Brewdude is right about getting behind a drunk vs. being in front.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions however if you start reviewing your local law enforcement DWI related accident reports which are public record you will find that statistically being behind is safer and that’s simply a fact. I don’t know how many collisions I've heard of where a drunk driver rear ended someone, but I can't think of one where a sober person hit a drunk. When you’re in the back your in control, not only are you able to their every move but the only evasive action you will have to take is simply applying the brakes.

The best option and the safest is to follow and call the cops. If you call 911 when you see someone driving reckless enough to believe that they are drunk and stay on the line long enough for the agency to coordinate either by dispatching an officer or getting the next agency down the road to have one wait for you to pass not only are you greatly reducing the risk of getting into an accident but your substantially helping law enforcement by leading us straight to another drunk.

I'm not a huge into DWI enforcement but about 50% of my cases come from reckless driving calls. With regards to any excuse for speeding just remember the saying excuses don’t explain and explanations don’t excuse. It all comes down to officer discretion so no matter how legitimate your reason might be, if your speeding then your breaking the law and your excuse is now in the hands of that officers discretion.

I personally have never been pulled over for speeding before cause I’m never in a hurry and I drive an F250 so if they don’t like the speed limit they can try to go around, that style of driving seems to be more effective then any $400 radar detector.

 

For right now I'm going to try and just slow it down. Having this tuned F150 from TP isn't easy though. But after getting chewed by the GF for awhile I understand that I realistically will give myself less stress by going the speed limit. Though I may get the radar detector for more of a "gadget" craze and as extra protection on the long road trips. We drive up north to northern MN roughly 6 times a year and that's some lonely desolate highway. Which it's near impossible to keep from going 5 to 10 over just to help cut down on the 5 hour drive. But there are still local cops and troopers along the way that love to nab you. So I might just do a combo of slowing down and getting a radar detector for added coverage.

I copied the post below that details what I found out at 6 hours worth of research. I think I might go with the V1. Though with big trucks that have chrome, grills, grill surrounds, big headlights and chrome bumpers we're totally screwed again Lasar guns. The good news though is that COPS arn't supposed to be able to use lasar guns past 1000 feet. Which makes them somewhat visible, and a radar/lasar detector like the v1 could detect a lasar beam well before that. Only problem is when you detect a lasar beam there is a very small chance you got lucky and picked up a fragment of a beam that hit a car in front of you or more likely you were just snagged by a cop with a lasar gun. To avoid them from getting a reading though, you'd need to do option #2 and 3 below.

Hey Guys,

With all my radar posts, I did roughly 6 hours worth of research today and learned the following formula against radar and lasar detection and jamming. Not condoning it or saying I'm going to do it since it's not feasable since I have a huge chrome bumper, grill and grill surround which is practically impossible to protect from LIDAR (lasar), but here is what I learned.

So I've been reading about police speed detection (both radar and laser) for four hours. I also read about studies and tests on each and how to prevent lasar (LIDAR) detection. Radar detectors can detect LIDAR (Lasar) traps but in most instances that means the cop already shot you with the Lasar and he has your speed.

Here are the preventitive measures:

1. Valentine V1 w/ POP2 to detect radar -$400 (the last minute on is still a problem, but not as big a risk as lasar b/c radar can't detect just one vehicle, but rather it's a "pack" of vehicles and it's up to the cop to see the fastest on and attach that speed to them. This also gives Lasar detection, but that's only worth something when paired with the others shown below.

2. VEIL Stealth Coating $89 - to be used on your headlights, fog lights, and license plate covers. This stuff lasts 4 to 5 months and repeated washings. It prevents the Laser beam, which cops are supposed to shine at your license plate or headlight to get a reading, from coming back and giving them a reading. While it doesn't work 100% of the time, it is quite effective. It's not supposed to be used on paint though. It does have a slight gray tint to what it's painted on. I don't know about chrome though. This is what really screws me, with a huge chrome bumper, chrome grill surround and billet grill. This is legal because it's a passive device.

3. BLINDER X-TREME M20 (just fronts) - $350 and M40 (fronts and rears) - $600. This electronical device is ILLEGAL and jams the signal the cop gets back with the Lasar device. This has been tested repeatedly and shown to be the best on the market. The lasar detector can acutally "punch through" the jammer sometimes and get a reading. However, if VEIL and a Jammer are being used then it can't "punch" through. The Blinder is the ONLY laser jammer that has successfully jammed the Laser Atlanta while being operated in stealth mode

The combination of 2 and 3 cuts down the cops ability to get a reading off a car until roughly 400 feet. Which by this time you could easily see the cop shooting you with the lasar gun. You would have also had a reading on the V1 regarding the cop shooting you at well over 2000 feet so you'd have plenty of time to slow down.

Also, technically cops cannot hit you with a Lasar gun at distances over 1,000 feet because it's against FED regulations because the lasar could easily travel into the cab of the vehicle.

The only thing is, are you will to shell out this much cash. The answer was undynably yes for the performance street race cars that a lot of this testing was done on. They also did testing with a silverado (old bodystyle) and the jammer and veil combo worked great till 296 feet. Which is long after the V1 went off.

Just thought I'd share.

Duke

 

I'd rather be in front for several reasons. If he crosses over into the other side of the road his possible headon collision could have an impact on me. This happened here and 5 innocent high school girls were killed. I still get a chill when I drive by that spot. I can leave him behind and not worry about being involved in an accident. If he does go off the road I don't have to worry about shoveling his remains up. Outa sight outa mind.

 

Pretty mature thinking for a young adult!!

