Bigger & Harman - November 2023

How RADAR and LIDAR Technologies Work BEHIND THE SPEEDING TICKET

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A speeding ticket generally rests on more than the driver’s word against the officer’s. RADAR and LIDAR both use technology to calculate how fast a vehicle moves. But how do they work? RADAR stands for radio detection and ranging, and the technology uses radio waves to calculate a vehicle’s speed. The RADAR gun sends radio waves to oncoming traffic, which bounce back at a shifted frequency thanks to the Doppler effect. How much change occurred reflects how fast the targeted vehicle was traveling. LIDAR, or light detection and ranging, works off the same principle as RADAR but uses light instead of radio waves. A LIDAR gun shoots a laser at a moving vehicle and then returns to the device. The car’s speed will determine how long the laser takes to reflect, and the LIDAR can calculate this information precisely. But there are many reasons these technologies might give inaccurate readings. The devices could be miscalibrated, or the operator may make an error. Weather patterns or other driver behavior could also affect how RADAR or LIDAR records your speed. Fortunately, drivers do not need to face these potential mishaps and complications alone. An experienced traffic attorney will know how to appropriately challenge a reading and the officer’s protocol when recording it. Further, California’s speeding laws’ flexibility means there are other ways to beat a ticket. What speed is “reasonable and prudent” is in the eye of the beholder. Using this standard, drivers could receive a speeding ticket even if they go under the speed limit during poor driving conditions. However, a judge might consider light traffic and clear weather a reasonable excuse to drive faster if they are in a VC 22350 zone. We strongly recommend against representing yourself in speeding ticket cases, especially if you are a commercial driver. Proper legal training can significantly increase your chances of a successful defense. That matters because a speeding ticket is more than just a fine — it can also affect your driving record, insurance rates, and ability to work. Call Bigger & Harman today so an attorney can review your case in detail and improve your odds of prevailing in court.

“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”

MARK 1:35

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