Have you traveled down a highway or interstate only to notice a police officer standing outside their vehicle pointing a radar gun in your direction as you passed by? By the time you notice, it’s often too late to reduce your speed to avoid being ticketed.
That doesn’t stop you, however, from calling into question how accurate the radar gun was when it comes time to fight your ticket.
How do radar guns determine your speed?
There are various types of radar guns on the market. Law enforcement officers have historically used ones that operate by transmitting radio signals in a car’s direction then receiving a bounced back frequency in return.
These devices typically rely on a Doppler Effect to determine the speed at which a motorist traveled. Some agencies are using newer Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) devices, though. They rely on laser technology to determine drivers’ speed.
Does law enforcement undergo any special training to operate radar guns?
It’s becoming increasingly popular for police officers to take LIDAR-certified training classes now that most agencies are buying laser-based guns.
You may want to inquire what type of device police used and ask to see evidence that the officer who stopped you completed the required training before attending a traffic court hearing and use it in responding to the charges that you face.
How accurate are speed detection guns?
Calibration is key when it comes to whether a radar gun is accurate or not. If you ever look at a scale at a doctor’s office or a gas pump or just about anything else that measures something for some official purpose, then you’ll notice that it generally has some official seal on it, letting you know when it was last serviced.
The police officer or their employer should keep a log of when the device they last serviced it, which involves testing it for accuracy. You may want to call into question whether the radar accurately tracked your speed if the officer and their respective employer cannot produce calibration records.
What can you do if you received a New York speeding ticket?
A speeding ticket is more than a financial challenge and an annoyance. It can affect you for years to come. An attorney can help you craft a solid defense in your Orange County speeding ticket case so that you don’t lose it.