Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Tips on Quick Trips[NFC] - by request

[ken rentiers (rentiers]

On May 19, 2008, at 6:26 AM, LarryT wrote:

> Hi Ken,
>    I've heard radar doesn't pickup the fastest, closest, biggest -  
> it's random - so it;s critical to make notes of wqhat was close to   
> you when you were hit with radar - in court you can suggest the  
> other vehicle was picked up and not you.  Don;t know if this works  
> - but I read it in R&T in an article about radar and tickets.

Radar reads the strongest return signal. If you are in a Ferrari and  
being over taken by a speeding truck the radar will read the truck  
correctly, but it's easy for the officer to attribute that reading to  
you by mistake. It happens.. This is why you are pretty safe in tight  
groups of cars on urban freeways, as a result  traffic is often  
quicker than remote country highways where cars are spread out.
>    It seems they don't run radar at night - is it because they have  
> difficulty identifying which vehicle they 'hit' with radar (unless  
> you;re all alone) or is there another reason?

Radar works perfectly well at night. The problem is identifying which  
car to ticket. Different jurisdictions may have different practices.  
Commonly at night you will get hit from a unit following behind as  
Fellippe did. In isolated rural areas they sit beside the road lights  
off.
>    Now I have a good reason to put the bra on my 911 - and tape the  
> headlights - it's a red car so that makes things worse.
>
>    Why is a dark color better 'radar-wise' ? If it's not 'special'  
> I wouldn;t think it would absorb radat signals --

Physics. Something appears red because it reflects the red spectrum  
best. A white car reflects all frequencies. A black car absorbs them.  
Speed LIDAR is near the red end of the spectrum (infrared) so a car  
that readily reflects red waves makes a brighter target. Best of all  
are the reflective coatings on license plates and the parabolic  
reflectors in headlights.

Radar bounces off hard objects like metal. It is a microwave, nothing  
to do with the visible spectrum. Colors do not affect radar  but the  
soft material on a stone bra can mute the return signal. I know the  
stealth planes have some kind of special coating but they are black  
to avoid visual ID from below. You could paint them flourescent pink  
and they would still have the same radar signature.


k