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#1. Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from Peter Guagenti
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 09:16:33 -0800 From: Peter Guagenti <peter@guagenti.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets on 12/19/01 9:08 AM, The Abels at aAbel@austin.rr.com wrote: > On a related note, any thoughts about radar trends? For example, is x-band > used at all anymore? I'm clearly not in your area, as radar detectors are > legal here in TX, but I've yet to come across X-band radar. The biggest trend I keep seeing is pacing instead of radar. The last two times I was stopped for speeding was by very sneaky pacing. -p
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#2. RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets in CA - from j.demartino@us.qiagen.com
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 18:43:30 +0100 From: j.demartino@us.qiagen.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets in CA Rule #1: Never pass, not even ease by, a cop who is speeding him/her self... they HATE that! Don't worry about arguing about it, court, whatever, just don't do it! Compare the 5 minutes you lose by going the limit for a short period of time to the hours/dollars/time off from work you will lose by going to court. Rule #2: Be courteous and let them say WHATEVER THEY WANT to you... again, compare the seconds of humiliation to the hours/dollars/time off from work you will lose by going to court... once had a cop call my '99 M3 "euro trash car" but I smiled, apologized and happily accepted my warning. They don't know who you are, they deal with a lot of crap and seedy individuals all day, they are there for your protection, and frankly most M3 drivers THINK they know how to drive better than they actually do so I am happy see any driver, M3 drivers included, who are blatantly speeding pulled over and ticketed all day long. It makes it safer for my family, friends, and me. John
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#3. RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from Carey Probst
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:15:18 -0800 (PST) From: Carey Probst <hcprobst@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets > So, > obviously, > his intention is not to make the roads safer. More likely, he > wants to > insure that all MD cars have their front plates so his co-workers > can more > effectively use their new LIDAR units. A co-worker was nailed > twice over > the summer by this guy. > Good time to cover that front plate with the laser absorbing cover from Bavarian Auto. Works for me. Got stopped last summer for 67 in a 55 in my Bright Red '99 M3. Officer very nice, walks up to car and tells me he's giving me a brake and not going to write me up for the speeding but going to give me a ticket for no seat belt. Then he looked again and asked "Why do you have a harness on?" referring to my Schroth Autocontrol. We talked for about 5 minutes about driving schools at Watkins Glen, how much fun the car was at the track, etc. Then he did a walk around and wrote the ticket for having my plates covered which is illegal in NY. Luckily he thought the rear one was scratched and not a frenel lense to defract intersection cameras and the front looks normal. No indication it's laser absorbing. N0 $ fine for the plate violation but a $35 law enforcement surcharge. What a racket. Carey '99 M3 with stuff __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Check out Yahoo! Shopping and Yahoo! Auctions for all of your unique holiday gifts! Buy at http://shopping.yahoo.com or bid at http://auctions.yahoo.com
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#4. Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from Reid Conti
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:25:23 -0800 (PST) From: Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets > Ron, > > On a related note, any thoughts about radar trends? For example, is x-band > used at all anymore? I'm clearly not in your area, as radar detectors are > legal here in TX, but I've yet to come across X-band radar. > > Further, is there a trend toward replacing K and Ka with laser? I think X-band units were phased out as radar detectors became popular and K-band guns came out to replace them. I don't think anyone's made a new X-band gun in a long time, hence nobody uses them. I have X-band turned off on my V1, great for reducing falses.. :) Even in the middle of nowhere in rural areas they use K. On long trips I've turned on X detection, but I don't think I've had a legitimate X band hit since I've had my V1 (2+ years). I remember K band was less common than X maybe 8+ years ago... I was surprised to see Mr. Ehrlich say that front plates have no bearing on LIDAR. I remember when LIDAR was being used more about 4 years ago, a magazine tested LIDAR units and found it was very hard to pick up a dark colored aerodynamic car with no exposed headlights -- I think the test car was a midnight blue or black ford probe with no front plate. As it is, I know the police like to aim for the front plate just as a visual reference, but there's no way you're going to "stealth" by a LIDAR weilding cop in a chunky M3 with 4 bright shiny round reflectors sticking out the front of the car, front plate or no. Just to be safe (and look good) I run w/out a front plate in Washington.. No tickets or warnings in 3+ years. > Jeff > 97 M3/4, reserving 120 mph for the track Reid 95 M3, reserving 120mph for drying the car off on I-90 on the way to work (after the carwash :)
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from David Bauer
