.... Hey Officer, MCF Member's get a `free pass

Just some more information from way out Space...
Hope it reminds a member to be CareFul out there...I know I can't afford to get a ticket 4-Sure : ) Hope you enjoy the article's below:
Traffic Violations


Have the need for speed? We've collected some articles on how to evade and beat traffic tickets.

• Caught at 100MPH, Now What?
• How to Fight a Speeding Ticket
• How to Avoid Speeding Tickets
• Don't Speed In These States

Traffic Ticket Prone?


A study reveals which vehicles are most likely and least likely to get you a speeding ticket.

• Most Ticketed Cars
• Least Ticketed Cars
• Worst Traffic Ticket Fines
• How to Spot Unmarked Cop Cars

Traffic Safety


Avoid becoming a statistic and take the necessary steps to prevent deadly traffic accidents.

• How to Avoid an Accident
• Top 11 Driver Distractions
• Car Safety Center
• Worst Holiday Traffic Spots

 

Very interesting about the least and most ticketed cars. I guess my Dad's safe not ever getting a ticket - he has an 08 Buick Lucerne. Very funny that the american pony cars were not on the most ticketed list.

 

Hi `Amy, I was surprised also, but the Muscle Cars are the ones `giving the tickets


some agencies drive the Ford Mustang. This particular high-performance GT V-8 muscle car patrols Harper Woods, Michigan. One side of the Mustang is a "plain wrapper," while the other sports full-on police markings.


Stealth Mustang GT: Spotting the cues


Police cars need specific equipment to perform their appointed rounds. Many of them are visible to the trained eye, even on unmarked cars. For example, this image shows where lights are commonly added:
In the grill
On the exterior mirrors
Along the top edge of the windshield
Further observation reveals the radar and video camera mounted on the dash.


Stealth Mustang GT: Spotting the cues


It may be hardest to recognize the stealth Mustang GT police car from the side. A keen eye will note:
Flasher lights in the rear quarter window
A marker/flasher on the front quarter panel
Stubby radio antennas on the trunk lid mounted just ahead of the rear spoiler
The patrol officer's brush cut, sunglasses and department patch on his jacket's sleeve may only become visible once he is writing your ticket.



Stealth Mustang GT: Spotting the cues


Spotting a covert police cruiser from the rear is difficult. The stripes, rear spoiler, and the "GT" emblem help this Mustang blend with traffic. But even this car shows some cop car cues:
Each state has an official municipal license plate. Learn your state's plate. For example, Michigan's has an "X" in the middle.
Short police radio antennas on the trunk lid
Look in the rear window for blue and red flashers

 

Not sure if its St. Mary's County's finest or MD state's finest that has a Charger around where I live. I see it quite often on my way to work though. and I know in August of '09 I got pulled over for my tag light being out... mind you the minivan next to me had a headlight out. one of St. Mary's finest pulled me over and the first thing he said to me was "Is this your car?" at the time it was still in my parents name. He just gave me a repair ticket, thank god lol

 

I got hit with a 108mph ticket 2 years ago. They aren't fun.

The cop liked my car, bumped it down to a still serious 85mph ticket, but I was able to keep my license.

 

Yea tickets are no fun. If the officer asks how fast you were going, dont answer "Pretty fast"
But with the ticketed and most ticketed. I despise cops for favoring some cars most of the time. I could fly past a cop at 80 in a 60 in a cuda with open headers and so much alcohol burning in the system that he can smell it.
I go past same cop, going 65 in a 60, in the monte with open headers, and Im pulled over.
Hate cops.

 

Hey `Brock, maybe it's not the Monte & it's U U have 2 stop giving them `sign Language (finger: ) when U pass them : )
I don't hate cops, I just don't like them when they catch `me.

I think they have a very dangerous `job & see the worst of many drivers that are on the road that hurt/kill others : (

Most don't get paid well, & they are out there alone.
I wonder sometimes what our highways would be like `if the State Patrol & Police went on strike & there was no one to enforce the laws on the Road....
It would be WILD 4-Sure......

Thanks everyone for your contribution/comments/posts on this and every thread : )

 

How to Avoid a Speeding Ticket

Avoiding a speeding ticket is your first line of defense.

By Damon Dallah

Not driving your vehicle is a good way to avoid a speeding ticket. But since most of us have to work for a living, that would not be feasible.
So for the rest of you who don't like the thought of using public transportation, these next pointers should be very helpful.
Most of the time it's the little stuff we tend to neglect that initially gets us pulled over. Then, once we are at the officer's mercy, other more serious (and expensive) violations magically appear out of nowhere.
When it's all said and done, you could wind up with several tickets.
A simple busted taillight could also turn into a seat belt charge, expired license charge, no insurance violation, or some other infringement the officer can manage to find.
Heck, if you just had a glass of wine with dinner, you could get slapped with a DUI too.
Ouch!
So make it a habit to always be one step ahead of the cops. It's not hard to do and the end result could save you hundreds of dollars, your driver's license and possibly your freedom.
Unless of course you like taking the bus.
1. Watch your speed

It goes without saying, but if you want to avoid speeding tickets, then DON'T SPEED! It's as simple as that.
If you are going to speed - save it for the highways.
Speeding within the inner city limits does not accomplish its purpose of getting where you're going sooner. With all the stop and go traffic, you won't gain any substantial amount of time and will wear your vehicle out at a faster rate.
Give your right foot a breather on city streets.
2. Prepare beforehand

The only way to avoid your next traffic ticket is to stay ahead of the game. The next time you get a chance, take a walk around your car and make sure everything is in working order.
Things like your headlights, tail lights, blinkers and mirrors should all be in functioning condition.
Of course, no one can predict when a headlight or bulb will blow, but a simple check now and again won't hurt.
Also, make sure to rid your car of unnecessary blind spots such as large stickers on the windshield or large items (baby shoes or fuzzy pair of dice) hanging from your rear view mirror. You may not get a speeding ticket, but you could get hit with an 'obstruction of view' charge.
Finally, make sure your license plate sticker is up to date and your tires are properly inflated. It's all these little things that we often forget to do, yet can have an enormous impact on how we are perceived by the officer.
3. Quality of your vehicle

The cleaner, more up-to-date and overall better looking condition your vehicle is in, the less likely you are to be noticed by the officer.
Simple things like a little touch up paint, fixing cracked windshields and various cosmetic repairs will go a long way.
4. Stay alert

Don't sleep and drive!
Always maintain a good visible lookout of your surroundings. A police officer can be anywhere - not only in front of you.
Beware of turns and curves in the road. Approach bridges and underpasses with caution. Keep your seat in an upright position so you can see clearly and without difficulty.
Staying alert and aware is often forgotten by many motorists. Whether you are listening to the radio or chatting with passengers, focusing your attention on something else other than your driving can be costly.
5. Suspicion

Driving a beat up 1985 Chevy Monte Carlo with loud pipes in a wealthy neighborhood (especially at night) will trigger any officer's suspicion. I hate to say it, but a black or Hispanic individual driving in a predominately white neighborhood will also trigger an officer's suspicion.
Anyone in this country has the right to drive wherever they want, but try to avoid areas you think the officer will single you out. It's a free country - but then again not as free as we think.
(Page 1 of 2)
Continue to page 2 of How to Avoid a Speeding Ticket →

Related Articles:
How to Handle a Traffic Stop
Should You Fight a Speeding Ticket?
Speeding Ticket Myths
Speeding Ticket Facts & Statistics
More Articles...

 

The battle is raging between police officers and speeders as they continually try to one-up the other with new technology (Corbis).

by: Rex Roy

See More Articles
from this Author

People speed for plenty of reasons. Some claim they’re in a hurry. Some aren’t paying attention. Some do it for sport. Likewise, police have multiple motivations for ticketing speeders. Some officers claim driving anything over the speed limit is "unsafe." Some departments do it to fill municipal coffers hit hard by falling tax revenues. And yes, some do it for sport.
Regardless of why drivers speed and cops ticket, each side is using technology to increase their chances of success.
How Radar Works
Back in the old days, officers “paced” speeders, following behind at a constant distance or timed speeders between two fixed points, calculating speed by dividing the distance by the elapsed time. The latter technique is still employed, particularly when aircraft are used in traffic enforcement. The invention of radar, however, changed the speeding game.
First used by the British in World War II, the operational concept of radar is simple: Radar essentially uses echoes and the Doppler shift to measure the size, speed, and even the contours of an object within its range. The ability to measure speed is what interests the police.
A Passport 9500ix radar detector (Escort Radar).


