Will many stop using their radar detectors ?
Discussion
With the proposed new legislation, I am curious to see how many people will actually stop using their radar detectors.
With the increasing proliferation of mobile cameras, radar detectors are the only chance against the parasites, so I cannot see an alternative, if I want to keep my license.
I for one will play the laws of probability, and rely on the fact that there are significantly less police officers on the roads than there are cameras.
I am just wondering how many others feel the same way.
How do the police feel about prosecuting somebody who has a radar detector ?
With the increasing proliferation of mobile cameras, radar detectors are the only chance against the parasites, so I cannot see an alternative, if I want to keep my license.
I for one will play the laws of probability, and rely on the fact that there are significantly less police officers on the roads than there are cameras.
I am just wondering how many others feel the same way.
How do the police feel about prosecuting somebody who has a radar detector ?
With the increasing use of laser speed guns I get the impression that radar detectors are becoming yesterdays technology now. Generally their ability to warn you of a lasering BiB before they've got a fix on you is limited - as the number of mobile speed trap units using laser systems goes up, the best defence will probably become a GPS system (like Road Angel) and a laser jammer.
The GPS system can't be banned because there is clearly a safety rationale - warning of accident blackspots, etc. But the laser "garage door openers" are going to be a big bugbear for the cops. They've already prosecuted for use of these, even though the law is not very clear.
It's just a bastard that I'm in France where such measures are REALLY not tolerated, but if I lived in the UK then I'd certainly equip myself with a GPS based warning system and front and back garage door openers (I reverse into the garage on alternate days
).
The GPS system can't be banned because there is clearly a safety rationale - warning of accident blackspots, etc. But the laser "garage door openers" are going to be a big bugbear for the cops. They've already prosecuted for use of these, even though the law is not very clear.
It's just a bastard that I'm in France where such measures are REALLY not tolerated, but if I lived in the UK then I'd certainly equip myself with a GPS based warning system and front and back garage door openers (I reverse into the garage on alternate days
).Radar/Laser Detectors
No-one will stop using them. Why would you? They look exactly like a GPS based one. To tell the difference a copper would have to pull you over and ask to see it...and even then it could be one of the many Detectors with GPS in it too - which would make distinguishing it from a legal one very, very difficult indeed.
Jammers on the other hand I think people will stop using - if there are a few high-profile cases where users are found guilty of perverting the course of justice/obstructing a police officer and punished severely.
So unless the use of a detector carries a disporportionately severe punishment people will carry on using them since it is vanishingly unlikely you'll be caught using it and it might help you avoid a ticket...
No-one will stop using them. Why would you? They look exactly like a GPS based one. To tell the difference a copper would have to pull you over and ask to see it...and even then it could be one of the many Detectors with GPS in it too - which would make distinguishing it from a legal one very, very difficult indeed.
Jammers on the other hand I think people will stop using - if there are a few high-profile cases where users are found guilty of perverting the course of justice/obstructing a police officer and punished severely.
So unless the use of a detector carries a disporportionately severe punishment people will carry on using them since it is vanishingly unlikely you'll be caught using it and it might help you avoid a ticket...
There will be people who stop using them...for various reasons....
As for knocking people off who use 'em...
Don't know really...
When they were illegal last time...if people had the sense to remove them before I walked to their car, I was happy. I would often see two suction cups on the windscreens and a wire hanging from the dashboard, Fanta orange spilling from an open can in the footwell etc..
If people are switched on enough...
As for knocking people off who use 'em...
Don't know really...
When they were illegal last time...if people had the sense to remove them before I walked to their car, I was happy. I would often see two suction cups on the windscreens and a wire hanging from the dashboard, Fanta orange spilling from an open can in the footwell etc..
If people are switched on enough...
Streetcop said:
There will be people who stop using them...for various reasons....
As for knocking people off who use 'em...
Don't know really...
When they were illegal last time...if people had the sense to remove them before I walked to their car, I was happy. I would often see two suction cups on the windscreens and a wire hanging from the dashboard, Fanta orange spilling from an open can in the footwell etc..
If people are switched on enough...
Every so often Streetcop goes and totally redeems himself!
are on me.
nicecupoftea said:
If GPS based speedtrap gadgets are banned in france, how do they enforce it? if you were using a PDA Tom TOm solution you can get camera location overlays - how could they possibly outlaw this?
With difficulty. My Satnav has Camera GPS locations in it. Its impossible to tell that its got them.
But a Road-Angel doesn't look like a Satnav. So maybe it will be illegal to have a GPS device that looks like a detector or some such bollocks!
In the UK no-one is going to stop using their detectors. If you get pulled you stuff it in the glove compartment pronto. I doubt if Trafpol will care and if they do its probably because they're throwing the book at you for something much worse anyway.
Sure when they "outlaw" the radar/laser detectors they might have a little crackdown where they stop motorists with dashboard devices specifically to check. That will soon pass. And besides...I would have TWO dashboard devices - Nav and detector - and would just stuff one under my seat etc.
Do you think they will look for my cheetah mirror if its on night mode?
