Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Topic: Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines (Read 1503 times) previous topic - next topic

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

February 20, 2006, 12:59:05 PM

Well I finally had some time to cool off over what happened to me last night.

I was driving home from Pittsburgh on I-80 last night after visiting my Dad in a hospital @ Pittsburgh before he went into surgury and on the way home I developed a stomach ache so bad it was hard to even drive.

My friend was driving ahead of me, I called him and told him we need to hurry to the next exit because I had to use the restroom ASAP! Anyways, luckily traffic was rather busy and the speeds were at 80mph. Semi trucks behind me, beside me, cars all around. I was in the left lane.

All the sudden a trooper was behind some bushes and clocked the whole group. Well everyone was speeding but I had the radar detector that scrambled that specific radar. So his radar came back 0mph. Hmm, he clocked me again as I drove by and again 0mph (this is what he told me)

So out of the whole group I get nailed, not for speeding by for failure to obey posted signs 25 fine (+10 EMS fee, +30 C.A.T fee, +31.50 COSTS? Fee, +10 J.C.P./A.T.J. fees) = 106.50 and thats not all.

The a few days before I had a headlight blow out in my Saab in my hometown, my local police stopped me to tell me about it, but of course they too will run checks on everything. Somehow my registration card got lost in between my seats and couldn't find it until this morning.

SO... last night the officer gave me another ticket for not having the card in my car at the time of him asking for it. (even though it was, and he ran a check and my registration WAS VALID, in my name, but i guess that doesn't matter) Again, $25 fine (+10EMS, 30 CAT, 10 JCP/ATJ fees) 75 dollars for not having it at the time of him asking.

ALL this while im in the car badly needing to use the restroom. He goes back to his cruiser for 20 minutes as I sit in my car?

So now I owe 180. Have no money to my name. And am left with no answers to wtf happened. To all who own radar detectors, dont use them in PA. (even though u can buy them at wal-mart, sears, kmart all in my hometown) hmmm....

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #1 – February 20, 2006, 01:14:10 PM

That's BS....radar detectors aren't illegal in PA.

Is your detector a radar jammer? I heard those things don't even work anyway. Sounds like some BS to me. Radar detectors don't scramble the signal from the radar gun, they just tell you it's there.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #2 – February 20, 2006, 02:31:38 PM

I agree, I've never once read about any radar detectors being jammers, not even the ones you pay like 300.00+ for, i'd imagine those would just be illegal. Did you get it at like some underground shop?

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #3 – February 20, 2006, 02:34:01 PM

Agreed. Unless you have a jammer/scrambler, his reading would have been valid. Most detectors now have VG2 protection so police can't even tell that you have one. I'm betting he picked you because you have a bright shiny blue car and when he saw the radar detector, he laid it to you. Obviously it didn't work that well, huh?

EDIT: Unless you were in the Saab. Then, I guess you just got un-lucky.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #4 – February 20, 2006, 03:40:40 PM

It's the end of the month, man.. their looking for ways to meet their quota. That's what I hear anyway.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #5 – February 20, 2006, 05:04:28 PM

That's a good run of bad luck.
Sorry to hear about it.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #6 – February 20, 2006, 05:21:49 PM

What kind of radar detector do you have?

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #7 – February 20, 2006, 05:36:32 PM

When you drive into N.C i think it is there are signs that say radar detectors are illegal.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #8 – February 20, 2006, 05:51:46 PM

It really doesn't matter whether they're illegal or not, if you get stopped, most cops are gonna write you up.
It gives them the impression that you speed more often, and try to get away with it....I learned my lesson long ago, and ya know, I havn't got as many tickets in 4 years w/o one, than I did in 3 months with one....
And yes, I speed quite a bit, usually about 10 over on 4 lane highways.

And as far as I knew, they were only illegal in commercial vehicles, but I could be wrong

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #9 – February 20, 2006, 07:01:23 PM

Quote from: FordTruckFreeek

It really doesn't matter whether they're illegal or not, if you get stopped, most cops are gonna write you up.
It gives them the impression that you speed more often, and try to get away with it....I learned my lesson long ago, and ya know, I havn't got as many tickets in 4 years w/o one, than I did in 3 months with one....
And yes, I speed quite a bit, usually about 10 over on 4 lane highways.

i second that, i havent gott'n as many tickets without one as i did when i had one. i just stopped speeding. most of the time it dosnt even make a difference because the guy you passed just pulls up next to you anyway at the next light.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #10 – February 20, 2006, 08:22:47 PM

I speed, but that's just how I am. I can't stand driving under 60. The curvy roads here beckon you to go fast.

Plus every time I get stuck behind someone they're going 45 or below. bleh

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #11 – February 20, 2006, 09:50:57 PM

No mine is just a basic radar detector with that vg2 protection. It's a cobra. I dunno why he said he couldn't clock my car but clocked the others around me? I really dont know.

But ya, in the past month of having it I have gotten pulled over two times compared to 2 times in 3 years of my driving career (once for loud exhaust one for ornamentational lighting (neon).

I went to the police barracks today asking if there is anything i could do about the registration card and they said since it was in my car at the time of the pull over, I could go to court and fight it, and more then likely win. But to go to court I would have to pay 56 dollars to have a trial and have to drive all the way back to there plus my time. So im better off to just pay the 75.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #12 – February 21, 2006, 11:41:16 AM

Quote from: CougarSE

When you drive into N.C. i think it is there are signs that say radar detectors are illegal.

Nope they aren't illegal here. You're thinking of Virginia I believe.

The government wants you to speed anyway if it's only 10 or 15 over. It brings them millions of dollars per year. If they really didn't want people to speed they'd start throwing them in jail or taking their licenses away. This piddly $100 ticket is just a money making scheme.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #13 – February 21, 2006, 11:17:48 PM

I would have asked to see his radar. Just to make sure. Most of the time here, they BS there way and they get away with it. A friend got out of a ticket by looking at the radar gun and the cop didnt have it saved on there. Also whe the cop admitted to following him for 5 blocks.

Radar Detectors = Lots of Fines

Reply #14 – February 22, 2006, 12:52:34 AM

If you go to court ask the officer to present his certificate of training for that make and model radar gun. 90% of the time they won't have it and will give up.