Well stated, Michael. I agree with your position and strategy. Police
nearly always drive above the posted limit where you live? I didn't know
you lived here in Texas, too ;^) Another thing here, they NEVER use turn
signals when changing lanes or turning corners. I suppose they don't come
on cruisers. Funny thing to me, San Antonio just put this so-called
"agressive driver target" plan in effect to reduce the scourge known as
"road rage." One of the qualifications for being considered an agressive
driver is the lack of the use of turn signals! So, by their own
definition, the police are the perps of "road rage": they exceed the
posted speed limits and they don't use turn signals, among other bad
driving habits commonly displayed.
Richard in San Antonio
On Fri, 21 Apr 2000 21:11:06 EDT "Michael Hines"
<michael_hines@hotmail.com> writes:
> Hello DML'ers,
>
> The thread on radar and detection has gotten my interest. In terms
> of common
> sense, if you speed, quite simply, you run a statistically greater
> chance of
> getting a speeding ticket than one who does not speed - simple as
> that. Now,
> the question becomes, "How do I drive at a speed that I feel
> competent
> enough to operate my vehicle while minimizing my chances of getting
> an
> invitation to the policeman's ball?"
>
> As we all know, having a tool does not automatically mean you are an
> expert
> in using it. Having a radar detector (RD) in and of itself does not
> mean you
> are impervious to getting a ticket. If you speed regularly and want
> to avoid
> getting caught, you need to be intelligent enough to use your RD and
> your
> senses to get the most of both.
>
> An RD works best with a trained pair of eyes and a little bit of
> common
> sense. Trained eyes look far off into the distance to look for
> patrol cars
> on the roadside or cars with lightbars or stripes in the median or
> on the
> shoulder (many police cars today are striped better and louder than
> any
> George Barris Kandy-Kolored Kustom Baby ever was). Running radar
> does not
> mean the patrol car must be stationary. Trained eyes also often
> check the
> rear view mirror for the same cars as above or for cars approaching
> at a
> high rate of speed. Better to slow down and see who it is than take
> a chance
> on a ticket! The RD serves to extend the eyes of the driver and
> sense out
> invisible threats at a distance that will allow you time to check
> your
> speed. Unmarked cars are often, though not always, Ford Crown Vics,
> Chevrolet Caprices, or Chevy Luminas (and the new Impala is
> beginning to
> show up here and there as well). Know 'em and keep an eye out for
> 'em. Look
> for lots of antennas, basic wheel and tire sets, official license
> plates,
> and/or spotlights on the A-pillars.
>
> One note: Laser (or LIDAR as it is known in the biz) is very
> difficult to
> detect and as a result, is known as being very effective against
> speeders.
> Your best defense against LIDAR is the use of the cars in front of
> you, i.e.
> use their speed and their use of brakes to alert you to the
> potential of
> LIDAR activity up ahead.
>
> Other things to look for:
>
> -Clusters of cars moving at or slightly slower than the posted limit
> might
> indicate the presence of a patrol car moving at or below the posted
> limit
> daring anyone to pass him.
>
> -Brake lights of the cars in front of you may indicate a sighting of
> a
> stationary or moving patrol car.
>
> -By the way, an open road can be a dangerous road. You should use
> the cars
> in front of you as your "advance decoys", if possible. If you have
> no cars
> in front of you, you place yourself in a position to get nailed with
>
> "instant on" radar or LIDAR.
>
> Remember, radar detectors are not illegal for use in automobiles
> except in
> VA. You have the right to use them everywhere else (unless any
> states have
> recently outlawed them that I may be unaware of). Most cop friends
> of mine
> do not get too excited about the use of RDs, and fully enjoy the
> challenge
> of catching and pulling over someone who uses an RD. Some also,
> quite
> arrogantly, like to make note of the fact that "If you speed, I can
> get you
> regardless of whether you use an RD or not." I think the best
> revenge is
> driving by a radar trap at the posted limit because you were alerted
> to the
> presence of radar by all the means I listed above...then resuming
> your
> original above-the-posted-limit speed.
>
> In the state where I live, I NEVER see state police cars driving the
> posted
> limit -EVER. I guess being an officer of the peace in my state gives
> one the
> ability to regularly exceed posted limits. (And, before unleashing
> the
> flamethrowers, I am fully aware of the need to exceed posted limits
> during
> emergencies...these are NOT at these times...I mean, doing 85 mph to
> get the
> donut shop before closing time does NOT constitute an emergency! OK,
> OK,
> exaggerating just a little here...no need to make our fellow DML
> officers of
> the peace mad!)
>
> Bear in mind that the cost of a V-1 at $400 could easily be the cost
> of one
> year's increase in your insurance premium if you are nailed for
> doing more
> than 20 MPH over the limit. I have easily paid many times over for
> the cost
> of my RDs in terms of saved insurance premiums. Remember, too, that
> many
> insurance companies regularly support speed enforcement programs,
> including
> donations of radar and LIDAR equipment to local and state police
> organizations. Can you say "collusion" or "vested interest"? The
> increase in
> speeders' premiums paid to insurance companies far exceeds the
> insurance
> industy's investment in speed detection equipment programs.
>
> Score: insurance companies- 2, police and municipalities- 1, you- 0.
>
> If you speed regularly, being more aware of your driving position
> and of
> those around you will be its own reward. You will be a safer, more
> aware
> driver and more competent to drive at a higher-than-posted speed.
>
> "Speed kills" is a true statement at some point, either directly or
> indirectly, but when "speed enforcement" is a euphemism for "state
> or
> municipal revenue enhancement", well, that's where the citizenry
> needs to
> arm itself with some type of defense. An intelligent free society
> will
> provide its citizens a method to determine when they are being
> subjected to
> remote surveillance and monitoring by its own government.
>
> DML content...hmmm...I think all our Daks/Rangos are easily capable
> of
> attaining illegal speeds.
>
> OK, I'll get off my pedestal now...thank for providing the forum for
> the
> open and free exchange of ideas and information.
>
> Mike Hines
> 2000 Durango SLT+ (w/ wobbly new wheels and tires)
> 1999 Camaro SS M6 (goes about 2.5x the posted limit, but no need for
> that
> kind of speed!)
>
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