NCJ Number
53071
Journal
Spectrum Volume: 15 Issue: 8 Dated: (AUGUST 1978) Pages: 38-42
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE NATURE, DEVELOPMENT, USE, AND REGULATION OF POLICE RADAR AND RADAR DETECTORS USED BY CITIZENS ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
USE OF RADAR FOR CATCHING SPEEDERS BEGAN IN THE LATE 1940'S. THE NEW 55 MILES PER HOUR SPEED LIMIT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MOVING RADAR THAT ENABLES POLICE TO SINGLE OUT SPEEDERS WHILE MAINTAINING NORMAL HIGHWAY PATROL HAVE GIVEN ADDITIONAL IMPETUS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RADAR DETECTORS THAT CITIZENS CAN PURCHASE FOR AS LITTLE AS $100. STATE AND LOCAL LAWS PROHIBITING DETECTOR USE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CHALLENGED. MEANWHILE, POLICE RADAR BUSINESS AND THE RADAR DETECTOR BUSINESS HAVE FOSTERED ONE ANOTHER'S GROWTH. POLICE RADAR UNITS ALL USE THE DOPPLER SHIFT TO DETERMINE A VEHICLE'S SPEED. RADAR DETECTORS INCLUDE BOTH PASSIVE DETECTORS AND THE HETERODYNE DESIGN DETECTOR. TO THWART DETECTOR USERS, POLICE HAVE USED ON/OFF KEYED RADAR AND DUMMY RADAR TRANSMITTERS. POLICE ARE UNAWARE OF THE LACK OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR POLICE RADAR. INNOCENT MOTORISTS MAY BE TICKETED AND CONVICTED BECAUSE OF EQUIPMENT FAILURE OR MISUES OF RADAR BY POLICE. ON MARCH 23, 1978, THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED THAT THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS WOULD DEVELOP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS FOR POLICE RADAR AND A LIST OF QUALIFIED PRODUCTS MEETING THE STANDARDS. ILLUSTRATIONS AND DIAGRAMS SHOWING RADAR'S AND RADAR DETECTORS' OPERATIONS ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)