Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Thursday, March 20, 1997

Officers not required
to show laser gun readings

If I am stopped by a police officer with a laser gun and he gives me a ticket for going X-number of miles an hour and I request verification on his laser gun, is he required to do so or can he refuse? There are no checks or balances if he can.

It is discretionary for an officer to show a motorist the laser reading, said Honolulu Police Department Maj. Gary Dias, head of the traffic division. If you dispute the reading, you'll have to take it to court, he said.

"Several factors come into play: traffic conditions, road conditions, weather conditions and the officer's own judgment on the totality of the circumstances surrounding the traffic stop," Dias said, explaining why showing the reading is up to the officer.

"The motorist's and officer's safety are primary considerations," he said. "Specific reasons for not showing a laser reading may vary from case to case."