question for a police officer here

[ironpony]

O.K. I have a question for the officers on here.
What is the acceptable manufacturers operational temperature range for a laser radar gun??? ex. 32f-140f?? the reason I ask, is I used this as a defense to a speeding ticket this week, and no one was able to challenge it. Background.
I was clocked at 55 in a 45 zone. The officer was on a motorcycle and the temp was
-21f that day. Yes he was a brave soul. So in researching the operating range I came up with above freezing up to 140f. I asked the officer in court and he did not know so I showed my research and the judge dismissed the case. Stunned the officer, judge and prosecuting atty that I thought off this. Actually the only reason I did was in my line of work I work with calibrated equipment out side and there are temperature limitations.
Now obviously if he was in a cruiser this would not of worked, so it is a unique situation. Not many motorcycle officers are going to be out in that weather.
Also the reason I was so persistent in finding out the answer was I had my cruise set at 47, yes still speeding but in the safe zone. Yes really 47.
So do any of our officers know different or is this correct

 

[Highbeam]

I'm just so impressed that he wasout thrre at all. I whine when its 40 and my chin gets numb.

 

[ironpony]

he is there everyday, hence the reason I set my cruise at 47.

 

[That's Right]

Would probably depend on make/model of unit. Ours say operational range for unit is -22f to 140f. I don't know if it would affect it or not. Good defense! Not sure why you were cited for 10over? Bad area? Hard azz officer? Pretty cold to be on a bike though.

 

[ironpony]

Would probably depend on make/model of unit. Ours say operational range for unit is -22f to 140f. I don't know if it would affect it or not. Good defense! Not sure why you were cited for 10over? Bad area? Hard azz officer? Pretty cold to be on a bike though.

thanks, if I was sitting on the roadside at -21 I would probably write them up for 5 over so I could move around some.

 

[ErikR]

I retired from a Sheriff's Department 3 years ago. There's no way I'd have wasted my time at -21°F, standing outside, clocking traffic from a motorcycle! Let alone writing tickets at 10 over. I say good for you on getting it dismissed! Just a tip, if you have a GPS you might want to compare your speedometer to the GPS. There's a big difference between an indicated 47mph and a citation for 55mph. Over sized tires on your truck? Cold weather on his electronics?

 

[Swedishchef]

I did not think that lasers were affected by temperature. I am radar trained and it doesn't mention temperature ranges for accuracy. Simply the cosin effect (lateral distance between you and the moving vehicle).

 

[ironpony]

It is not the laser per se but the effect of the cold on the electronics reading the laser

 

[ironpony]

I retired from a Sheriff's Department 3 years ago. There's no way I'd have wasted my time at -21°F, standing outside, clocking traffic from a motorcycle! Let alone writing tickets at 10 over. I say good for you on getting it dismissed! Just a tip, if you have a GPS you might want to compare your speedometer to the GPS. There's a big difference between an indicated 47mph and a citation for 55mph. Over sized tires on your truck? Cold weather on his electronics?

Speedo is off -2 mph, from what I found it is in the electronics of the radar gun, that is why I challenged it

 

[Swedishchef]

All I know is that this is awesome and I will keep this ace up my sleeve! It's a good call and a fair challenge.

As others said, what the heck was he doing outside running laser in those temps? Must have been bored...

 

[WES999]

I would have told the judge that my brakes didn't work and I was rushing home to fix them.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

In poor conditions (ice, cold, rain) it's best to drive as fast as you can so that you are on dangerous roads for less time.

 

[TmbrCrk]

As others said, what the heck was he doing outside running laser in those temps? Must have been bored...[/quote]

It's Ohio, they like to give tickets.