In court, the prosecutor in Lamont or Shafter must prove that you were speeding beyond a reasonable doubt. What evidence is the prosecutor most likely to present?

The enforcement method must meet several criteria; for example, it must be scientifically reliable, easily explainable, and easily used. Radar and pacing are the most common enforcement tools.

Down-The-Road radar is the most commonly used speeding enforcement method in the United States. DTR radar simply beams out radio waves against oncoming traffic, and the amount of time it takes for the radar beam to bounce back determines the speed of the vehicle.

Radar guns are scientifically reliable and easy to use (radar guns are also used in other fields, such as baseball); moreover, the science behind a radar gun is easy to understand. The biggest weakness in a radar gun is that it does not discern between vehicles: if there is heavy traffic, it is the officer's judgment as to which vehicle was traveling at what speed. Radar tends to be more effective on highways, such as Interstate 5, as opposed to in larger cities, such as Bakersfield.

If you are ticketed by an officer who was not on traffic patrol, chances are the officer used pacing to determine your speed. Basically, the officer accelerates behind you until the gap between your vehicle and the patrol car s constant, thereby allowing the officer to testify that the speeds were identical.

Pacing is a good method on paper or in the laboratory, but out in the field there are some serious deficiencies:

An attorney practicing in Tulare County can identify and exploit weak points in the prosecutor's case to either have your ticket case thrown out or at least get the fines and points reduced.