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 12:41:19 -0600 From: David Bauer <dbauer@blkbox.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets About a year ago I was hit in Houston by X-band from a motorcycle cop. That's the only time I've come across it though. Dave Reid Conti wrote: > > Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 10:25:23 -0800 (PST) > From: Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets > > > Ron, > > > > On a related note, any thoughts about radar trends? For example, is x-band > > used at all anymore? I'm clearly not in your area, as radar detectors are > > legal here in TX, but I've yet to come across X-band radar. > > > > Further, is there a trend toward replacing K and Ka with laser? > > I think X-band units were phased out as radar detectors became popular and > K-band guns came out to replace them. I don't think anyone's made a new > X-band gun in a long time, hence nobody uses them. I have X-band turned > off on my V1, great for reducing falses.. :) Even in the middle of > nowhere in rural areas they use K. On long trips I've turned on X > detection, but I don't think I've had a legitimate X band hit since I've > had my V1 (2+ years). I remember K band was less common than X maybe 8+ > years ago... > > I was surprised to see Mr. Ehrlich say that front plates have no bearing > on LIDAR. I remember when LIDAR was being used more about 4 years ago, a > magazine tested LIDAR units and found it was very hard to pick up a dark > colored aerodynamic car with no exposed headlights -- I think the test car > was a midnight blue or black ford probe with no front plate. As it is, I > know the police like to aim for the front plate just as a visual > reference, but there's no way you're going to "stealth" by a LIDAR > weilding cop in a chunky M3 with 4 bright shiny round reflectors sticking > out the front of the car, front plate or no. Just to be safe (and look > good) I run w/out a front plate in Washington.. No tickets or warnings in > 3+ years. > > > Jeff > > 97 M3/4, reserving 120 mph for the track > > Reid > 95 M3, reserving 120mph for drying the car off on I-90 on the way to work > (after the carwash :) >
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from R Ehrlich 98 M3
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:45:54 -0500 From: "R Ehrlich 98 M3" <rehrlich98m3@mindspring.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets > > > Good time to cover that front plate with the laser absorbing cover > from Bavarian Auto. Works for me. Hey, I love Bav Auto, but save your money. When I am my LIDAR I don't even look at the front plate. The windshield area, hood and front grille are fine. It will protect you against the photoLIDAR that is being used. But for a handheld unit it means nothing. States that do not issue front plates use LIDAR quite well. R Ehrlich 98 M3
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Track pads - from Legerlotz, Alan
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 13:49:00 -0500 From: "Legerlotz, Alan" <alegerlotz@kronos.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Track pads I run HT-10s on my club racer now, too. They're really excellent. I had been running Pagid Orange and there's no comparison in terms of durability. I used to warp rotors with the Pagids, too. With the Hawks I've had no rotor issues at all. -Al 1996 328is (#328JS...soon to be #328JP) >>We ran the Hawk Blues early this year until the new HT-10 compound came out. >>It lasts longer, isn't corrosive, withstands both higher temperatures and >>works in a much wider range. Ran them 3 hours straight in a race, zero >>fade, used about 1/3 of the pad. >> >>These really are killer pads. I have used the Blues since I started driving >>hard on the track and as much as I like them, these are quite a bit better. >>We have a few sets of the old HT-8 compound which is very similar to the >>HT-10, we bought them in a closeout, will pass on the discount if anyone >>wants to try a set. >> >>James
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from Matt Henson
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 11:13:59 -0800 (PST) From: Matt Henson <hensonator@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets I don't think that anyone is arguing that having a detector won't increase the chances of getting a ticket when pulled over. The point is that in court it is completly unreasonable for the prosecuter or judge to give someone a harsher penalty for having one based on the logic that anyone with a detector must speed more often than other defendants who didn't. Persoanlly I don't own or use a detector because the Austin police have more important things to do than generate revenue from speed traps (note that this doesn't extend to other towns in TX, particularly small towns where the limit drops from 65 to 35..) Every time I go back to Maryland to visit family I'm amazed at the number of speed traps on the highways. It seems silly but this is one of the factors that makes me never to want to live there again. I don't blame the police - I'm sure that most of them would prefer to do real work such as DUIs and other felony crimes. -Matt --- R Ehrlich 98 M3 <rehrlich98m3@mindspring.com> wrote: > Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 11:35:22 -0500 > From: "R Ehrlich 98 M3" > <rehrlich98m3@mindspring.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets > > Try this for me, anyone who doubts about a radar > detector being more likely > to get a ticket or not. Ask some state troopers, see > what they say. Almost > all will defenietly ticket someone with an obvious > detector. > > And front plates have no bearing on LIDAR. They make > no difference. he just > wants an easy ticket that someone cannot argue in > court. > > R Ehrlich > 98 M3 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Check out Yahoo! Shopping and Yahoo! Auctions for all of your unique holiday gifts! Buy at http://shopping.yahoo.com or bid at http://auctions.yahoo.com
