Do Cops Have to Show You the Radar Gun?

Traffic stops are the most deadly situation for a cop to be in, according to the Hatfield, Massachusetts, Police Department. If caught speeding, you can ask a cop to show you the radar gun, but this probably wont happen.

Misconception

As of 2010, no state or jurisdiction in the United States requires an officer to show you the reading of his radar gun to write you a speeding ticket, according to SpeedingTicketCentral.com.

Considerations

You can ask the officer to see his radar gun, and he may show you as a courtesy, but most police departments discourage this practice because of potential danger to the officer.

Tip

You can still fight a traffic ticket in court by questioning the accuracy of the radar gun, suggests LawForKids. Also, question whether weather conditions may have given a false reading or if the officer calibrated the device before his shift started.

References

• Hatfield, Massachusetts Police Department: What To Do If You Are Stopped By The Police
• SpeedingTicketCentral.com: Speeding Ticket Urban Legends
• LawForKids:If a cop pulls me over for speeding, what are my rights?