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What are False Alerts on a Radar Detectors?

What are False Alerts on a Radar Detector?

Just like your radar detector not going off, there are also many reasons why your radar detector can give you false alerts.

What are false alerts?

False alerts happen when your device picks up ‘incorrect’ signals and in turn giving you alerts even there are no speed traps or a police officer using any radar nearby.

Radar detectors are, in reality, very useful but they are not perfect. This is where the quality and advancement of your device come in. More modern ones typically give off fewer false alerts than older models because of filtering capabilities and other technologies. Radar detectors detect radar waves, and those waves can come from various types of devices, not just police radars. These can from automatic door openers, blind-spot monitors, and more.

There are two types of false alerts namely stationary false alerts and moving false alerts.

Stationary False Alerts

Stationary false alerts come from non-moving entities such as automatic door openers as well as those digital orange construction signs. There are many more objects that emit various types of radar bands (can be K, Ka, X, and so on).

Another common source of false alerts is radar signs. These are signs you typically see on the road which display your speed as you approach and are designed to slow you down if you’re going fast. Unlike other causes of false alerts, radar signs give off high-intensity frequencies which can mess up your radar detector causing short bursts and lengthy full-on alerts – which can be annoying.

So, the next time you drive by a mall, commercial building, construction site, and the likes, there’s a big chance your radar detector will go off.

Moving False Alerts

Vehicles nowadays are equipped with advanced safety systems such as auto-pilot, radar cruise control, adaptive cruise control, emergency collision avoidance systems, and blind-spot monitoring systems a.k.a. primary sources of moving false alerts. Alerts from these moving entities are much difficult to identify, well, because they’re constantly moving. So, you can go on driving and have your radar detector going off without having an idea where it’s coming from. This can keep you wondering whether a police officer is following you.

The good thing is that there are advanced radar detectors that can filter out these frequencies which you can upgrade into. And there are a few methods radar detectors can avoid these false alerts.

GPS Lockouts

Some radar detectors are equipped with GPS used for lockouts and speed-based muting. GPS lockouts work based on a simple and smart concept. When you pass by a source of a false alert like an establishment’s automatic door opener, for instance, you can conveniently ‘remember’ that location using your GPS so it won’t go off the next time you’re there. This works great on stationary false alerts. It won’t work however on moving false alerts as they will keep moving and their location won’t be the same every time.

Signal Analysis

Probably the biggest differentiating factor between older and newer radar detector models is their ability to analyze the type of signal it detects, distinguishing “purity”, “modulation”, and “polarity” and other complex qualities. Think of two singers singing the same note but still identifying which is which because of how their sound is picked up and heard. This feature is achieved through advanced hardware and software.

City Mode

Older radar detectors come with two driving modes namely City and Highway which refers to adjusting the sensitivity level of the radar detector. City Mode’s sensitivity is on the low end and Highway Mode is on the high end. On City Mode, the detection of radar frequencies are reduced and can even be turned off to eliminate false alerts altogether.

My-Radar-Detector-Didn’t-Go-Off

My Radar Detector Didn’t Go Off

Are you worried that your radar detector is defective because it didn’t go off when you drove by a speed trap? It is the reason after all why you bought it – to alert you of speed traps ahead and avoid a speeding ticket. Well, there are multiple possible reasons why your radar detector failed to give you an alert and they are surprisingly very common! Here, we’ve listed out the three usual causes.

The police’s radar wasn’t turned on

Did you pass by a cop car and expected your radar detector to give an alert, but didn’t? The police officer might not be actively running a radar which means it’s not emitting radar waves which is what your radar detector detects. Remember, radar detectors detect radars but not police cars. So, if no radar signal is detected the officer is likely not checking your speed.

The police officer was using laser (LIDAR)

Another reason your radar detector didn’t go off could be that the police officer was using laser or VASCAR. There are various types of speed enforcement tools that cops use and radar is just the most common. Laser, or LIDAR, focuses on a single object or area (in this case, your vehicle) instead of ‘scanning’ the road. It uses a narrow laser beam like a laser pointer which a radar detector will not detect.

You have a modern radar detector

This one’s actually positive. Do you know those speed signs that flash your speed digitally? Those are called radar signs, which the name states, and emit radar waves when detecting your speed. Older radar detectors without advanced false-alert filtering capabilities usually detect these. Those alerts are typically unnecessary since radar signs are usually used for deterrence and not for identifying speeding offenders. Many modern radar detectors have anti-false alert settings that don’t bother you with these types of radar detection.

Are Radar Detectors Legal?

Are Radar Detectors Legal?

Caught up in deciding whether to purchase a radar detector because you keep wondering if it’s legal or not? Well, we’ve provided a comprehensive guide on where radar detectors are legal and under what circumstances.

Generally, yes, radar detectors are legal in the United States with some exceptions. Currently, Virginia is the only state where radar detectors are illegal, as well as the District of Columbia. Under Virginia law, a radar detector is permitted as long as it’s not accessible to the vehicle’s driver and passenger and it’s turned off. So, it is completely legal to own one as long as it’s powered off. Violating this can result in a $250 fine as well as confiscation but there won’t be any demerit points applied to your license.

Can Commercial Vehicles Use Radar Detectors?

