Radar Ticket

[jpfein]

I received a radar citation while passing another vehicle. Two questions, since both vehicles were technically in the radar scan, which vehicle was actually scanned? Second, isn't the California Highway Patrol Officer required to show me the speed locked into his/her unit?

[Mr. Knowitall]

I'm not aware of any requirement that the officer show you the radar result. Presumably the officer believes that he scanned your vehicle.

[blewis]

Also, some radars have a "fastest" mode, which means that it will display the speed of the fastest target. A lot of officers don't use it, however, since there's really no way to testify to any degree of certainty that it was your car being tracked -- it could have been a car a quarter mile further away and going the opposite way!

If the officer was using "fastest" mode, and your car was overtaking another, and there were no other cars in view, then it's your car that gets the ticket.
Barry

[cdwjava]

Additionally, CA radar training instructs officers in making a visual estimation confirmed by radar. So, the CHP officer will likely testify that he visually estimated your speed to be whatever he says it was and then confirmed this with radar.

And, no, there is no law or policy requiring the CHP to let you read the radar display. Frankly, it is an unsafe practice to engage in and no agency I am aware of encourages officers to allow drivers to look at the radar.

- Carl