I agree. The law was designed to help curb street racing. Which is a serious problem here.

 

For a COP, you are making a lot of sense. I wish others felt the same way you do.

 

It's very, VERY difficult to keep a good, positive outlook on things under the conditions of which a lot of us work. Every time we leave our home, there is a very good chance it will be the last. We get shot at, punched, kicked, have objects thrown at us, spit on, bitten, ran from, attempted to be ran down by cars and trucks, cussed out and sworn at, and all for a middle-class income.

I won't complain, I love my line of work. I chose it and it can be very rewarding. But please understand that we see the worst of the worst in people every day, and our very lives are threatened several times per shift, 70 hours per week.

That said, I still try to be fair at all times.

 

Hey guys lets keep it focused. This isn't a bash the cops thread!

It's just some questions about radar detectors...etc, lets stay on focus.

 

How effective is a detector with out a laser jammer in Dallas?

 

As a traffic enforcement officer and RADAR instructor for the police academy I thought I would chime in. RADAR detectors are only as reliable as the officer is in not using the hold button.
NHTSA states that the RADAR does not actually determine the speeding car nor his speed. The speed is estimated by the LEO, then and only then may the LEO transmit his RADAR, if the audio tone matches the estimated speed then he or she can look at the screen, if the speed is + or - 2 1/2 mph of the estimate and in stationary mode the LEO can then make an enforcement action. If in motion, meaning cop car is moving, another step must be taken.
LEO's are not supposed to RADAR every car that passes but only those estimated to be speeding. otherwise the RADAR system is on, but not transmitting, HOLD mode. While in hold no Radio waves are being transmitted which = no detecting by your detector. Once you are observed speeding the read from your vehicle is near instantaneous. So if I'm on my toes your detector will sound as my display goes off.
However they do help, especially on highways, where the RADAR beam travels a long distance, you may find the officers RADAR beam from other motorists. and therefore you have the chance to bring it down to a legal limit.
On a side note, I love RADAR detectors. They make my job easy. If you pick up my beam and slow down as you pass me or my fellow officers, job done, no enforcement needed. It's called deterrence, the fear or anticipation of a citation slows you down.
RADAR jammers are strictly illegal in all 50 states, and laser jammers are not.

Just a pigs .02 cents

 

Minor correction, LASER jammers are not legal in four or five states and California is one of those states where laser jammers USE is not legal. It is not illegal to possess one in California.

 

Thank you for pointing out the correction. Here are the states laser jammers are illegal in "Laser jammers are illegal to operate in the states of: Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado and Washington DC." I am a officer in Kansas what I quoted is what NHTSA states, state laws may override NHTSA standard and create their own rules and laws governing RADAR and Laser operation as well as detection and jammer use. However it is federal law that restricts the use of RADAR jammers. But you are correct there are a few states that outlaw laser jammers as a violation of "hindrance of a LEO in the scope of their duties."

 

dunno but my friend got a few months ago a ticket for doing 105. the cop used laser, so his radar detector didnt pick it up. He has since upgraded to a V1. No tickets yet, and he is constantly doing 20+ over the limit

also, in Texas the law says that if you do 2x the limit, its considered "attempted suicide" and over 2x, its 3rd degree manslaughter *gulp* 40 in a school zone=attempted suicide hah riiiiiiiiight... not that i would do that but just sayin...


im in Dallas too by the way

 

A lot of cops around here leave their radar on full-time so I always know when they're in the area. I know laser is supposed to be too fast to catch in time to slow down, but twice I got the signal, slowed down and found the cop hiding around the corner, so it saved my bacon. Then again, I've gotten older and don't drive quite so fast as I used to...

 

Well from an old Pigs prospective...my brother pigs said it best, if we just want you to slow down, we leave our units on and only pick on the $#%@ss that isn't smart enought to slow down, but if we are in enforcement mode, mine will not be on until I see and estimate a speeder, at which time I will tell you my thumb IS faster than your foot...we aren't out there to pick on anybody, but we will do our job...I give breaks to everyone who is polite to me, and most of the time admits their mistake, I even let them go w/ a warning in most cases, but if I run a records check and you have been cited before, then you aren't learning, thus the pig haters...sooner or later you will slow down. Those people doing 55 are in rt, you are in the wrong...slow down, enjoy life....02 from an old Pig....oh, by the way, I think all of them are a waste of money...false signals galore....hell I turn my gun on and off just to play with ya....and VASCAR rules....look that up...

