Preface

The mere subject of police radar is as controversial today as it was when the 55 mph national speed limit started (a temporary law that lasted over 20 years) and solid-state traffic radars started showing up on the roads in large numbers. The advantage of solid-state (versus vacuum tubes) was to bring down the cost, size, and power requirements of the units. Cost reductions included not having a strip chart recorder for a written record of target history. Even through the temporary 55 mph national speed limit is history (1974 - 1995), thanks to Republican control (really Democrat loss of control in 1994) of both the U.S. Senate and House, many communities continue to use and abuse traffic radar because these communities have become accustomed to the revenue obtained from radar. Thus traffic radar continues to be used extensively across the nation and around the world.

Many police departments and agencies have greatly improved their application of radar to traffic control, but there still exists a large number not qualified to operate this type of instrument. To operate a traffic gun does not require genius, but it does require proper training as well as a basic understanding of the device. Hopefully the reader will gain enough understanding of traffic radar to help prevent or right any injustices these instruments (really the police, courts, elected or anointed bureaucrats) may impose.

Vehicle Insurance Companies also have an interest in traffic radar. Insurance companies base automobile insurance rates on driving record; the more speeding tickets a driver has the higher the insurance rate. In other words, the more speeding tickets issued the more money the insurance companies make.