NCJ Number
7986
Date Published
1970
Length
26 pages
Annotation
JUDICIAL DECISIONS ON THE ADMISSIBILITY AND APPLICATION OF SKIDMARK TESTIMONY IN SUCH CASES.
Abstract
SKIDMARKS HAVE NUMEROUS USES AS EVIDENCE TO ESTABLISH CIRCUMSTANCES IN CASES INVOLVING VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. EVIDENCE OF SKIDMARKS HAS BEEN ADMITTED TO ESTABLISH VEHICLE SPEEDS, THE POSITION OF VEHICLES IN IMPROPER LANES, THE USE OF BRAKES, POINTS OF IMPACT, AND OTHER FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF EVENTS IN ACCIDENTS. RULES GOVERNING THE QUALIFICATIONS AND TESTIMONY OF BOTH EXPERT AND LAY WITNESSES ARE OUTLINED. COURT DECISIONS ON THE USE OF PICTURES AND DIAGRAMS OF SKIDMARKS TO AID WITNESS DESCRIPTIONS ARE EXPLORED, AS WELL AS RULINGS ON SKIDMARK PHOTOGRAPHS AND OFFICIAL CHARTS OF DISTANCES. FINALLY, IT IS STRESSED THAT THE POLICE OFFICER WHO INVESTIGATES ACCIDENT SCENES MUST ACCURATELY MEASURE AND RECORD SKIDMARKS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE BEST BASIS FOR THEIR USE AS IMPARTIAL EVIDENCE AND PROOF. (SNI ABSTRACT)