NCJ Number
174494
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 46 Issue: 8 Dated: August 1998 Pages: 37-42
Date Published
1998
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article reviews and evaluates laser measuring and speed-timing devices.
Abstract
The review is based on a survey of more than 300 members of the International Network of Collision Reconstructionists and comments of various officers. Departments that had used lasers generally found them accurate, reliable and easy to use. Several departments that were not using lasers cited lack of money to purchase them as the only factor preventing their use. The most common uses for lasers were traffic monitoring and accident investigations. But some departments also used laser range finders for SWAT operations, where they were especially useful in sniping. The major negative aspect of laser use was that they are stationary. An officer must get out of the vehicle to get good lines of sight or park the vehicle perpendicular to the roadway to aim out of a window. Departments considering purchase of laser equipment should check with other departments to see what luck they have had, and should consider both the initial cost of the equipment as well as the amount of down time and the availability and cost of maintenance and repair.