PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

The Florida Legislature enacted legislation in 1993 which authorized the use of laser speed measuring devices by Florida law enforcement personnel. The Administrative Code Rule governing the use of speed measuring devices, Rule 15B, however, did not address the operation of laser technology or any of the newer radar technologies, such as Same Direction Radar, that did not exist at the time Rule 15B was established. It was clear that some of these technologies were being operated under the old rules and with the old training which may or may not have been appropriate. There was a serious concern that some law enforcement agencies in Florida would purchase and use the new laser equipment before adequate rules were developed, creating a potentially adverse affect on the acceptance of these new devices by the courts.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of this project were to:

• Develop an approved amendment to Administrative Rule 15B which would establish sound legal safeguards for the proper testing and operation of laser speed measuring equipment
• Develop an approved training curriculum for operators and instructors in support of this rule.

STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES

The State Safety Office of the Florida Department of Transportation provided a grant to the Institute of Police Technology and Management at the University of North Florida to provide for the establishment of a Technical Review Committee to take on this challenge. A seven-member Technical Advisory Committee on Speed Measuring Devices was created in late FY 1993 with representatives of the following agencies:

Laser Speed Measuring Devices (cont'd)

• Institute of Police Technology and Management
• Florida Department of Transportation
• Florida Police Chief's Association
• Florida Sheriff Association
• Florida Highway Patrol
• Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and the
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Division.

The committee also secured the consulting services of two physics professors for technical assistance. Committee members were expected to perform their duties in addition to regular assignments at their respective agencies.

The committee met 12 times and accomplished the following:

• Received training from the two manufacturers of laser devices to understand the unique concepts and capabilities of the laser technology
• Conducted a Police Traffic Radar Survey of all police and sheriff agencies in Florida to involve agency heads in the entire process
• Identified needed changes to Rule 15B with respect to the use of radar devices, VASCAR, police vehicle speedometers and stop watches
• Conducted extensive field tests of both laser devices to determine their operating characteristics and to establish training requirements
• Established minimum standards for the testing and use of laser devices in Florida.

RESULTS

The Committee completed its work in FY 1994 and an amended Administrative Rule 15B-2 was approved by the State agency with jurisdiction over this rule. In addition, a training curriculum for both laser operators and laser instructors was developed and approved by the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. The first laser operator and instructor courses were conducted in early FY 1995. Since that time, approximately 25-30 agencies have acquired the new laser technology and are using it as part of their speed enforcement efforts.