Hey guys... I have a quick question that maybe someone can help me out with. Im looking for a radar detector right now... but do they pick up the signal even though a cop does not shoot the laser gun at you? Or when I drive near a cop car, would the detector go off? Because not all people get caught by a cop shooting a laser at you. Thanks for your info.

 

These are Radar or laser dectors

not Cop car dectors.. cant go off cause a crown vic roles by

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KTeller8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">These are Radar or laser dectors

not Cop car dectors.. cant go off cause a crown vic roles by</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think what he is trying to say, sometimes the gun is on...even if they aren't stopped...and it picks up that signal too yes. they don't always have to be stopped and shooting radar.

mike

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by fe519 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hey guys... I have a quick question that maybe someone can help me out with. Im looking for a radar detector right now... but do they pick up the signal even though a cop does not shoot the laser gun at you? Or when I drive near a cop car, would the detector go off? Because not all people get caught by a cop shooting a laser at you. Thanks for your info.</TD></TR></TABLE>

but yes in short...all people that get caught for speeding, are shot with some sort of radar gun, but the police officer may not be formally stopped. They can do it when they aren't stopped, they do all the time.

mike

 

If you have radar around you then you're cool with a detector... Around us in Oregon they're starting to laser a lot and it sucks... If they hit you with laser they've got you and you do not have that much warning because laser does NOT emit a lot of "overspray"... My dad has been looking into radar/laser jammers and I guess all the interior mounted ones suck... When he gets his new car which is either going to be a 2004 TL or GS430 he's getting this grill mounted IR laser jammer... That'll be something fun to install Cops usually aim for your license plate or headlights... Anything that they can get a good laser bounce off of so your grill is the best place to mount it... The company recommends you get another set for the rear but at $800 a pair, my dad doesn't know if he wants to get another set... When he does i'll post up some pics and let you know how it works... Oh by the way for radar/laser detectors we've always used Beltronics... They look clean and work great... Just my $0.02

 

Like mentioned above they will pick-up anytime a cop has it on, wheather he is paying attenetion(sp) to it or not. I have also been hit, with the cop rolling behind me a good 1/4 away, as I was going down the highway. I had unmarked try to sneak-up behind at a light one time. He had it off becasue my detector was silent. Just for kicks... I was going to see if I could get him to turn it on. Sooo, I took off fast from the light, and shut-it down just as I was nearing the speed limit. Yes he did turn it on.... hehehehe

 

Sometimes they use the distance/time method. No radar or laser needed. All they need is 2 marks on the road (known distance) and a stopwatch. Or they can pace you and read their own speedometer. So nothing's going to give you absolute protection.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sometimes they use the distance/time method. No radar or laser needed. All they need is 2 marks on the road (known distance) and a stopwatch. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I believe that method is called a "Speed trap," and it is illegal.


Pacing is an accurate and legal way to for a cop to check you, but you should see him back there before you allow him to get that close...

 

That is a "Speed Trap" but they used to do it here in Oregon till all the budget cuts went into affect... A couple years ago only on the days of "Import Challenges" (Woodburn Dragstrip All Import Races) there would be like 10 cops lining both sides of the freeway with 2 state police airplanes tracking people... They would get all these kids speeding like psycho ***** swerving in and out of traffic, so it was good... Guess not anymore tho..

 

I believe there are several definitions of a speed trap, and the "Speed checked by airplane" somehow does`nt qualify for being illegal...They can use distances to legally "trap" you.

I think that a ground cop cannot use distances though, it`s some technicality...

 

get a CB. they work good. you can have a cool handle to. "Sheperd to lost sheep...sheep to lost sheep...come in sheep."

Put out a call for any smokies, cause your tearing up the two lane headin north on the 95.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sinister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I believe that method is called a "Speed trap," and it is illegal...</TD></TR></TABLE>
I don't think so. I think a speed trap is when the speed limit suddenly goes way down, without any warning signs. So you don't have time to brake. It has nothing to do with how they measure your speed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I don't think so. I think a speed trap is when the speed limit suddenly goes way down, without any warning signs. So you don't have time to brake. It has nothing to do with how they measure your speed.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Laws differ from state to state.
Here`s what I came up with for California speed laws:

According to CA Vehicle code
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">40802 A "speed trap" is either of the following:
(a) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

^
that is what I was refering to

 

here in FL
we have a 3 mile bridge and they sit at the end of the bridge where its only 35mph

there is a cop with the gun outside the car and like ten cops waiting to go after ppl flying on the bridge. then they hit you with, all kind of tickets, cause its connects to counties, and is also watched by wild life and the coast guard

you get the royal bang in the rear

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MikeMAN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

but yes in short...all people that get caught for speeding, are shot with some sort of radar gun, but the police officer may not be formally stopped. They can do it when they aren't stopped, they do all the time.

mike</TD></TR></TABLE>

not entirely true they can "approximate your speed visually" either by the flow of traffic, pacing, etc. the method they use to "catch" you is marked on the ticket (i.e R=radar, A=approx. visually,) or you can ask the cop. these tickets are very easy to beat in court, because the they used such an inaccurate way of determining your speed.

 

Well I feel like it is my obligation to help out on this topic, as my father is a sheriff. But from what I know, every cop is different when runninng radar or laser. Basically, there isn't much you can do with a radar/laser detector if they are really trying a speed trap. The laser is on stand-by until they decide to push the button and get a lock on you. By the time your detector goes off, it's already too late and he's got your speed on the gun.

The same thing can actually happen with a dash mounted radar in a patrol car. Some cops drive around with the radar on at all times, therefore you know when your radar detector is going off, there could be a cop coming at you from the opposite direction. (Or it could be an automatic door at a grocery store or something. Anyways, some cops drive around with the radar on standby, then when they think they see a car driving fast, they flip it on, and get your speed. Again, too late for you to even slow down, they have locked you in. Either way, I'm going to purchase the Valentine 1 just to be safe! Hope this all helps

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sinister &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Sometimes they use the distance/time method. No radar or laser needed. All they need is 2 marks on the road (known distance) and a stopwatch.

I believe that method is called a "Speed trap," and it is illegal.

Pacing is an accurate and legal way to for a cop to check you, but you should see him back there before you allow him to get that close...</TD></TR></TABLE>

That timing method is called VASCAR. Often times they will use an electronic timing light system to time you through the two points (kinda like at an AutoX). In PA, only the PA State Troopers are allowed to use radar or laser for speed enforncement. The State Troopers basically only do traffic speed enforcement on the state highways and turnpikes. So all local cops can only use the VASCAR timing method if they want to give out any speeding tickets.

Andrew - who has a Valentine V-1 for the highway and loves it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aklucsarits &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

That timing method is called VASCAR. Often times they will use an electronic timing light system to time you through the two points (kinda like at an AutoX). In PA, only the PA State Troopers are allowed to use radar or laser for speed enforncement. The State Troopers basically only do traffic speed enforcement on the state highways and turnpikes. So all local cops can only use the VASCAR timing method if they want to give out any speeding tickets.

Andrew - who has a Valentine V-1 for the highway and loves it</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is ture in pa but there are still gray areas. a decetor works GREAT if the cop has the old style guns, the kind that mount on the outside of the rear door. but if they have the handheld units decetors are useless, sure you can pick it up but till you have deceted it they have got you. i think the style of guns is called 'instant on'. and laser is even harder to avoid. one more thing, here in pa ANY cop can write a ticket for 'to fast for conditions' no matter how fast you are going or what the speed limit is and carries the same fine and points as a speeding ticket. If they wanna get you they are going to nail you.