[dth656]

well, just got pulled over for speeding (first time ever in 17 years of driving). while i do tend to speed and drive aggressively, i've always followed a few guidelines:
-keep out of the fast lane
-always keep eyes on the rear view mirror (and all around) looking out for the crown vic shape
-always slow down around corners or crests of hill (where there might be a cop lurking on the other side)

unfortunately, a moment of inattention just now and some CHP pig was able to clock me at 79. given this, i wanted to see what forum members suggestions were for radar/laser detecters..
-does laser work that well at night (wouldnt it be tough for the cop to aim at the front license plate and get a good return in the dark?)
-what does the CHP in nor cal typically use?
-what device would you recommend for avoiding CHP specifically?

i'll also ask a few of my EE friends, but wanted to know what folks on the forum had used, thanks in advance

[persian54]

no idea on nor cal but doubt its much diff than so cal

the more chrome in front the worse (chrome grill, plate, etc)

and they dont need a great reading

if you're the only one, they can get you

i love my V1
but it doesnt work on freeways

most chp pace you or see you pass them IMO cause it's hard to laser/radar on the freeway.... (highways are different but still)



you also really have no 'legal' protection against laser...

[mdxh99]

Originally Posted by persian54

you also really have no 'legal' protection against laser...

you can detect radar before you get hit with it, but laser is too fast...

i use a passport 9500, works great, i get about a 2 mile headsup for radar, not too many false alarms...

i read in another forum of a similar thread, a few of those guys use a radar detector in addition, a bct scanner, basicaly a scanner that picks up a shitload of frequences like EMS, CHP, local police, even aircrafts that are used to radar cars. this would be useful when on the highway when you run into a speedtrap or a cop on the side of the road issuing a bolo for you car, you hear them on the radio, you can just pull over and wait it out, etc.

i definitely gotta save up for one of those, sounds useful

[RichMattB]

Man, the cop hating is getting a little juvenile. It detracts from the credibility of this site.

The CHP guy is a pig cause he clocked you speeding which you admittedly do as a matter of routine?

[1N54E92]

Originally Posted by RichMattB

Man, the cop hating is getting a little juvenile. It detracts from the credibility of this site.

The CHP guy is a pig cause he clocked you speeding which you admittedly do as a matter of routine?

OP didn't mean any harm.We do not bash LEO on this site.

[jopa489]

Originally Posted by RichMattB

Man, the cop hating is getting a little juvenile. It detracts from the credibility of this site.

The CHP guy is a pig cause he clocked you speeding which you admittedly do as a matter of routine?

It's understandable the OP is frustrated but I agree with the above. You were speeding, he nailed you. Unfortunate but you really can't run around complaining.

If you have one ticket in 17 years of driving (while admittedly speeding and driving aggressively) consider yourself lucky. You'll be better off with your strategies than a piece of technology in this case. Also, instant-on radar is capable of getting your speed instantly, just like laser. All cops have instant-on now, it just depends if they're sitting there turning it on/off. Obviously, its most efficient in low-traffic areas.

You may find this site interesting: http://www.guysoflidar.com - but note that jammers have been explicitly made illegal in CA.

[Z22Z]

another member posted this web site a little while ago and it has some cool info you might be able to use. also, it should say on your ticket what kind of device was used. you might be able to use the basic speed law to get out of it if he wrote down the right code. http://www.helpigotaticket.com/sitemap.html

[dth656]

thanks for the helpful posts guys. i'm interested in tactics that the CHP is using, as back in the day they used to pace you (so it was relatively easy to keep an eye out), but now they have lidar and radar at their disposal. the other factor in this incident is that this CHP car did NOT have reflective strips on the back of the trunklid--in the past, these have been very helpful in indicating an otherwise completely hidden speed trap. a couple of questions:
-how efficient is the return from complex surfaces for the lidar (as anothe rposter mentioned, the chrome grille, etc)?
-approximate at what range do lidar and radar offer optimum performance?
-how good (if at all) are the v1, k40, passport, etc at picking up stray returns from the cops nailing people ahead of you (both lidar, radar)?

thanks in advance


as for referring to LEO's as pigs, that is my perogative. if it's deemed to be 'juvenile', so be it. i'm sure some of the people on this forum have negative opinions of other professions (investment bankers, management consultants, hedge fund traders, etc).

