Radar and Cops

[focalcivic]

I wanted to get some opinions from readers. Typically, when I get pulled over I try to pull my radar off the windshield. Do other members do this as well? Do any of you guys get tickets if you think the cop saw the detector? For the most part, I get off if I get pulled over, but I have seen cops really looking in my car esp at the windshield area.

[bauzer71487]

Well it really depends on a few things. Where I have mine mounted, being in a car and all - the LEO would have to bend all the way down and become face to face with me, and than know exactly where to look (right above RVM) to see it. I have the remote display which will keep the lights from being seen by the leo while he's pulling me over and when I turn off my car the v1 goes off - preventing any chance of sounds escaping from the v1 while I'm sitting there for the LEO to approach.

The best things you can do in a traffic stop is recognize the fact that as harmless as you may be - he/she doesn't know that - and you should make it clear and obvious that you have no attempt to try to hurt them. Keep your hands on your steering wheel or hold them just outside your window flat against the car(if your window is already down) - tell your guests in your car to put them on the dashboard / headrests. Although it sounds extreme - the LEO will appreciate it. Tell them where the stuff is(registration,license,etc) and ask permission to grab for it. Be assertive in your answers, but not cocky. Be apologetic, yet not girly. Be professional - and hope that the leo gives you a break.

[JeepinJeff]

there was a thread at officer.com that was discussing this. Basically the cops were all saying if they see you with a detector, you'll get a ticket and not a warning. :roll:

[ELVATO]

And then there are some that don't like it when they saw that you had it up as they were getting your speed, but then it's not there when they pull you over. Then again, the most they can do is give you a ticket instead of a warning :roll:

[bart99gt]

I've gotten just as many warnings as tickets with a detector still on the windshield and powered on. A couple of times it was still going off when the officer walked up to the car, only because I didn't want to make any movements to make him/her jumpy. It really depends on the cop.

[GTO_04]

I've gotten just as many warnings as tickets with a detector still on the windshield and powered on. A couple of times it was still going off when the officer walked up to the car, only because I didn't want to make any movements to make him/her jumpy. It really depends on the cop.

Same here! There is no hard and fast rule about this. The LEOs that I know say they don't really care if someone has an RD or not. The driver's attitude is a more important factor in whether someone gets a ticket or not.

Also, I would not want to be reaching around in the car, making "furtive" movements. That may make them a little nervous. :shock: If you are going to turn your RD off or hide it, don't wait until he is walking up to your car! If you're alert, you will know far ahead of time if he is coming after you. There will be hints, like the I/O blast, the patrol car cutting the median, etc.

GTO_04

[Cracker187]

I was doing 77 in a 60. Came around a slow curve. (It was night time) I couldn't see a thing besides what was in my headlights. As I took the curve my RD suddenly went up to one then 3 bars then full blown K. I hit the brakes quick and tried to slow as much as possible. Saw the LEO as I passed and prepared to be pulled over. When I pulled over, I didn't bother with the RD. I just muted it and waited. Ended up getting a warning(apparently I slowed down enough to get out of a ticket). Fact is, it's all up to the officer. We can't tell you what they'll do. It could go either way depending on their positive or negative conotation of a RD. I wouldn't suggest, however, taking down anything or making any suspicious "tuck and hide"maneuvers when being pulled over. Cops aren't stupid and if they think you're hiding something that just gives them more reason to write a ticket.

[Asleeper]

I was doing 77 in a 60. Came around a slow curve. (It was night time) I couldn't see a thing besides what was in my headlights. As I took the curve my RD suddenly went up to one then 3 bars then full blown K. I hit the brakes quick and tried to slow as much as possible. Saw the LEO as I passed and prepared to be pulled over. When I pulled over, I didn't bother with the RD. I just muted it and waited. Ended up getting a warning(apparently I slowed down enough to get out of a ticket). Fact is, it's all up to the officer. We can't tell you what they'll do. It could go either way depending on their positive or negative conotation of a RD. I wouldn't suggest, however, taking down anything or making any suspicious "tuck and hide"maneuvers when being pulled over. Cops aren't stupid and if they think you're hiding something that just gives them more reason to write a ticket.

I've gotten the "tuck and hide" down to a science. Then again, I have to do that every time I get stopped..........

[ooja3k]

You guys are getting pulled over a lot for having detectors....

Makes your investment worth it huh....?

[ELVATO]

You guys are getting pulled over a lot for having detectors....

Makes your investment worth it huh....?

Uh yea. Imagine if they didn't have one ;)

[ooja3k]

haha true....

If i were the cop and i pulled you over and i saw you had a detector, i would just laugh and write you (the idiot) the ticket...

:o

[focalcivic]

haha true....

If i were the cop and i pulled you over and i saw you had a detector, i would just laugh and write you (the idiot) the ticket...

