speedometer calibration Archives | The Law Offices of Joseph T Brown PLC

Speedometer Calibration

In this article I will discuss the following issues regarding speedometer calibration for reckless driving and speeding cases: Should the Speedometer be Calibrated? Where to get a Speedometer Calibration, and how to read a Speedometer Calibration. The following is provided for informational purposes only, and is not legal advice. If you are charged with reckless driving by speed or speeding in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area, call the Law Offices of Joseph T. Brown PLC at 540-786-7700 for a free consultation.

It happens all the time. A person gets pulled over for speeding, the police officer informs them of the speed that they were going, even though the speedometer showed something different.

Car manufactures usually calibrate speedometers to show a speed that is a little higher than the actual speed, to give drivers some margin for error. Federal law allows factory speedometers to read 10% higher or lower than the actual speed (49 CFR 393.82).

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/393.82

Speedometers can show the wrong speed

There are several factors that can cause a speedometer to show a speed that is incorrect. One major factor is the age of the car, as many times older vehicles with a lot of miles and wear on them will have speedometers that are not as exact as they used to be.

After-market tires and rims can also cause the speedometer to show an incorrect speed. If the wheel diameter is larger than the stock wheels, then the speedometer is going to show a speed that is lower than the actual speed. The difference in speedometer reading for non-stock tires can be calculated here:

http://www.instrumentclusters.com/#!speedometer-calculator/g5w1j

Other factors include tire wear, tire temperature and pressure, and load on the vehicle.

Speedometer Types

There are two basic types of speedometer mechanism, mechanical and electric. Both types are affected by the factors that are described above, especially tire diameter.

Cars older than 30 years or so used a mechanical method of determining speed of the car. A cable was attached to a gear mounted on the transmission, and the cable rotated inside the speedometer housing that created a magnetic field that would pull the speedometer dial to show the speed of the car.

Electrical speedometers, used on most cars on the road today, are controlled by the car’s ECU and measures pulses generated within the transmission by magnets located on the transmission’s output shaft. The car’s computer reads the magnetic field pulses to measure the rotational speed of the driveshaft and determines the speed of the vehicle.

Testing the Speedometer

Before paying for a speedometer calibration, a speedometer can be tested to see if it is not showing the correct speed. This method is not exact, but it can help determine if the car should be put on a dynamometer to be tested.

A measured mile is required. There are mile markers on the interstate highways and on some county roads. This method should only be used if it can be done in a safe manner.

At the beginning of the measured mile, take note of the odometer reading or reset the trip odometer to 0.0. At the end of the measured mile, take note of the odometer reading or the trip odometer reading.

If the odometer shows more than a mile was traveled, then the speedometer is showing a speed that is faster than the actual speed. If the odometer shows less than a mile was traveled, then the speedometer is showing a speed that is slower than the actual speed.

Speedometer Calibration Dynamometer

The best way to show in court that a speedometer is not showing the correct speed is to have a speedometer calibration certificate. Any automotive shop with a chassis dynamometer can test the speedometer and produce a certificate showing the speed that the speedometer displays at actual tire rotation speeds.

Generally speaking, a dynamometer is a device that measures force, torque, or rotational velocity. A chassis, or rolling road dynamometer is a specific type that is used for automobiles for many purposes, including calibrating a speedometer.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamometer#Chassis_dynamometer_.28rolling_road.29

The chassis dynamometer will rotate and specific speeds, and the speedometer reading is noted at each tested speed, and recorded on the certificate.

How to Read a Speedometer Calibration Certificate

Most courts will allow a speedometer calibration certificate to be presented to the judge without a representative from the automotive shop present to verify that the certificate is authentic. However, before a certificate is presented to the judge, it should be examined closely to determine if it is actually helpful, and not harmful.

The speedometer calibration certificate will show several tested speeds, from 10 mph up to 70 or 80 mph. For each tested speed, the speedometer reading will be displayed.

If the speedometer reading is exactly the same as the tested speed, then the speedometer is working perfectly and the certificate is not helpful to defend a speeding ticket. If the speedometer shows a speed higher than the tested speed, then the certificate is actually harmful to a speeding case, since the driver had reason to believe the vehicle was traveling faster than the actual speed.

A useful speedometer calibration certificate will show a speedometer reading that is slower than the actual tested speed. In most cases the judge will give credit for the error in the speedometer reading, and lower the speed charged by the police by the same amount.