While private (non-commercial) vehicles can generally use radar detectors, the case is different from commercial vehicles. Only commercial vehicles weighing below 10,000 pounds are allowed to use radar detectors except in Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C.

18-wheelers traveling for interstate commerce are absolutely prohibited from using radar detectors no matter if they’re turned on or off. This is to discourage such large trucks from speeding and prevent accidents.

Can I Use Suction Cup Mounts?

In the following states, mounted radar detectors on windshields are banned;

  • California
  • Florida
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

Because they can distract a driver’s view of the road and distract them with false alerts. It’s not often enforced, but it’s always a good idea to abide by the law and prevent any mishap with the police. Instead, you can opt for a visor-mounted radar detector that can hang from your car’s sun visor.

How About Radar Jammers?

Radar jammers are not allowed anywhere at all in the United States federal law. Laser jammers, on the other hand, are permitted except in these states:

  • California
  • Colorado
  • Illinois
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • Oklahoma
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Virginia
  • Washington D.C.

Can Police Tell If I Have a Radar Detector?

Not all police have them but some do have “radar detector detectors”. Yes, you read that right. Typically, officers from Washington D.C. and Virginia have them. These detectors sense small amounts of radar that come from a nearby radar detector and they give alerts as well.

More advanced or premium radar detectors offering stealth features are usually less detectable to these police devices.

Mounting Your Radar Detector

Mounting Your Radar Detector

Whether you already bought or still haven’t purchased a radar detector, one of the biggest questions is where do you mount it. Do you place it high or low? Left or right? Concealed or visible? Do you use suction cups? There are many ways they can be mounted so let’s take a look at the best places to mount them and their pros and cons.

Deciding where and how to mount will depend on several factors including legality, functionality, and preference. Generally, your radar detector will have optimal detection if it’s placed as high up in the vehicle as possible. There won’t be a massively significant difference but it’ll help your radar detector have a better range even on varying terrains and other vehicles that might block signals.

If you’re going to use a dashcam, it’s best to place the radar detector still near the rearview mirror but below or beside it so as not to block the view of the dashcam.

There are several elements in your vehicle that can dramatically lessen your radar detector’s detection capabilities including the metallic tint across your windshield. So, it’s important to keep in mind to place your radar detector away from that. Ceramic tint, on the other hand, won’t affect radar detectors but will do on laser detectors and laser jammers.

Mounting Your Radar Detector for Optimal Detection

Best placed as high as possible in the vehicle for optimal detection, radar detectors are typically mounted on the front windshield and near or around a vehicle’s rearview mirror. In terms of whether you should point it up or down, you would want your detector to be level with the ground and pointed straight ahead. Completely straightforward and not aimed at the left or right.

Mount Types

There are several types of mounts including a suction cup, windshield mount, and visor mount. Choosing what to use is also important as it affects the line of sight, the direction of where the detector points, and how evenly leveled it’s going to be – contributing to the overall detection performance.

Are Mounting Radar Detectors Legal?

Another important thing to consider is whether your preferred mount is legal in your state. For instance, windshield-mounted radar detectors are illegal in California as it is a form of obstruction of view. This is further discussed in Are Radar Detectors Legal where you can get more information.

What-is-a-Radar-Detector?

What is a Radar Detector?

Radar detectors are electronic devices that drivers use to detect whether their speed is being monitored by radar guns used by law enforcement. A radar detector warns you so you can slow down in time and avoid getting a ticket.

Depending on the type, range, and sensitivity of the radar detector, some are able to detect laser speed guns typically used by police as speed traps. Overall, radar detectors are very handy tools that are readily available in the market.

How Does It Work?

Radar detectors detect radio waves or radio signals. While radar detectors may sound advanced and high-tech, they actually work based on a very simple concept. Police officers point radar speed guns at vehicles to measure how fast they are going and to know if they’re going over the speed limit. The guns in turn create invisible waves which the antenna from your radar detectors detect from up ahead. Usually, a more advanced antenna and hardware alert a driver much earlier because they detect radio waves at a farther distance.

Do You Need One?

There are several reasons why using a radar detector is beneficial and here are the most important ones.

Save Money

The average penalty for a speeding ticket in the United States is $150, still depending on how fast you were going and whether you have previous speeding charges. These can all cost you a lot of money, not to mention the court fees and how they can rack up your insurance premium by hundreds of dollars annually. A radar detector will help you avoid getting these significant fines and save large amounts of money and precious time.

Prevent License Suspension

Not only are speeding violations costly, they can also have your driver’s license suspended or revoked, your car confiscated, and there’s also potential jail time depending on the jurisdiction. Investing in a radar detector that costs around $150 to $500 may be a great idea.

Is It Legal?

Generally, radar detectors are legal throughout the United States except for some states and types of vehicles. You can read more about it in Are Radar Detectors Legal.

ABOUT

We were established in 2008 by a team of automotive enthusiasts with the goal of enhancing the driving experience of professional and amateur drivers alike. We are committed to providing high-caliber vehicle products through innovative technology.

Thorton is based in Columbus, Georgia.

If you have any questions or comments please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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Thorton Radar Detectors
6361 Talokas Ln
Columbus, GA 31909

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