You can type here any text you want

The Cops and Radar detectors

Welcome!

By registering with us, you'll be able to discuss, share and private message with other members of our community.

SignUp Now!
Originally posted by turbojimmy
I've found that the biggest problem is driving cars WITHOUT a radar detector. I get so used to it that I find myself routinely speeding in my non-commuter cars without "protection".

Jim

and THAT'S why i have put a 2nd radar detector in my other daily driver!:D
 
What's the obsession with speeding in the first place? I don't get it. Not to mention 15+ over the posted limit is FLYING. You play, you pay, end of story. Generally speaking if you keep it below 15 or even better 10 over the limit you're going to be fairly safe.

For the record I drive quite a distance to work and back which is mostly freeway and a 70mph limit. I go 65mph in the right lane and stay the hell out of the way. I see no point in wasting more gas flying along in the fast lanes speeding up/slowing down.

If you get caught speeding and you REALLY WERE blame only yourself, not the state, not the cop, not your parents, not "the system" or your car. Personal responsibility seems to have vanished from the English language.

We're now getting "same direction" radar which will measure the speed of cars travelling in the same direction as our patrol cars whether they're closing in on us from behind or accelerating away up ahead so beware....
 
Why would anyone want to drive an *ugly* turbo regal and not utilize what it was really built for. For those that say its only supposed to go fast at the track, gimme a break - its turbocharged for christsake.

As for me, I'm very sick of getting tickets and paying my lawyer tons of money so i can keep my license just cuz cops are biotches. Im gonna focus on getting to the posted speed limit really really fast, then doing the f*cking speed limit within a *few* mph. Is excessive acceleration illegal?!
 
HA HA 15mph over the speed limt is flying ?? :D :D :D

Eveyone on the highway in mass & nh does 70mph or better in a 55 zone.. We are still living under the 55mph in some parts

If you do 55 you will get creamed from behind.
 
Anything under 75 in CT is suicide! Unless you are in a traffic jam of course. If traffic is flowing, drive fast in this state or be run over.:D
 
Originally posted by PhilM
Why would anyone want to drive an *ugly* turbo regal and not utilize what it was really built for.
It's built for what you make of it. To some it's a sporty sedan, to other's it's a hot rod made for breaking the law and earning the driver tickets and suspended licenses. Or even worse...death. It's what you make of it. Mine's a peaceful show car.

Originally posted by PhilM
As for me, I'm very sick of getting tickets and paying my lawyer tons of money so i can keep my license just cuz cops are biotches. Im gonna focus on getting to the posted speed limit really really fast, then doing the f*cking speed limit within a *few* mph. Is excessive acceleration illegal?!
This is what I'm talking about. If you're getting sick of getting tickets and attorneys then modify YOUR behaviour. If your driving is illegal and getting you into trouble why don't you blame yourself?

You could use the same argument for someone who breaks into houses. I'm very sick of getting arrested for breaking into houses and paying my lawyer tons of money so i can keep stay out of jail just cuz cops are biotches. Im gonna focus on getting breaking and entering legalized, then stealing as much as I can as fast as I can. :rolleyes:

Maybe breaking into houses is just a bad idea altogether....

I did dumb stuff myself as an immature kid and it was so easy to divert blame to someone other than myself. Then came maturity and clarity. After realizing I was the problem all it took was corrective action on my part and viola...no more problems.
 
Originally posted by littlesixsteve
HA HA 15mph over the speed limt is flying ?? :D :D :D
Yup, 15+ over the posted limit is quite excessive and in my book FLYING.

I'm not here to pass judgement, that's for the people in the black robes. I'm just giving you a police perspective. Not much call in my book to drive 85-90 in a 70mph zone. Just leave the house/office a few minutes earlier, turn on the XM radio and enjoy the ride. No rat race in my life....or off duty traffic stops, tickets, attorneys and/or higher insurance rates. But drive as you wish, it's your decision which makes this country the best on earth.....personal freedom and choices.... I just resent people blaming "The Man" for poor personal choices.

