OMG does Police Radar work in the RAIN?

What a radar "sees" depends on the character of the radar beam.

In general, the higher the frequency of the radar beam, the smaller the particles it can detect... Weather has almost "no effect" on the operation of those radars.

Radars designed to detect moving vehicles use frequencies that are
not reflected by small moisture droplets such as fog and clouds, or even precipitation.

Very heavy rain can reduce the range of all radars, an effect called attenuation due to the signal being absorbed by the precipitation. In this case, weather conditions usually cause motorists to slow down to well below the speed limit anyway.

All good things to know or ask Peace Officer. Ask? When radar is used, the arresting officer has successfully completed a radar operator course of not less than 24 hours on the use of police traffic radar, and the course was approved and certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

(B) When laser or any other electronic device is used to measure the speed of moving objects, the arresting officer has successfully completed the training required in sub paragraph (A) and an additional training course of not less than two hours approved and certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

(C) (i) The prosecution proved that the arresting officer complied with subparagraphs (A) and (B) and that an engineering and traffic survey has been conducted in accordance with subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2). The prosecution proved that, prior to the officer issuing the notice to appear, the arresting officer established that the radar, laser, or other electronic device conformed to the requirements of subparagraph (D).

(ii) The prosecution proved the speed of the accused was unsafe for the conditions present at the time of alleged violation unless the citation was for a violation of Section 22349, 22356, or 22406.

(D) The radar, laser, or other electronic device used to measure the speed of the accused meets or exceeds the minimal operational standards of the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration, and has been calibrated within the three years prior to the date of the alleged violation by an independent certified laser or radar repair and testing or calibration facility.

All the above: Make sure your questions were answered...


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One myth is "RADAR doesn't work in ghastly weather." However, this is false. Even though the RADAR accuracy may be somewhat diminished in the bad weather, it still functions. So, why is it that drivers seem to receive less speeding tickets in bad weather? The answer is simple; it is only because cops do not like to be in bad weather like you.

Another misconception is "Cops cannot hide when using RADAR." Wrong, all wrong. There is no legal law stating an officer cannot hide. You may say it is a very sneaky tactic these cops use, but it is legitimate. Just be a meticulous driver, and maybe you will be one of the many drivers who speed and yet, are able to watch out for cops.

"Cops have to lock the speed in the RADAR in order to pull me over." False. There are many times where even though the cop locks the speed in, it "accidentally" gets erased because the locking trigger bumps into the cop's clipboard. However, the cop still legally pulls the speeder over, and writes a speeding ticket.

Another myth is "If I ask the cop to show me the RADAR, he has to show it to me." This is also wrong. There is no written, legalized law in effect that states the cop has to show his RADAR to you. However, it would be nice and credible if some evidence were presented.

One concern has been "What if the cop just locks the speed in the RADAR and just uses it on me for a later time? Unfortunately, this can be a very feasible thing to do. Let's just hope this never happens to you.

A popular question among drivers has been "How fast can I drive over the speeding limit, before I get a ticket? This truly depends on the cop and his jurisdiction. Most cops allow 6 to 10 miles per hour over the speeding limit. However, be safe and stick to the black and white sign on the side of the road. But I know we must be "realistic" here.

The law is the law. It is possible "undo" a radar speeding ticket. When driving, try to keep these myths in mind, but for future reference, if you do ever get issued a radar ticket, analyze your situation, and try your best to defend yourself.