License Plates and Headlights Increase Visibility to Traffic Radar
June 15, 2010 at 1:37 am Chad Upton 7 comments
I did a previous post about how speed enforcement radar works.
There are two primary types, laser and tradition (Doppler) radar. Even if you have a radar detector, laser is the most difficult type of radar to avoid getting caught by. Laser radar gives officers a near instant reading on your speed, so you don’t have time to slow down before they get a reading on you.
Your best defense is reducing or even preventing the laser beam from bouncing back to the radar gun. The front license plate and your headlights are the most reflective thing on the front of most vehicles. If you’re not required to have a front plate in your area, get rid of it.
The next best thing is laser jamming, although it’s not legal in all places. But, if it is allowed in your area then you can buy laser jamming or scrambling units which prevent the radar gun from receiving a usable laser reading.
If laser jammers are not allowed, you have some other options. You can get plate covers and headlight treatments to help reduce the amount of laser light that is reflected back to the radar gun.
Reflectors on the back of your car are also an ideal reflector for Laser radar guns. For safety and legal requirements in some areas, you should probably keep these reflectors on your car.
I hope that some these tips will help you avoid some speeding tickets.
Broken Secrets | By: Chad Upton
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Source: Wikipedia Laser Lidar
Entry filed under: Automotive, Be Frugal, Hacks. Tags: cover, license, plate, radar, speed.
Broken Secrets 
1.
Catalyst | June 15, 2010 at 12:35 pm
You might also try driving within the speed limit!
2.
Chad Upton | June 15, 2010 at 5:43 pm
I agree, you shouldn’t speed. But, there are times when I believe speeding is socially acceptable. For example, when you want to pass someone who is driving below the speed limit then you likely need to speed while you pass them to limit your time in an on coming traffic lane and make a safe pass.
If you rarely ever speed, then that is an even better reason why you don’t want to get caught speeding when you’re doing it for your safety and the safety of on coming vehicles.
3.
Psychethos | June 18, 2010 at 4:42 pm
If you always aim to drive well within the speed limit, then getting “headlight treatments” and “plate covers” is a ridiculous waste of money. I don’t know anyone who always follows the speed limit and has received more than perhaps one speeding ticket.
Speeding limits aren’t there to annoy you, they are there to save lives.
4.
Chad Upton | June 18, 2010 at 4:57 pm
It’s probably not for you and I don’t have them either, but I try to tell you guys about stuff that is interesting. Sometimes it’s completely ridiculous stuff, but hopefully it is still interesting.
The next time somebody gets a speeding ticket, you can tell them, “they actually make a liquid you can put on your headlights to reduce your radar signature.” Then you can all laugh about how ridiculous that is.
5. License Plate bracket? - Page 3 | March 22, 2013 at 9:55 pm
[…] but the reflective nature assists the instrumentation; Radar Detector Mounting – Guys of LIDAR License Plates and Headlights Increase Visibility to Traffic Radar | Broken Secrets That is just from an instant search, to show I'm not coming up with this myself. Whether it's the […]
6.
Mindy Oates | December 28, 2014 at 1:50 pm
What does AG stand for on the plates of uhaul
7.
Jon | July 17, 2016 at 5:33 am
Been proven time and time again, that license plates and headlights have no effect on reflecting radar. Look at the stealth fighter for what you would need to do. Curved surfaces are very good at reflecting omnidirectionally and thats all the cop needs is your front bumper, or the crash bar that sits behind it. You would need the very expensive and unobtainable radar absorbing paint too.