If you don't like the laws as written, excercise your consitutional rights and petition the government for a "redress of grievances". In other words pressure your elected representatives to make the laws more accomodating to your lifestyle or driving habits. That's democracy in action. I've done it and it DOES work. Don't know unless you try.
 
Originally posted by scottyb
If they really wanted us to slow down, then they should make themselves more visible, set up fake cop cars on the side of the road, and place unmanned radar on the side just to slow down people with detectors.:D
If they wanted people to slow down they'd put up signs that say "SPEED LIMIT XX". Oh, nevermind...they've been doing that for years.
 
We have a SCAT trailer (I have no idea what that means) that measures people's speed and shows you on the stupid rubber band activated number board. I'm sure you guys are familiar with em. My loaner car (remember, my police car got smashed by a drunk driver) has a hitch, so I put that thing out every day. And know what it does? Makes 1/2 the people slow down and the other 1/2 speed up to check their speedos. People think that if there's a trailer, there's goin to be no cop. Well, after I set up the trailer, I park 1/2 mile down the road with my own radar gun...and catch the people that STILL speed. What more warning do you want...an LED sign that says "SPEED TRAP AHEAD"? kinda makes me laugh.
 
Originally posted by WakkoSS
We have a SCAT trailer (I have no idea what that means) that measures people's speed and shows you on the stupid rubber band activated number board. I'm sure you guys are familiar with em. My loaner car (remember, my police car got smashed by a drunk driver) has a hitch, so I put that thing out every day. And know what it does? Makes 1/2 the people slow down and the other 1/2 speed up to check their speedos. People think that if there's a trailer, there's goin to be no cop. Well, after I set up the trailer, I park 1/2 mile down the road with my own radar gun...and catch the people that STILL speed. What more warning do you want...an LED sign that says "SPEED TRAP AHEAD"? kinda makes me laugh.

One of the little towns I go through on my way to work has one of those. They have it set so that if you're going more than 2 MPH over the limit it flashes some strobes. Someone told me it's taking pictures. Not sure about that. I slow down for it, though. It's "K" band radar. They have another one that doesn't have the strobes, it's "X" band. Their patrol cars have "Ka" band. The speed limit goes from 45 to 25 when you get to the town line, then back to 45 when you're out of town. When I cruise through that crappy little town - all couple hundred feet of it - I never know what I'm going to get. When they think there's too much volume through town they'll set up an inspection sticker roadblock and back everything up. Usually during rush hour. Nice people.

Jim
 
Physics time: Kinetic Energy (KE) is calculated based on vehicle mass x speed x speed x 1/2 so if you're start off at 25mph, but decide you want to go 50 mph (and your car weighs 3000 lbs), then your KE starts off at 937,000 but when you double your speed, you QUADRUPLE you KE (in this case it shoots up to 3,750,000).

So what's my point? If you want to bring your car to a stop, you have to bring your KE to zero. Your brakes are going to be what does it, but your brakes only put in as much force as they can - so you're stopping distance is going to be increased.

The problem with small towns is that usually they've been there many years, long before cars could travel so fast. Let's see, if the speed limit was 45mph, and people speed 15 - 20 mph (or more) then you're looking at someone having to pull out into traffic that's going 60mph+ These small town cops work for the citizens of this town, who probably don't want to have to try and pull out into 60mph+ traffic (would you?) so they enforce the speed limit in their town.

It almost sounds like you're upset because having to slow down inconviences you because it would lengthen your commute time? I suppose it's understandable to feel that way, but what about if you tried to see it from at town resident's point of view?

Hey 2QK4U, what kind of engineer are you? (I got a bachelor's in mech engr, but guess what line of work I'm into right now)

-Greg
 
Originally posted by WakkoSS
We have a SCAT trailer (I have no idea what that means) that measures people's speed and shows you on the stupid rubber band activated number board.

They need to get triple digit versions and put them out on the open highway :D
 
If the starting point is 70/75, then 15 over is cranking. But 15 over is not always flying - definitely ticket range.

