ISSN: 0022-1198
CODEN: JFSCA
Published Online: 1 January 1981
Page Count: 11

The Evidential Value of Automobile Paint. Part II: Frequency of Occurrence of Topcoat Colors
Somerville, PN
Professor of statistics, University of Central Florida, Fla.

Kopec, RJ
Forensic scientist, Seminole County Sheriff's Office Forensic Laboratory, Fla.

Ryland, SG
Forensic scientist, Sanford Regional Crime Laboratory, Fla.

(Received 19 March 1980; accepted 7 August 1980)

Abstract

Frequency of occurrence data are valuable to forensic scientists in their quest to properly assess the evidential value of automotive paint exhibits. A survey of automobile topcoat paint colors is presented with a sample size of 43 000 vehicles covering six eastern states in the United States. In addition, the results of a second survey utilizing more discriminating color groups for 2000 vehicles in central Florida is given. Comments on statistical validity and sample size for frequency distribution studies are provided.

Keywords:
criminalistics, automobiles, paints, evidential value, topcoat colors, frequency distributions, statistics

Paper ID: JFS11330J
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11330J
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.