🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <NIGEL.92Jul14115849@rs733.GSFC.NASA.Gov> nigel@rs733.GSFC.NASA.Gov writes:
>In article <1992Jul13.153234.11197@rsg1.er.usgs.gov> ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov (Steve Snyder) writes:
>
>>(James Treworgy) writes:
>>>[radar story]
>
>>First, how heavy was the traffic? Were there any large trucks behind
>>you? The Trooper needs to prove that it was YOUR vehicle that he clocked,
>>and if there were any large vehicles behind yours, then the radar could
>>track that vehicle instead. A radar beam will lock onto the "strongest 
>>signal", not necessarily the closest one, so the radar can pick out a
>>van, truck or another car behind you. Also, a radar beam spreads out like 
>[rest deleted] 
>
>Ummm...I believe this to be incorrect.  I remember hearing of a case
>that set a precedent that the assumption is that the radar locks onto
>the lead car and reads its speed.  
>
I still stand by what I wrote earlier. The source of my info is a talk
given at AAA HQ in Falls Church a few years ago by a Police Radar 
instructor for the Fairfax County Police, named David Stopper ( How's
that for a name of a cop? Said he was always getting comments about his
name). Also articles in Discover magazine and AAA World a few years ago 
gave similar info. I found this info to be very informative in preparing
for my own case.
>
>Two angles of attack is to make sure that the radar gun in question
>was calibrated within the required interval and to see if another case
>[rest deleted]
>
The officer must have a calibration certificate for the radar unit in 
court with him. Without this certificate, the radar reading cannot be
used against you. Also, the officer must provide a signed form (can't
remember what it's called) saying that he tested it (usually with a
tuning fork) both before and after his day's "work". In my case, the 
officer had an expired calibration certificate (as pointed out by
someone ahead of me) and the judge threw out all of the cases involving
that particular radar unit (about 6 to 8 cases), including mine. Whew!!

Another idea is to check a copy of the Virginia State Code, usually
available in the reference section in local VA libraries. This will
give you the requirements for radar to be used as evidence in court.

BTW, be careful when driving through Herndon, they're radar happy.
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        Steve Snyder            | This space for rent, inquire within. 
  ssnyder@sunai.er.usgs.gov     |  
US Geological Survey Reston, VA | I only speak for myself. me.