1. How do the police measure a driver’s speed?
Generally, police use the following methods to catch you speeding:
- A visual estimate. The officer sees your car and estimates how fast you are going.
- Pacing. The police officer follows your vehicle at the same speed you are traveling and checks the police car’s speedometer to see how fast you are going.
- Radar. The officer points a radar gun at your car and it calculates your speed.
- Laser. The officer points a laser gun at your car and it calculates your speed.
2. Why is the concept of hearsay important in challenging a speeding ticket?
Be aware of any hearsay in a speeding case in Municipal Court. In challenging your ticket, you will want to be aware of a key legal rule called “hearsay†that could help your case. The hearsay rule bars any testimony that quotes information from somebody other than the witness. This is sometimes called the “he said†rule because it forbids a witness from testifying to what somebody else said he saw. There is a huge catch to this hearsay rule.  You must affirmatively object or the judge will allow the testimony.
Here are the most common scenarios in which a prosecutor is most likely to use hearsay evidence to prove a speed violation:
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