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Careers: Police/I have a question about police radar

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Expert: - 2/5/2008


Question
Hello
I've been reading your answers. They are very interesting!
I like it when a question is asked, and you do not know the answer, you ask other the answer!

Can I ask about police radar? I understand that police radar is from the air force; sound louder than we can hear, bouncing off metal, coming back to the radar.

I don not understand the new "laser" radar. I live in Stuart and I think that the guys on the turnpike and I-95 are now using the newer laser radar. I read that they are using a light, like a flashlight, where the light "bounces" off things, and comes back to the radar,

why can't we see the light? Is it something like ultraviolet or infrared, which we cannot see? If not in daylight, I would guess that it would be easy to see in dark, or rain, or both. I do not see any 'light-rods' shining out of any the patrol cars I drive by all the time.

Confused!  

Answer
Hi Michelle,

Glad you liked reading my past answers.

AS for Police RADAR, it sends out microwaves, at a very low power, they bounce off your vehicle and return to the RADAR unit. Its not sound, its microwaves.

Police RADAR works the same as all other kinds of RADARs just at a much reduced power. Go here for information on how RADAR works: http://science.howstuffworks.com/radar2.htm

What you are calling LASER RADAR is actually just police LASER. Its not RADAR by any means. It operates completely differently.

Police LASER is being used by FHP and more police departments. The way that Police LASER works is it sends out a infared (invisible) LASER light that is aimed at a car. It bounces off the car and comes back to the LASER unit. The LASER unit then reads the time it took the LASER to go there and back and gives a speed for the time it took. Actually pretty easy and very accurate, more so than RADAR.

You would not see the LASER in the dark either. Its not visable to the human eye. Its in the 904NM wavelength range.

LASER is very accurate, more so than RADAR as you aim LASER at a particular vehicle and don't have to wait for the vehicle to read on the RADAR. If you can see the vehicle you can clock its speed. I have gotten readings up to 2500-3000 feet away. Long before the drivers realize we are there.

Here for more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question396.htm

Hope this helps..

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Chris Wagoner

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I have been a police officer for 30+ years! I am the Police Academy Commander at the Santa Fe College, Institute of Public Safety in Gainesville Florida It is a full service Law Enforcement and Corrections training facility. I can answer most questions concerning law enforcement procedures, law enforcement training and general questions about law enforcment. I can also answer questions about becoming a law enfocement officer. I have a booklet and web page I have written that answers many questions about how to become a police officer called "So you want to be a cop (police Officer) in Florida?", which is free, Google it.. All you have to do is ask. I teach the following subjects: RADAR/LASER, Law Enforcement Driving, Law Enforcement Firearms and Patrol Techniques, Officer Safety, WMD's for Patrol Officers, Application of Law, Communications skills, Dealing with the Mentally and physically handicapped, and many more subjects. I have worked as a subject matter expert for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and helped to write the police curriculum for the State of Florida. I like answering questions about how to become a police officer, and questions about why did an officer do this or that type questions. I also like answering any questions you may have about police work in general. I do not mind helping with homework questions or trying to answer your questions about legal subjects that I have knowledge of. You will never know the answer until you ask! If you do ask a question, PLEASE take the time to at least rate the answer. I do not get paid to answer these questions and do it on my own time. If you ask, please rate it when I answer. Thanks!!! If its a question about becoming a police officer, it may be answered here: http://sites.google.com/site/flaleohelp/ My "hobby" website - http://www.youtube.com/user/3rdID8487 Military Videos on YouTube and Facebook!!

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I am a 30+ year veteran police officer, I am currently the Police Academy Commander of an Academy in North FLorida. I have been training police officers since 1993 and have trained them in all aspects of law enforcement, including firearms, Driving and legal subjects including patrol techniques and others and training all over the world. I have trained over 5000 officers worldwide in the last 16 years of training.

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I am a published author in Accident Investigation from the University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management. Also have written and published on the Internet, "So You Want to be a Cop (Police Officer) in Florida?" you can Google it..

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I have 2 degrees, in Criminal Justice.

Awards and Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, plus 50+ Departmental Awards over the years. FBI Directors award for assisting in a Nationwide investigation into Child pornography.

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