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Yeah, I second that. The first month or so on this job, I was light happy and hit them ALL the time. Once you get adjusted to police work, you see that there really is no need to use the lights unless you need to signal someone to stop, have to drive extrememly fast to catch up with a violator, respond to a serious call, etc. Some departments will tell the officer how to respond on each call (no lights, lights, lights/siren) however, my department allows the officer to use his/her discretion. I do sometimes drive a little faster with no lights on when going to a call (an alarm for example). I rarely pay attention to anyone passing me unless they really leave me in the dust.

 
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Cool. Thanks for clearing up the 7mph thing. Guess I wont try that excuse if it ever comes up though the Valentine 1 coming in the mail in the next few days should help me avoid that all together.

-Kre

 
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The Valentine One probably is the best (and most expensive) radar detector unit out there. Some police departments, can however, get around them by using something called "instant-on." My department has this feature on our radar units. The actual unit is off and does not send out a signal until I press the transmit button. When transmit is pressed, my RADAR (or LIDAR) turns on, and gets the speed of the car I am aiming it at. When the detector goes off, I have already gotten the speed of the car. Several departments are using this instant on technology. If you are near a car than an officer is trying to hit, your detector will go off and warn you, however.

 
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Yeah, I was reading up on that. And the problem with me is, I'm usually going a little faster than the flow of traffic, so the radar will probably be aimed at me if they're using the method you just described. [IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG] Oh well, I'll just assume the V1 will get me out of a least a ticket or two so it'll pay for itself

-Kre

 
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Is it true that cops are more suspicious of older, beat up looking vehicles that speed than newer (say 7th generation Civics) automobiles? (My friend told me this...)

And I know a cop can pull over as many cars as he/she pleases but I read in an old issue of Maxim that if you're in a car (small-midsized I guess) and you decide to speed, it's best to speed behind a truck/bigger vehicle because (this particular officer) is more likely to just pull over the bigger vehicle as they are more of a threat to the surrounding vehicles on the freeway. I don't think that'll guarantee you from not getting a ticket or anything, but is that true?

 
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QCKSILVR: Are those unmarked cars always Ford Crown Victoria's or does the Police use other makes as well? Any imports?

 
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Grey, you can use anything as long as it's authorized by the jurisdiction. I do have hidden police strobes in the headlights, rear turn signals and reverse lights and red undercover lights on the front top windshield of my Civic as well as a siren. I do police installs on the side and use my Civic as a demo sometimes, but have stopped about two people for serious things off-duty and also use the car sometimes when I do plain clothes patrol at night.....My department owned cars are Crown Vics --Many departments do have imports though.

 
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<< So even if 100% of the population drives at the speed limit they still need to issue tickets? That's the lamest thing i've heard. >>



The gov't sure does love those cash cows, doesn't it?

 
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<< Grey, you can use anything as long as it's authorized by the jurisdiction. I do have hidden police strobes in the headlights, rear turn signals and reverse lights and red undercover lights on the front top windshield of my Civic as well as a siren. I do police installs on the side and use my Civic as a demo sometimes, but have stopped about two people for serious things off-duty and also use the car sometimes when I do plain clothes patrol at night.....My department owned cars are Crown Vics --Many departments do have imports though. >>



::id can see it now....::

QCKSILVR at a red light in his civic wearing civilian clothing... has a tune up a bit

ricer pulls up with a teg all flashy

QCKSILVR gives them a look...

they rev back...

green light turns

the teg floors it

teg going 70 in a 45

QCKSILVR smiles and flicks the lights on

[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

 
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would that be considered entrapment? I'm not sure how that law works. I agree that he deserves the ticket, but should the cop be encouraging him to race? just a thought.

 
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but in my senario there, he didn't encourage anything, he just looked at them, and they reved back and when

 
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No, its not considered entrapment. Entrapment is basically encouraging a person to do something that they normally wouldn't do. If some pulled up in an integra and rev'd his/her engine then that person obviously initiated the events. Even "IF" the cop did rev his engine 1st he in no way coerced that person to go 70 in a 45.

 
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I see. thanks for the explanation.

 
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<< I drive one of these a few times I week...you can creep right up on someone and then hit the lights! >>



Yea, I watch closely for you [IMG]i/expressions/moon.gif[/IMG]'s!! I hate when yall try to get me like that.
And I hate that flash on radar that yall use. I cant get around it unless you clock the guy in front of me!

One other thing, is it illegal to have a radar scrambler? If its not, im gonna get one and yall will be faqed!!!!!
p.s....I really dont like cops that patrol the highways for speeders. Dont get me wrong, im glad yall stop idiots from causing accidents, but if I'm just speeding on a 4 lane highway, with no cars close to me, I dont see why it is wrong.

 
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<< ... (I) have stopped about two people for serious things off-duty and also use the car sometimes when I do plain clothes patrol at night.....My department owned cars are Crown Vics --Many departments do have imports though. >>



Maybe it's a California-only thing, I know CA has some freakin' strict laws, but I thought it was illegal for an unmarked car to make a traffic stop. Am I mistaken?

