Traffic Tools Used to Catch Speeding Offenders in Chesterfield

There are a variety of traffic radar tools that are used to detect speeding in Virginia including radar guns, LIDAR guns, and pacing. These tools have become the primary way the officers use to determine your speed and to prove it in court as well. Below and attorney discusses what you should know regarding each of these tools and mistakes that can be made using each method. For more information or to discuss your case, call and schedule a consultation with a Chesterfield speeding ticket lawyer today.

Radar Guns

The weight of the radar evidence in court is very substantial. Over the years there’s been studies done on these devices to show just how accurate they are, so the judges will accept them as fact. The officers will have to present evidence as to the upkeep and the calibrations on the radar device; if they can show this the judges will accept the radar as accurate.

With that said, however, there are few defenses to the radar gun readings in court. One is determining if the radar has been properly calibrated within six months of the stop and if checked with a tuning fork before and after the Officer’s shift.  If we can show an issue with the maintenance of the radar device or show its readings are in error we can get a charge reduced or dismissed.

One other way to kind of counteract that is also to show that your own speedometer calibrated to determine if it is working accurately and if it is not how much it is reading off.

Accuracy of Radar Guns in Virginia

The radar devices used in Virginia are extremely accurate and regularly maintained.  These devices are routinely tested which is why the Court’s accept their readings as fact.

There are some issues that can come up if the radar is not properly maintained or if the records are not accurate.  If the officers cannot show the device has not been properly maintained then we can typically get a case reduced or dismissed. Claims for interference with the device or locking onto other vehicles can be raised, however they are extremely hard to prove, and you would need independent evidence to show the Officer’s radar was locking onto other vehicles or interfered with.

Additionally, operator error is not that common in the use of these devices. The radar devices are actually very user-friendly and the officers are routinely trained on how to use them.  Also, it is very hard to prove operator error. The issues with the guns really come down to the maintenance of the guns and if they’re calibrated within a timely manner.

LIDAR Technology

The LIDAR device has been shown to have a few faults, these are uncommon but have occurred nonetheless. Some of the issues with the LIDAR device have been that it can, on occasion, lock onto more than one target at the same time and/or has issues with direct sunlight or dust in the air that can sometimes provide interference. However this is another method that officers use to determine how fast someone is going.

Pacing

Pacing in Chesterfield speeding cases is when an officer uses his vehicle and his speedometer to determine your speed typically by following you or in a rare case driving alongside you.

Pacing is admissible evidence to prove speeding. The officer would have to testify as to how you came to their attention, testify as to how long they maintained the pace with you, and then lastly they would have to provide evidence showing that their vehicle and the vehicle’s speedometer was correctly calibrated and working accurately on that day.

Defenses For Pacing

With pacing cases, there’s a greater margin for error with the officers. Number one, you have to show how long they were Pacing with the vehicle to determine an accurate speed and then number two, they have to provide the evidence regarding the accuracy of the speedometer on their vehicle.