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#9. RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from alex.fadeev@verizon.com
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 14:52:55 -0600 From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> wrote: > Anyway, keep it up. Be polite, and hope for the best. That's all you > can really do. I don't think warnings are as prevalant as they say > they are, but hopefully you're just experiencing bad luck rather than > prejudice. I'll sing a slightly different tune and admit that I deserved each and every speeding ticket I ever received. As in I was speeding at the time I was stopped. The speed limits may be silly, but I knew what they were and I was willing and blatantly ignoring them each time I was pulled over and ticketed. You might ask me how it felt to be pulled over with a Laser for 2 mph over 65 limit on Christmas day in OH? It sucked! But I was technically speeding at that time and in my rusted college VW Scirocco was practically screaming: "this is a poor college student who is unlikely to have the money to take you bastards to court and fight the ticket". Buying a BMW was the first great thing I did to my driving record. The car send the exactly opposite message: "the driver of this car is likely to challenge a bullshit speeding ticket in court. Mr Ossifer's time will be better spent pulling over a cheap beater car with a poor college student, a minority driver or a welfare recipient all of whom will be an easier pray." The second great thing I did to my driving record was listening to the advise on BMW lists and buying a V1. The third was emigrating from the east coast to the wild west. on 12/19/01 9:08 AM, The Abels at aAbel@austin.rr.com wrote: > On a related note, any thoughts about radar trends? For example, is x-band > used at all anymore? I'm clearly not in your area, as radar detectors are > legal here in TX, but I've yet to come across X-band radar. X-band radars have been out of production for years (decades?). Most cops get enough free K/Ka/Laser guns from your insurance companies to use old X-bands as paper weights. However, I did get one legitimate X-band hit in TX boonies last winter. It mights till be worth it to enable X for off highway trips. Juan Rico <juan_rico@captionsinc.com> wrote: > Frankly, if being cooperative implies I have to humiliate myself > and let a cop belittle me, I'll take the ticket ANY day... I felt that way too. Right until the time I tallied up the insurance cost of my arrogance. Matt Henson <hensonator@yahoo.com> wrote: > I don't think that anyone is arguing that having a > detector won't increase the chances of getting a > ticket when pulled over. The point is that in court > it is completly unreasonable for the prosecuter or > judge to give someone a harsher penalty for having one > based on the logic that anyone with a detector must > speed more often than other defendants who didn't. First of all, what does the word 'reasonalbe' have to do with traffic flow enforcemnet? Second of all, are you going to tell me with a straight face that you bought your V1 to count the number of automatic door openers next to the highway? In some areas cops routinely mark the traffice tickets with smiley or frowning faces depending on the driver's demeanor during the stop. The guy with a smiley face will get off easier each and every time. Do you treat your asshole and friendly customers/co-workers the same way? alex f '95 M3 - zero stops (knock on wood) '89 325i - one instant-on Ka ticket, a thousand near misses (knock on wood) x'85 VW Scirocco - a cop magnet. It must have had a Krispy-Creame sticker on the rear bumper. (RIP)
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#10. RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets - from Jason Bishop
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Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2001 06:09:17 -0800 (PST) From: Jason Bishop <jason@secondhat.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Speeding Tickets On Wed, 19 Dec 2001, Ron Buchalski wrote: > > There are many possible reasons why an officer would be more inclined to > write a ticket versus give a warning. It's up to his discretion to even > pull you over, so there must some trigger. Some possibilities for why one > could get pulled over (in no specific order): > I haven't seen body language, or in this case, car language discussed. In my own experience body language has made the biggest difference. First impressions after all, and those guys spend all day watching cars. I would bet that if you gave a officer 5 minutes to watch 10 cars and then had him/her match up the drivers out of a lineup, the results would be impressive. One time in particular I was cruising along at speed limit (65) while unbeknownst to me there was a cop behind and over one lane. The car in front changed lanes, so I sped up to 80. I was at 80 for maybe 5 seconds and then a car got on the freeway and headed right for my lane. no signals, no pausing between lanes, nothing. Just drove over right in front of me, going maybe 10mph less than me. I lifted to drop down to his speed while he proceeded to the fast lane and then I sped back up again. 20 seconds later I came up on some cars and had to slow down again. At that time the cop pulled up beside me and then got in the fast lane and dissapeared. I'm certain that if I had changed lanes to go around the car or if I had done anything rude I would have been pulled over. I think the only thing that saved me was that I was courteous to a not particularly courteous driver. Then again, maybe the cop had someplace to go and he pulled up beside to let me know that he knew I was speeding. In general, I try to go at most 5mph over the limit on straights and speed on curves. Statistically, most people speed on straights and drive slow on curves. So just do the opposite :) Jason