North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What should be verified by the officer when measuring speed with RADAR?

1. The background noise level

2. The input speed of the patrol car

3. The number of cars on the road

4. The weather conditions

The correct answer is: The input speed of the patrol car

When measuring speed with RADAR, it is crucial for the officer to verify the input speed of the patrol car. This step is essential to ensure accurate readings from the RADAR device. The RADAR system works by calculating the speed of an object in relation to the speed of the vehicle in which it is mounted. If the patrol car's speed is not correctly input or verified, it may lead to incorrect speed readings for other vehicles. Verifying the patrol car's speed ensures that the RADAR is operating under accurate parameters, allowing for a reliable comparison between the target vehicle's speed and the patrol vehicle's speed. This process is vital for maintaining the integrity of the speed measurement and for upholding any enforcement actions based on those readings. While factors such as background noise level, the number of cars on the road, and weather conditions can influence driving safety or the effectiveness of the RADAR, they do not directly affect the accuracy of the speed measurement in the same way that confirming the patrol car's input speed does.