Evidence Documentation & Interpretation Flashcards
7 cards from real ACTAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Documentation & Interpretation flashcards as text
When photographing tire marks at a crash scene, which lighting technique best reveals surface texture and mark depth?
Answer: Oblique (raking) light from a low angle
Oblique or raking light cast at a low angle creates shadows that highlight surface texture and reveal the depth and detail of tire marks.
Which document best establishes the chain of custody for a physical evidence item collected at a traffic crash scene?
Answer: A signed evidence log recording each transfer of possession
A signed evidence log that records every transfer of possession establishes an unbroken chain of custody for physical evidence.
In total station surveying of a crash scene, what is the primary advantage over traditional tape-measure methods?
Answer: It simultaneously measures angle and distance to produce precise 3D coordinates
A total station simultaneously measures horizontal angle, vertical angle, and slope distance, yielding precise 3D coordinates far faster and more accurately than tape methods.
When interpreting a gouge mark in pavement, the deepest portion of the gouge typically indicates what?
Answer: The point of first vehicle contact with the ground
The deepest portion of a gouge mark generally corresponds to the point of first, most forceful contact between a vehicle part and the pavement surface.
Aerial drone photography at a crash scene is most valuable for which documentation purpose?
Answer: Providing an overview of scene geometry and spatial relationships
Aerial drone photography provides a bird's-eye view that effectively documents the overall scene geometry, road layout, and spatial relationships between evidence items.
What is the significance of a 'gap' in a continuous tire mark at a crash scene?
Answer: It shows the vehicle was airborne or the wheel momentarily lifted
A gap in an otherwise continuous tire mark typically indicates that the wheel lifted off the pavement momentarily, such as during a bounce or rollover sequence.
In crash scene documentation, a 'benchmark' or control point is used primarily to:
Answer: Provide a fixed reference for coordinate measurements throughout the scene
A benchmark or control point serves as a fixed, known reference location from which all coordinate measurements in the scene are taken and tied together.