Let me reply on a law enforcement perspective first.


First a radar detector is not going to do you any good. If I spot someone that appears to be in excess of the limit I stop them. Does not matter if he has a radar detector, I don't have a radar gun in my car. Most officers are good judges of speed and some are accurate within 5 MPH, pretty good odds. With respect to the Laser systems I can honestly tell you that they are used much more than most people think. Ive used them and they are quite fast and accurate. Wrote many cites that have stuck, my tolerance over is 15 MPH highway and ZERO for residential. Nice cop can I have a donut?

Now the reality is with the officer himself. Some are bored and have nothing better to do but write speed cites, makes some good money for the county and does nothing to make the driver slow down, only upsets him. Its not the speed that kills so much is the talent or lack of in guiding that 850 cruise missle down an interstate. If you can maintain 100 in a straight line be my guest but remember you are playing with your life and others as well. Some people cant keep in a lane at 45 but choose to push the limits out past 85, who got the ticket in this case? Officers are also good judges in driver quality, we see them every day and it takes little time to learn. Lession?
Observe several drivers on an interstate during the weekday afternoon commutes. How many drive in the hammer lane at 10 over the limit? Do they maintain the same lane? Note following distances. Next observe the lane over and watch the drivers of that lane. 5 over or 10 over competing for the hammer lane? Anyone playing lane chicken? After some distance note the drivers in the hammer lane again, has any of them passed the others using the next right lane? With all of this in mind who are you going to ticket if any? Now at your distance inspect the vehicle and driver as best you can. Filthy windows? Any wheels that wobble? Dual exausts? Older or younger driver? Filthy windows indicate someone who does not care about the car and its nothing more than an appliance, bet its running on old worn brakes. Driving is not a passion to him and I doubt he should be going over the limit as he will be another stastistic that I have to clean up. Now who gets the ticket?


Hints...

If you want to max out your volvo do it on the interstate after you have done a presite of the highway. Drive up then down in the area you want to do your flying speed test. Look and observe the exit and entrance ramps. If the highway has a closed median thats a plus, it means I cant whip around and come after you. The farther you get from on/off ramps means better odds at not getting picked for a ticket. Lets say you are doing 120 MPH and 4 miles from a ramp on a closed median. I spot you midway and floor my P71 cruiser taking it to 120 as well. Our parting speed is 240 MPH at this point. I hit a ramp and turn around. You have just come to the other ramp that was 2 miles ahead of you, took you 60 seconds to make that exit ramp. During that time I had to accelerate, hit the turn around on the ramp then accelerate once again to hit 120 MPH... I lost you

Did you commit a crime? Yes and no. You did outrun me but that was because of the laws of physics but I cant ticket you for that. Were you in a 60 MPH or greater zone? No felony speed here. The only law you did break was speeding however I cant charge you with evasion because I was not behind you with my lights on.

My point in all this? A radar is not going to save your ass, only common sense. With a radar detector most cops will go with the 9/10 law meaning you carry so you must commit the crime. A radar detector can talk you into a ticket before you even know its being written. Do I ticket for radar detectors? You be the judge.


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