What is the primary purpose of pacing in speed enforcement?

The primary purpose of pacing in speed enforcement is to follow a violator and gauge their speed. This method involves a law enforcement officer driving behind a suspected speeding vehicle at a safe distance and matching its speed. As the officer maintains this position, they can accurately determine the speed of the violator’s vehicle by using the speedometer in their own car.

Pacing is a widely used technique because it allows officers to gauge speed in real-time and make quick assessments in situations where radar or laser devices may not be used or available. The effectiveness of this method relies on the officer being able to comply with traffic laws while following the vehicle, ensuring that the enforcement process remains safe for everyone on the road.

In this context, the other options do not fully encapsulate the essence of pacing. While maintaining speed limits is an overarching goal of traffic enforcement, pacing specifically refers to the act of following a vehicle to measure its speed. Recording a driver's behavior and assessing road conditions are important aspects of traffic enforcement but are not directly related to the procedural technique of pacing itself.