 
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Yup. You are mistaken. Why do you think they have unmarked cars? A big portion of it is so they can be less visible. Its obvious that a person will drive fast, etc. when I cop is not around. That's why they try to hide from you. There are many misconceptions about what cops HAVE to do. One big one I hear in Florida is that they have to have their parking lights on when they are running radar. Some cops have portable radar guns so that the can just stand on the side of the road, behind a sign etc.. so you can't see them.

As far as your descrambler.. YES, its illegal (maybe). The way the law is written (at least in Florida) it is illegal to cause interference to a police frequency. Their radio, Radar Gun, etc.. There have been some companies who have found ways around that, but last I heard if a cop points his radar gun at your car and he doesn't get a reading or gets some off the wall reading, your probably going to have some explaining to do. Although it may get thrown out of court and some sort of legal technicality, you will still probably have to deal with all that mess. Just keep in mind, just because he doesn't get you on radar doesn't mean that he can't pull you over for speeding. The majority of the states (is not all of them) permits a cop to pull you over just on visualization. However, they do need a radar/laser reading to issue you a ticket for a specific speed.

Edit: You may not be mistaken!! I can only speak on behalf of Florida law. I know in Florida law allows an unmarked or even off duty cop to make a traffic stop (depends on departmental policy).

 
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plea not guilty, and u will have the charges dropped!!11

 
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I got nabbed today...$180 for 91 in a 65- cop hid in a blind spot and by the time I saw him and slowed down it waz to late...this cop said the same thing to me "Nice Ride, I like Hondas" then whyd u pull me over [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/IMG]

 
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what he meant to say was, "Nice ride, I like to pull over Honda's."

 
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QCKSILVR....post pics of your police civic man....i HAVE to see that!!

 
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funny how the cops sits right front of school by the "15mph" sign and pull people over for having a radar[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG]

and i think they have to have parking lights on. i've seen a few cop cars on the side of the road waiting for people, but their lights are on (especially that suburban that pulled me over once, i'll never forget him!)

 
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I've never been pulled over by an unmarked car. always been the good ol' police cruiser with lights and all. hehe.

 
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I just got back from vacation, but I will take some pictures of all of the lights on in my Civic and post 'em.

 
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"The Valentine One probably is the best (and most expensive) radar detector unit out there. Some police departments, can however, get around them by using something called "instant-on." My department has this feature on our radar units. The actual unit is off and does not send out a signal until I press the transmit button. When transmit is pressed, my RADAR (or LIDAR) turns on, and gets the speed of the car I am aiming it at. When the detector goes off, I have already gotten the speed of the car. Several departments are using this instant on technology. If you are near a car than an officer is trying to hit, your detector will go off and warn you, however. "

I've always felt my detector would go off too late, unless i was in relatively dense traffic. An example being on a relatively busy divided highway. so I'd pick up the radar transmissions at all the other vehicle's long before I actually found the cop. Another ideal situation would be a 2 lane highway (but straight). With 1 or 2 vehicle's visible ahead of me, and the cop traveling the other direction. This has worked before. my detector would go off twice as the cop approached each vehicle. giving me plenty of warning.

 
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I have got to see your civ. with police strobes QCKSILVR, that's great! It would certainly catch me off guard. But then again, I don't speed. [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG]

 
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Hah. My Valentine 1 just possibly saved me my first ticket. Was driving down a 40mph road at 2am. No traffic and road was empty. Was about to take off when the V1 goes crazy. I look around and about 5 seconds later I see the cop coming out a side street. I keep my speed at 40 and watch him with my mirrors. He pulls to the side of the road and turns off all his lights. The radar is still trained on me until about 30 seconds later when I finally go over a hill and out of his sights. [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/IMG]

-Kre

 
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Very imformative thread guys!

QCKSILVR: Is there a place where one can buy the police strobes legally? hehe jk
Well... in my case.. my citation was based on a visual observation for "speeding" [note a little later why i stress the quotes on "speeding"].. iight so check it..

I leave this awesome Asian Restaraunt with my ex-girlfriend [where we had a religous dinner with family & friends]...
leaving down an old dark street... one of those streets where you could go 35-45 w/no problems and you wouldnt care how fast/slow...

[I stress slow cause to some this might be slow, like me.. for example if I were by myself and not my ex + her sister... that cop would of NEVER tried to pull me over, cause I would of lost him, but w.e i thought maybe me and the officer new each other]

...you're going due to the fact that 'its ok' period. So this officer doofie decides to pull a U-turn on the street [he was coming head on to me] and speeds to catch up to me.. note im already like 2 streets [blocks or w.e] away from him...

