NHTSA RADAR Test

Which of the following is a requirement to obtain a conviction in a speeding offense?

Speeding above the limit set by ordinance

The average perception/reaction time for most drivers is?

1.5 seconds

If a vehicle is traveling 54 mph what is its velocity?

79 fps

A larger percentage of reported traffic facilities occur on local roads than on the highway

True

A collision at 70 mph is how many time as likely to result in a fatality as one at 45 mph.

4

A. Visual Observation

1. 1. Identify target

2. 2. Estimate speed

3. 3. Estimate range

4. 4. Check the environment

B. Audio Confirmation

1. 1. Pitch

2. 2. Clarity

C. Speed Confirmation

1. 1. Steady read out

2. 2. read out consistent with visual observation

Whenever a radar signal frequency changes, its wave length also changes

True

The court case that established judicial notice of the doppler principle was

State v. Dantonio

Stationary radar is prone to the batching effect

False

The acronym RADAR stands for

RAdar, Detection, And, Ranging

What is the operating frequency of K-band radar?

24.15 ghc

How many cycles per second will be produced for each mile per hour of vehicle speed in k-band radar?

72

What is the k-band Doppler shift of a vehicle traveling 50 mph

3600 hz

traffic radar instruments use

Radio waves

Cosine effect results in a higher than actual speed reading for a target vehicle in the moving vehicle mode

True

The basic speed computation in using opposite direction moving radar is

Target speed=closing speed minus patrol speed

Once transmitted, the length of the radar beam is infinite unless it is

Reflected, absorbed, or refracted

A. Visual observation

1. 1. Identify target

2. 2. Estimate speed

3. 3. Estimate range

4. 4. Check the environment

B. Audio communication

1. 1. Pitch

2. 2. Clarity

C. Target Speed confirmation

1. 1. Steady read out

2. 2. read out consistent with visual observation

3. 3. verified patrol speed moving mode only

4. 4. verified patrol speed discrimination test

What scientific principle is RADAR based on?

The Doppler Principle

What does the Doppler Principle state?

The frequency of a wave changes based on motion between the source and observer

What type of waves does RADAR use?

Radio waves

What happens to frequency when an object moves toward the radar?

Frequency increases

What happens to frequency when an object moves away?

Frequency decreases

What does RADAR measure to determine speed?

Relative motion only

What can RADAR determine?

Presence, direction, speed, and range of a target

Name the three common RADAR bands used in law enforcement.

X-band, K-band, Ka-band

What happens to wavelength as frequency increases?

Wavelength decreases

What are the three RADAR operating modes?

Stationary, Moving Opposite, Moving Same Direction

What is closing speed?

The speed of two vehicles approaching each other

What is separation speed?

The speed of vehicles moving away from each other

Formula for opposite direction target speed?

Target Speed = Patrol Speed ± Closing/Separation Speed

What are the 3 parts of RADAR tracking history?

Visual observation, audio confirmation, unit confirmation

What must visual observation include?

Target ID, speed estimate, range, environment

What is unit confirmation?

Steady reading consistent with visual estimate

What is the cosine effect?

Angle reduces measured speed (always lower than actual)

What is panning?

Moving the antenna causing false readings

What is shadowing?

Radar locks onto a large vehicle instead of target

What is batching?

Radar fails to update patrol speed during acceleration/deceleration

What is scanning effect?

Radar reads its own signal due to improper aiming

What is RFI?

Radio Frequency Interference

Name sources of interference.

Radios, lighting, electronics, power source

What are the three RADAR components?

Antenna, counting unit, power source

What must be done before using RADAR?

Internal and external testing

What tool is used for external testing?

Tuning fork

How accurate must RADAR be during testing?

Within ±1 mph

What must be proven in court for a speed violation?

Driver, vehicle, time, and location

What is judicial notice?

Court accepts a fact without needing proof