Photo Radar Arizona Department of Public Safety

Last November the Arizona Department of Public Safety kicked off its new photo radar program with its first of 20 mobile vans. DPS’s plan is to have these vans along Arizona’s highway system, moving them on a frequent basis for the element of surprise.

Yesterday I caught my first peak at their van as they set it up just down the road from my home, along US 60. 

What first caught my attention were two portable signs placed across from each other in the shoulder of the divided highway saying “Photo Enforcement Zone”. Glancing down at my speedometer I was a few notches over the posted 65 mile per hour speed limit and I was in the passing lane. Slowing down while pulling into the right lane, I glanced in my rear view mirror seeing a black Mustang that was speeding up passing in excess of 80.

A few moments later my Escort 9500i began alerting K band (24.103) and approximately 1800 feet ahead I observed DPS’s photo radar van parked off the shoulder. As the black Mustang passed I saw roof mounted strobes of the DPS van flash, sure that the driver of the Mustang wasn’t smiling.

The portable photo radar equipment found in vans such as DPS’s are normally at a lower output rating then typical stationary or hand held radar guns used by police and they are also aimed at a greater angle, away from approaching traffic, making them more difficult to detect.

As not to put an opportunity such as this to waste as my cache of radar detectors were only a mile away, I drove home and loaded up to see how other radar detectors would alert.

Each listed detector was tested separately and I marked the locations of the first alert with a Stalker laser gun. As not to create a traffic hazard, and not to arose the suspicions of the officer, I drove off the pavement of the shoulder. The STi-R tested was installed in my motor home and the other units were tested in my SUV. Each of the dash mounted detectors were mounted in approximately the same location on the windshield and the SR-7 antenna was mounted in the grill, approximately three feet lower then the dash mounted units.

The Arizona Department of Public Safety’s press release regarding their photo radar program relates that their vans’ are programmed to take pictures and to cite whenever a vehicle is clocked 11 MPH over the posted speed limit. Drivers who drive 6 to 10 MPH over the speed limit will receove a warning letter.

Taking account reaction time of a driver of travelling 80 MPH they would have travelled over 176 feet before applying the brakes to slow down.

So “Zonies” take notice, if you’re depending upon a cheap radar detector to save you from Arizona’s new cash cow then you better pay heed of the yellow warning signs “Photo Enforcement Zone” otherwise you’ll have a few unwanted photos taken of you and your car.