[DLJJ3399]

This is from today's Oregonian. Wow big fine!
Read on or go to the link below. Enjoy, watch your speed and drive safe!

A slow morning suddenly speeds up

Traffic - An Aloha man who says he was late for a meeting is arrested after clocking 146 mph Thursday
Friday, May 19, 2006
ERIC MORTENSON

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Deputy Robbyn Matsushima spends about an hour of each shift clocking speeders on Interstate 84 east of Troutdale. It had been a slow morning, in the traffic sense, and she was about to call it quits shortly before 10 a.m. Thursday when she saw a black sedan headed her way fast.

Real fast. So fast that Matsushima worried the car might slam into her, as she was parked in the median strip between the freeway's east- and westbound lanes.

Matsushima turned on her laser radar. The reading was 146 mph, more than twice the posted speed of 65 mph and thought to be the fastest ever recorded by a Multnomah County Sheriff's Office deputy. She flicked on her patrol car's overhead lights as the 1998 BMW 540 sedan flashed by westbound.

The driver didn't try to get away. Slowed by thickening traffic as he approached Troutdale, he pulled over at milepost 19.

The driver identified himself as Travis Jay Olsen, 31, of Aloha. He allegedly told Matsushima he was late for a meeting and was resigned to getting a speeding ticket.

He got more than that. Olsen was arrested and taken to the Multnomah County Justice Center on accusations of reckless driving and speeding, and his car was towed to an impound lot. Olsen was released from jail about 5 p.m. and stalked past reporters without responding to questions.

If guilty, Olsen picked a bad time to drive faster than 100 mph. The 2005 Oregon Legislature increased the penalty. Effective Jan. 1, a conviction now carries a mandatory 30- to 90-day license suspension and a fine of $1,103.

"It wasn't just a speeding ticket," said Capt. Bruce McCain, spokesman for the sheriff's office. "It was speed, the conditions and the fact that cars were getting out of his way."

Oregon State Police cited 464 people as driving 100 mph or faster in 2005. From 2000 to 2004, troopers cited more than 2,600 drivers who were exceeding 100 mph.

Oregon court records show Olsen was cited for speeding five times from 1994 to 2004, but not since.

Eric Mortenson; 503-294-5972; ericmortenson@news.oregonian.com

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