Runnertogo, look up cosine effect for tragic radar. That cop catches someone going let’s be say 70, with a steep angle like you mention, the driver is actually traveling faster. He gets a break if the radar showed 70, he was actually going faster.
As for accuracy, traffic radar is accurate. As long as the operator is trained and uses it correctly.
Traffic radar class - you spend more time in class learning all the anomalies and how to prevent them.
You know your stuff!
Former State certified (Missouri) police Radar instructor here...
I always instructed my police students that I’d rather see focused enforcement in accident prone areas, vs a hundred tickets where there hasn’t been in accident in years.
I called the latter “Guppy Shooting.” And I despise it.
I was radar certified back in 1983. I’m sure you are familiar with the 80 mph tree. My certification got me out of no less than three bogus tickets by fellow officers that had an active speeder but picked the wrong car. One judge was particularly amused when I asked the officer a few equipment questions and my vehicle placement questions that he had no answer for.
I never hid my scout, I was always in plain view. I figured if you didn’t see my black and white you wouldn’t have seen a kid run in the street. I never wrote unless it was at least 10 over.
You and I are REALLY on the same page!
My speed tolerance was generally 15 mph on open interstates, 12 on more congested interstates, 12 on general county/municipal thoroughfares, 7 in highly residential areas. I say generally because other factors (i. e: accident rates in area) may factor in.
On another note, in the past number of years my wife got stopped three times:
1) Tailgating, received warning. I asked if she got officer’s name. She said “no.” I said you’re lucky, I’d have called him and told him to write you up BIGTIME if caught again.
2) interstate speeding, received ticket. I asked if she was speeding, she said yes: Ticket paid.
3) Speeding in construction zone (A Sunday, in an area where ALL construction was completed, and it was now a wide open four lane roadway: not even any houses, businesses, or conflicts in the area.
Worse case of “guppy shooting” I ever saw. She was written for 37 in 20 which would have led halfway to suspension via points as it was a “construction zone.” And a HUGE fine; $500 I think?
I was furious and spent a week plus compiling a case.
My file was huge! Had access to my own radar (Corporate Security). Did multiple 85 percentile surveys: results were 52 MPH!
A long list of other things: construction signs not in State compliance, or knocked over, blocked by tree branches, yada yada.
There was a host of other issues as well (written ordinances not updated, etc).
Wife was to call me as an expert witness, and my eyes were seeing red.
We also requested that the county court be prepared for approx three hours of defense testimony.
Submitted all this to the county prosecutor’s office. Dang thing got dismissed pre-trial and without comment.
For he record, most departments (especially the mid sized to smaller ones) do. NOT have their radars routinely calibrated, if at all.
Nor their speedometers ( for pacing).
I’ve still got our copy of the huge file on hand.
Makes for great discussion when we have company over!
