Hello; I am new but have been reading for a while

[NETWizz]

Thought I would make an introduction. Although I have read a vast amount about Radar detectors over the past few months, I only recently purchased my first radar detector an Escort 8500 X50.

I joined this group to help establish peer relationships further my accumulation of knowledge as well as help other people.

What lead me here is the erosion of reasonable authority and enforcement by peace officers. Quite simply put, they have gotten "out of hand" and abusive in my area. It is not at all unusual for me to drive 7 miles and visually see 5 police cars as well as 3 people pulled over in that distance. Quite simply, they have become predatory and are no longer care about public safety; instead, it is about revenue.

Worse yet, I called the police to get assistance on behalf of a crazy neighbor who needed it though it was not a life/death emergency. The police office is open 24/7/365, yet I got their voicemail, which was full! Therefore, I called 911. When they eventually came 45 minutes later (after having watched 3 police cars pass by on the street), they dealt with the neighbors by issuing citations as if that resolves anything. Next they decided to harass me a bit for calling 911 stating, "we have better things to do; you should not have called an emergency number; we are going to issue you a citation, too." I asked, "What should I have done?" Response: Call the police office and make a report.

The disposition was that I explained, "I called and got voice mail which was full. If I, a taxpayer, have to call 911 to have you come out here and render the service I pay for because you cannot answer the phone, write me a citation and you can explain everything to the jury all the other tax payers in court including how I am to get assistance when nobody answers the phone. Somebody in court WILL explain to me a procedure for getting the police when I need you." Result, I received a mere verbal warning; instead, of a citation -they knew I would make them look bad in contesting the citation, so they did not write it.

My last speeding ticket: Cop whips around doing an illegal U-Turn (over a median/island with flowered plants in it) to write me for 61 in a 55 on a two-way, divided-highway, which should have been a 65 and could safely allow drivers to travel about 75. Best yet he explains that another officer radioed him that I was driving 6 MPH too fast and he states, "I don't actually know how fast you went because I did not see you until you got on the bridge (2 wide lanes same direction), but another officer radioed me" In court, however, the story had changed and there no longer was a second officer when I asked to examine the other officer. Was I speeding? Yes! I really was traveling 61 in a 55.

Conclusion: Officers in my area are not here to "protect and serve"; instead, they work together in teams to create speed traps to harass drivers and generate revenue. Countermeasure: Radar Detector

I do not see the fire department driving around looking for violations of fire-code statute. Why should the police be any different?

[radarrob]

Welcome to the forum.

[TRun]

welcome to the forum looks like you have it rough in your area

[thx1138]

Welcome aboard....Interesting background. You may also want to look at laser countermeasures. Without too much detail, where are you from?

[milkman]

Welcome

[Akosikojak]

Conclusion: Officers in my area are not here to "protect and serve"; instead, they work together in teams to create speed traps to harass drivers and generate revenue. Countermeasure: Radar Detector

I do not see the fire department driving around looking for violations of fire-code statute. Why should the police be any different?

Good comparison, Welcome to our forum

[NETWizz]

South Carolina. Yesterday, I drove about 10 miles and encountered 4 Ka (visually only saw 3 police cars), and 1 (K Band saw car).

I was able to verify 4 police cars in that distance running Radar, but for a change nobody was stopped. There were also about 3 to 5 (They are so common they blend in) not running Radar.

In general, nobody in my area runs Laser (Thankfully).


That said, those officers who do run Radar are typically patrolling though they sometimes setup on the side of the road. About 4 out of 5 times it is Constant On, but sometimes a Doge Charger passes and in the very last instant I go from ziltch to absolute full Ka probably I/O


I sometimes get POP alerts on my 8500 x50, but I do not know if they are false alerts or not. The deadly POP alerts that I know are real are when my detector is flashing POP Ka Pop Ka Pop Ka at the same time as if it is not sure if I am getting POP or Ka.


I do not mind police or have anything against them. I just wish they would focus on safety and public service instead of generation of revenue. I do not like seeing my tax money used for over-zealous traffic enforcement - there is a big difference issuing a ticket for a safety hazard vs. someone who speeds 10 over an already artificially low posted speed limit.


Any advice? I have been pretty good at avoiding tickets as I can now spot police vehicles, finally. We have black, grey, and white undercover ones. They are marked different for Town, City, County, and State - we seriously have 4 separate agencies patrolling my area, and they all have a different paint scheme! They also come in different flavors: Crown Vics, Vans, Pick-Ups, SUVs, Motorcycles, Dodge Chargers, Chevy Malabus, Chevy Impalas, and once in a while a Cadillac Escalate. My favorite is the pull over lights that they stick to the inside of
their windshield with suction cups; it is convenient. Regardless, I do quite well not to mention I am looking a mile up the road when possible, so I generally know what is ahead. I have also been learning to use rabbits. The best rabbits are police cars until they get to a pack of traffic in which case they become the pace car. Otherwise, if you wait in a parking lot at night they whip past at PSL + 20, which is actually perfectly safe though a bit of a double standard.

[QuickTrigger]

Welcome to the forum . i feel your pain and understand what uve been going though.

[North Alabama]

Welcome and keep learning like we all are!