Miami Speed Radar Gun Attorney

Florida law enforcement uses sophisticated tools — radar, lasers, aircraft surveillance, robotic cameras — to identify and stop speeders. But the high-tech science behind speed measurement devices is sometimes closer to science fiction.

The traffic violation defense lawyers of Ferrer Shane, PL, have helped many clients get speeding tickets dismissed or reduced by identifying the flaws in the methods used to calculate motor vehicle speed.

Speeding Ticket in South Florida? Free Initial Consultation

Contact us today to examine your situation and learn how we can help. We represent anyone who received a speeding ticket in Miami-Dade County or surrounding jurisdictions of Florida, for as little as $69.

Speed Measurement Devices

Our attorneys are familiar with the statutes and law enforcement standards, as well as the limitations and margin for error with every type of speed measurement device admissible in Florida courts:

  • Radar guns — Both dash-mounted and handheld radar speed measuring devices can result in flawed readings. The calibration may be off. The angle, distance, and intervening cars affect accuracy. Even temperature, wind, and the steadiness of the officer’s hand can affect readings. Sometimes cops pull over the wrong car after clocking a speeder with radar.
  • Lasers (“LIDAR”) — Laser speed measuring devices are becoming more popular with law enforcement agencies because they are supposedly more accurate than radar. But LIDAR is subject to many of the same challenges as radar regarding calibration, operator error, and outside factors affecting clocked speeds.
  • VASCAR (airplane or helicopter) — The Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder method estimates speed by measuring the time it takes for a car to travel between two fixed points, such as markings on the highway. Typically, this involves a trooper in the aircraft using nothing more sophisticated than a handheld stopwatch. At freeway speeds, an error of even a few tenths of a second can throw the calculations off wildly, resulting in a false conclusion of speeding or pushing you into a higher speed violation bracket. If you challenge the ticket, both the pilot and the trooper must appear in court.
  • Speedometer pacing — An officer on the road may judge that a motorist is speeding by comparing the driver’s speed to the squad car’s own rate of speed. Was the officer’s speedometer recently certified as reliable? Was he traveling faster than the suspect in pursuit?

Florida statutes dictate the type of devices law enforcement can use and how often they must be tested, certified, and calibrated. Radar and LIDAR, for example, should be re-calibrated daily. The law also specifies a margin of error for each type of device and requires that officers have specific training in a given speed measurement device before such evidence can be admitted into court.

As of January 2010, Florida law requires that the officer indicate on the front of your speeding citation (a) what type of measurement device was used and (b) the serial number of the device. If this information does not appear on your ticket, it is automatic grounds for dismissal.

In fighting your speeding ticket, we will not hesitate to ask for documentation relating to the accuracy of the device and the officer’s qualifications, or to question the officer’s conduct in operating a speed measurement device or pulling you over.

We understand that your driving privileges or even jail time may be on the line.

Call 305-262-2728 or 888-609-5947 to arrange a free consultation with our knowledgeable and aggressive Miami traffic ticket lawyers.