Well heading to pick up dinner tonight ran across a yellow light going around 50 mph and punched it to get through it. Apparently the cop got me at 73 mph in a 45... Oh and running the light. The guy was really cool and gave me the ticket for the red light rather than the light and speeding and im sure he could have written up a reckless driving ticket as well due to the speed. It still sucks but I have to say it could have been worse... Oh and next time rather than being tempted by the V8 to hit the gas at a yellow light, I will be sure to hit the brakes.

 

That sucks Gav but as you say, could have been worse!

 

So you were going for fast food?

 

Good 1 Norri!

Live and learn, Gavin.

 

Got a ticket Gavin? Now you and I have so much to talk about....

 

Welcome to the club!!

 

lol...

 

Sorry to hear that. I've put almost 1000 miles on the Vette already. The bursts of acceleration through the gears is addictive. I hope I don't join you. The fine is one thing but the driving record is worse as it reduces the ability to shop car insurance.

 

I have a daily reverse commute of about 40 miles one way and believe me it's hard not to let my guard down and put my STR through the paces every so often. Since I drive the same commute every day I usually know where I need to exercise a little bit of self-control. A few months back I was "testing" my STR in an area usually free of hazards when I passed a motorcycle radar unit. Fortunately, for me he had his gun trained on the commute direction, however, as I attempted to "sneak" by him I saw him quickly shift his radar unit on my vehicle and then jump on his motorcycle, turn on his lights and attempt to turn maneuver his motorcycle to the other side of the freeway.

My choices were to immediately pull over and plead some sort of mercy from the officer (which has never worked in the past) or to continue on my quest (with a little additional help from the supercharger) as the next exit was my normal work exit. Well, as it turns out, he apparently must have been after some other vehicle as I noticed him pass up my exit and continue on down the freeway as I was turning onto the freeway overpass.....

 

Wanted to offer some insight incase you're thinking of getting a radar detector...Generally speaking, they're great on backroads...Highway are another story...In my state laser is almost used exclusively on the highways...Radar detectors detect laser, right? Very rarely...The cop basically needs to aim the laser gun in the direction of the radar detector for it to pick up. Most states allow laser jammers, the ones that work cost about $500, you have two protruding "heads" that mount in your lower grill...If a cop is lasering you and notices he's not getting a reading, often IF they pull you over they will look for those laser jammer heads...Jammer work at a distance but fail within close range so if there's not a lot of traffic the cop may wait until close range until aiming it at you rendering the jammer useless...Lastly, those heads are fixed to jam on a horizontal plane...Cops can sometimes set up speed traps on highway overpasses...#1 they're hidden especially if the overpass has high barriers #2 jammers really only work hozontially so if the cop is aiming the laser at a 45 degree angle downward, the jammer probably won't be able to do it's job...

 

I think there needs to be a "common sense" rule applied by all officers of the law...
If the car is expensive and/or cool: let it go.
Unless they are headed for fast food ;-)

 

I have a cheap-ish Escort radar detector. Comes in handy sometimes on some highways in the mountains/less populated areas where they tend to still use radar. Most handy feature is probably alerting me to upcoming construction zones so I can slow down accordingly. Detects laser/POP, ka band etc...although how accurate I dunno. Doesn't give me too many false positives.

Of course, the last ticket I got, I had forgotten to put the detector on the windshield (in S. Carolina) so I don't know if it would have alerted me or not. And I always have to remember to pull it off the windshield in Virginia since they are banned.

If you drive a lot of highway, you may want to consider one. The cost of a ticket at the speeds I'm often driving at would pay for the detector or pretty close! But to each their own, some don't think they work and I can see that view.

The worst ticket I have had recently was for running a stoplight. Turned red as I was halfway through the intersection - I was in my Jeep. Cop right behind me in an unmarked car. Very small town. In Pittsburgh they wouldn't stop you for this....but the small town mentality is a little different and I paid the price for not adjusting my driving style. $150 fine and 3 points on my license!!

 

In case any of you guys travel to Europe.... work on the basis those sorts of devices (detectors, jammers etc) are illegal. Not completely in all countries but check the laws really carefully!

 

On a serious note. I highly endorse the iphone application: "Trapster".
And yes, you could use this where detectors are prohibited.
If you are zipping down the road and spy the nicest example of the 04 jaguar racing green XJR you have ever seen... that's me. I am trapster name "grpensa"

Cheers!

 

That sucks. I know the feeling. I've gotten 1 tkt (in Texas) and stopped 4 additional times, (OK, TX, NM,), with the officer letting me go. I think if you're not too far over the speed limit, (5 to 10 MPH) and not acting like a jerk, you may get lucky. Seems they're more interested in drunk drivers these days. My brother-in-law was a cop in NY (retired) and used to catch folks on the L.I.E. all the time. He told me he was looking more for drunks than speeders. But I understand the temptation with the STR. I just can't help it either. Give me a clear patch of highway and I'll hit the gas. I don't know how anyone can own a car like the S-type and not hit the gas...at least once in a while. It's addictive :-). Anyway, does anyone recommend a moderately priced laser jammer/radar detector? One that works? For me, I think it would be a great investment. Thanks.

 

Good attitude Gavin. We all live and learn.

 

lol..."Works" is extremely subjective...But to answer your question, NO...Reread my above post on laser...The cream of the crop detectors all cost around $500 and don't exactly "work" 100% of the time...They all give you some level of a false sense of security...

1. High odds it's useless against laser...

2. Cops often drive around with their radars off and only turn them on when they see a speeder...

3. Some areas heavily use undercover cars; again if they drive around with their radars off, you could still get a ticket...

So how valuable is a radar detector? They're the most valuable if your area doesn't use laser and constantly does speed traps...

 

I used to have a radar in mine that was built in to the headliner but my mom took it out as she thought it would give me the idea I was safe to speed... The good news is that we sent the ticket to an attorney and its supposedly being reduced to a parking ticket. Thank God! The best part is the night before we were out at dinner with friends and the conversation was tickets and I had just said how I was surprised I had not received any.. I really wish I could take those words back to say the least! The Cop did comment on the car saying he would hate to see me and such a beautiful car smashed on the side of the road.

I was let go a year ago in our Lexus heading up to a snowboarding trip with my buddies, three cars, we were all following doing 60 in a 35 on the mountain road up to the ski resort and were all busted by an on-coming cop. He gave the other two cars tickets and let me go.

 

If you get pulled over, I've heard you stand some chance (still fairly low) of getting out of it if the first thing out of your mouth regardless of what the officer says is: "I'm sorry I was speeding, will you please give me a break this time?" If you say that and get a ticket, you were probably going to get one no matter what you said...

 

I have had a Valentine radar detector for several years and it paid for itself many times. The unit is around $400 and gives you front, rear, and how many bogies there are.