Ok so this cop is on the side of the road, no lights on and its dark out so i didnt even see him and the car a head of me passes him and he suddenly turns his lights on and I slow down cause I didnt even know he was there. I pass him and I know i wasnt speeding at this point and i get about a forth of a mile away from him and he pulls me over for speeding so I ask him how did you know I was speeding when you didnt even have your lights on till after I passed you and he told me that radar works in all directions??? And I thought they only had a the guns and you needed to pass him first for them to clock you so can someone please tell me if this is true or not!?!
2007-07-21 16:29:03 · 20 answers · asked by Mike T 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Radar works in all directions. It is the most accurate head on, but still produces accurate readings at an angle. Actually, at an angle, the speed indicated on the radar would be LOWER than your actual speed, so the error actually works in your favor.
So, no, you do NOT need to pass a radar, or laser for that matter, to have your speed registered. It is most accurate when you are still down the road a bit. It is LEAST accurate when you actually are perpendicular to him.
2007-07-21 16:35:25 · answer #1 · answered by acousticzen 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Technology as it applies to radar has advanced leaps and bounds since I started 13 years ago. It all depends on how much your agency wants to spend. It used to be that you had to be stationary or moving in opposite directions from the front and rear to be clocked. They now have radar that detects same direction while moving and can pick out the fastest vehicle in a group. And all cops that are radar certified know about cosign angle. To all you speeders: the greater degree of angle to the radar antenna your vehicle is, will give a lower reading on radar. Translated that means that if I clock you at 40 in a 30 and I am on the opposite side of the road, you were probably doing in excess of 45. So the radar gives you a break automatically.
2007-07-22 06:46:54 · answer #2 · answered by ARCop 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first off, 2 words: radar detector...they are only illegal in VA and Washing DC, but boy do they make all the difference in the world. But yes cops have laser guns that can pinpoint your car only, usually they tag your headlights or license plate and they can single you out of a crowd. Most radar guns nowadays can detect speed from all directions. But most can only get you if you are in there direct path, like you cant be on one side of a building, cop on the other side, and they get you through the building. Same with radar detectors, if you can't see something, neither can they. Me and my fiance just got one and OMG there are cops everywhere just about it. So my advice is don't speed unless you have one, or just feel like throwing away some cash to your local gov.
2007-07-21 16:39:54 · answer #3 · answered by warning_i_bite_back 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Radar can work in multiple directions. It depends on how it is set for the location that they are in. In many jurisditions radar can be used in unmarked vehicles and the infor can be given to other officers at other locations.
Just a comment, if you were not driving over the speed limit, it should not matter if you could see the police car or not....
Please think about the fact that you are driving a machine that can go out of control very quickly and injure or kill yourself and others, and speeding increases this likelyhood greatly. Please be a responcible driver.
Have a good day.
2007-07-21 16:39:05 · answer #4 · answered by Sue F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, He is right, Radar works in all directions.
What you may wish to do though, is understand what his job is and know to not volunteer anything, like when he asks if you know why he pulled you over. Do not admit to speeding. Anything you say can be used against you......
I do not know if you did or did not answer that you were speeding when he asked you, so i include this comment only for other people who are reading this.
Please see the provided link.
2007-07-21 16:34:00 · answer #5 · answered by MICHAEL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course he can, most officers have radars pointed to the rear as well as to the front. As long as you are speeding, then the cop can give you a ticket.
2007-07-21 17:19:17 · answer #6 · answered by ஜSnazzlefrazzஜ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you drive faster than a cop, such as passing him, he very likely will pull you over.
"Why didn't you slow down? Everyone else did?" one said, to a person a I know when he was driving on the highway.
The cop noticed everyone's brake lights in reverance and fear of his presence. When this person I know didn't slow down, the cop decided to pull him over.
Anyway, you did pass him, so he'll say it was based on that. "I was going the speed limit, and you had to be going faster than me to pass me," is probably his argument.
2007-07-21 16:38:31 · answer #7 · answered by perfectlybaked 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know they work in all directions, but from the sound of it I would take the ticket to traffic court and fight it. Usually the cop doesn't show and the judge either reduces the ticket or better ;dismisses it. I know from experience. lol
2007-07-21 16:46:00 · answer #8 · answered by kim 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can clock you from front ,side, top, bottom,up hill from a tree top.coming or going .if he can see you, a mile away makes no difference to the equipment.Got ya.They have instant on so if you have a detector he waits till your with in range then turn it on, to late got ya.
2007-07-21 16:35:09 · answer #9 · answered by 45 auto 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
as far as i know they have to have the radar pointed at you,I don't no of any radar gun that can work both way at the same time they have to point the gun directly at your moving vehicle
2007-07-21 16:42:50 · answer #10 · answered by marcell2967 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