Originally posted by TT/A1233
I'm not here to pass judgement, that's for the people in the black robes. I'm just giving you a police perspective. Not much call in my book to drive 85-90 in a 70mph zone. Just leave the house/office a few minutes earlier, turn on the XM radio and enjoy the ride. No rat race in my life....or off duty traffic stops, tickets, attorneys and/or higher insurance rates. But drive as you wish, it's your decision which makes this country the best on earth.....personal freedom and choices.... I just resent people blaming "The Man" for poor personal choices.

Just because one gets their say in front of the "black robes" is not an excuse to inflict some self imposed moralistic I'm gonna git you attitude. Not accusing TT/A of this, but I have seen this attitude.

Of course "The Man" has done things like shortening the yellow light time at intersections where red light cameras have been installed. In the name of safety - yeah right.

Originally posted by TT/A1233
If you don't like the laws as written, excercise your consitutional rights and petition the government for a "redress of grievances". In other words pressure your elected representatives to make the laws more accomodating to your lifestyle or driving habits. That's democracy in action. I've done it and it DOES work. Don't know unless you try.

This works both ways. I seem to remember somebody whining about going to court to fight a ticket. This is the law and the right of ticketed persons.

BTW, it is spelled Constitutional, a document that many police officers need to become more aquatinted with.
 
Originally posted by WakkoSS
He's right...make sure someone is going faster than you. On long trips I pace a guy about 1/2 mile behind and watch for his brake lights. :)

It's funny to see the nose of people's car dive when I turn it on.
Ah the games cops play...meow.


Yeah.. It is pretty funny. There are allot of those.. What killed me one day is that I was on my way back from FLA and was traveling through SC behind a SCHP Camaro no light bar, semi-marked (just decals on the sides) WHen 2 ricers flew by @ about 90-95 in a workzone.. Needless to say he stopped both and tagged em.. :eek:

I
 
Just because one gets their say in front of the "black robes" is not an excuse to inflict some self imposed moralistic I'm gonna git you attitude. Not accusing TT/A of this, but I have seen this attitude.

Everyone needs to understand that there is discretion when it comes to issue a citation.. Every officer has a "majic" number where descretion is not considered when speeding. The problem is that people don't realize how much speed will impact a situation.

For example:

In 2001 there were 6,323,000 Reported Accidents

42,116 Fatalies 12,850 of those were as a result of SPEEDING

3,033,000 Injuries
-----------------------------

Me personally 12 mph is to much.. I have gotten tickets in the past and yes even while a LEO.. They are deserved when I do get them as I am conscious of what I am doing and my surroundings. If you speed or when you speed you and anyone else out there are at risk as a result of your choice to speed.

Granted there are some "wannabe troopers" or officers that like to enforce traffic regularly, and will write tickets for levels lower than the next guy.. But regardless of what everyones opinion is relating to what is "allowed" or what is or is not speeding... The short answer is on the white signs on the side of road with the black lettering about every 1/2 or 1 mile. The last time I checked it said "SPEED LIMIT" not "SPEED OPTIONAL".. So no one has a position to gripe when they get a ticket for even 5 over, just excersize your constitutional rights and fight it in court. Don't blame the guy with the badge because of the long term effect of your actions such as insurance rates etc. *Disclaimer - Not saying every ticket is a valid one*

So what is acceptable? Socially? 70? 80? in a 55? If you look at your own limits there are a couple things you should consider..

1. Experience of the Driver- Would you trust someone that is 16 driving at these speeds the day after he got his license? What about a person that has been driving for 17 years?
2. Vehicle limitations - Well self explanatory Corvette versus a Chevette--

So the moral question you should ask yourself is if 10 miles over the limit is acceptable for you to drive what if:

1. You struck a vehicle and killed someone or a death was as result of the increase speed and stopping distance? Are you guilty for manslaughter or should it be ok because is was personally acceptable?

2. You and your family or someone you care about gets seriously injured or god forbid killed because of someone driving at a speed that was "acceptable" to you? Would you brush it off and move on... I think not, in a case like this you would be out for blood and pass judgement at every level of hipocracy..


