Military Sound-Cannon Will Be Used to Deter Speeders

Police State USA ^ | April 16, 2014

[all the best]

MISSOURI — A military sound weapon called the LRAD is trickling its way into domestic agencies across the country. Its latest application will be for use against drivers on Missouri’s highways.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has purchased two Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) with the intent of deploying them near work zones. The idea is to penetrate nearby vehicles with an overwhelmingly shrill sound to supposedly get them to slow down.

Called a “safety device” by the local media, the LRAD is most famous for use against civilians overseas during military operations. Its 153 dB sound waves are so powerful that they cause bystanders to reel in pain, clutch their ears, and run away.

Carl Gruenler, a former Vice President of American Technology Corporation (which later became LRAD Corporation) said that the device will produce instant headaches, permanent hearing damage, and that “you definitely don’t want to be” within 100 meters of the device. Of course, that was said in 2004, before the company began marketing its weapons to domestic government agencies.

Since then, the LRAD was being delivered to local law enforcement agencies throughout the USA; many through federal grants aimed at militarizing police. By 2009, the LRAD was dramatically used for the first time against Americans, when police mounted it on their armored vehicles and used it to disperse unwelcome protesters in Pittsburgh during the G-20 Summit

[Telepathic Intruder]

I would hit the gas and get out of range of that thing as quickly as possible.

[Cementjungle]

Why don’t they just shoot rockets at speeding cars... or perhaps have a drone take them out with a surface-to-ground missile or something.

[cva66snipe]

In my state speeding through construction when lights are flashing meaning persons actually there working will get you a $500 fine. In 99% of the zones at least one cop is there drawing some extra cash which is fine. That should suffice. A sound cannon can cause the offending driver and others to loose complete control of self and vehicle.

[TigersEye]

Exactly! What’s wrong with conventional weapons? Some mortars or artillery would be more sporting.

[all the best]

“Why don’t they just shoot rockets at speeding cars... or perhaps have a drone take them out with a surface-to-ground missile or something.”

Today’s satire is tomorrow’s reality with those people. Don’t give them any ideas.

[Terry L Smith]

How many will suffer immediate heart attacks at the wheel, and be blameful for the results, instead of the police with thier over-reaching technology?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Great...it’s be like the gang-banger next to you on the roadway with rap crap turned up to 11 — only 10x worse. Instead of slowing people down, they’ll do the exact opposite. I’d speed up as much as I can to get past the pain zone.

Government sure continues to attract the best and brightest, doesn’t it?

[TalBlack]

153 db will damage your hearing measurably, permanently in seconds. Lawsuit.

[all the best]

“Government sure continues to attract the best and brightest, doesn’t it?”

Who was it that said politics(government)is like a pond? The scum rise to the top.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The “proper vapourizing ray.” When I was a kid, we took LONG family road trips across the country and that was always my dream. I’d target the idiots using the bug spat “sights” on the windshield and let loose the ray to vaporize ‘em. Only way to keep my sanity cooped up with the family for 5,000 miles.

[cva66snipe]

It's not so much the DB level causing the reaction but rather the frequencies used. How distracting for example would a sound the frequency of a typical household smoke alarm be especially out of the element of where you would expect to hear it?

I remember when I drove an 18 wheeler. First thing we were taught was pull the horn only as a last resort because it would likely create panic in the diver in front of you. I only used my air horn as a make shift burglar alarm for when I was in the sleeper. Second thing we were told to be careful when and where we engaged it was the Jake Brake for the same reasons. When a truck behind or beside you suddenly sounds like someone cranked up the engine volume that is the Jake Brake. It's supposed to only be used going down steep grades as a means to slow the truck.

[gura]

I hope no construction workers are hurt when Missourian’s start shooting these out.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Your table is obviously wrong. Herewith, the correct table:

* Jet engine at 100’ 140dB
* 12 Gauge Shotgun Blast 165dB
* Death of hearing tissue 180dB
* Loudest sound possible 194dB
* Gang-banger in car next to you at red light lebentyzillion dB

[DemforBush]

“Its 153 dB sound waves are so powerful that they cause bystanders to reel in pain, clutch their ears, and run away.”

Now, what could *possibly* go wrong with deploying one those near a freeway work site?

/do I really need a sarc tag here?

[Iscool]

the LRAD is most famous for use against civilians overseas during military operations.

These are military weapons designed to be used against the enemy....Oh, I get it...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

In the old days, there was nothing more fearful than going down a long country grade in Washington or Oregon with a fully loaded log truck behind riding his Jake Brake. Still sends shivers down my spine. Yikes!

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Yeah, this might create more problems than it solves. I was mainly trying to express support for taking the speeding problem seriously. Also, I thought that the article was a bit hyperbolic in that it left the impression that the device would be used as a weapon, rather than as a communications device. (Albeit, a very loud, perhaps dangerous-to-use-with-moving-traffic type of communications device.)

BTW, police enforcement in construction zones is rare here — especially if only the survey crew is working. It can be pretty scarey, when you have to set up in the middle of a busy highway.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“Only way to keep my sanity cooped up with the family for 5,000 miles.”

Are you sure it worked? (Just kidding.)

[upchuck]

Looking at this picture...

the device seems fairly large and should be pretty easy to take out.

I assume the construction zone LRADs will be tripped by conventional speed-sensing radar.

Situation:
I'm driving down a four lane divided highway in the right lane and come up on a construction zone where the speed limit drops, say, to 35mph. I obey. Meanwhile, some idiot in the left lane does not slow down and enters the construction zone at, say, 55mph. The radar senses him and turns on the LDAR. Now I, law abiding driver, am being subjected to LDAR because he's a fool.

I expect my lawsuit will name around 30 defendants, LRAD Corporation being at the top of the list.

[mrs. a]

Mission creep at its very worst. Please tell me that this is from The Onion...