What is the range of a laser and radar gun?

[Greg1742]

Just curious what the range of a laser/lidar gun is? Approximately how many feet? Also, what is the distance that a traditional radar gun is good for?

[DACP]

The range of both is just bit over yonder. I think in feet it’s a couple a two.

[smk99]

I don't think that will be answered here, but I'm sure you can find that through a trip to a library or some extended research on the issue.

[jchughes05]

Let's just say... it sees you before you see it!

[saranac]

I have used radar on a vehicle at 2 miles away. The farthest on a lidar/laser was 7,000 feet (I think). This was just toying around. I would never issue a citation at these distances because that is too far to visually estimate speed.

[tactical208]

Like Buzz Lightyear says .......To Infinity And........................... Beyond:D

[Darcimus]

Far enough to:

- catch you driving like a jack*ss;
- have a sip of coffee, perhaps finish said coffee'
- light up a cigar, have a couple puffs;
- book appointment for kids at dentist, pass on own appontment and say you're doing fine, even though the agonizing pain in your lower jaw says "YOU LIE!";
- turn on lights, turn off radio, scratch behind, spit out dip;
- ticket you for the first point.

Answer reflects quality of question asked.

Sorry I couldn't help more with that one. Maybe tell the judge that the officer wasn't wearing their hat. That usually works.

[Charlie705]

With the LIDAR the furthest was 4670.00 feet. I actually "clocked" a jet liner coming into Austin-Bergstrum at 295mph when it was approaching to land with a stalker hand held. I couldn't hazard a guess at the distance.

[CityCopDC]

Just curious what the range of a laser/lidar gun is? Approximately how many feet? Also, what is the distance that a traditional radar gun is good for?

The Lidar Gun? If I can see you, I can get your speed.... :D

[Greg1742]

With the LIDAR the furthest was 4670.00 feet. I actually "clocked" a jet liner coming into Austin-Bergstrum at 295mph when it was approaching to land with a stalker hand held. I couldn't hazard a guess at the distance.

That's awesome, haha.

I'm surprised how some of you responded when supposedly the only people that should respond are LEO's.

I was asking because I was arguing with another person who was complaining because they received a ticket. They said this: "3rd ticket was for going 21mph over the speed limit. $140 fine and 6points. (Note: The cop clocked me going over the speed limit when I was a few hundred yards from him. Eventually I slowed down to the speed limit when I saw him and yet got pulled over. I nearly forgot this was the time they had to meet their quota. I'm going to fight this one, regardlessly."

I responded by of course saying that is the dumbest thing I've ever heard about a cop. We all know he was doing his job, and there is no such thing as aiming his gun to far back (at least not in the scenario he described).


I am also a CJ major and will be joining the police academy soon. For some of you to assume it was me, I am offended by your remarks. It was a very simple question, and again for some of you, being "cops" have some professionalism.

[andy5746]

For some of you to assume it was me, I am offended by your remarks. It was a very simple question, and again for some of you, being "cops" have some professionalism.

Generally, questions about procedure and/or officer safety are not going to be answered on this forum. We have no idea who you are and what your motives may be, so we err on the side of caution. I noted a lot of levity in the posts, but nothing that anyone should be offended by.

Better start growing a thicker skin soon or you won't last long in this line of work :cool:

[Greg1742]

Generally, questions about procedure and/or officer safety are not going to be answered on this forum. We have no idea who you are and what your motives may be, so we err on the side of caution. I noted a lot of levity in the posts, but nothing that anyone should be offended by.

Better start growing a thicker skin soon or you won't last long in this line of work :cool:

I was just getting heated as I typed, lol. I wasn't really offended, so that was probably the wrong word choice.

And I definitely understand taking caution in response. I thought about this when making the original post, if I should even ask.

If it is ok, and not against any rules, maybe someone could PM some info they have personally learned with it? I'm just more curious myself how far it is good for.

Maybe a better question is, what is the max distance you go to when "eyeballing" a speeding vehicle accompanied with radar/lidar?

[GGG]

The Lidar Gun? If I can see you, I can get your speed.... :D


LOL, much MUCH longer than any straight stretch the district has. :D

[CityCopDC]

LOL, much MUCH longer than any straight stretch the district has. :D

You sure about that? I can sit on the H ST bridge and get the speed of cars turning on to H st from Benning rd. Thats about 17 city blocks. I can sit at Pennsylvania/Branch Ave and smack the cars coming across the Sousa bridge. Thats 3/4 of a mile. I 295? Its a clear line of sight segment about 1.5 miles long. Constitution ave? At 4th and Constitution, I can see all the way down Constitution to the VA line (I66/Theodore Rosevelt Bridge). First light you hit coming off that bridge is 25th and Constitution. I can see you coming across the bridge, clearly over a mile. :eek:

[Omega17632]

I just finished radar school today and the effective range of a radar is................We interrupt this broadcast to test the emergency response system, this is only a test!

[StudChris]

Radar waves can go on forever if they're not interupted. I think my furthest speed caught on my laser was about 3500 feet away.

[2971511]

my average distance is 1,000 feet but i have had some out to 2-3,000, depends on line of sight.

Like someone said, if we can see you, we got you. Also, when your radar/lidar detector goes off, guess what, we already recorded your speed and distance. TAG YOUR IT.

[2971511]

Stud must have very straight roads in his jurisdiction

[GGG]

You sure about that? I can sit on the H ST bridge and get the speed of cars turning on to H st from Benning rd. Thats about 17 city blocks. I can sit at Pennsylvania/Branch Ave and smack the cars coming across the Sousa bridge. Thats 3/4 of a mile. I 295? Its a clear line of sight segment about 1.5 miles long. Constitution ave? At 4th and Constitution, I can see all the way down Constitution to the VA line (I66/Theodore Rosevelt Bridge). First light you hit coming off that bridge is 25th and Constitution. I can see you coming across the bridge, clearly over a mile. :eek:

That was my point. With Lidar, you have the entire district covered. Get on the Washington Monument and you can probably get them coming into the District from Chevy Chase. :D

[phiberglass]

The laser beam at 500 feet is about 18 inches at 1000 feet it's a couple feet wide. As for distance probably a few miles, most accurate readings or a lock on are within less than a mile though. As for radar, it's a much wider beam and when run constant on, you can alerts on your radar detector to up to 7 miles if it's open enough. Instant on, you're pretty much tagged as it get a reading in 1/3 of a second unless you get scatter from the car in front of you. LIDAR, once you get an alert you're pretty much tagged as the beam is so thin you may not even get an alert. Constant on KA band I have gotten a couple mile alerts. Constant on radar you'll always get an alert and be able to slow down, but instant on and lidar, you'd have to rely on a V1 to get a quick instant on alert, or get a laser jammer for LIDAR.