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Judge finds driver exceeded posted speed after camera-ticket hearing; $145 penalty imposed
Summary
A pro se defendant was found to have exceeded the speed limit after the court reviewed photo and video evidence from an automated camera; the judge imposed a $145 penalty and explained how public records can be accessed for device calibration information.
A Lake Forest Park motorist was found by the municipal court to have exceeded the posted 25 mph limit after a contested hearing in which the city presented photo and video evidence from an automated camera system.
Officer Amanda Johnson of the Lake Forest Park Police Department testified that the automated system recorded the vehicle at 34 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone; the judge found by a preponderance of the evidence that the infraction occurred and imposed a $145 penalty.
Why it matters: the hearing demonstrates how camera-ticket evidence and the court’s public records for device maintenance and calibration are handled in contested hearings. The defendant, Michael Riches, appeared pro se, raised discovery objections and asked for time to retrieve public calibration records; the court allowed limited time for review, denied a motion to dismiss, and proceeded after Officer Johnson testified to the capture and photo evidence.
What happened in court Officer Amanda Johnson testified that she reviewed the automated-camera submission and confirmed the plate, vehicle description and the recorded speed. On the record she said the device recorded the vehicle “at 34 miles per hour.” The defendant, Michael Riches, asked questions about calibration and whether flashing school-zone lights were active; the officer said the school zone was not active on the Sunday of the incident and that flashing lights were visible in the video capture.
The defense asked for a continuance and moved to suppress or dismiss based on a claimed lack of timely discovery; the judge denied the motion to dismiss because the record included the notice of infraction, photographs and video and because calibration and maintenance logs are maintained as public records and available online. The judge gave the defendant a short recess to access the public records but declined to continue the hearing further or to treat the absence of device-expert testimony as fatal to the city’s case.
Court ruling and penalty Following testimony and argument, the judge said, “I do find by a preponderance of the evidence that it's more likely than not that you did commit this infraction of exceeding the speed limit,” and imposed a $145 penalty. The judge noted the defendant’s right to appeal within 30 days and directed the court to send time-pay information by mail.
Evidence access and subpoena guidance The court told the defendant that device-maintenance and calibration records are posted on the municipal court’s public records pages and that an expert on speed-measuring devices would be the proper witness to challenge calibration or algorithmic issues. The judge and prosecutor explained that subpoenas for such experts are available and that the defendant had been given information on how to subpoena those witnesses prior to the hearing.
Next steps The defendant was fined and notified of appeal rights; the court record shows the judge gave guidance about how defendants may view photo and calibration materials via the court’s public web portal and cautioned that specialists must be subpoenaed to challenge device calibration.
