| Author | Message | ||
     Firebolt020283 |
ok i am in no way complaining about my recent run in with the law how ever i will state my reson for wanting to know about the radar guns. Several months back i was heading down hwy 190 in killeen tx. when i was pulled over by a texas state trooper and i was arrested for reckless driving. I had no idea how fast he claimed i was going but i did know that my speed o meter never said higher than 85 that i noticed wich was still over 20 miles of the 60 mile an hour speed limit at that area of that road. A few days ago i went to court for the offence and the judge said i was reported as going over 110mph. Now i know that bike seedos arent completly acurate but i thought the told u faster not slower speeds. it was an 01 cbrf4i if that makes a difference on the reliablity of the speedo. In any case could it be that the radar is hard to read a bike or is the bikes speedo that off or could it be that the cop just made up a speed? | ||
| Ryker77 |
radar uses sound waves.. so there are varibles that limit the accuracy. Also the angle that the radar is shot from. .. but in general they should be within 10mph Laser is more accurate. depending on your states court system. request a superior court trial with a jury. You can request to review the video tape and other factors. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
well i paid the fines and took the suspension of my lisences just cuz i figured it would be to expensive to fight but i was just curious as to how i went from going about 85 to going over 110. Though either way i was still over the speed limit by 20 miles wich is still considered reckless driving according to texas. | ||
| Shea |
There was an article I read that did some tests and found that it is highly inaccurate with motorcycles. They even clocked one of the sport bikes at 85mph when it was sanding still. Man, that's a fast bike!!! LOL Ill see if I can find the article. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
why would that be so if radar guns can clock little bitty base balls | ||
| Aldaytona |
It's never too expensive for a lawyer under those circumstances, it's all about the money. Add it all up, the fine (undisclosed), the suspension (undisclosed), and the insurance penalties (car and motorcycles) when you are able to legally drive again. Lawyer too expensive, I think not...............you ain't seen expensive yet, but it's coming. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
well i payed $300 for the fine and ill have to pay $100 for the reinstatment fee for the license in 6 months but like i say even if i got a lawyer and proved that i was going 8o somthing instead of 110 i would still be guilty of reckless driving according to texas state law | ||
| Nobody |
For the sake of accuracy, radar uses electromagnetic waves (such as microwaves), not sound waves. Sorry to hear you lost your license. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
its ok i leave for korea next month so i wont need it much | ||
| Aldaytona |
A good traffic lawyer probably wouldn't have cost you $400 and you had a good chance of getting the charges dropped, no fine, no suspension, and no insurance nightmares when you get back from Korea (you'll forget this little indiscretion, but the insurance companies won't). Remember this is a money game, the Judge was a lawyer once so when you show up with council, you're paying into the system so more often than not you'll get off or get off real light. Don't ask me how I know these things. Anyways, good luck in Korea, it's a blast. I was there: Charlie company 728 MP Bn Seoul/Yongsan. Go Army | ||
| Seth |
...I picked-up a bike a little under a mile away with lidar once... | ||
| Nevrenuf |
so are you a deputy or police seth, cause i got a pretty simular situation | ||
| Paw |
Keep this in mind if you doubt the speed an officer says you were going. You have the right to ask him if you could see the speed on the devise he was using. Next time ask him to see the radar gun or laser if he refuses then he is a shadey cop and looking to make his commanding officer happy with him.  | ||
| Rocketman |
Everything you need to know about radar, and speeding, can be had at probably the best Speed site in the UK, speed-trap-bible DON'T BE PUT OFF BY IT BEING A UK SITE. A great deal of information relates to equipment used by US police forces too. The tech info is spot on also. For radar information, how it works etc, read this page radar info Rocket | ||
| Johntman |
you do not have the right to see the speed on the radar in the state of ga, but you do have the right to request that an accuracy check be preformed on the radar unit, and check to see when it was last calibrated. a simple radar unit normally locks on the larger vehicle, but the radar unit makes a high pitch noise in the car and you can hear doplar shifts in the car, as the radar unit will shift back and forth between cars. you see the higher number, and look at the cars traveling towards you to determine the cars, or bikes speed. there are also expinsive radar units that have the option of only picking up the fastest radar reading, which are good for a pack of cars as you can pick out the fastest and not the biggest. you should have atleast made a court date before you paid the fine. you should have seen if the officer was going to show up for court, and bring in his radar note book that shows all the calibration checks, ect. | ||
