Method of determination on speeds of vehicles:

 

1.   Pacing – The officer follows your car for a specific distance and analyzes your speed by reading what he gets from his own odometer.

 

2.   Aircraft Determination – An officer on an aircraft uses a stopwatch and time how fast you traveled through two highway markings.

 

3.   Laser Gun – The officer basically uses a laser gun to shoot a beam at your car to determine your speed.Radar – Radar mounted on the officer’s car measures how faster your car is going by computing the intensity of the radio waves reflected from your car due to its movement speed.

 

4. VASCAR – The officer uses two points of distances of interests. The VASCAR system will measure how fast your car went from one point of interests to the other point, using a stopwatch.

 

5. Your first step should be to determine which method did the officer used to determine that you were speeding from reading the copies of his notes. His notes should say how he concluded that you were speeding, using which method. Once you know which method the officer used, you can begin to defend yourself, using the following strategies.

 

 

If the officer used the pacing method:

 

-If the officer follows you from a faraway distance, he cannot accurately measure your speed.

 

-If the weather was poor (snowy, rain, dark), it would be hard for the officer to pace correctly and determine your speed.

 

-If the road was not straight, it would be hard for the officer to pace correctly and determine your speed. Take note of any curves, turns, holes, hills, constructions, or any sort of obstacles along the way and be sure to bring them up. Photographic evidence will help a long way!

 

When you get the chance to cross-examine the officer, ask the officer these questions:

 

-Ask the officer the distance that he followed you before coming to conclusion of your speed. – if he had followed you  over a short distance, bring up in your concluding statement that the officer cannot accurately determine your speed over such a short distance

 

-Ask the officer if the distance between his car and your car were always continuous and constant – He should say no, since before stopping you, the officer must try to increase his speed. Bring up in your concluding statement that when the officer sped up, he could