Radar

Most Southampton speeding tickets involve either radar or laser. Radar guns operate bytransmitting radio waves at certain frequencies. A portion of the beam reflects from the target and returns to the radar gun. A quantifiable change in frequency occurs depending on the speed of the targeted vehicle. This is known as Doppler principle. The radar converts this change into miles per hour to determine the speed of the vehicles.

Unlike laser that uses a narrow beam, and can easily single out a vehicle, radar cannot distinguish one vehicle from another, and consequently is not as effective when there is more than one vehicle in close proximity to each other.

Radar can be used from a moving police vehicle. In fact, some police vehicles have radar installed directly in the grill of the vehicle and can calculate the speed of a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.

When trying a case involving radar, it’s important to make sure that the officer properly checked the calibration of the radar prior to using it that day.