Nevada Appeal at 150: July 22, 1959: Carson police install radar to catch speeders

Sheriff Howard Hoffman watches as Chief Deputy Marshal Robert Humphrey clocks a car at 60 mph on the new radar set installed in Carson police cars. Speed is read on the main gauge; the disc to the right has two prongs in front which supply the signal. Speed can be determined in any direction by turning the prongs.

Sheriff Howard Hoffman watches as Chief Deputy Marshal Robert Humphrey clocks a car at 60 mph on the new radar set installed in Carson police cars. Speed is read on the main gauge; the disc to the right has two prongs in front which supply the signal. Speed can be determined in any direction by turning the prongs.

Carson police install radar to catch speeders

Carson City will soon have radar in operation against speeders, according to Sheriff Howard Hoffman.

The new machine was received July 16 and is now undergoing tests. Accompanying it are radar speed warning signs which have been posted at the various city entrances, Chief Deputy Marshall Bob Humphrey said.

Radar speed checks are operated by a set sending a signal which is bounced off the speeding car and turned into a speed calibration. It replaces the old method which required, according to the local justice of peace opinion, the police car trailing the offender two or three blocks to determine the speed.

In addition, the radar does not require two cars or that the police car be pointed in the direction of the traffic, Hoffman explained.

This continues the Appeal’s review of news stories and headlines during its Sesquicentennial year.

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