Laser Radar
Laser radar sends a quick burst of infrared light to a speeding car. The light is reflected back and the unit calculates, in nanoseconds, how long it took for the light to travel in each direction. Then, the unit transposes the information it received into the miles per hour of the target vehicle. Laser radar is an extremely accurate device and, it’s very easy for officers to use. All they have to do is point it at a moving vehicle and squeeze the trigger.
Officers simply point and pull the trigger.
The target vehicle’s speed is displayed in miles per hour.
I agree, Terry. We’re still working on a new look. Hopefully, we’ll get everything ironed out.
PS — I know the other look was ‘edgy’ but I like this one for readability. I can’t handle the bright white on black. Old eyes, I guess. Or my astigmatism. Or some of both.
We had an interesting talk by a patrol deputy last night at the Civilian Police Academy. He showed us the on-board computer system they have in patrol cars, and what kind of information they have at their fingertips.
Of course my state still doesn’t insist that drivers renew their licenses in person, and mine was issued in 1989, before they computerized the photos, so a search on me gives a “no photo found” message. Then again, if that 1989 photo came up, I’d probably be arrested for using someone else’s license.
Elena – A license would have to have a magnetic strip for this device to work. In your case, the officer would have to resort to manul labor and actually write the ticket by hand. Well, she’d have to fill in the pre-printed blanks.
Yes, the computer does have the capability to check outstanding warrants.
The magnetic strips on all licenses (the ones that have the strips) contain all the information that’s printed on the front of the license.
FYI – this is relatively new technology and isn’t in use in most areas, yet. But, when the country goes to a universal driver’s license I’d expect it to become the norm. When the law goes into effect your information will be available to all jurisdictions nationwide.
Do you know what the computer is reading on the driver’s license? There is no magnetic strip on mine.
Can the computer tie to things like outstanding bench warrents?
And, what about out of state licenses?
Sigh, people like me never get their masterpieces written, we’re too busy investigating the molecular makeup of the dot over the I. But, it’s so much fun !!!!!!
I’m thinking we’d need a huge grant to buy something like that. It sounds cool, but it could put me out of a job! But then, maybe I’d actually get that next book written…
Hey, Joyce. Have you guys looked into the new in-car traffic computers. The officer swipes the violator’s drivers license like an ATM card and the device prints the summons on the spot. It’s also capable of sending the data back to the department and to the court. No more data entry by the Joyce’s of the police world. You could devote your time to more important things.
Good infromation, Joyce. Let’s go one step further.
Florida:
All Police Radars and Law Enforcement Radar Guns must include special “Florida Software.”
North Carolina:
No “Faster Target” or “Time Distance (Stopwatch)” modes are allowed in Police Traffic Enforcement Radars. Pre-approval testing required on new models. Genesis I and Genesis II, Genesis VP & GVP-D are currently approved. No Same Direction.
Connecticut:
Hand-held Police radar guns in all forms are outlawed for use by law enforcement agencies. In-car Moving Radars are allowed. Police Radar units must have waterproof antennas and be mounted outside of the patrol vehicle.
Pennsylvania:
Stationary Police radars only for use by Law Enforcement agencies. Only State Police are allowed to use police radar for enforcement purposes. On rare occasion, municipal Law Enforcement agencies will purchase a stationary police radar (generally a hand-held device or a speed trailer) to use for conducting speed studies.
In Pennsylvania, only the State Police are permitted to use radar. All the other departments rely on Vascar and the new cool laser device called ENRADD.
I don’t like any of them because I’m the person who has to enter all those citations into the computer. Talk about boring!