| Hardcorps |
Paw, You do not have the right to see the radar or laser in Michigan either. Also making an informal hearing request is always best! We are not required to got to informal traffic hearings, and since I work midnights some one has to really do somthing stupid for me to go to traffic court. Hard Corps | ||
| Bomber |
electro-magnetic energy is right, nobody -- hence the name of the devices -- RAdio Detecting ANd Ranging like many things, the accuracy depends on the operator, surrounding terrain, other targets in the beam (bigge targets get read over lil ones) and the phase of the moon . . . . it's unlikely that your speedometer is off by 25mph (pushing thirty %) -- and you're right, most clocks on most bikes are overly optimistic, rather than the other way round I think you got got -- but, as you say, since you're leaving the country for a bit, the pain is greatly lessened -- be safe, Korea can be great duty -- thanks for your service! | ||
| Chasespeed |
Another reason to have tried to fight it, an SR-22 REALLY sucks.. and NO, I have never had a DUI/DWI etc...BUT, I have aSR-22s... Always try to fight it... I HAD to show up in court once for a ticket, ended up getting dropped, something about the officer not showing up or something(back in 97 or n98, dont remember too clearly), and I signed something, and was sent home...didnt even have to plead guilty(which is what I was gonna do, pay my fine, and go).. So, you just never know.. Good luck in the east... Chase | ||
| Steve_a |
Radar is very accurate if it's used correctly, certainly within 1 mph. There's something known as cosine error if you're shooting at much of an angle from directly in front or directly behind the vehicle you're measuring, but it makes the speed lower, not higher. However, radar with motorcycles presents one very serious problem. The radar gun will lock onto the strongest reflected signal, which comes from whatever vehicle has the largest and/or most reflective frontal area. Motorcycles, FLs and multi-headlight touring bikes excepted, have a tiny return signal, and many radar guns won't pick up a sport bike until it's a few hundred yards away. They'll pick up a big truck behind that motorcycle a mile away, and a big sedan 1/2 a mile away. So it's very easy to get the wrong vehicle. Also, there's always the possiblity the officer had something against guys on sport bikes, and simply made the number up. | ||
| Daves |
"Also, there's always the possibility the officer had something against guys on sport bikes, and simply made the number up." No, that would never happen  No offense to any of the fine officers on this board and I am not bashing all police. I know and have met some(ususally by being pulled over for speeding) that are great people. I do think that is total BS that you can't see the radar unit in some states. Sooo, we are supposed to just take the officers word for it? I don't think so. If I am going to pay a fine I want to see the radar units reading. I am not going to take someones word for how fast I may or may not have been going. Especially when it is to their benefit to make it as fast as possible. | ||
| Aldaytona |
The moral of this story? Always go to court and contest the charge, having council puts you on even ground with the "man" and his money generating machine. A lawyer knows all the BS charges and scams and has a few of his own. Don't bend over and take it in the shorts. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
well i guess i know better next time even though that time wont be for a while cuz i am not willing to get a dwls charge. so im staying off the road till i get back from korea (besides i dont have a bike right now anyways) | ||
| Hardcorps |
I don't see how fast you are traveling benefits me in any way. (oh wait my bad, I have a problem with always telling the truth!) I usually will not even pull some one over unless they are 10 to 15 mph over the speed limit (or there in a school zone at school time) and then they will more than likely only get a ticket for 5mph over. I always right the actual speed in the comments section of the ticket so when they fight it the judge can see that I am already giving them a break by not writting them for the full boat. Another thing careless and reckless driving are found on a combination of events, not usually just speed! Hard Corps | ||
| Paint_shaker |
