Radar Detectors

Radar detectors can both help you and hurt you. The technology will always

be ahead of the driver in favor of law enforcement and this is a never ending

cycle that will leave you constantly playing catch up if you rely on this device

on a daily basis. By using the shield method above let someone else buy the

latest technology and you can just tag along for free. Truck drivers who drive

for a living depend on the CB more that they rely on a radar detector since

radar detectors are illegal in most states in vehicles registered over 18, 000

lbs. GVW.





The radar detector is most useful to you when driving alone late at night and

there is little CB chatter going on. They are the only defense against radar late

at night on isolated back roads and then, only following someone as a shield.

Most cops are equipped with an instant on/off button so by using the shield

your radar detector will detect the cop taking a reading on the car in front of

yours thus allowing you ample time to slow down.





The research that I have is pretty unanimous in that if you get stopped for

speeding and the cop sees a radar detector mounted in your vehicle you will

get a ticket. The reasoning is that the cops feel that you were definitely

intending to speed if you are sporting a radar detector by being sneaky about

it. Have your radar detector set up so you can quickly remove it without the

cop seeing what you are doing in the event that you do get pulled over. A task

a little easier said that done.





CB Radios

The CB radio is a very powerful tool and the best on interstate highways to

combat speeding tickets since it will give you more information than any

radar detector will. I once drove from New York to Florida speeding all the

way in a truck with just a CB radio and it was a lifesaver. It is not necessary

to go out and by a $250.00 radio in order to take advantage of this since

Radio Shack sells CB radio Channel 19 receivers only for about $19.00 and

that is all you really need. If there is a cop in the vicinity, his location will

surly be broadcast over the airwaves and you can take immediate action.

Keep in mind that cops also monitor the CB radio and move around a lot but

this is still the best defense and there is little they can do to defeat this.





The Weapons





Unmarked cars

Spotting unmarked cars is very easy to the trained eye. They are usually late

model, domestic four door cars stripped down as much as possible. They will

have the cheapest hubcaps if any at all, have a one tone paint job with no

fancy trim and be littered with antennas. Another sign is the spotlight sticking

out of the driver's side front post. Basically what you end up with in an

unmarked car is a full size luxury sedan that is stripped down to the bones

that no civilian would be caught bringing home from a new car dealer. I really

wonder if some civilians order their cars this way?





Speed Traps

Speed traps are a common way to increase revenue in the most efficient

manner possible. They way they work is one cop will nestle into the median

somewhere, usually in the trees, record your speed on radar, then radio down

to the ticket writers usually over a hill or around a curve what your speed is

and a description of the vehicle. Once you come around the curve and see a

cop it is too late since they already know your speed. A uniformed officer will

bravely be outside directing you to pull over with the other victims of the trap.

There is a limit to how many speeders they can handle so once they become

backlogged with five or six victims they will radio the radar car and tell it to

take a break. Once they process all the victims they start over. These traps

are usually only setup on interstate highways during the daytime. They prefer

to do them in an area where the trees in the median will obstruct the view of

the oncoming traffic to eliminate the headlights in the on coming lane. CB

radios always have this information and it is a better defense that radar

detectors. Check the laws in your state with an attorney about these traps

since in most states both the officer doing the radar and the officer issuing the

ticket may have to appear in court if you plead not guilty.





Instant On/Off button

There are whole books in print on radar and this manual is intended only to

cover the stuff you need to know. The radar gun is an extremely accurate

piece of equipment and keep in mind it is only reliable to trained, competent

operator. Most cops these days are equipped with an instant ON/OFF button

that keeps the unit warmed up but your detector won't detect it until the cop

hits the instant ON button and then it is too late, you've been clocked. To

counter this simply use a shield such as a big metal truck between you and the

cop. If you are using the shield in the left lane you will be able to pick up the

radar from the vehicles in front of you that are being clocked. There is very

little these days that will set off a false warning of a radar detector on rural

interstate highways so when you hear that warning treat it with respect.





Speed limits enforced from aircraft

Don't be fooled by the signs on the road indicating that aircraft are used to

enforce speed limits. What a joke! This was attempted at one time, probably

introduced by a cop who was a pilot, and the only time it is used now is for

publicity purposes. It was designed to work like the speed trap except

speeders were spotted from the air rather that a cop hiding in the bushes,

sounds pretty simple. To use this method they need at least a $70,000

airplane, insurance, a pilot, an observer, full fuel at approximately

$2.50/gallon, daylight, and clear weather with little or no wind. They still

need the full backup of the ground crew just as is needed in the conventional

speed trap. You do not have to be a genius to figure out which is a more cost

effective way of writing tickets.





If you were ever wondering what the white markers that are painted on the

shoulders of a highway and placed about every .2 miles were for this is it.

The observer in the aircraft already knows the distance to be traveled so he

simply calculates the amount of time it takes your vehicle to travel the fixed

distance and the result is your speed in miles per hour. These markers can

only be placed in specific areas and can't be used at night or if the ground is

covered with snow. I am very interested in hearing from anyone who has ever

gotten a ticket from this method. Again, as mentioned above, check the laws

in your state about pleading not guilty to these and how many people are

required to show up. The ticket writer, the observer, the pilot, the mechanic?





