Originally Posted by angrysquirrel

Hello,

I was wondering if it is required under Massachusetts law for police officers to be certified to operate LIDAR units in order for their results to be admissible in court or at a clerk magistrate's hearing?

If not, what type of training is undergone by LIDAR operators before they use the unit in the field?

Thank you for your information.

Originally Posted by j809

We calibrate it by hitting airplanes with the laser at any airport once a month.

Originally Posted by Gil

Fire at will!

Originally Posted by MM1799

I dont know what these guys had to do but I had to spend 5 weeks with a certified LIDAR agent who taught me how to use the equipment. Here's a video (its a known fact that the magistrate has this video and will refer to it when ruling on a LIDAR cite):

Originally Posted by angrysquirrel

Hello,

I was wondering if it is required under Massachusetts law for police officers to be certified to operate LIDAR units in order for their results to be admissible in court or at a clerk magistrate's hearing?

If not, what type of training is undergone by LIDAR operators before they use the unit in the field?

Thank you for your information.

Originally Posted by angrysquirrel

I'm thinking the situation is that an officer does not need to be certified to operate a LIDAR unit in Massachusetts. However, the failure of an officer to become a certified LIDAR operator would go to the weight of the evidence as to proper operation of the unit on the date in question.

Originally Posted by Gil

There is no MGL regarding officers being certified to use LIDAR (light detection and ranging) or RADAR. The training takes place at the academy, some departments may have additional training tho it is not required. Officers are not required to know the inner workings of the LIDAR or RADAR to use it. It doesn't require that much training to turn the unit on, take aim and pull the trigger to lock in your speed.

LIDAR for most is the preferred method of recording speed due to it's accuracy especially in congested traffic conditions. Unlike radar, the more widely recognized speed measurement tool, lidar allows for very specific target acquisition when attempting to determine the speed of a particular vehicle on a crowded roadway.

Lidar uses a time-of-flight method for taking measurements to determine the target vehicle's speed. When a pulse is transmitted, the timer starts, and when that pulse hits its target and returns, the timer stops. The calculation of distance traveled over time is computed to determine speed. In many respects, this sort of technology may not sound like anything new. After all, we've been using radar in a similar fashion for years. The difference lies in the type and shape of the pulse being transmitted.

Lidar utilizes laser technology, allowing for superior target acquisition in high-volume traffic areas. According to Fors, "Laser systems are the most accurate means of providing traffic and speed analysis compared to other systems. A laser can pinpoint one vehicle in a group while radar can't. A laser beam is a mere 18 inches wide at 500 feet compared to a radar beam's width of some 150 feet." In congested traffic areas, an officer can very effectively use lidar to pick out a specific target, site it and read its speed without any concern for interference from other close-by targets.

Lidar systems require a standard "once-over" inspection by the officer prior to each deployment, internal system checks are done automatically, and no calibration is required. This is a great time savings for the officer or technician assigned the job of keeping maintenance records on any speed enforcement devices.


Provided from own knowledge and various sources...



Certified by who? The company selling the units? The academy, the state? I'm not certified to drive a car, I was taught a long time ago and that works fine.

I'm not certified in handcuffing, once again I was taught once and that seems to do the trick.

Your just looking for a loop hole to get out of paying a citation you know deep down that you truly deserve. Now your just going to try to make the officer look like an uneducated ass to serve your own needs.

You sir are a jackass! Be a man, own up to the fact that you screwed up and pay your fine.

In all honesty I think you would be better off admitting your error and asking for a break instead of walking into court and attempting to question the officers ability to use a piece of equipment that he has been trained to use, most likely uses on a daily basis and has been accepted by the courts as an accurate means of detecting a vehicles speed.

Originally Posted by angrysquirrel

Hi Gil,

Thank you for that informative post about the operation of LIDAR. So from your knowlege base, I take it there is no such certification under the Mass. Gen. Laws or the C.M.R.'s. However, there is no need to call me names or jumping to conclusions as to why I am asking for this information. I do not owe a fine to anyone. By the way, you are certified by the commonwealth of massachusetts to drive a car. It is called a driver's license. Anyway, thanks again for the information!

Originally Posted by angrysquirrel

Hi Gil,

Thank you for that informative post about the operation of LIDAR. So from your knowlege base, I take it there is no such certification under the Mass. Gen. Laws or the C.M.R.'s. However, there is no need to call me names or jumping to conclusions as to why I am asking for this information. I do not owe a fine to anyone. By the way, you are certified by the commonwealth of massachusetts to drive a car. It is called a driver's license. Anyway, thanks again for the information!