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MARYLAND - SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

NCJ Number
52090
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
Unknown
Length
17 pages
Annotation
AN OVERVIEW OF PROCEDURES AND EQUIPMENT USED BY POLICE TO DETECT AND MEASURE SPEEDING AND OTHER TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS IS PRESENTED IN A SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL UNIT FOR ENTRY-LEVEL POLICE IN MARYLAND.
Abstract
THREE METHODS OF SPEED MEASUREMENT - SPEEDOMETER PACING OR CLOCKING, TIME-DISTANCE, AND RADAR - ARE DESCRIBED, TOGETHER WITH THE EQUIPMENT USED IN EACH. TIME-DISTANCE METHODS AND DEVICES INCLUDE THE SPEEDWATCH (ELECTRIC TIMER), AERIAL SPEED MEASUREMENT, AND A COMPUTER-AIDED TIMING DEVICE KNOWN AS VASCAR (VISUAL AVERAGE SPEED COMPUTER AND RECORDER). THE POLICE OFFICER'S FUNCTION IN RADAR OPERATIONS IS DISCUSSED, AND RADAR COUNTERMEASURES USED BY MOTORISTS ARE NOTED. MARYLAND'S TAGS (SO CALLED BECAUSE IT INVOLVES VEHICLE REGISTRATION DATA) SYSTEM, WHICH CONSISTS OF A SPECIAL OBSERVATION VEHICLE ( AN UNMARKED VAN) THAT CONTAINS A COMPUTER, COMPUTER STORAGE UNIT, AND TWO KEYBOARD-DISPLAY UNITS, IS DESCRIBED. THE STORAGE UNIT HOLDS A LIST OF MARYLAND REGISTRATION PLATE NUMBERS FOR STOLEN VEHICLES AND PLATES, SUSPENDED OR REVOKED DRIVING PERMITS, AND OUTSTANDING WARRANTS AND REPAIR ORDERS. THE VAN CRUISES A PRESELECTED SECTION OF HIGHWAY, AND OBSERVERS ENTER PLATE NUMBERS OF PASSING MOTORISTS INTO THE COMPUTER. WHEN AN ENTERED NUMBER MATCHES ONE IN THE STORAGE UNIT, THE INFORMATION IS PASSED ALONG TO A PATROL UNIT, WHICH THEN TAKES THE APPROPRIATE ACTION. IN ONE TRIAL OPERATION IN BALTIMORE CITY, 50 MATCHES WERE OBTAINED IN A 6-HOUR PERIOD. MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED AS A STUDY AID. (LKM)