Excellent points. You point out well one of the major flaws in laser detector design when dealing with mobile setups that can be adjusted to hit the area of the car below the windshield. At 330 terahertz and a typical operator distance of just a few hundred feet some models have a beam width of less than 12 inches. No laser detector will identify it and your only choice will be to jam it which will require a setup that sufficiently covers the entire front of the car, with emphasis on the license plate area, and in some cases will require more than 1 or 2 jamming heads.
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Originally Posted by X5Sport
At least you folks have a slightly less Draconian approach to speeding. We did once too when there were real policemen on the streets who would give you an ear bashing and a 'correctional lecture' before letting you on your way. Now it's all done by cameras and they give no leeway other than the 10% +/-2mph legal requirement.
My own experience with laser detectors is that the beam is so narrow even out to the 'typical' distance of 500 feet), and usually aimed at either the number plate (UK ones are highly reflective with a layer of micro glass beads) or headlight, that the detectors never actually receive the beam unless they are mounted on the front bumper. The beamwidth is of the order of an inch or less with no appreciable scatter for a detector to work on even out to a mile or so (and it's only about 1mm to start with). By the time the alarm has gone it's waaayyyy too late. About 1/10sec is all that's needed. The one time I did get caught I has less than 1/2 second's sight of the van with the laser/camera unit and the detector never beeped once (receiver at the base of the windscreen where the beam never went) as I went past. I was duly fined and had to pay up.
At least you guys get a better chance it seems - well in some States anyway.  |