All about radar

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Don't think it's been asked in this thread.

Straight shot line of site low clutter, about what distance do various radar guns get a useable return on an ST sized barn door wiith a nice reflecty radiator. Any degredation in rain.?

For LIDAR, how much rain / fog gives you issues getting a useable return?

I'm doing a fork compression test when I see you as opposed to being completely oblivious with fair amount of traffic (not the only fish out there) Are you more interested in a slower target that isn't paying attention?

Bonus question. You're tucked in the bushes we both see each other after you've painted me.
I'm dead we both know we both know it. While testing the forks I nod crisply giving the slow it down signal with my left hand. Are you laughing or shaking your head? I ask because serveral times now the lights never came on.
 
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I have a question about the honesty of the officer, and whether equipment has changed through the years to combat a dishonest officer. The reason I ask is because many years ago I had a few officers who were friends. They would tell about how it was common when they wanted to rack up the tickets, to clock a fast car, then "hold" that speed in the radar unit. Then they would stop any car that looked fast, and ticket them for the speed they had saved in the radar unit. If the driver questioned the speed, it was plainly visible in the unit- they just didn't know it wasn't THEIR speed.

Can this still happen with modern equipment?
 

Blrfl

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... Then they would stop any car that looked fast, and ticket them for the speed they had saved in the radar unit. If the driver questioned the speed, it was plainly visible in the unit- they just didn't know it wasn't THEIR speed. Can this still happen with modern equipment?
As long as the equipment has a hold feature and the courts presume that what Officer Bob says is the truth, the answer is yes.

--Mark
 
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I have a question about the honesty of the officer, and whether equipment has changed through the years to combat a dishonest officer. The reason I ask is because many years ago I had a few officers who were friends. They would tell about how it was common when they wanted to rack up the tickets, to clock a fast car, then "hold" that speed in the radar unit. Then they would stop any car that looked fast, and ticket them for the speed they had saved in the radar unit. If the driver questioned the speed, it was plainly visible in the unit- they just didn't know it wasn't THEIR speed.

Can this still happen with modern equipment?
Common???? It is not common at least based on the thousands of officers I've worked/interacted with. If a peer was doing that, HEAVY peer pressure would be applied to stop it now.
Any traffic cop that can't go out and find enough speeding tickets needs some remedial training.

Is is possible? The Stalker radar units I used do hold the lock. However, with more and more police cars being outfitted with video, it's quickly being removed as a possibility.
 
OP
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Ka works really well in rain, far beyond what most officers can get decent tracking. Lidar does diminish. Keep in mind both use a nominal range of only 600-1200', both device will work that far.

I always recommend getting the binders going as quickly and as hard as possible. If the LEO is on you for that, he already saw your speed so (as you indicate)- show some respect and haul the thing down and give a "my bad" indication. YMMV.

Don't think it's been asked in this thread.

Straight shot line of site low clutter, about what distance do various radar guns get a useable return on an ST sized barn door wiith a nice reflecty radiator. Any degredation in rain.?

For LIDAR, how much rain / fog gives you issues getting a useable return?

I'm doing a fork compression test when I see you as opposed to being completely oblivious with fair amount of traffic (not the only fish out there) Are you more interested in a slower target that isn't paying attention?

Bonus question. You're tucked in the bushes we both see each other after you've painted me.
I'm dead we both know we both know it. While testing the forks I nod crisply giving the slow it down signal with my left hand. Are you laughing or shaking your head? I ask because serveral times now the lights never came on.
 
OP
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I have a question about the honesty of the officer, and whether equipment has changed through the years to combat a dishonest officer. The reason I ask is because many years ago I had a few officers who were friends. They would tell about how it was common when they wanted to rack up the tickets, to clock a fast car, then "hold" that speed in the radar unit. Then they would stop any car that looked fast, and ticket them for the speed they had saved in the radar unit. If the driver questioned the speed, it was plainly visible in the unit- they just didn't know it wasn't THEIR speed.

Can this still happen with modern equipment?
Yes. Not much you can do about a lying officer...
 

Firstpeke

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British use of Laser systems is usually coupled with video and hence an overlay of date time etc...

However there is always the hand held LTI-2020 type system that simply displays a speed so, yes I suppose it is possible to hold a speed and do some particular nastiness to some poor soul.....
Scottish law requires corroboration and therefore two officers must attest to the speed shown.....
 

Rodneypieon

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Don't think it's been asked in this thread.

Straight shot line of site low clutter, about what distance do various radar guns get a useable return on an ST sized barn door wiith a nice reflecty radiator. Any degredation in rain.?

For LIDAR, how much rain / fog gives you issues getting a useable return?

I'm doing a fork compression test when I see you as opposed to being completely oblivious with fair amount of traffic (not the only fish out there) Are you more interested in a slower target that isn't paying attention?

Bonus question. You're tucked in the bushes we both see each other after you've painted me.
I'm dead we both know we both know it. While testing the forks I nod crisply giving the slow it down signal with my left hand. Are you laughing or shaking your head? I ask because serveral times now the lights never came on.
First question - It all deepnds on the set used and the terrain - assuming flat road with a modern Stalker DSR 2X I am acquiring you about 1 km away.

Second question - Fog/rain with Lidar, again all depends on the manufacturer. I have been retired two years almost but when I left our old LTIs would not get a reading in any light mist or rain but the unit I used, the LTI LRB. would penetrate a mist or gentle rain out to about 600 - 800 meters.

