Latest Radar Certification Scams
A number of less‑than‑reputable radar and Lidar certification companies have recently emerged, attempting to capitalize on the trust of law enforcement agencies. These companies often charge significantly lower prices than legitimate providers for “certifying” Doppler radar devices and/or Lidar units in order to win your business.
Is a low‑priced certification legitimate? It can be—but the points below will help you make that determination while also explaining why a legitimate certification from The Radar & Laser Shop (TR&LS) may cost a few dollars more. Ultimately, it is the department’s responsibility to protect its reputation and its community from inferior services.
Doppler Radar Certification
1. Technician Training
Today’s radars are highly sophisticated. What training have these companies’ technicians actually received?
All too often, the answer is: “I’ve been doing it for a while now,” with no formal training. Defense attorneys love this—because it’s easy to corner someone into admitting, “I could be doing it wrong this whole time, but I don’t really know.”
TR&LS: Our technicians complete a six‑month training program covering all makes and models of Doppler radar. They must then perform 200 certifications under the supervision of an FCC‑licensed technician.
2. Court Defensibility
What is their policy for defending their certificates in court? When was the last time they actually appeared in a case?
Many departments are surprised to learn that when a certificate from one of these low‑cost providers is finally challenged, the company simply doesn’t show up—because they know their certificate cannot withstand knowledgeable scrutiny. Unfortunately, it’s often the critical case you cannot afford to lose that ends up being challenged.
TR&LS: Our certifications are so defensible that we appear in court at no cost to our clients. In 35 years of business, our certifications have never been defeated in court.
3. Certification Equipment
What equipment do they use for radar certification? It must be traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) when presented in court. Ask whether they can prove their equipment is calibrated to those standards. Most cannot.
TR&LS: All equipment used in our radar certifications is calibrated annually to NIST specifications. Documentation is available upon request.
4. Transmitter Frequency Measurement (Critical)
The IACP, NHTSA, and NIST have explicitly stated:
Without accurate measurement of a radar device’s transmitter frequency, the device is not certified.
How to Tell if Your Radar’s Frequency Was Actually Measured
Check your Certificate of Accuracy for an entry such as:
Transmitter Frequency: Antenna 1 _____ GHz
If this field is blank—or contains one of the numbers below—the frequency was not measured.
These numbers represent FCC‑assigned center frequencies, not your unit’s actual transmit frequency:
- 24.15 GHz – All K Band
- 33.8 GHz – MPH
- 34.7 GHz – Stalker
- 35.5 GHz – Kustom
If all your certificates show the same number, that would be a statistical miracle.
What a Real Frequency Measurement Looks Like
A true frequency measurement will show a value slightly above or below the center frequency. This variation is called frequency drift.
Normal drift: Expected; typically reflected in three digits after the decimal.
Excessive drift: Indicates inaccurate speed readings; reflected in abnormal numbers before the decimal.
No drift shown: The frequency was never measured.
If drift isn’t measured, you have no idea how far off frequency the radar may be. If your certificate lists only the center frequency, it is not defensible in any court.
Only a measured frequency proves your radar is operating accurately.
TR&LS: Frequency meters are expensive—and we use them. You can watch your radar’s frequency measurement in real time as our technician checks it directly from your unit. This is one of the reasons legitimate certifications cost more.