:o

Actually cops find many other reasons to get me over besides speeding. I like to get the radar detector off the windshield just in case. Radar detectors help to avoid getting pulled over just for speeding. Most cops will find any reason to pull people over like......I saw you swerving BS....

[ooja3k]

plus, its another reason if he sees it to pull you over just to give you a hard time..... but whoops, you had a couple beers on your lunch break...

uh oh!

[focalcivic]

plus, its another reason if he sees it to pull you over just to give you a hard time..... but whoops, you had a couple beers on your lunch break...

uh oh!

OOJA3K........one day you will be able to drive over the posted speed limit too, but you might have to move from cali since there is sooo much traffic. Then maybe a radar detector is in your future =) I assume by your remarks you do not have one, unless of course it is a cobra.

[Cracker187]

You guys are getting pulled over a lot for having detectors....

Makes your investment worth it huh....?

Yea I get pulled over still. Know why? Cuz I don't have a problem with getting a ticket. I have a problem with it going on my record. As long as I'm less than 10 over the PSL I could care less. 8) If I get a signal on my RD I make sure I'm 9 over max. Anything under is just a plus. I've actually been pulled over ONCE for speeding since I've owned my RD and like I said it was at night(and I have a personal rule against speeding, etc at night) and during a big curve. Otherwise it would not have happened. And personally I don't like how it seems you're talking down about those of us who have them. Sorry if I'm not scared to go over the PSL and intelligent enough to use a RD while doing it. : /

[poker192]

If I was pulled over I would do one of two things,

1. Casually unplug the the rd and hope the leo does not notice it above the RVM

or

2. Press the release button and set it on the floor of the passenger side and leave the mount above the RVM

and for night, try the dim feature....

[NY946]

The truth most LEOs won't tell you (but if you have half a brain, you could figure out):

If we see it, you (generally) get written. If you try to take it down and hide it thinking we didn't see you take it down, you will probably wind up with more than one yellowbird.

Just be polite and honest, it's that simple. :wink:

If you end up with a ticket, it can always be dropped or taken care of later on. It's not the end of the world.

Edit:
Note that most of us have our own radar detectors, we know where they are mounted for maximum performance, and all of the good hiding spots. Good cops look around the car to see what we can find before we even say hello to you. Chances are we will see it no matter where its hidden.

[ELVATO]

The truth most LEOs won't tell you (but if you have half a brain, you could figure out):

If we see it, you (generally) get written. If you try to take it down and hide it thinking we didn't see you take it down, you will probably wind up with more than one yellowbird.

Just be polite and honest, it's that simple. :wink:

If you end up with a ticket, it can always be dropped or taken care of later on. It's not the end of the world.

Edit:
Note that most of us have our own radar detectors, we know where they are mounted for maximum performance, and all of the good hiding spots. Good cops look around the car to see what we can find before we even say hello to you. Chances are we will see it no matter where its hidden.

LEOs need radar detectors? :shock: What, no professional courtasy? :lol:

They have toys, I have toys, let's play! Bring on the Ka and laser :)

And hey, if you're caught, you're caught. When you play with the big guys, you have to fully expect to get hurt. Question is, how long can you keep from getting hurt? ;)

[NY946]

Not that there is no professional courtesy in this area, but it is diminishing elsewhere. There is a website for cops who write cops now. Anyway, a few of us out of my station have them, more for entertainment than anything else.

[focalcivic]

The truth most LEOs won't tell you (but if you have half a brain, you could figure out):

If we see it, you (generally) get written. If you try to take it down and hide it thinking we didn't see you take it down, you will probably wind up with more than one yellowbird.

Just be polite and honest, it's that simple. :wink:

If you end up with a ticket, it can always be dropped or taken care of later on. It's not the end of the world.

Edit:
Note that most of us have our own radar detectors, we know where they are mounted for maximum performance, and all of the good hiding spots. Good cops look around the car to see what we can find before we even say hello to you. Chances are we will see it no matter where its hidden.

Im pretty quick at taking it down. For the most part me hiding the radar seems to work. Actually, not if it is already under the seat then there is no way he will find it unless he searches.

[stealthJamal]

Cops are law enforcment officers and it is there job to enforce the law the same regardless of what they think about a person or what they think about a person's legal belongings. That being said, cops are also human so they will let there emotions influence their decision when applying law enforcement. If you know for sure the LEO didn't see your detector when the LEO clocked you and came after you, then hide the detector. But if you have the detector right in the middle of the windshield and hide it when you are stopped the cop already saw it and the cop will get the human emotion that you are trying to decieve them and it could effect their judgement when applying law enforcement.

So if the cop sees it, don't hide it. If the cop doesn't see it, hide it. Also, if you are foolish enough to speed in the middle of the night with no other cars around and the cop sees you slam your brakes when you get the instant on radar burst; hiding the detector won't help.