[persian54]

Originally Posted by Bryan0102

Can't remember what it was but my grandpa rolls around with one of those detectors that detects up to 5 miles and has a police walkie talkie looking thing (like a military radio) that gets all the frequencies when he goes out to race.

more details please

i want i want lol

[chaze]

Originally Posted by beeasyed

you can detect radar before you get hit with it, but laser is too fast...

i use a passport 9500, works great, i get about a 2 mile headsup for radar, not too many false alarms...

i read in another forum of a similar thread, a few of those guys use a radar detector in addition, a bct scanner, basicaly a scanner that picks up a shitload of frequences like EMS, CHP, local police, even aircrafts that are used to radar cars. this would be useful when on the highway when you run into a speedtrap or a cop on the side of the road issuing a bolo for you car, you hear them on the radio, you can just pull over and wait it out, etc.

i definitely gotta save up for one of those, sounds useful

I have this app on my iphone, Emergency Radio. It streams their radio chatter in, however not all agencies have put their frequencies online.

[Aurora Bearialis]

Originally Posted by chaze

I have this app on my iphone, Emergency Radio. It streams their radio chatter in, however not all agencies have put their frequencies online.

I saw something like that on CNN or the internet about in Washington DC the cops there say that people that use the iPhone app that tells them where all the cameras and speed detectors are, are cowardly. LOL Washington DC cops are the biggest haters.

I say to the OP: just get a V1, its really the best thing and has saved me numerous times while driving. Although I did tend to drive more on the safe side and not speed as much as did in my E46. But it already paid for itself with the E46 so

[nlakind]

Originally Posted by dth656

well, just got pulled over for speeding (first time ever in 17 years of driving). while i do tend to speed and drive aggressively, i've always followed a few guidelines:
-keep out of the fast lane
-always keep eyes on the rear view mirror (and all around) looking out for the crown vic shape
-always slow down around corners or crests of hill (where there might be a cop lurking on the other side)

unfortunately, a moment of inattention just now and some CHP pig was able to clock me at 79. given this, i wanted to see what forum members suggestions were for radar/laser detecters..
-does laser work that well at night (wouldnt it be tough for the cop to aim at the front license plate and get a good return in the dark?)
-what does the CHP in nor cal typically use?
-what device would you recommend for avoiding CHP specifically?

i'll also ask a few of my EE friends, but wanted to know what folks on the forum had used, thanks in advance

sorry you got pulled over, that is never fun, however, you were speeding & he was just doing his job.

my ex gf lives in sonoma & i made the drive from LA-nor-cal probably 15 times over the last couple years. i don't drive slow, i try, it's impossible.

so to answer your questions:
i've never been hit by laser on all the times i've driven up & i know a couple of chp's in sonoma/nor-cal & they don't use laser, i'm not sure abotu the chp's in the sf & immediate surroundng areas but i haven't ever been hit by laser. just the normal chp KA band & i would highly suggest the V1 for chp specifically, it has saved me on numerous occasions driving to nor-cal.

[dth656]

actually, thats where i got nailed, NB 101 in sonoma country (santa rosa ave exit). i've noticed a heavier police presence in the last few years, especially at night. as you go north of san rafael, there are a couple of crests, bends and other spots where i'll see a speedtrap setup

might be time for a v1...

Originally Posted by nlakind

sorry you got pulled over, that is never fun, however, you were speeding & he was just doing his job.

my ex gf lives in sonoma & i made the drive from LA-nor-cal probably 15 times over the last couple years. i don't drive slow, i try, it's impossible.

so to answer your questions:
i've never been hit by laser on all the times i've driven up & i know a couple of chp's in sonoma/nor-cal & they don't use laser, i'm not sure abotu the chp's in the sf & immediate surroundng areas but i haven't ever been hit by laser. just the normal chp KA band & i would highly suggest the V1 for chp specifically, it has saved me on numerous occasions driving to nor-cal.

[ktdw]

+1 on the V1

+1 on fighting the ticket.

[longtran]

Originally Posted by persian54

no idea on nor cal but doubt its much diff than so cal

the more chrome in front the worse (chrome grill, plate, etc)

and they dont need a great reading

if you're the only one, they can get you

i love my V1
but it doesnt work on freeways

most chp pace you or see you pass them IMO cause it's hard to laser/radar on the freeway.... (highways are different but still)



you also really have no 'legal' protection against laser...

maybe you need an update for your v1 because mine works perfectly on the freeway.

[persian54]

mine is updated... but i rarely ever pick up anything except X or K and that's when i pass busy districts where you're on a bridge and there are shopping centers near by...


on the freeway i think radar is useless for cops if its busy...
i mean, if you are going 85, not in the fast lane, and there are cars around you, how are they going to pin point on you?
it's a laser that is pointed at a car, radar spans out...

[dth656]

yeah, the lidar is a much more coherent beam than radar. since both are line-of-sight, i try and avoid the fast lane as much as possible.