As far as the yellow light principle, I just dunno.. Have not noticed them. Me personally if I get a picture and citation in the mail for "running" a red light with a traffic cam then that pic better have a CLEAR AND CONCISE picture of the Driver, Tag, Vehicle and the Position of the vehicle and the light Color at the time of the position in alignment with the State Statutes regarding that violation.


My 2.99999998 Cents
 
When you enter Virginia, there are signs indicating that radar detector use is illegal. It seems obvious that this would be a State law; but doesn't Federal law allow the use of radar locating devices?
Hey TTA1233, if you are just driving along and see a radar detector on someones dash, would you be more likely to want to pull that person over?
I realize that everyone's mood changes on a daily basis, but generally, would you want to "get" that person?
 
One more thing, I- personally - wrote the Chief of Police of two counties around me and requested the number of reported accidents at intersections that had red light cameras.
I also requested the number of reported accidents at the same intersections for five years prior to the cameras being installed.
There was no distinct difference. For about 50% there was an increase in accidents at the intersection, about 45 % had a decrease in accidents and 5% stayed the same.
To me that is inconclusive. If forced to drawl conclusions you would say that red light cameras increase the number of accidents at intersections.
So, now I am curious about (speed) photo radar cameras - to bring this back to topic.
 
but doesn't Federal law allow the use of radar locating devices?

Does not matter.. ( in a manner of Speaking) Laws flow down hill and become more restrictive at every level.. For example ... Federal Law (Law of the land based upon the Constitution) Has its own statutes.. States are permitted to create thier own laws and be more restrictive but at no time deviate from federal law. Same with the local ordinances. Maybe there was something at the state or local level not clearly defined at the federal level that they wish to be implemented..As long as it does not deviate from the Fed and Constitution it may be inacted.

So, now I am curious about (speed) photo radar cameras - to bring this back to topic.

I would refer you to my previous statement relative to the red light cams...

CLEAR AND CONCISE picture of the Driver, Tag, Vehicle and the Position of the vehicle and the light Color at the time of the position in alignment with the State Statutes regarding that violation.

In NC and I am sure that there are allot of other states that follow suit... A radar in itself is not proof of guilt or PC for the charge.. It is a tool to COOBERATE the opinion of the officer. So it is at no time absolute. If I get a ticket in the mail for speeding from one of these cameras, it better have Picture of Driver, Licenseplate and Vehicle Pic, Radar Speed, Serial Number and Calibration Cert. Even then, I would most likely argue it, but that is me. As it sounds as if the human factor is taken out of the mix against the current state statutes, humans make mistakes and so does technology.
 
Originally posted by Vector
If forced to drawl conclusions you would say that red light cameras increase the number of accidents at intersections.
So, now I am curious about (speed) photo radar cameras - to bring this back to topic.

Statistics can be twisted to support any argument, which is what bugs me about the "speed kills" stats. Like your red light camera observation, just looking at raw accident and fatality data conveniently causes one to draw a direct correlation between speed and fatalities. They don't take into consideration weather conditions, time of day state of vehicle repair, condition of the driver (mental state, level of intoxication, etc.), or even thresholds at which "speed kills". For example, you may find that while speed does kill, it's drunks driving in the rain on bald tires doing 30 MPH over the limit that sways the stats and causes one to arrive at the "speed kills" conclusion.

Another one that cracks me up is a recent anti-drug TV commercial. It said "50% of drivers in accidents who were tested for drugs tested positive". The flawed conclusion they were trying to force the viewer to come to was that 50% of drug users crash their cars, so don't do drugs. In reality, all the statistic says is that among the people who got into accidents that LOOKED like they might be high, the officer's suspicions were wrong half the time. Further, there are lots of people who use drugs, drive their cars and don't crash. Further, there are lots of people who use drugs and crash but don't arouse the suspicions of the officers. I'm in no way advocating getting high and driving, but you can see how useless statistics really are.

Jim
 
They don't take into consideration weather conditions, time of day state of vehicle repair, condition of the driver (mental state, level of intoxication, etc.),

ERRR

Look at this link I am sure it will have maybe not the bad tires...

NHTSA DOC



BTW: Congrats on your new addition(s)
 
Back
Top