Getting Caught

Okay so you think you are going to get pulled over, but do not fret, this is the

fun part. Most people actually talk the cop into giving them a ticket while they

think they are trying to talk them out of it. Below are ideas you may want to

follow. You may have to let your pride down but who cares you may be

going to get out of a ticket. Once a cop has you on the side of the road he has

three options; take you into custody by placing you under arrest and yes you

can get up to 15 days in jail for speeding, he can write you a ticket, or he give

you a warning. I know that you are thinking that a warning will be fine and a

warning can be verbal or in writing. If you do get a ticket your options are

limited to pay it or fight it and at this point there is nothing you can do on the

side of the road so save your steam.





The pre-emptive wave

If you are speeding along and suddenly see a police cruiser that appears to

have noticed you and you have made eye contact with him, slow down

carefully and give a wave to the cop. Most non-cops slow down and avoid

looking at the cop by looking straight ahead saying "Oh, Shit, Oh Shit" and

pretending not to see him. An off duty cop would acknowledge the presence

of the cop by a gentle wave or a nod indicating that you have just realized you

are speeding and will immediately correct the situation. This can prevent you

from being pulled over in the first place because you have recognized the cop

as an authority and you have heeded him. This also works well in inclement

weather since the cop is the one who has to get out of his vehicle.





The pre-emptive pullover

If you think you just got busted for any traffic infraction and you know you

are guilty and about to be stopped the best thing you can have going for you

is to pull over immediately! Do not confuse this with the pre-emptive wave as

described above. Surrender only when the cop has pulled out and starts to

pursue you. Surrendering eliminates the cop having to chase you with sirens

screaming and lights afire and the cop will be in a better mood when he talks

to you. Obviously the pre-emptive pullover will only work if you intend to

plead guilty to the violation because if you intend to plead not guilty you will

look pretty stupid by having pulled over before you were forced to. By

surrendering you immediately lower the cops natural feeling of threat and

increase his ego and this is exactly what an off duty cop would do. Swallow

your pride on this one!





It pays to know a cop

We all know that off duty cops speed and they don't get tickets. Basically, the

last thing a cop wants to do is give out a ticket that he feels is going to be

asked by someone in the department to fix it which is not easy. This is usually

the case with off duty cops and families of cops. The ticket writing cop would

rather let the violator go if they think they have stopped an off duty officer or

a member of their family rather than later be asked to fix the ticket. Notice I

used the word think. It is illegal to impersonate a police officer and you

definitely do not want to do that but it is not illegal for a cop to think or

wrongly assume you are a cop. As long as you have made no false statements

about yourself or haven't displayed a badge indicating you are a cop you

should have no problem.





The way a cop pulls over

For a cop to pull over a vehicle for a traffic violation is a very tense situation

to say the least. These days there are crazies riding around with guns under

their seats or body parts in the trunk so a cop's defenses are at a high for even

those most routine traffic stops. The more you can do to decrease the justified

fear a cop has the better your chances of getting out of a ticket. Cops know

this and when they get pulled over this is what they do.





With the cop following you, look into the rear view mirror and acknowledge

you see him by giving a brief wave out the driver's side window and turning

on you directional signal. Select an area that will be safe for both you and the

officer out of the way of traffic. If the weather is bad quickly look for an

overpass to pull over underneath since the cop will surely appreciate this. If

you are not on an interstate it is acceptable to search for a good spot since

you have already acknowledged to the officer that you know he is behind

you. Most cops set up shop in an area predefined with a spot that is available

to pull you over up the road.





Pull over as far to the right as possible so the cop does not have to fear

getting hit by a truck while interviewing you. The cop will now be able to

place his car as a protective barrier from traffic whizzing by. Put on your four

way flashers as an added bonus and make sure the car is in park.





If you have tinted windows and they are electric bring them all down so the

cop can see inside you car. Also if you are wearing sunglasses it is best to

remove them to establish eye contact. If the cop doesn't remove his don't

worry about it. He is the authority.





Do not get out of the car! This will immediately send the cop into a fit

because he will be held accountable to whatever happens to you by your next

of kin. Nothing can be accomplished by you getting out of your car except

creating one mad cop which results in one expensive ticket.





At night immediately turn on the interior lights to show you have nothing to

hide.





Sit still! The cop may take some time to get to you while he/she is checking

out your plate number. Do not raise suspicion by bouncing around looking for

your license and registration, you do not need it at this point and it is only

raising the anxiety level of the cop





As the cop approaches your vehicle, keep your hands planted firmly on the

steering wheel. This makes the cop feel comfortable and less gun shy because

he can see your hands and he is less likely to believe you are going to shoot

him. There may be two cops and in that case the other one will be looking

inside your car usually from the passenger side so just try to ignore him.





The cop will usually first ask for your license and registration not say why

you are being pulled over. Tell the cop exactly what you are going to be

doing! For instance say " My license is in my wallet which I am sitting on,

and my registration is in the glove box, I will hand them to you in that order"

This can only help you give the impression that you are a cop but not actually

saying it. This may sound corny to you but it works!





It is crucial to make sure you break eye contact with the officer while

reaching for anything because there is evidence that a killer always looks his

prey in the eyes before killing him. Cops are well trained in this area and you

definitely do not want the cop thinking you are reaching for a gun, it can ruin

your whole trip.





After getting your papers from the glove box leave it open so you are letting

him know you have nothing to hide. If you have a center console in your car

you will want to close it after retrieving whatever you need because that is a

good place to hide a gun that can be pulled out quickly.