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From: bob@ulose.UUCP ( Bob Bismuth )
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal
Subject: Re: Radar Surveillance
Message-ID: <115@ulose.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Aug-85 13:45:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: ulose.115
Posted: Fri Aug  9 13:45:38 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Aug-85 07:11:46 EDT
References: <1081@homxa.UUCP> <4891@allegra.UUCP>
Organization: CADMUS Computer Systems, Lowell, MA.
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Xref: linus net.auto:6554 net.legal:1656

> >
> >  Radar guns should be unconstiutional but the case has never made it to the
> >  Supreme Court.         ...    Most

> 
> If we disallow radar guns, how should speed laws be enforced (for all
> of our safety)?  By helicopter?!  (I couldn't believe it when I first
> saw those signs on the parkway.)
> 
> jay  hyman     (allegra!jay)


For your reference, hand held radar guns cannot be used in the UK for
the purpose of speed limit enforcement. The only radar which may be
used MUST be mounted either on a stationary vehicle or on a tripod
stand.

This resulted from the police using a radar gun (made I believe in
the US) on a car which was not exceeding the local speed limit. If 
memory serves me correctly, the driver was charged with exceeding the
limit by over 20 mph, as indicated on the radar gun.

Unfortunately for the police, the driver was a research scientist at
the Royal Radar Establishment and had been testing hand held guns for
the government. He went to court and was able to conclusively prove
that it was impossible to obtain a reliable speed indication of a
stationary object, let alone a moving object.

For that reason I would agree with the original article's position
that radar guns should not be allowed. I do however, agree that saying
the use of radar infringes constitutional rights is pushing things a
bit far ...

There are other ways of measuring speed and I belive that the British
police rely more on vehicle timing between designated landmarks. This
is usually done by two vehicles using a radio link and occasionally
by aircraft.

I can't help humourously wondering if timing my course between landmarks
would cause some people to claim my constitutional rights had been 
infringed ... :>)           

	  -- bob
	     (decvax!ulose!bob)