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SUMMARY OF HIGHWAY PATROL AND STATE POLICE USE OF HAND HELD SPEED CLOCKING DEVICES

NCJ Number
17385
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
1974
Length
9 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SURVEY MAILED TO THE AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT IN EACH OF THE FIFTY STATES TO DETERMINE OPINIONS ON SPEED GUN USE, PERFORMANCE, AND DURABILITY.
Abstract
A SUMMARY OF THE SURVEY RESULTS IS FIRST PRESENTED. TWELVE AGENCIES OF THE 38 THAT RESPONDED REPORTED THE SPEED GUN TO BE IN USE. SIX AGENCIES REPORTED PERFORMING BENCH TESTS WITH RESULTS RANGING FROM SATISFACTORY TO EXCELLENT. TEN AGENCIES STATED THAT THE UNITS WERE NOT DAMAGED MORE OFTEN THAN MOUNTED DEVICES, WITH ONE AGENCY REPORTING THAT THEY WERE DAMAGED MORE OFTEN. NO LEGAL PROBELMS WERE REPORTED CONCERNING USE OF THE SPEED GUN. THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES THAT THE HAND HELD SPEED CLOCK DEVICES ARE APPARENTLY VERY WELL ACCEPTED BY THE OPERATING OFFICERS AND THE COURTS. HE STATES THAT THE AGENCIES' ACCEPTANCE RESULTS FROM A COMBINATION OF A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF TRAINING REQUIRED FOR USE OF THE DEVICES AND A MAINTENANCE DOWN TIME AND REPAIR COST THAT ARE WITHIN AN ACCEPTABLE RANGE. A TABLE INDICATING SURVEY RESPONSES AND A SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE ARE INCLUDED.