motor

bmagni · 06-03-2006, 03:25 PM

The new speed record clocked last month by photo enforcement cameras along Loop 101 in Scottsdale — at 147 mph — is 16 mph more than the one set by an unknown motorcyclist on Feb. 14.

Lawrence Pargo, 26, of Goodyear was arrested by Scottsdale police at his home May 26 on suspicion of four counts of excessive speeding, reckless driving and endangerment, Scottsdale police Lt. Frank O’Halloran said.

Pargo was clocked and photographed in a silver Hyundai Sonata traveling at speeds ranging from 102 mph to 147 mph on four occasions between 5:47 and 6:20 a.m. May 21.

“He endangered the lives of others as well as himself,” O’Halloran said. “The car was beyond its capabilities, and he was beyond his capabilities of controlling it. The tires aren’t rated for 147 mph. They’re stock tires on a rental car. The car probably was shaking.”

The controversial speed enforcement program includes six cameras along a 7.8-mile stretch of Loop 101 between Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard. A proposed bill in the state Legislature that could ban speed cameras from state highways still is being discussed.

Arresting the worst offenders has been a top priority for the city as part of an effort to send a message to motorists along Loop 101 in Scottsdale, where drivers frequently exceed 100 mph.

Police also have arrested Darren Sucato, 27, of Scottsdale — who had paid four previous speeding violations — on suspicion of excessive speeding, reckless driving and endangerment, O’Halloran said. Sucato was clocked and photographed at 107 mph in his 2005 silver Pontiac Grand Prix at 11:02 p.m. May 23, according to O’Halloran.

The Hyundai that Pargo was driving was either leased or rented. It is owned by P.V. Holding in Virginia Beach, Va., O’Halloran said.

Pargo couldn’t be reached for comment.

Gauging by the e-mails sent from O’Halloran to other officers, Pargo’s arrest was a top priority.

“Please put your best guys on this one and let’s get him this week,” O’Halloran said in an e-mail to officer James Butera on May 22.

If convicted on all counts, Pargo could receive 12 points on his driver’s license — it takes eight points to get a license suspended — and he’ll be placed on a high-risk list among rental car agencies, O’Halloran said.

Tickets start at $157, but each of Pargo’s speeding tickets could cost $200 or more.

“There is no doubt that it is the same car and driver in all four incidents,” Bruce Kalin, the contract administrator for Scottsdale police who is overseeing the program, said in an e-mail.

There were 30,169 speeders clocked at 76 mph or more on Loop 101 during the warning phase of the photo enforcement program between Jan. 22 and Feb. 21. The number of speeders dipped nearly 30 percent the next month, when citations began.

However, in the last two months, the number of speeders has increased to nearly what it was during the warning phase, according to information from the city.

jakaracman · 06-03-2006, 04:10 PM

Downhill ... He should be given a car by Hyundai ... Valuable PR for them...

ZfrkS62 · 06-03-2006, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by jakaracman

Downhill ... He should be given a car by Hyundai ... Valuable PR for them...

Loop 101 is a flat freeway. THe biggest hills anywhere in the Valley are the speed bumps in parking lots.

Given it's a rental car, i'm sure that it only has a 4cyl engine. There's no way in hell it was doing 147.

That section of Loop 101 goes right by the Penske Auto Mall. The biggest complex of dealerships in Arizona. Among them are Aston Martin, Bently, Porsche, BMW, and Audi. about 4 miles away on McDowell is Ferrari/Maserati.

Any given day i could drive down 101 in this strip and get passed up by countless Porches and at least 1 Ferrari. Usually a 360.

PaulGT lives in Mesa which isn't far from that area. I am sure he can attest to the cluster of high ends in that area that neccesitate (use of this word depends on which side of the line you are on) constant watch for speeders. Scottsdale has used speed cameras on the surface streets for a number of years, so i'm really not surprised they have move them to the freeway.

RC45 · 06-03-2006, 07:53 PM

^^ Agreed - its bullshit and his lawyer will get it thrown out. I rented a Sonata once - it was governed to 115mph.

SilviaEvo · 06-03-2006, 08:20 PM

147 mph in a Sonata thats bullshit

DeMoN · 06-03-2006, 11:58 PM

did he have nawwwzz?

Mattk · 06-04-2006, 07:00 AM

How can you fight a speeding ticket? The best one I've seen is to question the validity of the photo evidence because a security code is missing. I don't think saying "Well, the car was clocked a bit faster than it could physically travel", is really any sort of defence. The prosecutor would just get the cops to do a test on the camera to ascertain the accuracy.

RC45 · 06-04-2006, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Mattk

How can you fight a speeding ticket? The best one I've seen is to question the validity of the photo evidence because a security code is missing. I don't think saying "Well, the car was clocked a bit faster than it could physically travel", is really any sort of defence. The prosecutor would just get the cops to do a test on the camera to ascertain the accuracy.

Simple - the camera shows his car, but the radar may have been tracking a low flying squirrel.

The facts are - a Sonata could not go 147mph, therefor the car in the picture could not be going 147mph - therefor the man driving can not be cited for driving 147mph - case dismissed.

TT · 06-04-2006, 03:49 PM

Well, they should arrest him anyway for driving a car with such silly name, no matter the speed :roll:

Mattk · 06-04-2006, 09:39 PM

It's still easier for the prosecutors to win. Besides, who the hell would go to court over a few hundred dollars worth of fines?

A class action would be ridiculous! What's the cause of action? Negligence, possibly? Hard to prove.

RC45 · 06-04-2006, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Mattk

It's still easier for the prosecutors to win. Besides, who the hell would go to court over a few hundred dollars worth of fines?

A class action would be ridiculous! What's the cause of action? Negligence, possibly? Hard to prove.

WTF?

How is it "easier" for the prsecution to win on obviously false testimony?

If anything it is easier... nevermind...

ZfrkS62 · 06-04-2006, 10:29 PM

"only an Impala driver would mistake the Sonata LX for a high-performance sedan

:roll: just a peek at the ignorance of the Arizona media :roll: It's the ricers that think this is a high powered car :roll:

666fast · 06-04-2006, 11:37 PM

[quote="RC45"]

Originally Posted by Mattk

Simple - the camera shows his car, but the radar may have been tracking a low flying squirrel.

Thats exactly what got the red light cameras here shut off! LOL

He'll walk from this, they say he was going faster than the car can actually go, any judge that wants to keep their job would tell the prosecuters to shove it.

1zippo1 · 06-05-2006, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas

Here a Smart FourTwo was caught doing 195kmh...

Obviously something was wrong with the speed camera... so the speed ticket was finally retired

lol, that's electronically limited to 130km/h

Mattk · 06-05-2006, 09:58 PM

Fact: Man caught driving at 147mph. This is way over the speed limit. Caught by camera, which is in good working order (after all, no-one else has complained yet).
Fact: The car isn't supposed to be able to go that fast.

However, according to the camera, it did. It is hard to prove that the camera wasn't tracking the car (the onus is on the defendant). As much as the Pargo bloke can argue that the car just can't go that fast, it is difficult to argue against actual facts. He was speeding. He was clocked at 147mph. My decision, if I were a judge, would be to fine the bugger. Keep in mind policy arguments: it would be in the driving community's interest not to have crazy people driving cars at dangerously high speeds.

Dani, of course he will walk. Who the heck gets jailed for speeding?