Third question - depends on the offcier but as a traffic guy I am always most interested in the fastest or most agressive target out there as stats proove they are the most dangerous driver.

Bonus - Hard to say, how do you know you were painted - yr detector go off ? Some sets transmit even in standyby mode so you would get an alert even if the set wasn't on. Operator could be busy doing something else, a whole host of things could be happening inside the cruiser you aren't privy to - who knows.
 

drrod

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as a traffic guy I am always most interested in the fastest or most agressive target
Rod,
What was your (and your department's policy) regarding "left lane bandits"? Were they ever pulled over and ticketed?
Not trolling here. Just wondering? It appears to me that these LLB's create situations where those held up behind them start doing things that are "dangerous". I hear that Florida is trying to pass legislation to deal with this.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-10/story/driving-slow-left-lane-could-get-you-ticket-florida
I do know that driving in most countries in Europe, people stay right, unless passing, and you certainly encounter fewer "trains" being held up by LLB's and traffic flows smoother.
Rod
 
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Toaksy

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I have a question are motorcycles harder to detect. I know that there has been several times that I was running quite a bit faster than the speed limit on the ST and passed law enforcement going the other way and I didn't even get a look. I don't have a radar detector so I don't know if they were running there radar but I would have to believe that the hwy patrol would have been.
 
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I have a late 80s Escort detector that I haven't used in years. It's K and X band, and was state of the art in the last millennium, but is it even worth turning on anymore? I realize it's not going to do anything for LIDAR, but it should still pick up most RADAR, shouldn't it?

As for the nose dive, I'd be interested in hearing what some officers have to say about that. It seems to me that you can't get a fine because your front suspension compressed. I have beat RADAR before by braking, so I'm favourably disposed toward that tactic.

PS: FWIW, I have found that being honest, polite, and friendly when pulled over is by far the best strategy. And the older I get the better it works!
 
OP
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You just need to find out what your local tax collectors using (what band radar). Its as simple as chatting one up and hoping they know, or asking to take a look at one.

I have a late 80s Escort detector that I haven't used in years. It's K and X band, and was state of the art in the last millennium, but is it even worth turning on anymore? I realize it's not going to do anything for LIDAR, but it should still pick up most RADAR, shouldn't it?

As for the nose dive, I'd be interested in hearing what some officers have to say about that. It seems to me that you can't get a fine because your front suspension compressed. I have beat RADAR before by braking, so I'm favourably disposed toward that tactic.
 
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Its as simple as chatting one up and hoping they know, or asking to take a look at one.
Off topic, but somewhat related: The day I bought my ST I got the only speeding ticket I've had this millennium. I asked to see the reading (as I had always done in the past), and the officer got royally indignant. Apparently, here in BC, they passed legislation so that police officers don't have to lock in a reading to use it. Not surprisingly, that makes people suspicious that they're just pulling numbers out of their asses and not actually taking radar readings at all. No idea if that's true, but it was clear that in my case the officer interpreted my question as an accusation.

Fortunately, he was a bike fan and I was able to steer the conversation away from the intricacies of BC traffic law and toward motorcycles. I still got the ticket, but at least it was knocked down a little (from what he claimed I was doing). He sure was testy for a few minutes, though.
 
OP
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Got to love any break you can get. In the US, Federal law doesn't require showing the display to anyone. I can't speak to other states, but neither does California law- and its most likely a state by state thing. Frankly, seeing the display means nothing anyway- so as you demonstrated- no need to get worked up about it.

Off topic, but somewhat related: The day I bought my ST I got the only speeding ticket I've had this millennium. I asked to see the reading (as I had always done in the past), and the officer got royally indignant. Apparently, here in BC, they passed legislation so that police officers don't have to lock in a reading to use it. Not surprisingly, that makes people suspicious that they're just pulling numbers out of their asses and not actually taking radar readings at all. No idea if that's true, but it was clear that in my case the officer interpreted my question as an accusation.

Fortunately, he was a bike fan and I was able to steer the conversation away from the intricacies of BC traffic law and toward motorcycles. I still got the ticket, but at least it was knocked down a little (from what he claimed I was doing). He sure was testy for a few minutes, though.
 

DonMac

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When I used to work moving radar, I would ALWAYS show the lock-on speed if asked, mostly because it kept me out of court and limited the complaints against me. I used to set the lock at 12 over and anyone there got a ticket. I'm retired now and got bagged in E. Oregon last year for 85 in a 65.
 
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Great thread!

Don't know too many LEO's, but I did get a LOT of speeding tickets "back in the day".
Argued many (usually to keep my license), and even "won" a few.
BUT... In their defense, non of the 20 +/- tickets issued to me were ever WRONG, so siting equipment or operator error by be the final nail.
 
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I use cruise control, and never go more then 7 miles over the speed limit, usually more like 5 miles over. Havent spent a DIME on a radar detector since I was in college (30+ years), havent had a ticket SINCE I HAD A FREAKING RADAR detector giving me that FALSE sense of security... I dont have to worry about heart or stomach lining meds either...

its simple and I can click of serious miles and actually NEVER worry about a ticket... and and and actually enjoy the ride...

just another option I throw out there.... but hey, if speed is your thing, own it and pay for it...

if your man enough to speed, be man enough to pay..oh, and NOT argue with the cop...lol
 
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