CHARLESTON, S.C.--- Law officers in South Carolina can write traffic tickets before they are certified to operate speed-detection equipment, but the state Criminal Justice Academy discourages the practice.

Allowing officers that aren't certified to write tickets could lead to having the citations thrown out in court.

The academy offers a free, three-day training course on both radar and lidar, which is a laser used to measure speed.

Although operating the equipment isn't difficult, testing it and recognizing errors can be tricky.

"There's a science behind it and there's an art to part of it," said Dale Smith, the traffic safety program manager for the academy.

During the training course, officers learn how to determine the speed of a vehicle without equipment, then use a radar gun to confirm their estimates.

The first two days cover the science behind determining a vehicle's speed and properly maintaining detection equipment. The third day involves a road test, said Mr. Smith, who recommends officers don't write tickets until they complete the course.

Many agencies, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol, require the certification.

"I wouldn't want anybody on a tractor who doesn't know how to run a tractor," Ridgeville Police Chief Quintion Joyner said. "I'd rather my officers be certified."

But not every agency does, and that bothers state Sen. Jake Knotts, a former lawman.

"To me it ought to be just common practice and professionalism to make sure officers are the best and well-trained officer you can put out there," the West Columbia Republican said.

Mr. Knotts doesn't support a law requiring the certification. "I don't think it should take a law to make a police department be professional," he said.

Kandy Burdick successfully fought a speeding ticket issued to her in October by a Cottageville police officer who was not certified.

The 64-year-old grandmother from Florida, who was visiting family when she was cited, was surprised when the officer reluctantly admitted under her questioning he had not completed the certification course.

"It seems a little backward that I need a piece of paper that allows me to drive but he doesn't need a license to operate a device that says I'm driving too fast," Ms. Burdick said.