Speed Traps Unveiled
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 448
Likes: 0
From: Madison
rporter wants to prosecute tickets, that's where his salary comes from. He doesn't have to prosecute anything. He has discretion.
The speed trap directory is run by the NMA, motorists.org
If you want to avoid tickets, you need to learn something about how radar/laser works and also the law and procedures that cops are required to follow. In reality they seldom do follow the requirements and will lie in court and in written statements to make it look as if they did. Fortunately, these lies can sometimes be exposed given physical evidence.
The most important thing that you need to know about instant on is that the cop must be able to visually estimate your speed before using the radar or laser. The circumstances in which a visual estimate is probative have been discussed in court rulings. Cops claim to have superhuman abilities, but the courts haven't bought that when challenged. The first thing you need to know about chaser cars is that all the officers involved must appear in court to testify against you. Radar and laser are subject to all sorts of errors, and have limited range in which they can be considered accurate. A great angle, like from an overpass, can cause serious errors in the readings on these devices.
The speed trap directory is run by the NMA, motorists.org
If you want to avoid tickets, you need to learn something about how radar/laser works and also the law and procedures that cops are required to follow. In reality they seldom do follow the requirements and will lie in court and in written statements to make it look as if they did. Fortunately, these lies can sometimes be exposed given physical evidence.
The most important thing that you need to know about instant on is that the cop must be able to visually estimate your speed before using the radar or laser. The circumstances in which a visual estimate is probative have been discussed in court rulings. Cops claim to have superhuman abilities, but the courts haven't bought that when challenged. The first thing you need to know about chaser cars is that all the officers involved must appear in court to testify against you. Radar and laser are subject to all sorts of errors, and have limited range in which they can be considered accurate. A great angle, like from an overpass, can cause serious errors in the readings on these devices.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,578
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati
[QUOTE]Originally posted by rporter
In Indiana the State Police are using hand held laser guns. There is a sight and they put a red dot the size of your fist on your grill. You never know it is there and no radar detector or license plate cover will help. One guy is on an overpass and two or three guys are on the on ramp waitingfor his call to come down the ramp and pull in behind you. You will never know until too late. FYI in my area a commonly used place is to watch south bound traffic from Chicago on I65 in Boone County where US 47 crosses the interstate. Be cafeful. I don't mind telling you this because I want people
In Indiana the State Police are using hand held laser guns. There is a sight and they put a red dot the size of your fist on your grill. You never know it is there and no radar detector or license plate cover will help. One guy is on an overpass and two or three guys are on the on ramp waitingfor his call to come down the ramp and pull in behind you. You will never know until too late. FYI in my area a commonly used place is to watch south bound traffic from Chicago on I65 in Boone County where US 47 crosses the interstate. Be cafeful. I don't mind telling you this because I want people
Banned
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 0
From: Indy, In.
Car and Driver did an article some years ago about laser radar and detectors. Basically, If a cop shoots you with his laser and your detector goes off, it is too late.
They did do one test that was very interesting. I hope that I accurately remember the details of the test. They tested a number of different cars in different colors. It seems that a black car is the hardest for a laser to pick up. A white car is the easiest. Mettalic paint also makes the car easier for the laser gun to "see". They tested a black Olds and blacked out all the chrome and the car was very difficult for the laser to see. They then put headlight covers on the car to eliminate the reflection of the laser from the head light reflectors and found that the car was even more difficult for the laser gun to "see". After they made the car as difficult to see as possible, they mounted a very bright driving light to the front of the car and covered it with an infrared pass filter. When they turned the driving light on, it allowed all of the infrared light that was generated to pass through the filter while the visible light was blocked. This infrared light was very successful at "jamming" the laser gun.
I do not know if this would work on the newest laser guns.
They did do one test that was very interesting. I hope that I accurately remember the details of the test. They tested a number of different cars in different colors. It seems that a black car is the hardest for a laser to pick up. A white car is the easiest. Mettalic paint also makes the car easier for the laser gun to "see". They tested a black Olds and blacked out all the chrome and the car was very difficult for the laser to see. They then put headlight covers on the car to eliminate the reflection of the laser from the head light reflectors and found that the car was even more difficult for the laser gun to "see". After they made the car as difficult to see as possible, they mounted a very bright driving light to the front of the car and covered it with an infrared pass filter. When they turned the driving light on, it allowed all of the infrared light that was generated to pass through the filter while the visible light was blocked. This infrared light was very successful at "jamming" the laser gun.
I do not know if this would work on the newest laser guns.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,583
Likes: 1
From: Columbia, SC
I agree 100% with suvh8r.
We have rules and laws in this country about the expected flow of traffic which a lot of people violate. In general it starts with people using the left lanes without passing right lane traffic (violation #1). Then there are those actually going faster who are now having to pass on the right (violation #2). For those of us trying to follow the lane rules, I now have to tailgate the dude in front of me so that the asshole passing me on the right can't squeeze in (I've got violation #3). Then there's those who have no regard for lanes designations at all and just do the weaving thing, because after all, they do own the road, right (violation #4). It's situations like these that are dangerous, cause accidents involving multiple cars and usually at high speed, and probably is a primary source for much road rage (adding even more aggressive driving and danger).
If cops were at all after making our highways safer, they need to start enforcing these other rules/laws. Speed only contributes to the danger/risk when an accident takes place. These other violations increase the likelyhood of an accident. It's the combination of the two that make highway accidents so deadly. Let's work to reduce accidents first. Then let's determine what an appropriate speed is.
We have rules and laws in this country about the expected flow of traffic which a lot of people violate. In general it starts with people using the left lanes without passing right lane traffic (violation #1). Then there are those actually going faster who are now having to pass on the right (violation #2). For those of us trying to follow the lane rules, I now have to tailgate the dude in front of me so that the asshole passing me on the right can't squeeze in (I've got violation #3). Then there's those who have no regard for lanes designations at all and just do the weaving thing, because after all, they do own the road, right (violation #4). It's situations like these that are dangerous, cause accidents involving multiple cars and usually at high speed, and probably is a primary source for much road rage (adding even more aggressive driving and danger).
If cops were at all after making our highways safer, they need to start enforcing these other rules/laws. Speed only contributes to the danger/risk when an accident takes place. These other violations increase the likelyhood of an accident. It's the combination of the two that make highway accidents so deadly. Let's work to reduce accidents first. Then let's determine what an appropriate speed is.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon
I don't want to get into a war about this but please note first that I told you where the police are parked looking for speeders in Indiana. No curves just a straight clear shoot with plenty of signs teling the speed limit. Police are just like anyone else including prosecutors and judges. Some better than others. My experience is that in Indiana there is no quota system and goal to generate money. I, the police and the judge get paid if there is one or 100 tickets. For everyone that goes to trial there are many I compromise to save a license or insurance if I think the person really needs this discretion. We have a deferral system that keeps the ticket off your record if you get no more in a year. I see many weaving, following too close and cutting others off tickets not just speed. Many ticket are written from police crusing or parked in the median watching traffic in plain view. My favorate is the Doctor in his new Boxster who passed a truck at 100 with his girl friend in the car, he was married, only to find a police car crusing in front of the semi. The average speed ticket is not written until at least 10 miles over the limit and even then you would be surprised at how fast many people, including semis, are traveling. 100 mph in not unusual. If you want these idiots on the same road you are fine but they get no mercy from me.