 

Well I also HATE the expectation of professional courtesy that often times other officers expect when they are pulled over, so since I do write more traffic tickets then anyone else on the department I try and follow all the rules so I'm not hypocritical.

 

Come to Jersey and the fastest cars on the road are off duty cops. A friend of mine is a NJ State Trooper and he says you'd be surprised how many off duty cops they pull over!!

 

well duke, with my experience, your upcoming court date, is just to settle out how you plead, and give you a chance to pay your debt. If you choose ton contest, it will be in yet another month away. And honestly its usually most cost effective, and most efficient of your time to just take the deferred judification option. My latest deferral, was just dont get a ticket in the state of tx for 90 days, and i payed half of my fine plus 20 bucks court fees.

And as far as radars, i agree both valentine, and escorts are badass detectors. There are also some remote mounted detectors that you mount like under your lower valence, etc and just have a small digital readout inside the cabin.

Also way back there, someone said you need to hide the detector once you get nabbed. Well most cops have radar detector, detectors. Thats right, they have technology that detects if you are trying to detect them. Infact in some of the states where detectors are illegal, they will just sit there, and scan for ppl using detectors.

Heres how i have my $100 cobra mounted.


-Patrick

 

F150 Duke,

Usually traffic courts are twice a month. You have to have at least 10 days notice before a court date, so that may be why you have to wait until 11/29 or they may only do one traffic court a month.

When you go before the Judge/Magistrate, act professional and don't be a smart azz, shift your weight around or make faces as the officer presents his case. You don't disagree that you were speeding, so plead guilty and offer your explanation and ask for leinency from the points and fine. Unless the officer is an azz, he should agree to these terms. If you go in and plead not guilty, you can request a bench trial to be heard by the Judge or a jury trial at a later date. Neither of those is going to help you and you will probably loose your ability to get a reduction in points/fines, unless found not guilty.

Take cash, I am not aware of any court that will accept checks. Here, you are allowed 15 days from the court day to pay the fine or your driving priveledges will be suspended.

As for detectors, it may save you some times, especially on an interstate as long as you leave someone about a 1/4 mile in front of you to activate the radar ahead of you. Not many officers carry radar 'guns'. We have permanent mount heads in the front and rear windows. I also use my hold button and will tag you before you see me. (unmarked car)

As for DUI's, I was watching a car coming toward me on Halloween night in the middle of town in a 25 mph zone do a couple of small swerve's and just as she met me on the road, she came 2/3 into my lane running me off in a yard. Luckily it was about 8:40 p.m. and most children had quit T or T'ing. My point, no one is safe from drunk drivers!

As for the F/F using emergency equipment to move traffic in a non/emergency use, call the FD and find out who it was, was there really a call, etc. and if not, put in a complaint. I stopped a Volunteer F/F one night that was going to a call in his POV for speeding and not using due regard in a curve. He lost his priveledge to drive code in a POV.

 

I dont get too many tickets, only 3 in my entire life infact all dissmissed, but cant you request a trial by jury? I bet just the thought of all those wasted tax dollars and time would be enough for them to work you a deal

 

Thanks for the tips! I don't plan on pleading not guilty and I agree I was speeding, but I wasn't going 90 like he said that had to have been the white bmw in the right lane that was FLYING past me. Though I was going 80. I'm going to ask for a reduced fine and points because I was trying to avoid a wreckless driver and I don't think his radar detection actually hit me but rather the bmw.

I don't go out driving every day trying to haul **** or go 15 over. That RARELY if ever happens. But I will conceed that I do often go 5 over and in some instances on an open highway, 10 over. And I NEVER drink and drive. I don't even take cough surup or pain killers and drive. I had a friend get hit by a drunk driver when I was younger and that's just stuff I can't agree with in any way shape or form.

Once again, thanks for the tips as I really appreciate it!

Duke

 

Regarding the POV stuff. The worst I had it was going down a two lane road a couple months ago to my younger brothers HS football game. We were all at a red light and I had a green light to go. At the last second the cop who was first in line at the red light, turns on his sirens and cuts right out in front of me, nearly taking off my bumper. I figured it had to of been some huge emergency. But literally within site, I see him pull into the HS parking lot. HE WAS GOING TO WATCH THE GAME! I watched him park, slowly get out, and then stand and watch the game.

Duke

 

F150 Duke--The one thing I think is rather humorous is when stories change. You stated in your first post that you passed this woman going 90. Then in one of your recent posts you said you weren't going 90. So which is it?

I know it's a little late for the what if's but here's one. You're driving down the highway and this woman in an old car is swerving and driving recklessly in the middle lane. You're driving in the left lane. You have four options. 1) Speed up to over 30 mph above the speed limit to get in front of the reckless driver, just so you can slow down in a couple miles to get gas. 2)You increase your speed to 65mph, just to get past, because your getting of the highway to get gas. 3) Slow down to about 56-57 mph to get behind the person, because you're getting of the highway in a couple miles to get gas. Or 4) do nothing because your getting of the highway in a couple miles to get gas. There is one assumption to be made here because you didn't address it, and that is you were going the same speed as the woman.

Out of all four you chose the very worst. And your complaining because you received a citation for choosing the worst of your three options. my advice isn't as nice as Harleyrider's. Slow the heck down and drive with you head looking out the window not up you posterior.

 

90 when I passed her, but this state trooper was around a huge bend in the highway, downhill and distance wise it was probably 1/4 mile. By then I was well off the gas and gravity had slowed me to 80.

Hey but thanks for the suggestion. It's nice to know there are people out there who never break any laws at all and never get frustrated!

Duke

 

I am like Josh. If you don't like it, oh well, not my problem, I don't get tickets.

 

Me neither!