The police hide in the church parking lot and claim to record *YOUR* speed at 37 MPH in a 25 MPH zone, northbound on 52 street.

Here is the scam; The radar is aimed at your car as you travel through the underpass for interstate 5. The problem is the radar shoots straight ahead at the interstate traffic, not down the hill and into the underpass tunnel. Due to the cosine effect (interstate 5 intersects 52 street at a 52 degree angle) the radar reads the speed of traffic toward the radar gun, measured speed = actual speed * cosine (52 degrees) = 60 * .615 = 37 MPH. Also, the time the interstate traffic is in a 12 degree radar beam (narrow beam) is ~ 1.2 seconds, [105 feet / 88 feet per second] adequate for a good radar lock.

The problem contesting this ticket is the Lynnwood judge refuses the evidence to be admitted into court, at least for me!! He did say it was a compelling argument – but just be a good boy and pay the fine on your way out the door. If you do contest (highly recommended) , take photo from church looking toward freeway, aerial photo (from terraserver), copy of map with angles & distances measured & scale, calculations, and don’t forget to refute the officers verbal "I observed a car moving at a high rate of speed" – since it is impossible for humans to visually estimate speed accurately.