Also will anyone do a better laser detector, something you can mount a small unit by each numberplate with a hidden cab box so at the very least I know i'm being scanned. My snooper has never once gone off for a positive laser hit, I even drove around the block to try the cheetah (turns out the cheetah's laser detector really is pants and wont even go off for reviewers)
I also have a tiny rear window, and large spoiler so it is unlikely I will detect a rear hit without a sensor there
Also will anyone do a better laser detector, something you can mount a small unit by each numberplate with a hidden cab box so at the very least I know i'm being scanned. My snooper has never once gone off for a positive laser hit, I even drove around the block to try the cheetah (turns out the cheetah's laser detector really is pants and wont even go off for reviewers)
I also have a tiny rear window, and large spoiler so it is unlikely I will detect a rear hit without a sensor there
Streetcop said:I thought you only joined Traffic recently.
There will be people who stop using them...for various reasons....
As for knocking people off who use 'em...
Don't know really...
When they were illegal last time...if people had the sense to remove them before I walked to their car, I was happy. I would often see two suction cups on the windscreens and a wire hanging from the dashboard, Fanta orange spilling from an open can in the footwell etc..
If people are switched on enough...
I like your attitude though.Zod said:
There will be people who stop using them...for various reasons....
As for knocking people off who use 'em...
Don't know really...
When they were illegal last time...if people had the sense to remove them before I walked to their car, I was happy. I would often see two suction cups on the windscreens and a wire hanging from the dashboard, Fanta orange spilling from an open can in the footwell etc..
If people are switched on enough...
I thought you only joined Traffic recently.
yep..only been a traffic cop for 5 months. 2 years previously in a pro-active crime squad..before that as a response car driver..done community coppering and normal beat too.
Why? Do you mean the dealing with radar detector use, when it was illegal? Any constable could deal with the offence, not just traffic.
G
I'll be parting with my trusty Valentine One and top Bel squalker...can't be @rsed with the fiddling when BiB are around.
What troubles me more are the performance meters I've got stuck to the screen, these look like small radar detectors - I guess in the future some BiB might think I'm trying the old soldier.
What troubles me more are the performance meters I've got stuck to the screen, these look like small radar detectors - I guess in the future some BiB might think I'm trying the old soldier.
I had a radar detector in 1980 in a BMW 735. It was velcro mounted on the top of the dash. It certainly saved my bacon twice and I never tried to hide it. Transferred it to the next two cars I had and never had a prob with Mr. Plod.In fact my plod buddy actually used to drive my car with it in.
The new legislation will not really effect the use of detectors as they are mainly passive devices. As such, anyway, with current laser technology they are practically useless. GPS is much more effective and totally legal.
However, laser jammers are a diffent matter. If you are caught using one there seem to be two possible charges. The first is the obstruction of a police officer in the course of his duty which is not too serious and would not apply if the laser operator is a civvie. The second is attempting to pervert the course of justice - a far more serious offence. There seems to be a point of view that an offence must have been proved to have been committed in order for this to stick. I'm no lawyer, but that may be the reason for the proposed new legislation.
They will have to catch you with the jammer unit installed and capable of operation. If not stoppped at the time you will should you've been 'painted' by a hostile laser, so it gives you time to remove it in case plod comes around - but will they bother, particularly if the car is registered to a company.
What you can say is that if you jam a laser more than once in a 12 month period your car may be logged on the PNC and a second jamming will invoke their action.
What do you think SC?
The new legislation will not really effect the use of detectors as they are mainly passive devices. As such, anyway, with current laser technology they are practically useless. GPS is much more effective and totally legal.
However, laser jammers are a diffent matter. If you are caught using one there seem to be two possible charges. The first is the obstruction of a police officer in the course of his duty which is not too serious and would not apply if the laser operator is a civvie. The second is attempting to pervert the course of justice - a far more serious offence. There seems to be a point of view that an offence must have been proved to have been committed in order for this to stick. I'm no lawyer, but that may be the reason for the proposed new legislation.
They will have to catch you with the jammer unit installed and capable of operation. If not stoppped at the time you will should you've been 'painted' by a hostile laser, so it gives you time to remove it in case plod comes around - but will they bother, particularly if the car is registered to a company.
What you can say is that if you jam a laser more than once in a 12 month period your car may be logged on the PNC and a second jamming will invoke their action.
What do you think SC?
Are detectors only to be illegal or GPS devices too?
A GPS device does nothing more than provide you accurately with data published by your local police authority, so using it can hardly be illegal. I think that could be argued in court quite easily by a half awake barraster.
And the replies so far just indicate where the current tactics fall down BIG TIME. A hard core of drivers will take every means possible to avoid detection, and that will include a number of reckless drivers. And the "soft" majority will comply with the laws and be penalised. Random policing will continue to fall and death rates will continue to rise.
A GPS device does nothing more than provide you accurately with data published by your local police authority, so using it can hardly be illegal. I think that could be argued in court quite easily by a half awake barraster.
And the replies so far just indicate where the current tactics fall down BIG TIME. A hard core of drivers will take every means possible to avoid detection, and that will include a number of reckless drivers. And the "soft" majority will comply with the laws and be penalised. Random policing will continue to fall and death rates will continue to rise.
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