Arizona state police stage what could be the last publicity generating arrest based solely on a speed camera photo.

Arizona state police on Wednesday performed what could be their last arrest staged to generate publicity for the department’s lucrative photo enforcement program. On Wednesday, officers waited at Sky Harbor International Airport armed with professional quality video and still cameras to handcuff a twenty-one-year-old motorist as she returned from the International Softball Challenge in Sydney, Australia.

Authorities concieved the high-profile arrest after a speed camera photographed a yellow 2001 Lexus IS300 on a deserted stretch of the Loop 101 freeway on May 28 at 1:51am. (view photo). The camera claimed the vehicle owned by Mesa resident Britnee Bristow was traveling at 103 MPH in a 65 zone, allowing police to file “reckless driving” charges against the young vehicle owner.

Bristow returned Wednesday after spending several days playing the position of catcher on the US amateur softball team in an exhibition match against rival Australia. This had been Bristow’s first overseas trip that she paid for by raising $4500 in donations. When police called to ask her to forego the trip and spend time in jail instead, she refused to allow police to “ruin her dream.” This infuriated officers (oooohh…) who issued a statement condemning Bristow before she has been proved guilty of any crime.

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