Posted on 06/06/2006 1:35:33 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
Some records are meant to be broken, but Scottsdale police aren’t happy with one that has been shattered by someone they described as “a very dangerous driver.”
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.
I was driving a '98 Z28 at the time... on a good stretch of interstate highway in CT. The speedometer read up to 155... but I hit that and more.
Things can really move if you take the mower blade off.
The cameras are shown to be defective in their ability to time moving objects over a set distance.
All cases will be henceforth thrown out by this precedent..
For you, yes. I would pass on it.
I don't think so.
I'll take others' word for it, though Hundai claims top speed for 2006 XL is 134 mph
Haven't driven over 80 mph in over 30 years (got to remember, I'm no longer "young, dumb and full ..." well you know the rest) and not about to temp fate. LOL
...I did 120 mph in my Dad's old 1967 Chevy Bel-Air station wagon .........
Ahhh the good ol days. My family had a Salmon colored 67 V8 Bel_Air wagon and a black/white 67 6 cyl straight drive wagon. Times must have been good.
I don't remember the record speed I made but I clearly remember the San Francisci jump when I cleared a hill top and became completely air borne.
I also jerked the transmission out of the V8 and so did my cousin the same week. We were both saved by what obviously were defective transmissions other wise it could not possibly have happened..:)
I did the jump once...... never again.
This thread isn't about gas prices. But if you pinged me for my opinion, I think speed cameras should be banned.
That's right. Goodyear is in the SW part of the Valley and this portion of the 101 in the NE. Goodyear got it's name when the tire company bought up land out there during the WWI era to grow cotton for their tires. I think the head of operations was a guy named Litchfield which supplies the name for the neighboring city of Litchfield Park.
In any event I have mixed reactions to this article. I am certainly aware of how fast people drive on that stretch of freeway and can only say that I'm very fortunate not to have received a ticket myself (yet). Usually I find myself at 80-85 and have people whizzing past me. It's actually a challenge to stay within the speed limit (non rush hr times), and I'm usually in a 3/4 ton truck!
It's a weakness I must work on.
It is not at all unfeasible. Trust me.
Actually I find it easier to stay in the speed limit in the Vette than when I used to drive a Pathfinder.
Did Lt Gov Andre Bauer escape from South Carolina again?
Hyundai claims that the 3.8 liter V6 in the Azera has a top speed of 157 MPH. It comes with tires rated at 150 mph.
Here in AZ, the cameras photograph the license plate and driver through the front window.
Amazing how clear the pictures are.
It's good to hear you're at 120,000 and still going strong. If my car can survive my teenage son's driving, I should be in good shape.
Cobra64 wrote:
"I've done over 150 in my Vette and it was still accerating, but I ran out of road."
---Me 2! When i had my 'vette i tried to hit top speed but ran out of road too! hehehehe
If he was doing 147 we need to know more about the car. Was there a factory option installed? Maybe the trailer-towing package?
Sweet. How do you like the drive-by-wire?
Mine was a white 1991 coup. Best car I ever owned. Traded it for a new 325i Beemer, and built the Cobra for grins.
OK I'm much less jealous now.
I once got a ride in a friends, girlfriends dad's factory race trim 289.
The real ones are so expensive these days it's nuts.
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