Senate Bill No. 265
(By Senators Bowman and White)
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[Introduced January 22, 2004; referred to the Committee
on .]
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A BILL to amend and reenact §17C-6-7 of the code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to adding the laser speed gun as a
device for measuring speeds.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §17C-6-7 of the code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6. SPEED RESTRICTIONS.
§17C-6-7. Prima facie evidence of speed by devices employing
microwaves; placing of signs relative to radar.
The speed of a motor vehicle may be proved by evidence
obtained by use of any device designed to measure and indicate or
record the speed of a moving object by means of microwaves or by
infra red laser light, when such evidence is obtained by members of
the department of public safety, by police officers of incorporated
municipalities in classes one, two and three, as defined in chapter eight-a of this code, and by the sheriff and his deputies of the
several counties of the state. The evidence so obtained shall be
accepted as prima facie evidence of the speed of such vehicle.
In order to inform and educate the public generally that speed
of motor vehicles operating within the state is being tested by
radar or laser mechanisms, the state road commission shall locate
and place suitable and informative stationary and movable signs at
strategic points on and along highways in each county of the state
giving notice to the public that such radar or laser mechanisms are
in use.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to list the laser light
mechanism as a reliable device to determine the speed of
automobiles.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.