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| Michigan Speed Measurement Standards |
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In 2007, Michigan participated in a national speed measurement workshop in Chicago, Illinois, hosted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). At the workshop, excessive speed was identified as a continuous problem for law enforcement across the nation. Speeding increases the number and severity of traffic crashes and it is the single most common hazardous action in fatal crashes. NHTSA is working with states to establish comprehensive speed measurement programs across the country.
As part of this national shift to a more formalized system for maintaining the integrity of speed measurement, and to support the strategic initiatives of NHTSA, the Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) created a partnership with MCOLES to establish state standards for speed measurement in Michigan. On October 1, 2007, MCOLES began its work to establish the first formal standards in speed measurement enforcement for Michigan. MCOLES will also work in cooperation with the Prosecuting Attorney's Association of Michigan and the Michigan Judicial Institute to update guidance for the courts regarding the adjudication of radar/lidar speeding cases.
In the Michigan Court of Appeals case, People v. Ferency, 133 Mich App 526 (1984), the justices identified guidelines that must be met in order to allow "moving" radar readings into evidence in court. The ruling of the court addressed the due process rights of defendants in speeding cases involving speed measurement devices. MCOLES will build on this ruling, and the original work of OHSP, in order to establish the standards.
While the work by MCOLES is ongoing, interim guidelines for adjudicating speeding cases involving both radar and lidar have been developed by OHSP, as contained in the documents below. They are available for downloading in  format.
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