What distance should an officer maintain when pacing a violator for accurate speed assessment?

Maintaining a distance that ensures constant visual contact is essential for accurate speed assessment while pacing a violator. This allows the officer to observe the vehicle's behavior, track its speed accurately, and react appropriately to any changes in traffic conditions. Keeping visual contact helps the officer determine the pacing vehicle's distance from the violator and allows for a reliable measurement of speed relative to the patrol vehicle.

While other distance options may seem viable, they do not provide the officer with the necessary situational awareness and control that direct visual contact offers. A too short distance might not allow for appropriate braking or response time, while excessive distance could compromise the accuracy of the speed observation as the officer may misjudge the relative speed. Thus, ensuring constant visual contact strikes a balance between safety, reaction capability, and speed accuracy.