Feature suggestion for next GPS-based RD

[kpatz]

Here's an idea I thought up the other day, which could come in handy when fighting an undeserved (or deserved? ) ticket.

Since RDs w/GPS like the 9500 series know your position and speed at any given time, when they pick up a radar hit, it could record the location where you were hit and your speed at the time. Then, if you get a ticket, and the LEO says he got you at X speed, you can press a button on the RD and see what speed it recorded you at, at the exact time of the radar/laser signal. If it records the location where the signal was picked up, it could be handy for "reconstruction", in case you don't remember your exact location when hit (esp. with I/O), so you can go back and take pictures of the spot, etc.

In an extreme case, say where the LEO clocks the car next to you going 10+ mph faster than you, and pulls you over instead of them, you could even show the RD's reading to the LEO, or use it as evidence in court (don't know how well that would fly), but you could say that you know you weren't going as fast as the LEO clocked you at, and the RD's recorded GPS info would be proof.

[CJR238]

that's one of the features in Escorts patent for the 9500 sires. Obviously they didn't go with it but they certainly can.

[swarga]

I sense a great business opportunity here. If I could hack the firmware of such an RD to make the unit display "65" or whatever speed I want, I could make a mint selling it.

[QuickTrigger]

sounds like a good idea. but i doubt the court would accept it as proof.

I would love to see the integration with gps navi units. It would be easier to see the speed and location and save the co-or in it...so we could easily drive to the location....use the feature if you have a navi or just unplug it and you dont get to use it. so its like use it if you want....I would love to see something like that....

If i could control my RD using the Navi to switch between modes. But its just a suggestion.

[OldGoat]

Here's an idea I thought up the other day, which could come in handy when fighting an undeserved (or deserved? ) ticket.

Since RDs w/GPS like the 9500 series know your position and speed at any given time, when they pick up a radar hit, it could record the location where you were hit and your speed at the time. Then, if you get a ticket, and the LEO says he got you at X speed, you can press a button on the RD and see what speed it recorded you at, at the exact time of the radar/laser signal. If it records the location where the signal was picked up, it could be handy for "reconstruction", in case you don't remember your exact location when hit (esp. with I/O), so you can go back and take pictures of the spot, etc.

In an extreme case, say where the LEO clocks the car next to you going 10+ mph faster than you, and pulls you over instead of them, you could even show the RD's reading to the LEO, or use it as evidence in court (don't know how well that would fly), but you could say that you know you weren't going as fast as the LEO clocked you at, and the RD's recorded GPS info would be proof.

I'm really confused here.
If the point of a detector is to warn you of impending enforcement action so you can adjust your speed, wouldn't documenting your speed at the point of the initial alert, be a negative ??

[QuickTrigger]

true, i mean for laser it might make some sense. But Rds that give a mile advance in warning, you wouldnt know if he clocked you or not or if it was another car, and the exact distance......but then again u might have laser falses and only higher end Rds pick up good laser scatters and at times the rd wouldnt even alert if u have been hit by laser or not..

[swarga]

sounds like a good idea. but i doubt the court would accept it as proof.

Believe it or not, one court already has.

There was a news story a couple of years ago where the CEO of a company that makes GPS tracking devices was pulled over for speeding. He used the log data generated by the device his company makes to exonerate himself.

Now, if I was a judge, there is no way in hell that I would trust a GPS track log, let alone one provided by a device that the defendant himself created, but unless this incident was just a publicity stunt it's apparently possible to get a technology-illiterate judge to swallow your bushwa.

[Pyrofallout]

My 9500i holds the speed on the display for a few seconds as soon as it picks up an alert.

[Motor On]

sounds like a good idea. but i doubt the court would accept it as proof.

Believe it or not, one court already has.

There was a news story a couple of years ago where the CEO of a company that makes GPS tracking devices was pulled over for speeding. He used the log data generated by the device his company makes to exonerate himself.

Now, if I was a judge, there is no way in hell that I would trust a GPS track log, let alone one provided by a device that the defendant himself created, but unless this incident was just a publicity stunt it's apparently possible to get a technology-illiterate judge to swallow your bushwa.

I've read about numerous other cases where the GPS data was ruled as "untested technology" and non admissible because it's accuracy could not be accounted for.
Yes the very same technology that keeps you 747 from accidentally getting shot down over North Korea for spying, and the same GPS Technology sending missle flying thousands of miles to hit a speciic building, is not as accurate as a 20year old radar gun that gets calibrated every 3 years. It was in regards to a case where someone had a video of their GPS device in sort of a black box dashcam mode and they used the data logs of the GPS stored points to prove they couldn't have been doing the speed because the average speed was so low. But the judge threw out all of that and he was found guilty.

[kensteele]

absolutely you can use that in court, it may or may not work and it may or may not be acceptable as proof, but in traffic court pretty much anything goes. iirc, it's the preponderance of the evidence and all you need to do is convince the judge. if anything you might end up with an amended ticket or a lighter fine. i'd give you an A for effort. you can also take it to court right before trial time and show it to the city atty. that should go over pretty ok. this reflects my experiences in court, so ymmv.

i know of twice where i could have used such gps features.