Where to get a speedometer calibration

There are several automotive shops in the Fredericksburg area that have a chassis dynamometer and can test the speedometer and produce a speedometer calibration certificate.

Southern Electronics
http://www.instrumentclusters.com/#!faq/aabrx

Brauning Automotive
http://brauningautomotive.com/performance.html

Burton’s Automotive
http://burtonauto.tripod.com/

Speedometer Testing and Calibration Center, Richmond, VA
http://www.speedotest.com/

Falls Run Car Care Center
540-899-6800
1314 Princess Anne Street
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

M&L Auto Inc.
http://www.mlautoinc.com/contact

Speedometercalibration.net, Sterling, VA
http://www.speedometercalibration.net

The Next Step

If you are charged with reckless driving by speed or speeding in the Fredericksburg, Virginia area, call the Law Offices of Joseph T. Brown PLC at 540-786-7700 for a free consultation. We will discuss your particular case and I will help you identify ways to defend your case and tell you what you can do before trial to give you the best chance to have the ticket dismissed or lowered to help avoid potential jail sentence, loss of license, and help you save money in fines, fees and increased insurance costs.

Photo by Sarah Sphar

Reckless Driving Charge in Virginia

If you have a Reckless Driving Charge, you should contact a lawyer to discuss your particular case and to learn how your case can be best handled in the courtroom at your trial. You can call our office at 540-786-7700, my personal cell phone at 540-760-8725 or send us an email to schedule a free consultation for your reckless driving ticket.

Every case is different, and no website can tell you everything that you need to know. This website certainly isn’t intended to tell you how to handle your own case, and isn’t meant as legal advice.

There are several things that are often helpful if you are charged with Reckless Driving. These include the following:

When you are being pulled over, it is always a good idea to be polite and cooperative with the police officer. They is just doing their job, and a big part of that job is to help keep the roads safe. The police don’t have anything against you personally, and it doesn’t cost you anything to smile and to be nice to them. They have no idea what they are going to find when they walk up to a car, and their job can be very risky. Do your best to put them at ease and to make the the stop as pleasant as possible. When you get in the courtroom, if you were polite and cooperative it can help you a great deal. Note that you do not have to ever agree to be searched, or to have your vehicle searched, and you never have to make any statements that could incriminate you. However when you decline an officer’s request for a search or to make statements you can still be polite and treat them with respect.
Keep your hands on the wheel until they are at the window, don’t go digging into your glove box for your registration as soon as you get pulled over. Nothing makes a police officer more nervous than to see a driver reaching around in their car as they walk up. Remember they have no idea what to expect from you, so just relax and don’t make any sudden moves. If it is dark, then it is also a good idea to turn your interior lights on so that they can see that you are not a threat.
If you have an older vehicle, you might want to consider having your speedometer calibrated. This calibration can be performed at any garage with a dynamometer, and is not very expensive. If your speedometer gives a reading that is less than your actual speed, the judge may give you credit for that and lower the speed of your ticket, which could change the offense from Reckless Driving to a simple speeding ticket.
It is often a good idea to take your state’s defensive class, and to bring the certificate of completion with you to court. In Virginia the state recognizes the Defensive Driving Course and the Aggressive or Reckless Driving Course. These courses can help convince the judge that you are taking steps to be a better driver, and can reduce the negative points on your DMV record as well.
You can also get your driving record from DMV for a small fee and bring that with you. The judge is going to want to know if you have been convicted of reckless driving or speeding in the recent past. The police often have your driving record with them in court, but it is always a good idea to have your record and to know what is on it before you appear before the judge. If you live in another state, the police most likely will not have your driving record, and so you should bring a copy with you, especially if you have a good record.
Get a lawyer! Reckless Driving is a serious offense and a lawyer can recognize issues and defenses that may never occur to you. Also, a lawyer is more likely to be able to speak with the police officer about your case and to get information that is important for your trial. A lawyer is always going to handle your case better than you can on your own.

Reckless Driving can have sever and negative impacts on your ability to drive and the cost of your insurance. For extreme cases it can result in heavy fines, license suspension and jail time. If you are charged with Reckless Driving, contact our office today for your free consultation.

Photo by: Eli Christman

Speedometer Calibration for Reckless Driving and Speeding Cases

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