North Carolina RADAR State Practice Exam

What aspect of the tuning fork test was noted in State v. Tomanelli?

1. The tuning fork test is infallible in court

2. The accuracy of the tuning fork can be questioned

3. It is no longer accepted as a test

4. It has been replaced by digital speedometers

The correct answer is: The accuracy of the tuning fork can be questioned

The focus on the tuning fork test in the case of State v. Tomanelli emphasizes that its accuracy can indeed be questioned. This court case highlighted concerns regarding the reliability and validity of using a tuning fork to measure a vehicle's speed in a legal context. While the tuning fork test may still have some historical relevance, the ruling suggests that such evidence is not infallible and may be subject to scrutiny. This sets a precedent for how sound evidence should be approached in court, leading to the understanding that physical testing methods, such as the tuning fork, must have a demonstrated reliability to be considered admissible in legal proceedings. In contrast to the correct choice, the other options do not accurately capture the court's approach to the tuning fork test. For instance, asserting that the tuning fork test is infallible would suggest absolute certainty in its results, which is not supported by the case. The notion that it has been completely replaced by digital speedometers does not align with the ongoing use of various methods for radar speed detection, and the statement about it no longer being accepted lacks clarity regarding its conditional acceptance based on context and evidence.