LR Beyond LSAT: This stuff really works!!

[chike_eze]

True story:
Stopped by officer on I-5, cited for speeding 15 over the limit (allegedly). Officer claimed he used radar gun to detect my speed. So, what next?

Decided to opt for a contested hearing. Requested discovery from prosecution. Received officer's sworn statement -- "radar gun clocked defendant driving X mph, in a Y mph zone etc..."

Prosecutor's Argument: Officer concluded that the defendant was driving 15 miles above the speed limit. He obtained this reading from the radar gun which he is licensed and trained to use. The court requires that each radar gun be certified for use by a trained expert per Washington state patrol protocol. The officer also claimed that the radar gun was certified and that he performed initial tests on the Laser equipment prior to using it on the day of the incident.

Aha! this is an LR question, but what type? And How do I undermine or destroy the Prosecution's argument?

In the end, after much research, it turned out to be a necessary assumption question. The radar gun was not properly certified per Washington State Patrol protocol; therefore, per IRLJ 6.6, subsection (c), the radar gun reading was inadmissible.

I presented this, the Judge agreed, and the case was dismissed. Incredible. Guess this stuff really works!!! Thanks!

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Be just and do service to others with your new found power! That's fantastic... Now do it quickly, because the LSAT forces you to move fast!

Great work Chike!

[trulybird]

Aha! this is an LR question, but what type? And How do I undermine or destroy the Prosecution's argument?

When I saw "Aha! but what type?" I spurt chewed rice on keyboard and thought, "Geek!"

[chike_eze]

@trulybird, I wear my geek badge with pride

[slimjimsquinn]

You say "geek," I say "winner"

Thanks for this! It really motivated my studying today, knowing there are real-life uses for these questions.


P.S. Interstate 5? You must be a Californian! The California Highway Patrol is relentless with this kind of stuff. Good for you for challenging the citation!

[chike_eze]

You say "geek," I say "winner"

Thanks for this! It really motivated my studying today, knowing there are real-life uses for these questions.


P.S. Interstate 5? You must be a Californian! The California Highway Patrol is relentless with this kind of stuff. Good for you for challenging the citation!

Thanks-- I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to apply some of this stuff. Quite amazing how in most things we do - professionally and otherwise - it comes down to focusing on the right issue. In other words, it's about asking the right question