Wierd Laser False Today Stopped at a light

Well I was on my way home from the gym today on Rte. 23 in Northern New Jersey when my V1 started freaking out. I was stopped in traffic at a light in a jug-handle facing at about a 50 degree angle to the highway. As soon as I stopped behind the van in front of me I got a laser alert out of the V1. I let it sit there for a min, power-cycled it once...laser again, let it sit...power cycle again...laser again. I stuck my hand in front of unit and the alert went away...and immediately came back after I removed my hand. Once the light turned green and traffic started moving the alert stopped.

The only possible explanation I can think of is, the sun was beginning to set in the sky behind me and the reflection of sunlight off the chrome fascia above the license plate on the Town & Country in front of me set it off...(Maybe???...will sunlight set off laser?).

Anyone else have any other ideas??

Here is my location when it occurred (Not sure how the link will orient the view so...face the camera towards the Target and the black car in the far left lane [the one that looks like it is next to the white van] is approximately where I was..but with more traffic in front of me):

Google Maps


And here is a picture taken with my phone of the alert:

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/5343/photobxn.jpg


P.S. I have been getting a lot of laser alerts lately and I have not been able to identify the source.

-Ryan

Was there an Envoy or Trailblazer, or one of its "cousins" directly in front of you at the time? Some earlier models of these cars had neon third brakelights that set off the V1 when they're illuminated in front of you.

According to VR, the Lincoln Mk VIII and the latest BMW 3-series convertible also uses a neon brakelight, though I haven't had one of those set mine off, yet. The GM brakelight is more infamous for causing laser falses.

Sunlight can cause laser falses in some rare circumstances (particularly if something "modulates" the sunlight, such as vibrations or water droplets on the windshield) making the sunlight appear as IR pulses to the detector. This tends to be more intermittent though, while a neon brakelight can cause a more continuous alert.

Do you drive by an airport? I get several random laser alerts driving by a local airport everyday to and from work.I have heard its caused by the wind shear sensors. I've also noticed the airport sets off the 9500ix more than my V1.

The Neon Brake light seems quite possible...where I was there is no airport in the area.

Yeah I also get false laser alerts whenever I get stuck by a train and no one is around. When train leaves, laser alert goes away. Maybe I am just a noob.. :rolleyes:

Let's not forget the Infinity cars and the cruise control systems setting off laser on the V1. I found another laser false here on my V1, the local buses have neon/led brake lights and when they stop, laser false on my V1. Airports usually cause a laser false on a BelEscort/Whistler rd.

A lot of red light camera systems actually use Prolaser 3's that activate when the light is yellow and red. It measures your speed approaching the intersection and if you break a threshold it starts filming, thinking you will run the redlight.

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Originally Posted by category4

A lot of red light camera systems actually use Prolaser 3's that activate when the light is yellow and red. It measures your speed approaching the intersection and if you break a threshold it starts filming, thinking you will run the redlight.

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Could also be a possibility, because they just installed red light cameras all throughout town...and all along the highway. But, I have never had any laser alerts like I had yesterday while stopped at that light before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by category4

A lot of red light camera systems actually use Prolaser 3's that activate when the light is yellow and red. It measures your speed approaching the intersection and if you break a threshold it starts filming, thinking you will run the redlight.

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that's interesting... I've always wondered if they were always on when the traffic light was red or if it had some way of detecting someone going through the red light...

def the red light camera I had an experience with one yeserfday V1 and LI alerted for a good minute while I sat at the light