Speeding case The traffic camera van operator who was ticketed by a Honolulu police officer for speeding in his van won his case in traffic court last month.
tossed for van
cam operator
He successfully argues that an officer
did not get accurate readingsBy Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.comAdam Badgley was ticketed for driving 47 mph in a 35 mph zone on the Puuloa Road offramp from the Koko Head-bound lanes of the Moanalua Freeway on Jan. 10.
A week earlier, Badgley and other Affiliated Computer Services camera operators began snapping pictures of speeding motorists on Oahu roadways.
After Badgley received the citation, state Department of Transportation spokeswoman Marilyn Kali said ACS did not believe he was speeding and would contest the ticket.
Badgley was not represented by a lawyer at his court hearing on Feb. 7.
Court records show he argued, "On the offramp there is no warning sign, no posted speed limit sign."
Badgley said the first speed limit sign is on Puuloa Road beyond the spot where the officer pulled him over. He provided the court a photograph of the sign.
He also said he was not traveling 47 mph and that the officer did not follow him long enough to get an accurate speed measurement.
The officer indicated in his report that he paced Badgley's van for two-tenths of a mile. Badgley told the court the offramp is only one-tenth of a mile long.
Per diem Judge Yvonne Shinmura dismissed the citation.
"There is an indication that there is one sign. However, there is no indication at what point that (the officer's) observations occurred with respect to the sign. However, please take it as a warning that that's the speed limit in the area," she said.
Shinmura also dismissed a citation the officer issued Badgley for not having the van's registration certificate in the vehicle. The law requires the owner to keep the registration in the vehicle.