Range of radar - too close

Tom Tate · #1 (**permalink**) 2008-06-10

I got tagged for 40 in a 25 as the speed limit changed in a small town. I'm aware that the speed limit changed at the sign and was alert to that. The officer was only 200' from the 25 mph sign and I believe that what he read was my speed in the 40 mph zone. At what distance (if any) is the target too close to the the gun to get an accurate reading? At 205' I was legal at 40 mph but at 200' I needed to be at 25 mph. I believe that I was. Could he have taken an accurate reading within that 200' space?

Veil Guy · #2 (**permalink**) 2008-06-10

Welcome Tom,

From a technical point, I believe the distance of approximately 200 feet is fine for radar, actually in most situations as the distance decreases, the angle increases, which increases cosine errors which tends to favor the driver (not the officer).

As to your concern that your speed was actually recorded in a 40mph, as opposed to the reduced speed zone, that's a tough call.

Did you have a radar detector operating? If so, did it go off while you were in the high speed zone? Typically radar will acquire a speed within ~.3 seconds, I believe.

Veil Guy