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Originally Posted by Tee Let's change the scenario- let's say the vehicle is 200-300 feet out and there is no way he can see or identify you as a patrol vehicle, therefor, he is not braking (but you don't know that). You clock him doing 62 in a 55 and the readout is steady but then drops to 57 as you lock the radars speed. You stop him and write him for 62 in a 55 mph zone. Now what you failed to realize is that your momentary reading of 62 was actually generated by a UPS truck traveling the same direction on an adjacent parallel side street that was slightly obscured by some bushes and trees. Since the UPS truck provided the better and larger reflective surfaces, it was the better lock for a bit before the gun acquired the smaller car.
Lemme just ask you this- and I a want to say again that I appreciate and respect your honesty...
Does the radar gun require interpretation by the operator to determine it's target, and factors that may or may not render it's readout inaccurate?
And if you answered yes, then why isn't it good practice to employ a system whereupon a speed for which a person is cited for, can be shown to the accused? |
First, I can say that I work in the city, so usually speeding enforcement I deal with is on main roadways around town where the UPS scenario would be a far stretch to have happen. Is it possible? Yes, by laws governing radar and how it works, it is possible. Is it likely? Probably not. While it is true the radar is going to naturally reflect the movement of the larger object, both targets would have to be fairly close together in order for an average officer to confuse it. The radar is pointed either straight forward or straight backward - so, the radar signal initially goes straight, and the natural tendancy for it is to keep going straight. The further it goes at an angle - such as picking up a vehicle on a side road instead of a vehicle directly in front - the tone created by the vehicle on the side should be distorted and unclear, even though it might be giving a reading. Again, an average officer should be able to distinguish between the tones created.
Some officers will not pull over someone speeding unless they have it locked on radar for precisely the reasons you mention. However, the majority of us are honest people and have no reason to add a mile or two against someone we saw speeding. Personally, if I do have it locked and the person is being reasonable and not rude or belligerent, I have no problem showing them my radar unit, and I exlplain to them Kansas state law does not require me to, but I am willing to anyway. If I do not have it locked in (which, by the way, is maybe 1 out of 25 stops for speeding), and they ask to see it (which people hardly ever do in the first place), I explain to them I did not have it locked but I did see the speed and got an accurate tone on the radar and will testify to what I saw in court should they decide to contest it. I am not argumentative about it, but I just lay it out for them.