Florida: I4 East , the beast!

[Event Horizon]

Oh what a day. Made a trip from Tampa to Orlando to go to Disney World for the day. It was packed with action!!

Time of day: Sunday, 9AM-10AM

First encounter: I275 southbound, X50 detects Ka 33.8 Hillsborough sheriff unmarked crown vic (black) from more than 2 miles! The road was straight, yet there is continuous hills. When I reached the LEO, he had someone stopped.

Second encounter: I4 Eastbound, very close past the I275 junction. The FIRST ever daytime organized LASER trap i've seen in Florida! I don't really know who was running it. I think it was definitely Tampa city police. An unmarked white Ford explorer was perpendicular to the road shooting an ULTRALYTE out of his window. Half of the vehicle was hidden by a concrete wall.

Me being very alert and great vision, MY EYES SAVED ME from this trap. I was going 80 in 55 but i spotted him from a good distance away and did moderate breaking down to the PSL. I was in middle lane and there was a box truck in the right lane. I am fairly certain I was not being shot because the X50 did not alert. I think there is low chance of X50 missing laser shot. Besides the box truck might have blocked the LEO from attempting a shot.

There was plenty of chase vehicles available and a few victims stopped already.

Thrid encounter: This encounter was weird. Shows how dangerous FHP is. This was I believe before Lakeland. FHP marked cruiser was completely hidden in ditch in the median. No way to see him. I was in left lane doing about 83-85 in 70. In the final seconds I SAW him and i got scared $hitless and did a nosedive in front of him. There was not a chirp of radar or laser from X50. LUCKILY, he did not pursue me. I am fairly confident I wasn't clocked. BUT DAMN WHY DO THEY DO THIS. Just sit in the median and do nothing!! It was not even possible to laser or IO someone at all. It was a very deep ditch. Maybe he was just getting ready. WHEW.. escaped that one!

Fourth encounter: Past Lakeland, doing 85 on rightmost lane. All of a sudden FHP marked cruiser appeared sitting parallel in the median facing opposite direction. No way to see him prior due to the median having tons of trees then a plain grass area emerged where he was on. *This encounter i am perplexed*: There was a white caravan on the left lane probably doing my same speed. FHP started pursuing this van!!! I was relieved. It stopped the van. NO ALERT AT ALL from X50. The van MUST have been lasered through the windshield by the FHP?? This is all i can think of. No evidence of the van being IOed as the X50 did not chirp. If it was a quick IO trigger i still think the X50 would of caught it especially that close of range.

Back from Orlando it was all quiet!! This was by far the most action packed drive i've had in Florida and i am glad I made it without even a dollar less in my pocket.

[edweird]

Originally Posted by Event Horizon

FHP marked cruiser was completely hidden in ditch in the median. No way to see him. ...BUT *BEEP* WHY DO THEY DO THIS. Just sit in the median and do nothing!!

Are you sure there was someone in the car?

There's a FHP sedan that is parked in the median near the end of I-4 at I-95 and it's been there for months. They admit it's there to slow folks down who aren't locals, and to keep the locals guessing about when there will be someone in it. :wink:

[Event Horizon]

Originally Posted by edweird

Are you sure there was someone in the car?

There's a FHP sedan that is parked in the median near the end of I-4 at I-95 and it's been there for months. They admit it's there to slow folks down who aren't locals, and to keep the locals guessing about when there will be someone in it. :wink:

Yea, well i think there was someone in the car. Fact is i was nowhere near I95 at the time. This was somewhere after Lakeland.

[amoney]

Recent trip to St. Pete, local PD had a massive laser trap targeting people coming over a bridge, and this was at NIGHT. After I passed that pig fest, cruising down another street, passed police department explorer, he then IO the car behind me down the ways.

Years ago, I got nailed by airborn VASCAR in Tampa, I75, needless to say I loath that area of Florida.

I have seen a fair share of spped traps in the Ft. Myers area as well in my time. Chase vehicles sitting on the on ramp then splitting traffic going after their kill. Ruthless.

EDIT

LOL

I typed P I G and the censor auto changed it to LEO, thats fantastic. Now I will always type p i g.... i.e. pig <<< Hahahaha!!!

[insertquarter]

Local PD'z Love Just putting out Dummy Cars All along Highways...

FHP'z are Sons of *****es Though, They're the Sneakiest Bastardz I've Ever Seen, and Don't Expect to Get out of a Ticket if they Pull ya Over. Ruthless POS's...

[Event Horizon]

wow, i cant believe how all of a sudden the Tampa section of I4 is being enforced. This morning, 6AM, fairly dark, the EXACT same area where the laser trap was being done last sunday, a FHP marked cruiser was sitting facing the direction of travel, positioned a bit off axis (45 degrees), and all lights off!! I had no action from X50.

It seems that he was ready to do forward facing radar and be IO selective. Because a mile after I passed him, I started receiving Ka 35.5 blips. I had to exit out i didnt get to see if there was another unit in action.

regardless, its VERY important to be 100 percent alert with good vision even in the morning. I spotted this guy from far away again. I may have saved myself if he was doing selective forward facing IO. Was doing 80 in 55 again. FHP: tricky

[insertquarter]

So Lame, Pretty Sure itz ****in Illegal For em to Sit w/o Any Lightz On. Supposed to Have @ Least their Emergency Lights on...

[amoney]

Originally Posted by insertquarter

So Lame, Pretty Sure itz *BEEP* Illegal For em to Sit w/o Any Lightz On. Supposed to Have @ Least their Emergency Lights on...

Thats what I always heard as well.

[ELVATO]

LOL, it depends on state. By the number of FHP I've seen w/o lights (flashers, or parking) I'm pretty sure Florida is one of those special states. :?