lens 230 and the laser 310 are positioned in the same direction making the laser path 340 and the sensor path 240 approximately parallel paralleling the sensor path 240 and the laser path 340 makes it is possible to determine whether a detected object is outside the range of the sensor path 240 specifically whether the detected object is within the viewing area 260 paralleling the sensor path 240 and the laser path 340 also allows an optimal direction to be assigned to the sensor 200 by the laser meter 300 to create the optimal direction the sensor 200 and the laser meter 300 may be affixed to each other such that movement of one causes movement of the other for example the laser meter 300 may be positioned at the center of the viewing area 260 e g at the sensor centerline 285 causing the sensor 200 to move along a path parallel to the laser meter 300 thus as the position of the laser 310 changes so does the center position of the viewing area 260 using the sensor centerline 285 as a point of reference for positioning the laser 310 may be beneficial when the viewing area 260 is a general application area e g a flat road alternately the sensor lens 230 and the laser 310 can be positioned in different directions for example the laser 310 may be positioned at.