PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon appeals court says a man accused of speeding at 121 mph across a bridge from Oregon to Washington can be tried in Oregon for reckless driving even though he was arrested in Washington.
Wednesday’s ruling reverses a Clatsop County, Ore., Circuit Court judge’s decision.
Court documents say the alleged August 2007 violation took place while Patrick W. Weller was still in Oregon. However, because there was no place to pull over on the Astoria-Megler Bridge, Astoria police Sgt. Brian Aydt stopped the car on the Washington side.
The officer sought guidance from a Clatsop County prosecutor and was told to bring Weller back to Oregon.
The Oregon Court of Appeals ruled that the officer’s failure to bring Weller before a Pacific County, Wash., magistrate was not a due process violation.
