About Photo Radar
Photo Radar Detection
The letter P “
” in the bogey counter indicates photo enforcement. When using our app, the frequency and type of photo radar will be shown. This method of enforcement is more complex than ordinary radar, therefore V1 Gen2™ has more settings available to adapt to local conditions.
The use of photo enforcement is a local decision; most communities in the US don’t use it. Photo coverage is switched off when V1 Gen2 leaves the factory.
Photo enforcement may use radar or laser or, rarely, inductive loops buried in the pavement. When radar-based, it will be on K band.
Unlike the usual enforcement methods in which a ticket is issued roadside, photo enforcement results in a ticket by mail. This processing is usually done by a vendor hired by the enforcement agency and there are numerous vendors across the country, each with their own unique equipment. Moreover, vendor contracts are subject to change. To confront this huge variety of threat possibilities, we’ve chosen to focus our photo coverage according to the type of equipment being used.
Our patented 
provides the highest scan rate in the industry, which enables V1 Gen2 to detect patterns of photo radar that other detectors can’t see. Currently, we support six kinds of photo radar, based on camera manufacturer, and plan to cover more in the future. V1 Gen2 has specific settings for each camera type. Our database tells us where in the U.S. these six types are used. You can tap into this database below to find recommendations for settings appropriate to your location. Municipalities regularly change vendor contracts. We suggest you check your local government website to find out exactly what type of photo radar is being used in your area.
One channel used by the Ekin system operates in the same frequency range as multiple BSMs which V1 Gen2 is tuned to downplay. As a result, locations using the problematic Ekin channel will have somewhat less warning range than the others.
False Photo Alerts
Blind Spot Monitors (BSMs) from other cars around you in traffic can combine in ways that match K-band photo radar patterns. While V1 Gen2 has fewer false alerts than competing detectors, we’ve yet to reach the zero goal. The first line of defense against false photo alerts is to tune your photo radar coverage to our recommended local settings. The second defense line is to turn on Photo Verifier in our free app. You may get slightly less advanced warning of actual photo installations with Photo Verifier switched on. It is switched off when V1 Gen2 leaves the factory; you must enable it in the app to get the extra protection from false photo alerts.
Certain intersection-management and railroad-crossing systems use the same sensors as actual photo installations. V1 Gen2 reports these as DriveSafe 3D, DriveSafe 3DHD and Ekin photo alerts. Photo Verifier will not filter these photo alerts because the intersection-management and railroad-crossing systems have the same signature as actual photo radar.
Control of V1 Gen2’s photo coverage is done through our free app, where you can switch coverage on or off, and select among the six specific radar cameras we cover.
Lookup Photo Radar Support by State/Province
Tech Report – Photo Radar Systems
