Thread: GPS Legalities in NSW

Yep, the radar detectors will only detect the radar when the beam is released, but the radar beam is only released to provide a 'number' to reflect the operators estimation. So as an operator, you see a car, estimate it's speed and check its speed using a radar or lidar. As far as prosecution goes, the allegation of the offence relies on the estimation of the operator then the radar/lidar display.

The radar/lidar will register a speed within about half a second, so that's sufficient time prior to 'us' reacting and reducing speed.

If you think of a radar beam as a 'shot gun' blast covering a wide area, and a lidar beam as a 'rifle' shot being more concentrated, the probability of a detector picking up a radar being is greater than a lidar. The effective user range of each is about 600 metres, but the theory of radio wave and light wave propagation gives them an infinite range.

At a range of 100m the beam width of the lidar is 40cm.

Anyway, a bit off topic, but there you go.


Matt.

Originally Posted by OffTrack

What piece of legislation defines this as an offence and the fine? It's certainly not in the Australian Road Rules and it doesn't appear to be in the ADR's.

Rule 229 1,a as posted by you
I think brian gave a definition of what constitutes the drivers line of view
The australian road rules have,nt been adopted nationaly yet(if ever) we still rely on a state by state systym just to make things difficult

Originally Posted by mudmouse

Yep, the radar detectors will only detect the radar when the beam is released, but the radar beam is only released to provide a 'number' to reflect the operators estimation. So as an operator, you see a car, estimate it's speed and check its speed using a radar or lidar. As far as prosecution goes, the allegation of the offence relies on the estimation of the operator then the radar/lidar display.

The radar/lidar will register a speed within about half a second, so that's sufficient time prior to 'us' reacting and reducing speed.

If you think of a radar beam as a 'shot gun' blast covering a wide area, and a lidar beam as a 'rifle' shot being more concentrated, the probability of a detector picking up a radar being is greater than a lidar. The effective user range of each is about 600 metres, but the theory of radio wave and light wave propagation gives them an infinite range.

At a range of 100m the beam width of the lidar is 40cm.

Anyway, a bit off topic, but there you go.


Matt.

Sorry bit of topic but i have always wondered do radar/lidars work at night? or do they only work during the day..you only ever see cops doing it during the day is all

Aren't you and Ian supposed to be on your way to the cape or are you checking in on your way?????? s Radars will work anytime but I guess it could be hard to focus on a car at night and what's a lidar?

Originally Posted by dullbird

Sorry bit of topic but i have always wondered do radar/lidars work at night? or do they only work during the day..you only ever see cops doing it during the day is all

My impression, based on a comment made by a member of the police force a couple of decades ago was that it was a safety issue. Apparently there is a risk to operators when visibility is bad.

These day OH&S makes all police wear safety vests when working on or around roads But radar and Lidar definitely dont work in the rain

They use them at night near me, car parked halfway up someone's driveway or on the edge of a park, hairdryer out the window...

Originally Posted by THE BOOGER

Rule 229 1,a as posted by you
I think brian gave a definition of what constitutes the drivers line of view
The australian road rules have,nt been adopted nationaly yet(if ever) we still rely on a state by state systym just to make things difficult

Booger, Rule 299 1,a defines what devices are allowable within the drivers range of vision. It doesn't discuss obstructions.

The definition Brian gave is actually part of the requirements for maximum size of a bonnet scoop. I guess you could extend that to dash mounted GPS. The key requirement for bonnet scoops is that you can see the full front edge of the bonnet from the standard eye position.