The value of tire evidence with respect to vehicle class, condition, age, and cost
Embargo Date
Indefinite
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
A common mode of transportation is the personal motor vehicle. Due to the high abundance of motor vehicles, the possibility for tire track evidence to be left at a scene in a criminal investigation can occur. The current study will build upon a previous study by Bessman et al. that surveyed tire size and tire tread design in order to determine if the tire sizes and tire tread design on a vehicle have a relationship to specific vehicle characteristics. The current study hypothesizes that the number of different tire sizes and tire tread designs is dependent on the age, condition, class, and price range of a vehicle. Based on the data collected, this study also attempts to determine the frequency that a vehicle would have a specific combination of tire types. A chi-square test for independence (p< 0.01) was conducted to determine the relationship between the factors and multiplication rule statistics were used to determine the frequency of certain events. The results indicated dependence between the number of tire sizes on a vehicle and the vehicle age and condition, as well as the number of tire tread designs present on a vehicle and the age, condition, and class of the vehicle. However, there was no dependence between tire sizes and either class or price range, nor between tire tread designs and the price range of a vehicle.
Description
Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University
PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.