In Florida, the violator has no right to see the RADAR unit or see it tested on the side of the road... In court, the violator can request to see the current RADAR calibration, the officer's RADAR certification and generally ask questions of the Officer... I have seen violators go to court and attempt to attack the Officer's operation and/ or observation of the RADAR unit, only to upset the judge and end up with full court costs, fines and points on the DL... Not saying don't go to court, but you had better be pretty dang convincing if you are trying to discredit an officer... | ||
| Aldaytona |
Didn't do anything wrong: Plead not guilty. You did it and got caught: Plead not guilty. They have witnesses: Deny it was you and plead not guilty. Most IMPORTANTLY, hire a lawyer. Want to discredit an officer, witness, video tape, ect. and not look like the bad guy? Hire a lawyer. A lawyer will protect you from a vengeful judge or officer. Next time you get a ticket, remember this: Get a lawyer. Go to court. Plead not guilty. The odds are you'll be out your lawyers fee only and no points or penalties. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
if you get stopped in a holiday speed trap doing 101 in a 70 on i-4 in polk county florida, what are my chances of beating the ticket in court! wouldn't you thing they would take all the precautions to have there radar calibrated before they started the speed trap. | ||
| Aldaytona |
O.J. Simpson's lawyer would cost less than the fine you'll get for that, and don't forget the increased insurance costs and points. Don't just assume they had the unit calibrated either, you're not dealing with the brightest individuals, they might not have,there are many mistakes they might have made, but you'll never know without a LAWYER The biggest difference between O.J. Simpson and Homer Simpson is that O.J. hired a lawyer!  | ||
| Paw |
hardcorps & johntman, I did not say you have the right to see it i said you have the right to ASK (ask is the key word here) IF YOU COULD SEE IT. not everyone knows every law to every state. there are some states where you can see the speed. But the best way to avoid this problem is to go no faster than 8 miles over the speed limit, problem solved. Heck i have lived here in NY for 3 years now and i still do not know if i can see the speed if i ASK the police officer. I know in some states only state police can use radar but in NY all police officers carry it. (Message edited by paw on September 24, 2006) | ||
| Ryker77 |
All the officer has to do is not erase the last speed trap he took. He could right a ticket all day long with the same 85mph showing. ???? It comes down you you (money) verse them (free legal). But time is on your side. The court systems are bogged down. Request a superior court trial. Would delay the outcome by years, in some cases. In some cases the DA would just drop the charges or the officers would have quite or moved on. BTW: All of my local cop buddies don't right speeding tickets to illegals. They know they will never pay the fine. Thus they don't bother pulling them over. Go USA. | ||
| Blake |
How does one identify someone as an "illegal" as they speed by in a motor vehicle? | ||
| Aldaytona |
Next time I ride through North Georgia I am going to wear a Mexican flag on the back of my jacket and ride like I stole it. Anyone know where I can pick up some "dingle balls" for my windshield, just for added insurance?  | ||
| Seth |
In Massachusetts only like 1/2 of 1% of the revenue collected from a citation goes to the agency that issued it, the rest goes to the registry of motor vehicles. | ||
| Ryker77 |
"How does one identify someone as an "illegal" as they speed by in a motor vehicle?" Best guess.. aka profiling. Kinda like how do you know if the guy next to on the plane is a potential terrorist. Or how the guy on the corner is slinging dope. I don't like most cops. But they are on the street 8-12hrs per day. I would say they are pretty accurate in profiling for crimes. BIKE FYI. Most people that ride bikes -either don't have proper license or will attempt to run. So I've been told. | ||
| Jimidan |
If you had been a member of the police force instead of the armed services, you would not have been ticketed. There are two sets of traffic laws...one for the police and one for the rest of us. The police around here pretty much ignore all traffic laws, including stop signs. They do stop at stop lights, however. The cops I know ride their superbikes like wild horses stampeding through the canyons. When I am with them I have total immunity, and I know it. When I am not with them, I hope that they are the ones who stop me. Sad but true. jimidan | ||
| Blake |
So anyone with dark tanned skin and straight black hair is given a pass? Amazing. Some TV "news" tabloid ought to jump on that story. | ||
| Aldaytona |
I guess George Hamilton would never get a ticket there. | ||
| Mb182 |
I read an article a while back where someone got off by demanding source code on the radar gun programming.. Since it is a trade secret the Manf. would not give it up and the charges were dropped. MB | ||
| Nevrenuf |
do you have a little more info on the source code thing | ||
| Jlnance |
I remember reading about that on slashdot.org, but I can't find the story. It may have been a breathalizer they wanted source code to. |
