Pursuant
to California Vehicle Code (CVC) 40902, I respectfully submit this Trial By
Written Declaration to the Court. I plead Not Guilty to the charge of CVC 22349
A.
As required, I enclose a check in the amount of $322.00
for the required bail payment. Please refund $322.00 in the event the court
finds me not guilty.
On Saturday, March 20th, 2011 I was driving to
the city on the northbound of 11th Street at around 10:00am. The
weather and road conditions were near perfect: dry, sunny, with visibility nearly
unlimited, and the traffic was very light. CHP Officer ID#XXXXX stopped me
within City County, and cited me.
Before I was stopped by the officer, I was driving in #1
lane with a car coming closely behind me and another car few car lengths behind
on the #2 lane(*See Diagram A). Those were the only cars visible in a 200-300
yard stretch. I noticed the car behind me was coming up faster than I was going,
so I attempted to make a lane change to the right lane to let the faster car
behind me pass. In order to make a safe right lane change since there was
another car in the #2 lane, I temporarily sped up to make the lane change and
slowed down to my original speed after I was in lane #2(*See Diagram B).
However, during the course of this action, I never accelerated beyond the legal
limits of the highway, and I made sure it was safe for me to have enough
distance in front of the car in lane #2 prior to making the lane change.
As the car in #1 lane passed, I made another lane change
back from the #2 lane to the #1 lane to avoid having a car behind me since
highway conditions were open. I only accelerated to the necessary speed to
change lanes again and was never beyond the legal limits of the highway speed.
It is after then, that I saw Officer ID#XXXXX come up from
lane #3 and switching all the way to lane #1 behind me in my rear view and side
view mirrors. I then safely change lanes and eventually pulled into the
shoulder after the Town exit.
After we’re both fully stopped, Officer ID#XXXXX approached
my car and asked for my required paperwork, going through a routine traffic
stop. He stated he clocked me at 82 over 65 miles per hour and that he is going
to cite me for that, but at no time was I anywhere near that speed, even when
accelerating to make safe lane changes. I did not want to make the officer’s
job any more difficult so I was polite and respectful, deciding against
contesting his judgment at the time.
When he came back with the citation for me to sign, I
noticed he wrote he used RADAR to determine the speed at which I was going,
however no evidence was shown to me that he used his RADAR gun. It was odd to
me he stated I was going 82mph when I was not close to that fast of speed while
having a car going clearly faster, passing me. I suspect the RADAR may have
picked up a different vehicle than mine.
I respectfully request to see documentation before and
after the date of my citation that the RADAR unit used by Officer ID#XXXXX was
calibrated and therefore accurate.
I feel this is a very unfortunate situation and I trust
in the Court’s fairness. I believe this does not reflect my driving behavior
and this citation should be dismissed in the interest of justice.
If the court finds me guilty, I request a Trial de Novo,
and an option to attend traffic school level one and have the fine reduced.
In addition, please send me the “Decision and Notice of
Decision” (TR-215) by mail.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the
State of California that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date: _____________________________
M
Copper, Defendant in Pro Per
*Diagram B *Diagram A #1 Me Car 1
