Answers to common questions along
with some tips we have found useful for both drivers and officers.
- How do I know it's an inflated ticket?
- Where can I find help and information about radar?
- Why doesn't an officer believe me?
- Who is responsible for calibrating a radar unit?
- What is the proper procedure to calibrate a radar unit?
- When is it time to fight an erroneous ticket?
Be sure your vehicle's speedometer is calibrated and accurate. You can verify
your speed by using a watch and mile markers alongside the road. If
permissible, driving 60 MPH should take exactly one minute. If it takes
less than one minute, you're doing greater than 60 MPH. If it's greater than a
minute you're doing less than 60 MPH. Most officers have a chart
available for various speeds and times. The North Dakota Highway Patrol has a chart
they will give you, if you ask.
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Our book "Traffic Radar for Motorists" provides an easy way to
understand how radar works without "technical" knowledge. If the
book does not answer your questions, e-Mail
us.
Below is our Heads Up Display (HUD) which shows Radar Beam-Width at 1000
Ft. K-Band spreads out over 200 feet wide, X-Band spreads out over 300 feet, and
at 1000 feet, Laser is still 3-4 feet wide, which can walk up your hood, causing
false readings. Place the HUD on the dash in front of you and you can
see what radar is really looking at, right thru your windshield! It's
scaled for 1000 feet. Look at all the vehicles that can be in the radar beam
at this distance. There is a microwave tower on the horizon looking right at
us. What if you're the driver of the car to the left coming up the hill?
FALSE TARGET! True Case!
39/25 zone.
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He may have heard the same story before. But if you know you're not
going that fast, just go to court and plead "Not Guilty" and set a
trial date. There are a number of things you can do to prove your
innocence by introducing the proper evidence. The radar only receives a return
signal (which can be false). It's only a tool and needs proper maintenance,
certification, and environment to be operated in. Moving Radar,
especially at night, presents additional problems. Radar is only secondary
evidence.
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Both the officer and the department. The radar unit must meet
calibration requirements from the factory and must maintain maintenance
records and take a unit out of service when erroneous readings are starting to
occur.
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Officers must record calibration with tuning forks at the beginning and end of
each shift, and also do an internal validation after each ticket.
(evidentiary requirements)
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Start gathering evidence to prove your innocence as soon as possible. We
have a check list in our book. You can also visit the National Motorists Association at www.motorists.org.
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The following is a list of a few of many known radar problems:
