Pacing in Stamford Speeding Cases

Pacing in Stamford is when an officer follows a vehicle believed to be driving too fast to determine the exact speed of the vehicle. The officer will try to match the speed for a certain amount of time to determine how fast the driver is driving. It is important to speak with a distinguished speeding attorney regarding the impacts of pacing on your case.

Proving Pacing in Stamford

Pacing is generally proven by officer testimony. If the speeding ticket goes to trial and the officer goes to court to testify, the officer will testify as to how long they were following the vehicle and how many feet were between the vehicle in front of them and their own vehicle. They will testify as to all of that. The amount of time pacing took place can speak to the accuracy of the pacing.

If the officer claims to have followed the individual for 10 minutes and maintained the exact distance between cars, the court will give more credibility to the officer. If they write that in the narrative, the court will read it and award it more credibility. Their vehicle might record whatever speed that they are tracking another vehicle on, but generally the record of pacing is written testimony.

Impact of a Pacing Argument in Court

It is generally given a fair amount of weight. In Stamford, the range varies between pacing and radar guns. It is common. It is generally assumed that the officer followed procedure and did it properly. That is where attorneys can try to negate whatever the drive did.

RADAR vs. LIDAR

Radar and lasers would be given more weight, but pacing is still given a fair amount of weight. When people get pulled over for radar, they are more inclined to admit that they were speeding. The court sees it the same way that this is the speed that they were going because it was on a radar gun.

Role of the Officer

The officers have to maintain a certain distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them for a certain amount of time. They check their speedometer and see how fast they are going. They can infer the speed of the driver in front of them because they are going the same distance for the same amount of time.

Pacing does rely on the officer’s assumption of the speed to a fair standard, but mainly it relies on the officer maintaining the speed. That would be being able to check their own speed at the same time and keeping the same distance from the vehicle in front of them.

Officers are also given more credibility with judging or assuming certain speeds, because they have experience. They also monitor driver’s speeds through their own speedometer.

Impact of Tracking Time on Pacing Credibility

Pacing is considered more credible if it was over 20 seconds. If someone is following for three seconds, it can still be admissible but perhaps not as convincing. It weighs heavily when it is for a longer period of time.

If the officer does not maintain consistent speed or distance, it is more difficult to determine the speed. If it is a windy road and the officer is not able to maintain exactly five feet in between them and the vehicle, they cannot measure the vehicle’s speed accurately.