Florida Administrative Code
15 - DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES
15B - Division of Florida Highway Patrol
Chapter 15B-2 - SPEED MEASURING DEVICES
Section 15B-2.014 - Minimum Design Criteria for Laser Speed Measurement Devices

(a) The device shall measure transmitted and received light amplified by stimulated emission of radiation, otherwise known as LASER.

(b) The device determines the speed of vehicles by the pulse - echo method using the time of flight of a series of pulses of laser light.

(c) The device shall use solid state digital techniques for distance and speed calculations.

(d) The device shall comply with the limits for a class A digital device as defined in 47 C.F.R. 15.3(h), which is incorporated by reference.

(e) The device is certified as a Class I (one) eye safe device according to the criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland 20582, ( 21 C.F.R. 1040) which is incorporated by reference.

(f) The device shall only transmit light pulses when a finger operated trigger is pressed. When this trigger is released the device shall cease to transmit. The devices shall not have any method to lock the trigger in the transmit mode.

(g) The device shall be capable of measuring target vehicle speeds over the speed range of 5 mph to 100 mph, with an accuracy of plus or minus 1 mph over this range.

(h) The device shall measure distances with an accuracy of plus or minus 1 foot, between 50 and 1000 feet, and display distances in feet.

(i) The device shall be capable of being converted to metric units for distance and speed by the manufacturer.

(j) The device shall be weather resistant.

(k) The device shall have a self test mode, which will operate automatically when the device is turned on, and when the self test is initiated by the operator. Self test shall verify that the computing and timing circuits are operating correctly, and shall illuminate all light emitting indicators so that the condition can be verified by the operator.

(l) The device shall truncate decimal values of the target speed display to produce whole number values.

(m) The device shall be capable of measuring both approaching and receding vehicles, and display a visual indication that differentiates direction.

(n) The device shall provide an audio tone indicating when a target vehicle has been acquired.

(o) The device shall meet all the minimum performance specifications over the manufacturers specified voltage range. The device shall contain the following features related to the power supply circuitry:

(p) The device shall detect spurious readings due to radio frequency interference and inhibit any speed display.

(q) The device shall be permanently marked with the functions and setting of all switches, controls and displays. It shall not be possible to set the controls to a functional mode of operation that is not marked or identified.

(r) The manufacturer shall permanently mark each device with the name of the LSMD model and the serial number for the specific LSMD.

(s) The manufacturer shall provide the procedures that verify the accurate alignment of the sighting element.

(t) When an Average Speed Calculator (ASC) is installed and used as a separate feature of a LSMD, the ASC feature must be certified separately and in addition to the LSMD under paragraph 15B-2.008(2)(d), F.A.C.

(a) The Model Minimum Performance Specifications for Lidar Speed Measurement Devices, July 1, 2001, NHTSA document #DOT HS 809 239, which is incorporated by reference. This document is available by contacting the Office of Law Enforcement Standards, c/o National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8102, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-08102.

(b) Shall be restricted to reading vehicle speeds at a distance not greater than 3000 feet.