Can Police in Louisiana Conduct Radar Operations From Private Property?

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - A few years ago, I saw a Lafayette Police unit sitting on private property, and it appeared that the officer was running radar while on the property.

As I drove past the unit, and I was not speeding, I thought to myself, "Can police officers in Louisiana sit on private property to radar vehicles passing by them?"

When I got home, I did a quick online search and found some very interesting information about a police officer on your property. For starters, officers should ask the property owner if they are good with them conducting radar from their property.

Can A Police Officer Use Radar on Private Property

If a property owner does not want them on their property, they have the right to tell them now. Furthermore, if a property owner sees an officer on their property during a raid, they have the right to tell the officer to leave.

Often, when you see an officer on "private" property, it's near a business or shopping center, and businesses will often ask police officers to patrol or use radar from their property to ensure the safety of those around their establishments.

Now, let's say you are caught speeding, and the officer writes you a ticket while on someone's property without their permission. Is that ticket still valid? According to the law, yes, the ticket you received is valid even if the officer who wrote the ticket was legally trespassing" on someone's property when your speed was recorded.

According to Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:63, entering private property without authorization is technically illegal, but in practice, officers are rarely prosecuted for this while enforcing traffic laws. So, the moral of the story is: don't speed, and if you are caught speeding and given a citation, it is best to use it as a learning experience and go on your way.

Read More: Law On Picking Up Crawfish From Louisiana Roads

If you see an officer on your private property and don't approve of their presence, you should politely ask them to relocate, and if there's an issue, you are advised to contact the agency for further discussion.

Note: You should never be rude or aggressive when confronting anyone on your property, as your tone can lead to further escalation, and that's not worth it.