North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

When facing a possible selectivity problem, what should the operator do?

1. Lock the target vehicle speed immediately

2. Observe the passing vehicles before locking speed

3. Change the RADAR settings

4. Ignore the selectivity problem

The correct answer is: Observe the passing vehicles before locking speed

In a situation where an operator is encountering a potential selectivity problem with RADAR technology, the most effective approach is to observe the passing vehicles before locking the speed. This practice allows the operator to accurately assess the traffic conditions and ensure that the target vehicle is the one being tracked. By observing multiple vehicles, the operator can determine if any nearby cars may be causing interference with the RADAR signal or contributing to inaccuracies in speed readings. This step is crucial because selectivity problems usually arise when there are multiple vehicles within range, creating ambiguity over which vehicle's speed is being measured. By confirming the context and behavior of the traffic before locking in the speed of the target vehicle, the operator can make a more informed decision and potentially avoid misidentifying a speeding vehicle. While locking the target vehicle’s speed immediately might seem efficient, it could lead to errors. Changing the RADAR settings may not address the specific issue at hand and could complicate the situation further. Ignoring the selectivity problem altogether poses a significant risk of misjudgment, which is counterproductive in law enforcement operations and can undermine the credibility of the RADAR system.