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No, it isn't. But there is a catch. If one gets a speeding ticket based on the use of a radar gun by an officer, it is possible that the radar gun was inaccurate - but it probably wasn't. The accuracy of a radar gun used by law enforcement types can fall off. It can go out of calibration. But there is a fairly simple and relatively foolproof method of testing the calibration (to determine accuracy) of the units, and an officer can perform the test without having gotten an advanced degree in physics. Part of an officer's duty includes performing a calibration test at specified intervals/times to insure the unit performs well enough for a case based on its use to be upheld. And they record the test results. It is doubtful that the accuracy of a unit can be disputed and a case won, even by a skilled attorney. It is possible to dispute the performance of the radar gun based on the conditions under which it was used. But this, too, is well explored territory, and the police have been down that road before. Besides, an expert witness gets paid for his time and trouble. (Authorities have their own experts on staff.) In a highly technical discipline the cost of the expert's time would doubtless exceed the fine assessed for the violation. And you still might not win. The probability of success is low. A citation based on evidence where a radar gun was used is probably better not argued. There is one case that springs to mind, however. There was this instance once. It was a case raising questions about the accuracy of a reading because of external factors extant at the time the radar gun was used. The scene of the alleged offense was an open stretch of road in the state of New Mexico, and the questions about the accuracy of a radar gun used to gather evidence in that case were raised by someone who worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was a scientist who had a PhD. And he got a flock of his PhD colleagues to appear in court to testify on his behalf. Case dismissed! Sure woulda loved to have had tickets to that show!
Wiki User
∙ 15y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoNo. They are tested regularly for calibration and performance. Most errors are from environmental or operator causes.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoYes, it is just as effective as it is in day. A radar just picks up on anything it can find moving in its view. Your headlights are picked up by the radar as movement.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoFalse, No!
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Are police radar guns accurate at one half mile?
Yes, barring interfering factors.Another View: I'm not certain that the customary hand-held models of police radar can be accurate at that range, and concede that they could be, depending on the equipment, but I DO know that speed checkiing lasers ARE accurate at that distance.
How radiation helps the police?
um radar guns emit radiation ........they use the radar guns to find the speed of a speeding car.
How might radiation help the police?
um radar guns emit radiation ........they use the radar guns to find the speed of a speeding car.
What type of radar is used by police in Hawaii?
Hawaiian police use standard radar guns. They also use laser guns to catch speeder and have been doing so since the 1980's.
If a police car is moving in the opposite direction of your car can he get an accurate speed of your car?
oh yes, the radar guns are attached to the cars internal computers, so it compensates for the forward speed.
What type of radar units are used by the police for issuing speeding tickets?
Depends on the department, and they may use lasers instead. Just google "police radar guns" for a sample.
Police radar and laser guns are an application of what?
2 different things. Police Radar uses the Doppler Effect to calculate a speed. Police Laser uses the Time/Distance effect. Look them up, too long to explain here.
Are the radar guns used in baseball games by Fox Sports accurate?
yes, so they know how fast a pitch is
How does the Escort Radar Detector work?
The Escort Radar Detector scans for the radio frequency waves of most police department speed guns. These speed gun frequencies can be detected for about a mile before actually seeing the police officer.
Why is it important for laser and radar guns to have regular calibration?
Law enforcement agencies regularly calibrate their radar guns to avoid disputes in court. Laser speed detection devices are actually so accurate that there is little need to calibrate them on a regular basis.
What are speed guns?
A speed gun is a handheld Radar or Laser unit used by traffic police to check how fast a car is going.
An officer coming in the opposite direction gave me a speeding ticket How correct can his assessment of my speed be Do I have a case to contest?
No, probably not. Radar guns are pointed at your license plate to calculate speed so therefore he could get a fairly accurate reading. You will probably just end up paying more by contesting when they include court costs. Radar is extremely accurate. You'll probably loose the appeal unless the judge doesn't like the police.