But w.e so I slowed down and pulled over... had all my information ready to be handed to him [the cop was a guy]... so he gets behind me... comes over to the window.. check this out.. the pr*ck gleems at my ex [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG] ... asks me "what kinda car is this" [right there I got a weird feeling something bad was gonna happen]... hehe im not sure if this dude overdosed on glazed doughnuts and was having a bad-reaction at the time.. but he wrote down i had four doors [when i have 2] and that i had a blue honda civic (its Black@!) ... w.e I "understand" (or so they have tried to persuade me into believing) that it's debatable due to the lack of SUN at night time in this dark street (somehow the cops 30 billion lights were not flourescent enough &gt;&gt;&gt;shrug&lt;&lt;&lt; [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG] ) Anyways... "so he puts" a number for the speed "he thought" (observed) i was speeding at [yet left no radar info or whatnot, I already plead not guilty, scheduled it for trial... and rescheduled it (cause im bad like that), most likely this cop wont show up to the next trial.. if he does.. heh.. i am bringing along some Duking Doughnuts Gift Certificates. And from now on Ill always carry a crate of those certificates for the greasy doughnut eaters... hehehe em butthuggin' bombaclawd tight pant wearing botyboyz *^&%($@!!

So the Lidar sounds scary to those with heavy feet, lol..
da Radar has to be recalibrated before every shift in Florida (tru im learning)
The state has to prove I was speeding with evidence, right? &gt;&gt;&gt;confused!!&lt;&lt;&lt;
eh... civilians CAN be pulled over based on observation(s) [IMG]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/IMG]

Whatever, all I know is that in my case, if that police officer couldnt tell my car was black with 2 doors instead of what he said... then how could he conclude I was speeding based on his observation, when he couldnt frikin note the amount of doors or color of my car when it was f*ck*ng turned off on the side of the same DARK @SS ROAD while he was right there walking back and forth next to my baby (my car is my baby). =( no one is perfect but.. man.. these imperfections cost money to some people, wheres the empathy. If this was ten years ago I would of shot that cop dead in the third eye. [IMG]i/expressions/beer_yum.gif[/IMG]

<font color=white style="background-color: 3E3E3E;">Vote NO for Quotas!!</font ft>

 
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Black:
Cops are allowed some room for human error when it comes to issuing citations. As far has him writing down four doors instead of two or that he wrote down the wrong color of your car doesn't necessarily mean the ticket will be thrown out. However, he may have been on for several hours and was fatigued as he was nearing the end of his shift. Find out what time he came on and what time he got off. You MAY be able to argue that he was fatigued and his judgement was rather imparied. You can also go to human resources and get a copy of his file. It will contain lots of information like his hire date, pay rate, reprimands, and/or awards. It won't give you personal information like his address or phone number, but they will give you all work related information. You may be able to find something that shows he not the "top cop" that he should be and some of his decisions are questionable. And NO the state does not have to prove that you were speeding. The cop says you were speeding, that is all the proof they need. You also have to remember that a lot of men are somewhat colorblind (my girlfriend tells me I am, but I tell her she's full of it) and will often mistake one dark color for another. When they are behind you with red/blue/white lights flashing off your car, that can also confuse your eyes a little bit. Its dark out and your pupils natually want to diolate but the flashing lights are preventing it. I know (hope) you are kidding about the doughnut gift certificates. I would LOVE to see you try that. Not only is bribing a police officer a felony, your really gonna **** him off with doughnuts. Let me give you some insight on why cops USED to hang out at dougnut shops. Years ago when cops were working late night shifts, doughnut shops were pretty much the only places that were open that light at night. It gave them a place to sit down and have a cup of coffee and relax for a few minutes. When its a slow night, driving around in a cruiser gets real old and boring after a few hours. A word of advice, if you would like information/suggestions from people associated with law enforcement, I would suggest refering to them as "tight pant wearing botyboyz *^&%($@!!" People who enforce the law have to know the law. We know common errors that can be made and can provide advice that may get your ticket thrown out. I do not find it amusing that you said years ago you would have just dropped him dead and been on your way. I find it offensive and not humurous at all!!!

 
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ATTN: Voiceofid
Cops (at least in FL) do not have to have their parking lights on when they are running radar. The main reason most of them do it is for safety reason. They don't want to be completely hidden in case you run off the road or loose control you know where NOT to aim. There have been many cases where cops sitting on the side of the road have been hit by drunk drivers, I've seen a few videos where they have been hit on the side of the road with full lights issuing a citation. We have cops that have handheld guns and hide behind bushes, signs or whatever and then radio you in to another cop down the road to pull you over.

 
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We aren't required to use parking lights when running radar, but I tend to, as do most other officers. Kevin is correct in everything he said; I don't care for donuts much, nor do any squad members of mine. My pants are not tight either, you are probably refering to the pants of the motorcycle officers, which I am not. As for making material errors such as the color, number of doors, etc., that can easily be amended to in court by the officer. That trick does not usually fly anymore. As far as dropping the officer dead, we (police officers) spend hours in the academy and although I am only 22, I am willing to bet I can draw my gun faster than any civilian. Because of that attitude, most of us will only ask once to see your hands, and will simply have the firearm ready if the person choses not to comply. Cops are on guard during every stop. You will have to change your attitude if you expect to do something with that ticket.

As far as the strobes, anyone can have them, and the police ones are very expensive, unlike the Pep Boys style ones. They are for off-road purposes for civilians, that is you can not use them on public roads.