What is the first step to confirm speed using a radar device?

Visual observation is the first step to confirm speed using a radar device because it ensures that the officer can accurately determine if a speeding vehicle is indeed breaking the law before relying on technology. By visually assessing the speed of the vehicle in relation to traffic conditions and speed limits, an officer can create a mental benchmark of what constitutes reasonable speeds. This step is crucial for validating the radar reading, as it helps the officer establish the legitimacy of the speed measurement.

Other methods, such as audio confirmation or a vehicle registration check, support the enforcement process but do not serve as the initial verification of speed itself. Traffic signal verification can also provide context to the situation but does not directly relate to assessing the speed of a vehicle before the radar device is used.