Ohio court rules police guesstimates are good enough to convict you of speeding

Have you ever had to rely on the word or recollection of law enforcement against you in court? How did that work out for you?

A 5-1 decision issued by the Ohio Supreme Court this week ruled that an officer’s guess at a driver’s rate of speed is good enough to secure a speeding conviction, a move met with skepticism by both drivers in Ohio and local law enforcement. Clermont County Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg spoke to Cinncinati.com about the controversial ruling:

“This is going to create a lot of controversy and potential for abuse by some police officers,” Rodenberg said. “Most officers take their duties seriously, but there are always a few rogues, just like in any profession. This is basically a blank check for them.”

The decision comes as the result of a speeding ticket issued to Mark Jenney in Copley, Ohio. A lower court initially threw out the conviction because the officer was unable to prove that he had been properly trained on use of the radar gun. But Jenney was ultimately found guilty by the State’s Supreme Court when they ruled that the officer “had the background and training to make an educated guess of Jenney’s speed.”