LIDAR (Light-Imaging Detection and Ranging) is the new generation replacement for the older Radar systems that police have been using to catch speeders. LIDAR uses an IR Pulsed Laser Diode to measure speed, distance and direction. By using beam width of less than one-degree, it’s significantly more accurate than the older radar systems. As the beam crosses the traffic lanes, it can also target a single vehicle at a time and minimize the possibility of false readings.
When the LIDAR instrument transmits light out to a target, the transmitted light interacts with and is changed by the target. Some of this light is reflected back to the instrument where it is analyzed in a fraction of a second. The time for the light to travel out to the target and back to the LIDAR device is used to determine the range to the target. LIDAR guns fire multiple pulses of light each time a police officer pulls the trigger. By measuring the difference of the reflected light pulses, LIDAR guns are then able to determine the traveling speed of their target. Watch out all you lead foots!
You may watch the LIDAR: Lasers Nab Leadfoots TV story online.