17. Can an officer issue a speeding ticket without radar?
Yes. New Jersey case law has consistently held that a trained officer can visually estimate the speed of a vehicle with some degree of reliability. Speed estimations are usually a part of radar operator training and some officers become quite skilled at this. There may be situations when an officer sees what he knows to be a speeder traveling well over the posted limit but the radar is not positioned to obtain a reading, or maybe he has no radar at all. This does not prevent him from stopping the motorist and issuing a speeding ticket.
18. Can other radio transmitters interfere with the radar?
Yes, in certain instances they can, but this is relatively rare. This can vary from one radar to another and is dependent upon the frequency of the radar and the strength of the signal source.  Most modern radars have a built in “RF†(radio frequency) indicator which will automatically blank the radar’s readout screen during activation by a strong RF signal that exceeds a predetermined threshold level. Due to their higher power outputs, TV and commercial radio stations can cause interference at close range. Cell towers, ham radio repeaters, personal cell phones, wireless Internet and other devices are relatively low powered and aren’t likely to cause interference, even at very close range. If by chance they should, the radar will temporarily go blank and readings will not be possible.  Radar manufacturers know their products are going to be used in a radio rich environment in a police vehicle so it stands to reason their radars will be specifically designed to work in that type of environment. A rule of thumb is, if your cell phone will function without interference, so will the radar.
19. Are there other sources that can interfere with radar?
Yes. Nearby electrical lines, fluorescent lighting, even the patrol car’s own heater blower motor can cause interference.  These problems are addressed in training and a good radar operator will immediately know when these problems are present.  On some older radars these sources can cause fake readings on the radar while the newer radars are designed to eliminate most of these. Nonetheless, the trained radar operator is taught to watch for these problems and isn’t likely to misinterpret them.
20. How many targets can the radar clock at once?
Some radars can clock several targets simultaneously while others are limited to one at a time. Either way it is up to the operator to properly identify which target is being clocked before initiating a traffic stop.
21. Does the radar tell the officer which vehicle it is clocking?
No. Target identification is the ultimate responsibility of the radar operator. Keep in mind this does not apply to LIDAR where the laser is aimed at a specific vehicle. LIDAR target identification is very accurate
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