There are many speed reading instruments in Wellington that officers use. Radar and LiDar devices are commonly used by Law Enforcement to record the speed of drivers. Also, the dashboard cameras in police vehicles can help measure the speed of a vehicle. Officers may also use pacing or stopwatches to determine whether a driver is speeding or not.
For more information about these different methods of detecting speed, contact an experienced traffic lawyer from Leifert & Leifert.
How Accurate are Radar Instruments?
Law Enforcement believes radar instruments are the most accurate of the speed reading instruments in Wellington. A person accused of speeding by a radar device may claim that the officer got the wrong car or that the device was not calibrated. Officers using a radar device should be properly trained on how to use one and they must also make sure the device is correctly calibrated.
The defense attorney may question the officer’s training because an officer does not write a speeding ticket unless they are trained to do so. In speeding cases, there may be issues with equipment failure, failure to maintain proper paperwork to support the equipment, and radar interference. A witness might give evidence that they believe the police officer pulled the wrong vehicle over for speeding. Speeding tickets are generally difficult to beat in court because it is the driver’s word versus an officer. It is the Judge’s responsibility to decide whether the officer got an accurate, reliable reading of the speed of the right vehicle and whether the speed is over the legal limit.
Pacing in Traffic Cases
Pacing refers to the practice of an officer to determine the speed of a vehicle while following the vehicle for about a quarter of a mile. During the time they are following the vehicle, they maintain the same distance. The officer tracks the speed of the vehicle for the prescribed distance using their speedometer that is calibrated to be accurate and reliable by the police department. Pacing is admissible evidence of speeding.
There are several issues regarding pacing in speeding cases. There may be questions as to whether or not the vehicle was gaining or whether the officer maintained the same distance while following the vehicle. Without a video, how does one verify how far or how long the law enforcement officer followed the vehicle to ensure the pace is accurate and reliable? The officer is driving at a fast rate of speed, making sure that the distance between the two vehicles is the same, keeping an eye on the vehicle being tracked, watching out for other vehicles, and maintaining communications through radio. How does one verify that the officer got the correct speed?
Pacing is subjective and is open to questions about reliability. The defense attorney needs to have the right evidence and the mindset to review a checklist of actions that can be implemented to cast doubt on the pacing and avoid a conviction.
How an Attorney Could Help
Contact a dedicated lawyer for more information about speed reading instruments in Wellington and how a legal professional could help you. A seasoned lawyer from Leifert & Leifert could help challenge your ticket and get your citation dismissed. Call our team today.
