Miata Mailing List: December 1995, Message #77
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   From: Pat Frank 
Subject: Re: radar detectors (no Miata content)
   Date: Fri, 1 Dec 1995 20:39:31 -0500

At 09:04 AM 11/30/95 -0500, you wrote:
>Now *I've* got a question. What about laser? Here in NJ, the troopers just
>bought a bunch of laser weapons. After the Passport was stolen and then the
>Solo was stolen, I was *going* to buy a Valentine, but now that laser is
>here, I'm thinking it doesn't really pay to have *any* detector. By the
>time laser is detected, its too late, isn't it? (Unlike radar where you
>get signals when someone else is being detected, laser is pinpointed at
>a fairly close range, right?)

All true, but Car and Driver did an interesting series of studies on laser
radar (also called "lidar"), and learned some interesting things.  

For example, turning on your headlights DRAMATICALLY reduces the lidar's
ability to get an accurate signal off your car.  That makes lidar
practically useless at night (but take that with a grain of salt!).  

While the range and accuracy of lidar are greater than radar, it's a lot
more expensive (not really relevent in your case, since they have them already).

The notion that you don't get advance warning is a bit of a myth.  There is
a lot of scatter from a laser bouncing off of things, and that can be
detected.  No where near the detectability of radar, but the scatter is
certainly more detectable (detectible?) than instant-on radar (if this isn't
obvious).  Just something to think about.

Lidar's been around a long time, by the way, and has all sorts of
applications in the defense industry.  They were bouncing lidar beams off
satellites in the mid-'80s as part of Star Wars, and you can bet your Miata
it's been looked at as a way to detect stealthy aircraft.

Anyway, turn on those headlights (or buy some nice driving lights), and be
glad you're a small target.  If I were you I might buy a laser detector, but
I'm going to be really interested in hearing from you if you get any "hits".
:-)

Best of luck!
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"We live in the best of all possible worlds." -- Dr. Pangloss
Pat Frank (NOT the author of "Alas, Babylon", but thanks for asking.)
Miami, Florida, USA