		          EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

     Each of the six radar models identified in hearings conducted by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida were subjected to a series of laboratory and field tests.

     The tests were designed to determine whether it was possible to affict target speed measurement under those environments or use situations discussed in the Florida hearing.

     There was no observed degradation in the performance of any of the units arising from 1) cosine angle effect, 2) automatic lock, 3) heat build up, 4) mirror switch aiming, and 5) high tension power wire interference.  Only one of the six units tested was affected by external CB and none were affected by police radio transmission at distances beyond 30 feet from the radar.

     Certain of the units were affected in varying degrees by internal electrical interference from the ignition and alternator, and interference from air conditioner and heater fans.  While transmission from ploice radios in the same vehicle as the radar was found to have a limited affect on the radar units, CB transmission in the same vehicle affected nearly all radars.

     Patrol car shadowing was found to affect all but one of the radars and target speed bumping was observed to effect half of the units.  In all cases, the two piece radars were affected by panning the atenna beam through the display console.

     In some instances, the performance of the radar units was not degraded by the environments or use situations described abouve when a target vehicle was present.

     The limited sample size precludes generalization of the test results to an entire manufacturer product line.  While there is no question that the individual radar units that were tested are affected to varying degrees by interference sources and certain operating conditions, it appears, based upon observation, that the source of error can be avoided by taking precautions in the installation of the radar unit and through proper use by a skilled and knowledgeable operator.