 

I really dislike the term PIGS but, I suppose if you think it's OK. Being involved with LEO's for quite some time, I totally agree with your assessment. I got stopped once in my Crossfire and was ticketed, when I had my PT Cruiser, I got stopped about 5 times, always let go except for once. A RI State Trooper got me as I was slowing down, I stopped and he did the usual and took my info, License, registration and Proof of Insurance. Went to his car and started witing me up. As he was in the process of doing that, a BMW SUV sped by, he lit em up and went after him, my stuff still in his cruiser. I waited patiently while he was gone. About 15 to 20 minutes later he returned and backed up the length of the highway and swerved around my car, got out and gave me the ticket, he told me that I was a gentileman for waiting and that if he hadn't made the ticket out, he wouldn't have given me one. He also told me to go to court and I would have it dissmissed. Which is what happened. On the way home, I took my normal exit, feeling real good, I was doing 40 in a 30 zone, I looked in my rearview and there was an officer with his lights flashing, not realizing he was after me, I stopped at the light where he turned off the overheads and sat behind me til the light changed. He lit em up and I pulled over. He got out of the car and as he came to my window, I chuckled and told him the story I have just told you. He laughed along with me and told me to drive slower. The point being that I know that you have a job to do and I try to be aware of that. I'm polite and courteous, after all I know what it's like to be in your shoes, I used to train officers in firearms handling, weapons retention and accuracy. Night firing, double tapping and the use of a surefire light.
Stay Safe, Rick (Crossfire Trail)

 

Crossfire Trail, No I don't care if someone wants to call me a pig, but it does not fall into the polite part I was referring to, it was more of a response to earlier posts...thanks...Doc
I really do think their money could be better spent other than on a radar detector...a lot of money for something to tell you you just got caught. Its funny they think they just got away with it when we weren't interested in them to begin with...we very well may have been on a call for service, or doing a report while sitting along the roadside. As I train young officers, in moving radar, I tell them not to spin on some speeders if it can't be done safely, thus they got away with it, but I further explain because they think they got away with it, they will do it again. Next time they will not be in a line of traffic...sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bears get you....Doc

 

Doc
I couldn't agree more with. As a sergeant at my department and a traffic officer often I am conducting other business on the shoulder in my rolling office and couldn't care less about the speeder. Often when driving long distances I use it's patrol speed reading for my speedometer, not paying attention to or caring about others speeds. I teach my rookies the same as you, that no speeder is worth endangering an innocent motorist. Habitual speeders are just that, you will see them again. As it comes to those who don't like the term PIG, well I use it in reference only to myself, as I am a cop. It's usually one of the nicer things people call us LEO's. Also one of my old chiefs once told me what PIG means to a cop. Pride, Integrity, and Guts. Kinda corny but something I have remembered through the years. Although I will point one thing out to those that may dislike us. Politeness goes a long way especially when your the violator. Its not an ego thing, just the golden rule and the acceptance of responsibility of your actions, which I was taught as a child.

Also what is this vascar you speak of? Surely must be from the days of the old single blue bubble light and the call box every mile
Just messing with ya as I have used it in the past. My favorite is when they ask to see your RADAR and you have them step back and show them the stopwatch and steel tape measure in the front seat. No detector in the world will catch those.

 

Here in PA, only the State Police can use RADAR. All other agencies can only use timing devices, ie VASCAR.

 

In Virginia the troopers have both radar and radar detector detectors. I witness all the works as he toggled from one to the other. He was nice but still wrote me a then $75 ticket at that time and it did not go against my license. It's more now and goes against your license. Needless to say I got rid of the detector because almost all my driving is in Virginia.

 

cops have radar detectors? or radar detector detectors as in they know who has a radar detector.