Their units emit radio waves that the operator aims at traffic. The waves bounce off the oncoming vehicle, causing an echo. The frequency of this echo can be measured by the radar gun. Because of what's known as the Doppler shift, an object moving more quickly toward the radar gun will reflect an echo of a higher frequency than one moving more slowly. The relative changes in echo frequency give the radar guns the data they need to calculate the target's speed.
The first police radar system debuted in 1947 and operated on S-Band (2.445 gigahertz), a frequency close to that of today's microwave ovens. The stationary-use, 45-pound units weren't particularly practical or accurate and their effective range was less than 200 feet. The next stage of development occurred in the mid-1960s with X-band systems (10.525 GHz). These newer units ruled the country's new Interstate system throughout the 1970s. The K-band (24.150 GHz) became more common after 1976, and the Ka-band (33.4-36 GHz) appeared in 1989. Because of their shorter waveform, these newer K-band frequencies enabled the radar units to operate with greater accuracy. Some 41 state police departments now utilize Ka-band radar systems. Reportedly, there are some 300,000 radar guns in operation across the US.
Today's police radar units can be stationary or mobile. They have the ability to clock traffic approaching the radar gun or driving away from the operator. Radar manufacturers recommend a maximum target range of around 700 feet, but the units are capable of locking onto a target at up to a quarter-mile if conditions are ideal.
Vintage Fuzzbuster radar detector (Wikipedia).


As advanced as police radar has become, the units have some drawbacks. While fast, the emitting of waves and processing the echo can take the unit's computer seconds to lock in and register. This can take even longer if there are multiple targets, such as one might experience in traffic. The other problem is that when operating at 1000 feet, the radar "beam" can be 200 or more feet wide. This large coverage area reduces accuracy and can make it difficult for an officer to identify the target the radar unit has locked onto. Metal fencing, microwave radio towers, and other objects can cause also reflective interference and inaccurate radar readings.
How Laser Detectors Work
Laser or LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) equipment is the newest trick employed by police. Laser detection equipment works by aiming a narrow beam of infrared light at a vehicle, and then measuring how long it takes to reflect back to the unit. The computer in the laser unit divides the time by two and calculates the vehicle's distance. It then immediately repeats the process, comparing the change in distance to determine the vehicle's speed.
A burst from a laser gun can include as many as 1,000 samples per second, helping insure the accuracy of the measurement. Additionally, the beam of infrared light maintains its narrow focus, so it targets vehicles with pinpoint accuracy. From 1,000 feet, a laser beam measures just three feet wide. In other words, when an officer aims at a vehicle with a laser, chances are he’ll get his reading.
One drawback of laser is that it must be fired from a stationary location. Unlike radar, laser cannot be shot through glass, and lasers are also impacted by rain, fog, dust or smoke.
Fuzzbusters and Other Countermeasures
While the first police radar systems came into use in the late 1950s, it wasn’t until the ’70s that speeders became armed with the first electronic countermeasures. Older drivers might remember the Fuzzbuster and Super Snooper, two of the earliest commercially marketed radar detectors. In contrast to the svelte, compact shapes of modern units, the first detectors looked like bulky, crudely built science fair projects.
Modern radar and laser detectors employ carefully shaped antennas to receive radio and light waves. When frequencies match those known to be used by police radar and laser units, the detectors signal an alert. But it’s not so simple, because police aren't the only ones using the airwaves. Sensors that operate automatic doors at grocery stores also use various radar bands, as do garage door openers and traffic-flow monitoring systems.
Most units today combine radar and laser detection in one device, and conventional wisdom says a higher price tag corresponds with improved performance. The better detectors tend to do a superior job of filtering out non-police signals than cheaper units, and some models have built-in GPS, to help recognize and remember the locations of fixed-location “false alarms.” One of the newest features being incorporated into the devices is unmanned photo radar and red-light intersection camera detection, often working in conjunction with a Web-based database of these locations.
"Instant On"
The major shortcoming of driving with a detector, even a top-of-the-line model, is that there is almost no advanced warning when police use instant-on radar units or laser. If you get popped by instant-on radar, it's likely too late to slow down. Hearing an alert for laser is an even more dire situation, because the speed at which lasers operate means that by the time the detector sounds an alert, the laser gun is already showing the cop how fast you are travelling.
Keep in mind that radar detectors are illegal in Virginia and Washington, D.C., as well as parts of Canada. To sniff out citizens using the radar detectors, a manufacturer of radar and LIDAR units also produces a radar detector "detector." This works because all modern radar detectors use a component called an oscillator, which emits a measurable amount of electromagnet "leakage.” This is what the detector detector detects.
Catching on to the pattern here? This is most certainly war.

 

Well done KidSpace! I wasn't expecting this thread to be so informative, but it was. The section on the Mustang cop from MI is especially good info for me because my home town is in MI (although it's on the west side of the state instead of Harper Woods being on the east side). Now I know what to look for, thanks