tjj

Do Laser/Radar/Lidar etc. work when it is raining?

Cris

with laser, the diffraction caused by the rain/haze/fog will not be too accurate. Not to mention, the trooper will have to keep the window open to shoot the darn thing. <p>Cris<br>

JMorrison

Radar works like a champ when it is raining---that's why ships and aircraft have it.

Drew S.

Marine/aircraft radar is sophisticated equipment. Police speed-trap radar is a bargain basement piece of equipment that is small (handheld in some cases) and built to be cheap enough that low-budget PD's can afford it.<p>I agree that ship and aircraft radar works well in less favorable weather, but I would ignore that evidence when discussing police radar.<br>

david

let me tell you a story:<br>I was out cruising in my old Porsche 928 when it was still new to me, and my record was closer to being insurable.<br>I was driving on HWY 2 up to Stevens Pass on a day where it was dry in some areas, raining in others. Typical Pacific northwest weather. <br>As I turned a corner comming on a long stretch of strait highway I hit another wet patch of weather. I saw no cops or traffic and downshifted and floored it. I saw the state trooper sitting beside the road about 150 ft before passing him. His gun was on me the whole time as I slowed down through 110, 90, 70, and finally 60. Deciding to not trouble the cop with all the work of accelerating up to stop me- I pulled over immediately and reversed up to his car. <br>I stopped the car and waited for the cop to come. He looked puzzeled at me, so I got out (in the friving NW rain-"drizzle" everywhere else) and approached his car. He asked what the problem was!<br>I told him (rather suprised) that I thought that I was going to be pulled over for speeding, so I thought it would be nice to pull over and save him some effort. He thanked me for my kindness, but informed me that because of the rain he could not get a speed reading until I was 50-75 feet from him and only going 64- a mere 9 over the posted speed limit. <br>My expression must have been pure shock, since he broke out laughing then told me to keep my speed down and drive safe. <br>He complemented my car and told me to keep the speed down through the next town where there is another speed trap set up.<br>This was over 4 years ago (almost 5) so radar/laser technology must have improved some, so I guess I was lucky. I didn't even have my lights on which I heard is supposed to limit the range of both.<br>

H. Huntzinger (I'm back!)

nt<br>

alexI

And thats what ships and Aircraft see-the rain- police radar also sees rain-not your car

Jim Meyer

Having your lights on will not limit the range of radar - only laser.

Hugh

I do a lot of sailing and Radar does pick up rain and waves, it can also be desensitized to not see these. My guess is it depends on the equipment used and how it is adjusted.

Ancient Mariner

NT