Abstract: A lidar trigger device and method of operating a lidar trigger device that includes: a controller having a processor and memory, the memory storing computer instructions; a wireless communications device; a lidar unit having a light emitter and light detector; an electronic display; and a housing that surrounds the controller, the wireless communications device, the lidar unit, and the electronic display. When the computer instructions are executed by the processor, the lidar trigger device is configured to: cause light to be transmitted from the light emitter of the lidar unit; cause reflected light that is received at the light detector to be processed; determine whether the lidar unit was triggered based on processing of the reflected light; in response to determining that the lidar unit was triggered, generate a trigger reporting message; and send the trigger reporting message to a remote device via the wireless communications device.