using a laser device, which he probably was, then I can tell you with all certainty that the officer had your speed locked in long before you ever realized that he was there.
The laser technology of today is far superior to the old radars of years gone by. Today's lasers are target specific and do not sweep the entire street like the old radars used to do. Even with the best radar/laser detectors, unless I'm pointing my laser device at the car next to you, you don't have a chance. If I'm pointing it directly at your vehicle, by the time your detector goes off, I've already locked in your speed.
Also, the burden of proof is on the officer..not on you. What the officer does have in his favor, however, is technology, experience and the fact that, most likely, his primary focus at the time you received your citation was to catch speeding vehicles.
Since I'm not familiar with the court system where you live, I can't give you suggestions on how to deal with court. What I can tell you is that if you decide to fight the ticket, your chances of winning are unfortunately very slim.