A LIDAR device for optically detecting a field of view. The LIDAR device includes: a control unit for emitting at least one control signal; an electric motor, which has a motor current and is controllably rotatable about a rotational axis with the aid of the at least one control signal, and on which a switchable light source emitting light radiation is situated. The LIDAR device also includes at least one switch for suppressing the emission of the light radiation depending on a behavior of a current variable representing the motor current.