Radar guns quattro Digest, Vol 34, Issue 37

[SuffolkD at aol.com]

Just to clarify Brett's LIDAR post.

LIDAR is light pulses that reflects off objects back to the LIDAR gun.

Lighter colors reflect better than darker colors, so range "effectiveness" is 
dependant upon color to a degree.

However, "training" in order to address those issue(s), teachs the operator 
to aim for a reflective front plate.  Not all states have one, so they are 
again taught to search for a highly reflective surface:  The lights.

There are things one can do to cut down the effective range of LIDAR light 
reflection.
One is shape, sloped vehicles are harder to target that flat trucks.
Color & GLOSS.  Matte or flat primer gray would be a better color than white, 
metallic paints (of ANY color) and the pearl White which would be most 
reflective IMHO.

Nobody uses a shoulder stalk (like their supposed to) nor a tripod as 
suggested in testing of the unit prior to daily use.
The LTI UltraLytes have one attached, in hopes of encouraging its use?

Most just freehand the units in the believe that their SKILLS are sufficent.

Generally, operators who park perdendicular to traffic have figured out they 
can rest the unit on the door frame or flat window top (when lowered) to 
stabilize the LIDAR unit.

IMHO any reading beyond 500 feet should be scutinized for potential 
influences affecting the "speed" reading calculation.

-Scott by BOSTON