Photo radar

[Homerr]

Ok, I know we have some law enforcement folks on this board... Spill the beans!<br /><br />How does the photo-radar work? Will a radar detector catch them?<br /><br />I'm curious, cause a friend (no, not me!) got nailed by one the other day. Took his picture and mailed him the ticket. Damn nice picture too!<br /><br />I've drove by these 'photo vans' numerous times and my radar detector didn't make a peep.<br /><br />I'm thinking they are set to snap a picture only when a certain speed is reached? If so, then how can a radar detector beat them? Or can they?<br />Does the operator pick and choose his target and then shoot the radar out or? <br />Would make it tough even if your detector caught it to slow down in time.<br /><br />????<br /><br />H.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Photo radar

The all seeing eye! Can be mounted on an inocent looking sign telling you which way to turn for route XX. Knows just how fast yer goin to. Go to fast and PRESTO! Ya got yer self a ticket. Picture got yer plates, kind of vehicle and all. Probably put the state trooper outa' buisness someday.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Photo radar

Yo Homerr,<br />Might not be radar. Maybe laser.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Photo radar

was thinking what hooty said. and it could be intermittent, so even a detector wouldn't catch it in time.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Photo radar

LOL.. Yea, the great eye...<br /><br />You hear about Oregon proposing a GPS system (of sorts) in every car to track for a per-mile tax?<br /><br />Yea sure..And they won't know who's in the car! Over my dead body will they ever put something like that in my cars.<br /><br />My detector does lazer too. Still didn't catch it, so I'm leaning towards an intermittent thing...<br /><br />H.

 

[JB]

Re: Photo radar

Very simple system to beat.<br /><br />Deeps t'nod!

 

[DJ]

Re: Photo radar

JB,<br /><br />Huh??<br /><br />Here in AZ we have the radar vans and red light cameras.<br /><br />The light cameras are placed strategically on intersections. When you see the "flash" you're nailed.<br /><br />They have to get a good picture of you before they can proceed with a citation.<br /><br />Hint, driving around and not speeding or running red lights will keep you safe. Also, the sun visor blocks a full facial view!

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Photo radar

Also them smoke colored license plate frames work well to protect the numbers from the camera.<br /><br />But then again, if you do not break the law, just wave as you go by.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Photo radar

Hommer<br />If you want to ruffle their feathers.<br />Send'm a picture of the check.

 

[DJ]

Re: Photo radar

NOSLEEP,<br /><br />I read an article about doing just that. Some guy did send a picture of a check and got a return picture of handcuffs.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Photo radar

Picture of handcuffs, that's funny. It had to be radar or laser. The only way they can tell your speed is by the dopppler effect. Maybe the sensor they used was blocked by something on youe vehicle so it did not get to your detector. Here they are using regular cars and they get behind you to clock your speed or see if your follwoing too close. Then they radio ahead and you get pulled over by a marked car down the road.

 

[magster65]

Re: Photo radar

In BC photo radar was everywhere, then they got rid of it. I think it's dangerous. The cameras were set up in Chevy Astro minivans and parked along the side of busy roads so every time someone saw a van they'd spike thier brakes... speeding or not.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Photo radar

We already have something in our cars that is sort of "big brotherish". When the airbag deploys, the computer will capture the last 5 seconds of data. Speed, deceleration, seatbelts locked, etc. I understand there is quite a legal skirmish going on as to who this data belongs to--the car owner, the manufacturer, etc. It will be interesting to see how it pans out. For example, if I was a manufacturer, I would be interested to know that you were doing 125MPH when your "defective" tire blew out and caused a crash.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Photo radar

That's interesting Jack. I talked to a guy once that went in for his second warranty starter. He said the dealer wanted to deny his claim because he used the starter too much. They gave him a number and asked why he had started his car so much. He is an antique dealer and goes rummaging every weekend. I didn't know whether to believe him or not.

 

[DJ]

Re: Photo radar

All,<br /><br />Read your warranty-regardless of manufacture.<br /><br />The LEAST read book, in history, beside the Bible is the OWNERS manual.<br /><br />It reads: "defects in manufacture or workmanship."<br /><br />It says nothing about covering one for: "overuse", "lack of maintenance", or "abuse".<br /><br />It's interesting how we will excuse our "toy" (meaning-boat warranties) yet we are willing to go to court, or further, for our vehicles.<br /><br />We all want an escape for our own shortcomings.<br /><br />Priorities??

 

[Homerr]

Re: Photo radar

That's interesting on BC getting rid of photo radar vans. Do you have any more information on this? I'd like to send it to the guru's in our state capitol.<br /><br />I'm not one for speeding, but I do like to know where the sped traps are. THAT'S where they get you. A 55 to a 35 etc... I got one of those years ago while in high school.<br /><br />I put one of those "Shelf-It" shelves in my truck, and now the sun visors can completely cover your face if you want it too. Problem is, try to deploy it fast enough!<br /><br />H.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Photo radar

The BC photo radar was seen as a cash grab and was axed with our last change in government. I'm not sure that was the best solution. I do believe it was a revenue generator the way it was used but I still think it could be used properly. Base the location of the radar traps at known high accident areas and give the ticket revenue to a different level of government from those who pick the spots out. We have Provincial auto insurance (ICBC) who could best dictate where to locate the radar but would not see a dime of the revenue and then I'd have reasonable assurance it was a safety issue and not a cash grab.<br /><br />BTW, when we still had the system, there was one stretch of road where I saw an Astro van. Checked my speed and was fine but saw lots of people braking for the van. As I drove by it, it was a local boat store van parked in front of there shop.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Photo radar

Djohns, good point on the warranty.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Photo radar

Something you should know about these is they aren't real tickets. They are civil and cannot become criminal except for lackof payment. It cannot go on your driving record. As far as the car following and another officer issueing the ticket, that would be illegal. If I radar someone and my partner in the SAME car writes the ticket its ok, however someone else somewhere else cannot. You have to see the violation to cite someone for it.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Photo radar

Ken, these type of tickets happen all the time here in Wisconsin. Especially in Madison. In fact, there is a place where they park a car in a set of bushes. The other patrol cars are parked a block away lined up at a stop sign. The car in the bushes never moves and just radios for the patrol cars to pull over the speeders. Another one I have seen is a guy in the median with a lawn chair. The radio is in a box under his chair. The police cars are lined up on the on ramp. This is not a highway, but a divided road with a 35 or 40 mile an hour speed limit. I would assume that the laws here in Wisconsin must be a little different than the comminuty in Texas where you work. I have never been given a ticket in this way and will have to remember to fight it if I do.