Are law enforcement radar guns affected by the rain?

[N8Magic]

I would think the readings would be garbled by the scattering effects of the raindrops, but I don't know for sure.

I've often wondered this, as you don't often see cops out doing radar in snowy/rainy weather... maybe they just don't like getting wet.

Anyone know for sure?

 

[fastz28]

Not sure.

But I agree with your logic and reasoning.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

Really?

I thought it would be worse as rain has a heavy scatttering effect on light... think of a rainbow. I would think the laser guns would be even more useless than radar guns, no?

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

Now, laser may be different. I was thinking the old doppler radar.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: N8Magic

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

Really?

I thought it would be worse as rain has a heavy scatttering effect on light... think of a rainbow. I would think the laser guns would be even more useless than radar guns, no?

I was with someone who got nailed by an Oregon State Trooper and, as long as they're calibrated every week (or so), they're apparently just as accurate in both target radius and speed measurement :Q

I have NO IDEA... it doesn't really make sense, does it...

nik

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

Now, laser may be different. I was thinking the old doppler radar.

Well... doppler's used to tell the weather, so ... wouldn't it...

aw I dunno

nik

 

[AvesPKS]

Sort of OT, but does anyone remember that Drew Carrey Standup bit where he would say he would purposely run stop signs in the rain? "Do you know why I pulled you over?" "Yes, do you know why I ran that stop sign?"

 

[GoodToGo]

Weather will have no effect on radar guns. They depend on frequencies to measure speed and I *think* the radar gun takes that into account while measuring speed. After all noise from rain has a frequency of its own but in the end, it cancels itself out. I am not too sure about laser. It depends on the power of the laser and what not.

 

[CubicZirconia]

Last december I was with my cousin and he got nailed doing 85 in a 60. It was snowing like a crazy man that night, and the gun seemed to be working fine. The guns may be affected somewhat, but I wouldn't count on the weather to get you out of speeding.

Btw, it was stupid to be going 85 in a 60, so he got what he deserved.

 

[fastz28]

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

Now, laser may be different. I was thinking the old doppler radar.

Well... doppler's used to tell the weather, so ... wouldn't it...

aw I dunno

nik

Hmmm....I thought police radars are also based on the doppler effect. Same technology? No?

 

[MedicBob]

I run around with a large group of cops. Almost all of them agree in rainy, snowy, or foggy weather the radar guns range is effected. Most of them think by around 30% reduction in range.

As for not seeing too many cops during bad weather, generally if you are driving sanely you are fine. If you are driving like those in redneck racing(NASCAR) the cop doesn't need a radar gun to tell if you should get stopped. Plus most cops are like the rest of us, why get wet in the rain for something minor?

 

[N8Magic]

Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
Last december I was with my cousin and he got nailed doing 85 in a 60. It was snowing like a crazy man that night, and the gun seemed to be working fine. The guns may be affected somewhat, but I wouldn't count on the weather to get you out of speeding.

Btw, it was stupid to be going 85 in a 60, so he got what he deserved.

I was just curious.

I have a 1 hour commute to work, and I pass the time thinking about things like this.

 

[Entity]

Originally posted by: AvesPKS
Sort of OT, but does anyone remember that Drew Carrey Standup bit where he would say he would purposely run stop signs in the rain? "Do you know why I pulled you over?" "Yes, do you know why I ran that stop sign?"

I remember seeing him perform that back on Carson, long ago. Man, Leno sure fscked up that show.

Rob

 

[NogginBoink]

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt

Originally posted by: fastz28

Originally posted by: ffmcobalt
Apparently the laser guns work in all weather

nik

Now, laser may be different. I was thinking the old doppler radar.

Well... doppler's used to tell the weather, so ... wouldn't it...

aw I dunno

nik

Probably different frequencies of radio waves. Weather rader is DESIGNED to bounce off of weather thingies (technical term). I imagine police rader is probably designed not to. You can get a doppler shift on any carrier frequency.

uh... right?

(We should subtitle this "the group ignorance thread.")
Hmmm....I thought police radars are also based on the doppler effect. Same technology? No?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: N8Magic
I would think the readings would be garbled by the scattering effects of the raindrops, but I don't know for sure.

I've often wondered this, as you don't often see cops out doing radar in snowy/rainy weather... maybe they just don't like getting wet.

Anyone know for sure?

Radar is reduced in effective range (by 10%-30% IIRC) in inclement weather, depending on the severity of the weather. Laser is a bit more picky. In both cases though, the effect is only on the range at which the equipment can acquire a lock. The accuracy isn't really affected much at all. Police don't want to be outside in bad weather though, so they tend to make fewer stops in bad weather.

ZV

 

[bizmark]

ha! I was wondering this just the other day as I was doing about 70 in a 55 zone in the rain really though, big interstate highways (esp. ones inside cities) should have *varying speed limits* because on a Sunday night, they're almost totally empty and it's really pretty ridiculous to drive the speed limit.