SPEED MONITORING
19
Radar Facts
A radar gun operates by transmitting radio waves at
certain frequencies which reflect off objects and are
then picked up by the radar gun’s receiving section.
When a radar beam reflects off a moving target, a
measurable frequency shift occurs. The radar unit
converts this shift into miles per hour to determine
your vehicle’s speed. Currently, the FCC (Federal
Communications Commission) permits operation of
traffic radar guns at X Band (10.500 - 10.550 GHz), K
Band (24.050 - 24.250 GHz), and Ka Band (33.400 -
36.000 GHz).
NOTE:
A radar detector will only alarm if an officer is
transmitting on any one of the above radar bands.
Laser Facts
It’s well documented that many radar guns cannot
reliably provide the speed of a targeted vehicle that
is traveling in a group of vehicles. In contrast, a
laser gun can target a specific vehicle out of a line
of traffic and determine its speed. The advantage
of laser over radar in terms of target identification
is the result of the laser gun’s narrow beam. A
radar transmission can cover more than a four-lane
highway at a distance of 1,000 feet, compared with
a laser transmission which covers about 3 feet at
the same distance. For best protection, keep these
points, listed on the following section, in mind:
