Frequently Asked Questions about Radar Detectors

 

Radar Detectors

What are they?

A radar detector is a device that assists drivers in avoiding a ticket for speeding. It does this by detecting radio frequencies that the police radar transmits when police are actively operating their radar. The radar detector alerts the driver when it detects the radar frequency pattern and alert the motorist (hopefully) in time so that they can reduce speed below the speed limits.

Radar detectors are available in a variety of brands and features, however they all do the basic process, detector radar signals. They employ a sensitive, tuned receiver to determine the presence of a police radar gun, van, site or vehicle is active and informs the driver via either a visual or audible alert. Certain radar detectors that are up-market are also able to indicate the direction the source of signal is coming from by displaying an arrow that is directional or showing the direction of the signal on the display or remote display. 

How does the police radar work then?

The police radars are actually a transmitter and a receiver in the one device. It transmits the signal on the frequency band it is tuned to in a narrow beam towards the direction of the vehicles and it receiver waits for the signal to echo (bounce) back off the vehicle that is in it beam, it measures the frequency of the returned signal and works out the difference, this is known as the Doppler shift it calculates the frequency difference from the beginning part of the wave to the last part of the wave.

Example – if the frequency shows the last part of the wave frequency is taking longer or higher return frequency than the first part then the vehicle is traveling away from the officer but if the  last part comes back quicker (lower frequency ) than the first is heading towards them. Also if the first and last parts are the same frequency then the object is most likely is not moving.

Anyway, as I was saying, they use a formula between the difference of the frequencies to work out the cars speed

 

Formula : λƒ = v usƒ0 .

 

Frequently asked questions about radar detectors
Frequently asked questions about radar detectors
Frequently asked questions about radar detectors

so are radar detectors worth having?

This Dependds on where you live/ or should we say, Drive….

Are radar detectors legal in my state ?

Queensland

 

Queensland Police Services

Section 225: ‘Using radar detectors and similar devices’ of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management–Road
Rules) Regulation (TO(RUM–RR)R) creates an offence for a person:
(i) to drive a vehicle which has in or on it;
(ii) to travel in or on a vehicle, whilst having in their possession,
a device for preventing the effective use of a speed measuring device or for detecting the use of a speed measuring
device (radar detector or similar device).
Section 225(3) of the TO(RUM–RR)R provides that the prohibition applies whether or not the device is in working order.
PROCEDURE
Upon observing a radar detector or similar device being used, officers should satisfy themselves by visual observation
and careful questioning that the device is in fact a radar detector or similar device (see s. 63: ‘Power to inspect vehicles’
PPRA).
Officers may enter the vehicle to inspect and test a device which may be evidence of an offence against s. 225 of the
TO(RUM–RR)R (see s. 64: ‘Power to enter vehicles etc. other than for vehicle inspection’ PPRA).
Once satisfied that a device is a radar detector or similar device, officers should:
(i) if the device is to be seized, issue a notice to appear in respect of the offence; or
(ii) if the device cannot be seized, issue an infringement notice in respect of the offence.
Home Traffic Manual Issue 49 Public Edition | 26 July 2019 | Page 3 Chapter 14
If the device can be removed from the vehicle at the point of interception without causing unreasonable damage to the
vehicle or device, officers should seize the device for inspection and certification by an expert that the device is a radar
detector or similar device. The seized device should be retained for evidentiary purposes.
If the device is unable to be removed from the vehicle, officers should issue a F 4890: ‘Defect Notice’ for a minor defect
requiring the owner of the vehicle to produce the vehicle for inspection at a nominated police station at a stated
reasonable time (see s. 8.9: ‘Defect notices’ of this Manual).
POLICY
Officers who seize any such device are to issue a QPB 32A: ‘Field Property Receipt’ for the device and deal with it in
accordance with s. 4.2: ‘Receiving property’ of the Operational Procedures Manual.
Where a seized device is found to be a device for preventing the effective use of a speed measuring device or for
detecting the use of a speed measuring device, an order for the destruction of the device or for its forfeiture in
accordance with s. 701: ‘Disposal of seized things at end of proceeding’ of the PPRA should be sought at the conclusion
of proceedings.
Where it is established that a seized device is not a device for preventing the effective use of a speed measuring device
or for detecting the use of a speed measuring device, officers are to return the device to the owner. Where the owner of
the seized device cannot be located, the forfeiture of the device should be sought in accordance with s. 718: ‘Order for
forfeiture of particular relevant things’ of the PPRA.

 

New South Wales

 

ACT

 

Victoria

 

South Australia

 

Western Australia

 

Northern Territory

 

Tasmania

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