When you’re driving and see flashing lights in your mirror, your heart probably skips a beat. You pull over, and the officer tells you they clocked you going over the limit. The tool they used is likely a radar gun. These devices are common in speeding cases across New York. But if you’ve been given a ticket based on one, you’re probably wondering if there’s any way to fight it.
Robert Friedman
Michael Ranzenhofer
Justin Friedman
John Dracup
How Radar Guns Work
A radar gun sends out a radio signal that bounces off your car and returns to the device. Based on how fast the signal changes, the gun shows a speed. Officers use this reading to decide if you’re speeding. These tools have been around for decades to handle traffic tickets, and many people think they’re always right. But that’s not always true.
What Can Go Wrong with Radar Guns
Radar guns must be used the right way. If they’re not, the results can be off. For starters, the officer needs to aim the radar at one vehicle. But if there are several cars around, the radar might pick up the wrong one. Also, if the officer is moving while using the radar, that adds more chances for error.
Radar guns also need to be tested and kept in good shape. If a department doesn’t check them often or doesn’t fix them when needed, the readings might be wrong. Courts expect the police to keep records that show the gun was working right. If those records are missing or out of date, that could help your case.
The Law and Radar Gun Evidence in New York
In New York, radar gun readings can be used in court. But they are not enough by themselves. An officer usually must also say they saw you going fast. The radar reading backs up their story, but it can be challenged. If the officer doesn’t explain how the gun was used or doesn’t remember the details, that can raise doubts.
You can also ask for proof that the officer was trained to use the radar gun. If they were not trained or used it in a way that breaks the rules, that’s a real problem for their case.
How to Fight a Radar Gun Ticket
If you got a ticket, you might think it’s easier just to pay it. But that’s not always the best move. A speeding ticket can mean points on your license, higher insurance, and even license loss if you get too many.
Fighting the ticket means you go to court. You or your lawyer can ask questions about how the radar was used. You can look at the officer’s notes and the records for the radar gun. Was it tested? Was the officer trained? Did they use it the right way? You can also question what the officer saw. Maybe there were other cars nearby. Maybe the road was busy or had a hill. All these things can affect how well a radar gun works.
What Officers Must Do to Prove the Radar Reading Was Right
For a radar gun ticket to hold up in court, the officer has to do more than say you were speeding. They need to explain how they used the radar gun, what they saw, and how they made sure the reading was right. That includes showing when the radar gun was last checked and how it was set up before your stop. Officers also need to be able to explain how they picked your car out from traffic, especially if there were a lot of vehicles on the road. If they don’t have these answers, or their story changes in court, that helps your defense. Judges expect radar evidence to be used the right way, and if it’s not, they can toss the ticket.
How Weather and Road Conditions Play a Role
Radar guns aren’t magic. They can’t always give a perfect reading in every condition. If the road is wet, if it’s raining, or if there are a lot of signs, trees, or other cars around, the radar signal can bounce and give the wrong speed. Hills and curves can make it even harder for the officer to aim the gun at just one car. These things matter because they raise real questions about how the radar got your speed. A good lawyer will bring this up in court. When the radar reading is taken in less-than-perfect conditions, it becomes easier to challenge.
Why Cross-Examining the Officer Matters
In court, your lawyer can ask the officer questions. This is called cross-examining. It’s a key part of fighting a radar ticket. A trained lawyer knows what to ask and what details to look for. They’ll ask about the officer’s training, how the radar was used, what other traffic was around, and when the gun was last tested. These questions matter because they often reveal mistakes or gaps in the officer’s story. If the officer can’t explain something clearly or if the answers show a lack of care, that helps you. It shifts the court’s view from “you must be guilty” to “maybe this reading isn’t so solid after all.”
Understanding Your Right to Evidence
When you fight a speeding ticket in New York, you have the right to see the evidence against you. That includes the radar gun logs, proof of calibration, and any notes the officer made about your stop. You or your lawyer can ask for these documents before your court date. If the police don’t have them or can’t produce them, that’s a big deal. It can make the case fall apart. A lot of drivers don’t realize they can ask for this. They think the officer’s word is final. But it’s not. The law gives you a chance to test the radar reading and how it was used.
Cases Where People Have Won
There are cases in New York where drivers beat their ticket by raising smart questions. In some cases, the radar gun wasn’t tested often enough. In others, the officer couldn’t remember how they used it. Sometimes the records were missing or the officer wasn’t trained. The court wants to make sure tickets are fair. If there’s a good reason to doubt the radar reading, the judge might throw out the ticket.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If you’ve been hit with a radar gun ticket, you don’t have to handle it by yourself. There are ways to fight back and you have the right to question the evidence. You may not need to go to court, but if you do, having someone on your side can make a big difference.
At Friedman & Ranzenhofer, PC, we help drivers across New York figure out the best way to deal with speeding tickets. We know the rules, we know how radar guns work, and we know how to ask the right questions. If you’re worried about points, fines, or losing your license, talk to us. We’ll help you make a smart move.