In a perfect world the cop seeing a legal device in your car shouldn't factor in when the law is being enforced. But this isn't a perfect world. Cops are human too. But I think that's why radar detectors are legal because people know that everything isn't perfect and of course you don't get a jury trial for traffic offenses. In a perfect world you would get a jury trial for traffic offenses. People that use detectors either get a high end one and use it wisely avoiding tickets or people get a high end one and think they are invinceable to getting caught and actually end up with more tickets than if they didn't use one. People that buy a low end detector get screwed either way, the only way to use a low end detector wisely is not to use one. So in the end it all evens out for everyone anyways.

[Phillip559]

The truth most LEOs won't tell you (but if you have half a brain, you could figure out):

If we see it, you (generally) get written. If you try to take it down and hide it thinking we didn't see you take it down, you will probably wind up with more than one yellowbird.

Just be polite and honest, it's that simple. :wink:

If you end up with a ticket, it can always be dropped or taken care of later on. It's not the end of the world.

Edit:
Note that most of us have our own radar detectors, we know where they are mounted for maximum performance, and all of the good hiding spots. Good cops look around the car to see what we can find before we even say hello to you. Chances are we will see it no matter where its hidden.

I highly doubt that most cops have RD. Apparently, many don't even know the difference between Radar and Laser. St Louis X50 was accused of having radar jamming equipment when he jammed a Leo using laser.

[NY946]

I highly doubt that most cops have RD. Apparently, many don't even know the difference between Radar and Laser. St Louis X50 was accused of having radar jamming equipment when he jammed a Leo using laser.

I am speaking for only my station in my agency. I was not indicating that most cops in general have RDs. They don't, and there are many NYSP members that don't. :wink:

[noTe]

I typically do the following:

-Roll down the front two windows completely no matter how hot or cold it is.
-Turn off the vehicle and place the keys on top of the dash.
-If it's at night, I turn on my dome light.
-Put both hands on the steering wheel

I usually don't bother hiding the radar detector and I'm just honest. However, I never admit I speed. I have learned this to be a NO NO. I just say something along the lines that I wasn't paying attention and I don't know if I was speeding or not.

[carboncopy]

Mine comes down for sure... The less they know the better IMO. When you are a young male driver you are enough of a target for the police as it is.

[noTe]

Mine comes down for sure... The less they know the better IMO. When you are a young male driver you are enough of a target for the police as it is.

You better be careful. Cops look for motion in the car and you don't want to be confused with trying to hide a gun... that's why I really think most people shouldn't try and take them down.

[SmaartAasSaabr]

I am speaking for only my station in my agency. I was not indicating that most cops in general have RDs. They don't, and there are many NYSP members that don't. :wink:

I can understand, I've been through Albany... As soon as the PSL goes from 65 to 55 suddenly I feel warmer because all the microwave energy from the radar guns in the vicinity is "microwaving" me :lol:

[icantdrive55]

I got pulled over in the early 90's by Indiana State Trooper doing 71.8 mph in a 55 (on the Toll Road approaching the Skyway) by Vascar/Pacing. I had my BEL 945......never went off...due to him pacing me. I fought it through "guilty with reason"...and won. I actually admitted to doing 65mph in the 55 zone (which I really was doing) AND disputing the cop did not accurately vascar me between two bridges. It was foggy with visibility below/around 1/4 mile visibility in that area (at the Gary Airport). Cop said he "vascared me" between two bridges (and I found out those were MORE than 1/4 mile apart). Fog...drizzle..low overcast...means no/little shadow do get accurate start and end time calculation.

Anyway, I left the radar detector on my windshield when I got pulled over. I actually even asked the cop what radar he used to clock me because my BEL never went off. That is when he went into the story of vascar, etc.......

If you are speeding and get caught, suck up to the punishment IF you are actually guilty of the "crime". Leave the detector on. Most cops know you have one.

[Phillip559]

I got pulled over in the early 90's by Indiana State Trooper doing 71.8 mph in a 55 (on the Toll Road approaching the Skyway) by Vascar/Pacing. I had my BEL 945......never went off...due to him pacing me. I fought it through "guilty with reason"...and won. I actually admitted to doing 65mph in the 55 zone (which I really was doing) AND disputing the cop did not accurately vascar me between two bridges. It was foggy with visibility below/around 1/4 mile visibility in that area (at the Gary Airport). Cop said he "vascared me" between two bridges (and I found out those were MORE than 1/4 mile apart). Fog...drizzle..low overcast...means no/little shadow do get accurate start and end time calculation.

Anyway, I left the radar detector on my windshield when I got pulled over. I actually even asked the cop what radar he used to clock me because my BEL never went off. That is when he went into the story of vascar, etc.......

If you are speeding and get caught, suck up to the punishment IF you are actually guilty of the "crime". Leave the detector on. Most cops know you have one.

Interesting story