Pacing in Fort Lauderdale speeding cases is the second most basic form of speed detection and could be an admissible form of speed detection in Court. Pacing is a means by which a police officer is allowed to follow the target vehicle while keeping the distance between their vehicle and the target vehicle fixed and over a particular distance.
If you believe that a law enforcement officer paced your vehicle which resulted in a speeding accusation, consult with one of our credible Attorneys at Leifert & Leifert. With professional legal guidance, you may be able to overcome any speeding charges based on pacing.
Rules Law Enforcement Must Abide by When Pacing a Person’s Car
The pacing officer must have their instrumentation and equipment calibrated, certified, and maintained. Officers are also supposed to look at their speedometer, determine a person’s speed, and project that speed onto the target vehicle. If an officer follows those rules, keeps the same distance between two vehicles, goes at least one-fifth of a mile, and certifies that their speedometer was calibrated and maintained properly, they could look down at their speedometer. If their speedometer says they are going 77 miles an hour, they are allowed to say that the vehicle they are following is also going 77 miles per hour.
Challenging an Officer’s Distance While Engaged in Pacing a Person’s Vehicle
The court trusts that an officer’s word and estimation in a pacing procedure is accurate and true. However, it is important to note that there is no piece of technology that accurately estimates distance. Although there is no solid method for validating an officer’s distance, charged individuals should not expect the court to give them the benefit of the doubt. This is especially true in cases where a person was caught driving far above the legal limit.
An Officer’s Pacing Ability at Night
As night falls, it is typical for an officer to pinpoint where a particular vehicle might be in relation to theirs if they have the ability to look at headlights or brake lights. It is a much different situation than being able to see the entire vehicle during daylight or daytime. However, no matter the time of day of the alleged speeding offense, a person would find it difficult to argue against an officer’s pacing method without the help of an attorney.
Speak with a Legal Professional Today
Being caught driving over the speed limit could prove to be a stressful and intimidating time for accused individuals. Not only would a person have to combat the law enforcement’s account of the situation, they would also have to effectively question the methods used to determine whether they were speeding. Such methods includes pacing, which is allowed in court as evidence to be used against the accused driver.
If you have been charged with driving over the speed limit, reach out to one of our resourceful Attorneys at Leifert & Leifert. With a Ft Lauderdale attorney at your side, you may be able to effectively challenge an officer’s use of pacing in a speeding case.
