They're not all bad...

[Aaron]

Well, it's probably about time, got pinged last night. Heading up Deans Ave past the Riccarton Road roundabout, (8:30pm). No traffic in my two lanes so I opened up a bit, that's when the highway patrol pinged me from the other carriageway

Didn't think they were pursuing until I got to Lincoln Road when the lights came on.

HP: Do you know how fast you were going back there?
Me: 70?
HP: No, 88.
Me: Oh.
HP: What was your reason for going that fast.
Me: No reason.

Took it like a man and was courteous and polite.

$400 fine, but he was pretty good about it. Didn't do me for two lane changes where I didn't indicate, nor did he give me any demerit points

He was a good guy, actually looked really familiar, (think we goto the same gym). Anyway, when he's finishing up he says, "Just... watch it in the future eh". The way he said it was classic, like, "I know this isn't going to stop you speeding, just keep it in check and be careful". Maybe a biker himself who can sympathise?

Regardless, I'm not bitter, it's been a long time coming and I feel things turned out a lot better than they could have.

Then just now on the way to work I pull onto Wairaki Road and (no wasn't speeding), an oncoming 4x4 driver flashes his lights at me, get the message and see he's being trailed by a patrol car. Gave a head nod in appreciation and continued on my way.

They're not all bad, the police or 4x4 drivers

[Timetogo]

If he wrote you a ticket, you've got demerit points

[Smorg]

If he wrote you a ticket, you've got demerit points

that was my line, you get demerit points for speeding regardless of whether the cop mention's it or not, the only exception is speed camera's

[Biff]

Bugger.

Time to invest in a radar detector?

As of last night, by my calculations, my radar detector has now paid for itself.

[Lou Girardin]

Bugger.

Time to invest in a radar detector?

As of last night, by my calculations, my radar detector has now paid for itself.

Funny that 'innit.
I hate to think how much speed tax I would have paid over the years.
( Oh sorry, that's right detectors are a waste of money)

[vifferman]

Funny that 'innit.
I hate to think how much speed tax I would have paid over the years.
( Oh sorry, that's right detectors are a waste of money)

So, do you guys with detectors get any tickets?
Despite not being particularly law-abiding, I'd had none, as I kept a fairly sharp eye out for cops. The one ticket I got last year (or whenever it was) was because I was dumb: everyone knows the road between Orewa and Wellsford is crawling with cops in the weekend, and I'd noted the same thing myself earlier in the day. I just got tired and irritable, and forgot to be careful.
Since then, the 40 points on my licence has made me a little paranoid. Maybe a detector would help, or would it make it worse, startling me with every false alarm?

[Beemer]

If I regularly did long distances and liked to ride fast, I'd invest in a radar detector. I've only had one speeding ticket and even though I was keeping an eye out for cops, spotting a burgundy four-door car coming towards you along the Himitangi Straight isn't easy! The times I've had a warning it would have given me a heads-up too, as the cops were either heading towards me or were around a slight bend out of sight.

I think they take a bit of getting used to though, every time one goes off I nearly cack myself!

[Lou Girardin]

So, do you guys with detectors get any tickets?

2002. 116 in a 100. T'was on passing lanes. I saw the plod, the detector went off. But I never thought any cop would be wanker enough to write a live ticket for that.
How wrong I was. Learnt fast though.
Phuque 'em.

[Ixion]

Bugger.

Time to invest in a radar detector?

As of last night, by my calculations, my radar detector has now paid for itself.

But, see, I don't see how this works.

According to the whisper from Certain Persons on the site Who Should Know, sensible cops leave their radars in standby mode (or some such thing) , and flick 'em on when they see a Vehicle of Interest (ie someone cranking along). And in the standby modey thingy, the detector can't detector it, cos it ain't transmitting.

So, if the first time the detector can detector is when he flicks the switch cos he's seen you and wants to ping you, it's too late ? Cos the ping the detector detectors is the ping that pings you? Right ?

Or am I missing something ?

(Of course if you're lucky he pings someone in front of you and you detector that. But that's a bit of a gamble )

[MSTRS:Me]

But, see, I don't see how this works.

According to the whisper from Certain Persons on the site Who Should Know, sensible cops leave their radars in standby mode (or some such thing) , and flick 'em on when they see a Vehicle of Interest (ie someone cranking along). And in the standby modey thingy, the detector can't detector it, cos it ain't transmitting.

So, if the first time the detector can detector is when he flicks the switch cos he's seen you and wants to ping you, it's too late ? Cos the ping the detector detectors is the ping that pings you? Right ?

His pinging you has a slight delay before he gets a locked-on speed. If you are quick on the brake, at least the lock-on will be at a lesser speed than was. I think.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I am aware of a technology that is a radar transmitter,

radar works on the doppler effect: a known frequency is transmitted, when it is reflected from a moving object its frequency is altered, proportional to the speed of the moving object. the comparison between the outgoing signal and the incoming signal (which is much weaker) leads to the assessment of the speed of the target vehicle.

the received signal (in comparison to the transmitted signal) is very weak

there are two types of target vehicle radar avoidance countermeasures: one is a white noise generator switched on by receipt of a signal of a given frequency. the outgoing transmitted signal prevents the radar unit receiving a viable doppler effect signal and the unit wont lock.

the other more sophisticated one, when triggered, transmits a signal at a known frequency, that is stronger at the receiver than the doppler effect signal return. So you could be going, say, 150kph and the pleece unit would receive a signal saying you were going 105 or something.

couple of issues are the very directional nature of the signals so you really need at least two transmit antennas (one forward, one rearward facing).

also, theyre quite expensive and questionably unlawful to own.

the other is it doesnt stop laser: for that you need stealth technology.

mmmm ECM rules.

[Aaron]

Great post HDC, cheers

[Patrick]

...According to the whisper from Certain Persons on the site Who Should Know, sensible cops leave their radars in standby mode (or some such thing) , and flick 'em on when they see a Vehicle of Interest (ie someone cranking along). And in the standby modey thingy, the detector can't detector it, cos it ain't transmitting.

So, if the first time the detector can detector is when he flicks the switch cos he's seen you and wants to ping you, it's too late ? Cos the ping the detector detectors is the ping that pings you? Right ?

(Of course if you're lucky he pings someone in front of you and you detector that. But that's a bit of a gamble )

Well said... its a bit like shooting ducks on water really... you can see the ones moving really radid like, so you wait for them (usually cars though, I've got to say...) .... not even the one on front will cover you then, you wait for him to go byand ping the detector pingy thingy......

As Lou agreed , could be a waste of money....

[Patrick]

2002. 116 in a 100. T'was on passing lanes. I saw the plod, the detector went off. But I never thought any cop would be wanker enough to write a live ticket for that.
How wrong I was. Learnt fast though.
Phuque 'em.

back in 2002???...bugger!!!...nowadays 111ks or more is trouble time, depending on the "discretion" limit...

[Patrick]

His pinging you has a slight delay before he gets a locked-on speed. If you are quick on the brake, at least the lock-on will be at a lesser speed than was. I think.

The "slight delay" is very short...a bit slower than the speed of light perhaps... push one button and then the other (transmit and lock...) and there you go... detector went off, yes! Braked in time... I'm not convinced, yet......