Undetectable Speed Detector Invented

itrends · 04-12-2005, 03:04 AM

See for yourself:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs...411/speed.html

What could this mean in the long run for the radar detectors that are sold. They are quite a big and profitable business.

dave2 · 04-12-2005, 03:27 AM

I'm not worried about it. For one, it has the same inherent problems as radar and laser. You need to be in direct line of sight for it to work. Therefore, if you can see the cop, they can see you. It will take a clear shot for that kind of computing, and it will probably take a much longer time to acquire a good speed reading based on comparative motion between your vehicle and things you pass. Second, there are always jammers for any electrical systems. Very bright headlights, white noise generators, IR emitters (cameras focus with IR, if you screw that up, it'll show up as a nice blurry image, that won't stand up in court). I'm really surprised that they didn't cover the ways you can blur your image on a digital camera as possible faults in the system. It would take years of testing and trial applications for them to approve it for general use. Remember the first few years of the photo camera tickets? You just didn't pay them and they had to work out the legal technicalities on their own. Took them a while to update the law and perception in court.

Dave

itrends · 04-12-2005, 03:35 AM

All very valid points.

The only thing I would say is that they have the army helping them produce this with extended tech. And it is hard to tell from the article but it seems that a direct line of sight is needed yes, however the doesnt mean you have to be able to see them, could be unmarked etc

And how many people (especially average joes) are going to be fitting IR emitters to their cars. If people are going to such great lengths to not get caught would that not mean they would either have an easily spot-able super car, or were smuggling etc?

Who knows, but we wont be able to reply on a GPS system as they can be mobile:

"A policeman could have the camera/computer in his car, and much like a radar detector, he could simply point the camera at a motorist and the speed could be displayed on the screen," Dixon said. "If a dispute is raised in traffic court, the officer even has a short video sequence of the speeding car that proves beyond any doubt that the motorist was speeding and the exact speed."

TTFN

dave2 · 04-12-2005, 04:13 AM

I dunno. I can't even speed, I have a 7000 lb suburban :P But I'd still run a jammer and those photoreflective covers for the license plates. If the technology exists for them, the counter tech will exist for us. It's up to the consumer to buy it or not. First time they get a fat ticket when their radar detector didn't beep, they will be looking into it. Especially people who are close to losing their license.

As to the unmarked car comment, I would NEVER pull over for a car that wasn't clearly marked as a police vehicle. They have no reason pulling you over, and the thought of criminals who get lights and sirens pulling people over to carjack them is a great excuse. Yes, if they call that evading arrest and do something stupid like run you off the road in an unmarked vehicle, you will win the lawsuit. Keep going until a real cop car shows up.

itrends · 04-12-2005, 04:19 AM

I very much like your point about unmarked police cars. Its a bit of a thinker!

I would say that they dont have to stop you to apply a ticket to you though so could just go "zap" the a few weeks later a fine in the post?

dave2 · 04-12-2005, 04:26 AM

Since you are in the UK, you are used to having your life videotaped and different laws. Here is how that DIDN'T work in los angeles when the photo radar things first came out.

1, you speed and get caught on film
2, you get a ticket in the mail
3, you throw that crap out
4, you get another notice once you miss the court, which you also throw out.
5, eventually you get pulled over or notified by the DMV that you have some massive unpaid fine
6, you never signed the ticket, which is your agreement to show in court, and the fines and associated stuff get thrown out because thats how it worked. Even better if they arrest you, since the fight goes to false arrest and grounds for a lawsuit.

This is mostly changed now, especially since the systems take multiple pics of your car and face. If your front plate or face are unrecognizable, they can't get you. Plate is easy, take it off. I'd rather pay a $10 fix it ticket for no front plate than a $250 red light violation at 4 am...

itrends · 04-12-2005, 04:48 AM

Good words once again!

I am impressed at the logic behind posts today.

ebacherville · 04-12-2005, 06:50 PM

Or wear a mask every where you drive.. Hey look thats nixon driving my car!! I wasnt speeeding nixon was

Scouse Monkey · 04-12-2005, 06:51 PM

There is a much better description of the technology in this months 'The Engineer' magazine. Might be on their website soon if you want more info.

WebDog · 04-12-2005, 09:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dave2

Since you are in the UK, you are used to having your life videotaped and different laws. Here is how that DIDN'T work in los angeles when the photo radar things first came out.

1, you speed and get caught on film
2, you get a ticket in the mail
3, you throw that crap out
4, you get another notice once you miss the court, which you also throw out.
5, eventually you get pulled over or notified by the DMV that you have some massive unpaid fine
6, you never signed the ticket, which is your agreement to show in court, and the fines and associated stuff get thrown out because thats how it worked. Even better if they arrest you, since the fight goes to false arrest and grounds for a lawsuit.

This is mostly changed now, especially since the systems take multiple pics of your car and face. If your front plate or face are unrecognizable, they can't get you. Plate is easy, take it off. I'd rather pay a $10 fix it ticket for no front plate than a $250 red light violation at 4 am...

ITs only a $10 ticket for no front plate here in LA?

shizzle · 04-12-2005, 10:03 PM

I dont know if there are different state laws here in FL, but Im gonna check because that is really interesting stuff. A friend of mine let someone borrow her car, and they were caught on camera taking a right on red where it was posted not to. She got the ticket by mail, and it put her over her points limit and her license was suspended. She contested that and got out of the points, but was unable to get out of the fines, even though the pictures CLEARLY showed another person driving the car, they found her responsible for the fine.

0l33l · 04-12-2005, 10:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by WebDog

ITs only a $10 ticket for no front plate here in LA?

No. Its $10 after you put it back on

Peoples · 04-12-2005, 10:05 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by shizzle

She got the ticket by mail, and it put her over her points limit and her license was suspended

i've never heard of anyone ever getting points on a speed camera or red light camera ticket....i know in MD DC and VA at least its just a fine

Peoples · 04-12-2005, 10:10 PM

http://www.courts.state.md.us/distri...p/traffic.html
"Will I be assessed points if found guilty of a red light camera citation?
As stated on the red light citations: "Payment of the penalty amount for the violation will not result in points and cannot be used to increase your insurance rates."

ok maybe its just up here where they dont give you points, looks like other places might be 1 point

shizzle · 04-12-2005, 10:13 PM

She definitely had her license suspended untill the court appearance. The judge said the picture of her license plate alone justified the fine, and if it werent for the picture showing a different driver, she would not have given her back her license. I think it had to do with a FL law about repeat traffic offenses, because my good friend just had his license REVOKED for five years, after he paid his last ticket and took a class. His points werent over because they only stay on for what, 12-18 mos?, but he had had too many offenses in the last 5 years. I was really suprised to hear from him yesterday that he is still driving around (hes a moron) and actually spent a day in jail last week for driving without a license. $50 bail. For him its just a huge money pit.