When officiating meets where automatic timing is utilized, it is easy to fall into the “trap” of letting the machine pick the finish or sort the places out. Officials should always try to be in position to judge race finishes in case the timing system malfunctions, a touch pad fails to activate or does not cover the entire lane and/or becomes dislodged during the race. A premeet check of the timing system, the touch pads in all lanes, the starting device and scoreboard should be standard part of an official’s pre-meet duties. It is also critical that officials look at the scoreboard to ensure that it is functioning once a race starts or to instruct the timing equipment operator to report a malfunction immediately. Good protocol calls for the starter to verify with the timing equipment oper