WARNING LASERS IN SOUTH JERSEY

[catchacab]

The week before Memorial Day, as I coming home from the shore there was a sign on the AC Expressway stating that the State Police are now using Lasers for speed enforcement.  I didn't believe the sign, although I knew that they had been using Lasers in North Jersey, because they are one of the few states that still use X band radar.  In the past my radar detector (Escort 9500iX) has been flawless in detecting  X band radar from almost every state police vehicle on the ACE and 55 , but lately, I have passed many, without it going off.  Two weeks ago, I am heading down the ACE with the nearest car about 1/2 mile ahead of me.  I noticed all of the cars in that pack of cars hit their brakes, about 1/4 later my radar/laser detector goes off with a tone that I never heard before and states Laser.  By the time I had passed the NJ State Police car, he had tagged me with his laser three more times.  Good thing I was driving at the posted speed limit. 

Last week, I was traveling on 55 and also was targeted by a Laser (LIDAR) equipped State Police Officer.  Again, it is good to be driving the speed limit.

I know that many law enforcement agencies in NY also use laser, but here in PA only the State Police and very large department like Phila. and Pittsburgh are allowed to use radar.  There is currently a bill in the PA Legislature that would allow all local law enforcement agencies to use radar and laser. 

The difference between laser and radar is that the radar beam is wide and the range of the beam can be detected from far away.  Laser is a narrow beam (22 inches wide at 1000 ft.)  and thus targets one vehicle at a time.  In most instances if your Laser detector goes off, and you are speeding you will probably get a ticket.