Watch out this weekend, the troopers have frickin lasers

Wes Eargle · **Joined:** Mon Oct 27, 2003 9:47 am **Posts:** 3683

I had a pleasant conversation with NCSHP on the way back today; Spratte's Valentine One never even chirped. Watch it out there.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 8:00 pm

Wes Eargle wrote:

I had a pleasant conversation with NCSHP on the way back today; Spratte's Valentine One never even chirped. Watch it out there.

No detector is good against Laser. The only good news is laser can't be used while moving.

I have a V1 also and haven't used it in the last two years. I've found it's easier to stick with 5 over the limit.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Fri May 14, 2010 8:12 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

I have a V1 also and haven't used it in the last two years. I've found it's easier to stick with 5 over the limit.

I try to stay 9 over and just rely on the V1 for the times I screw up. Has saved my butt a couple times.

Only laser chirps I've ever seen from it were from GM third brake lights, though.

--Donnie

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Wes Eargle wrote:

I had a pleasant conversation with NCSHP on the way back today; Spratte's Valentine One never even chirped. Watch it out there.

Were they ill-tempered NCSHP?

WalterHouston · **Posted:** Sat May 15, 2010 8:51 am

I bet Stephen Westerfield will get a ticket anyway. I hope he doesn't tell the cop he hopes he gets run over by a truck this time. How did that work out for you in court Stephen? :lol:

I'm with VK. I gave my radar detector to my son who gets tickets like Stephen. I stick to about 5 over and make sure somebody passes me every 10 minutes or so.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Sat May 15, 2010 9:34 pm

Donnie Barnes wrote:

Only laser chirps I've ever seen from it were from GM third brake lights, though.

I got those too with my V1 along with the ones on the Explorers.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Sat May 15, 2010 11:50 pm

I'm pretty sure I'm going to sell my V1. I hardly need it anymore.

Zach Hill · **Posted:** Mon May 17, 2010 11:10 am

Having a radar detector will never save you from every cop on the road, nor does it give you carte blanche to speed as much as you want all the time. What it does do is protect against what is in my estimation about 80% of cops who simply sit on the side of the road (or drive around) with their radars blasting. In these cases, my V1 lets me know about them about a mile in advance, around corners, and over hills. Again, it won't save you all the time, but to me, it's worth the investment to be protected against a majority of threats.

Now, what is this with NCHP being upgraded to frickin' laser beams? I've only had my V1 go off on laser once or twice, and yes, if it goes off on laser, that means they are directly hitting you and already have your speed (it's not a huge blast nor does it bounce off trees and around curves like radar, allowing you to detect them clocking cars further up the road). Although, if you are for instance getting up to speed, they pop you with laser once when you're only doing 5 over but were planning on continuing to increase speed further, then you can stop increasing speed and thus have been saved when they pop you again expecting 15 over and you're still only doing 5 over.

Detectors are merely a tool which, when used and abided by intelligently, can save you from a majority of threats that could easily otherwise turn into costly tickets, insurance points, and thus three years of increased premiums. They simply provide the driver more information to make decisions by, and in a lot of cases, keep the driver more alert.

However, with all that said, and speaking as someone who has done my fair share of REALLY dumb shit on the road and learning the hard way from my mistakes (scratching my itch by participating in legal motorsports has been key), I can enthusiastically attest that being safe, always alert, driving defensively, being constantly aware of your surroundings, and limiting speeding as much as possible is by far the best policy for your wallet and fellow drivers.

Don Ingerslew · **Posted:** Mon May 17, 2010 3:15 pm

That last paragraph says it all. Thanks

David Spratte · **Posted:** Mon May 17, 2010 3:35 pm

Yeah. . . a few points of correction:

It's not a V1. It's an Escort Passport 8500.

I've never been hit with Laser in NC from a cop, just from the occasional minivan. I don't believe that NCHP has pulled the trigger so to speak on laser equipment for troopers.

There was a pretty good gap between Wes and I. If there wasn't enough time for a trooper to arrive and set up shop then it's pretty easy for a cop to not think much of a sedan compared to a hot rod Miata with race seats and a roll bar.

I'm pretty much in Donnie's camp: Nine over and the detector is there for when I "accidentally" exceed that. Being alert and smart is the best prevention.

Donnie Barnes · **Posted:** Mon May 17, 2010 4:14 pm

Oh, NCSHP definitely has a few lasers. I don't remember where I heard it, but it was some source I trust. But that was a few years ago and it was something like less than five in the entire state. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if they had more, but it would have to be because costs finally came down to match Ka or something, because with the budget crunch I can't imagine much of a need otherwise.

It also wouldn't surprise me if they no longer had any. So maybe I should have said "had." Pretty sure they were out there, but I haven't encountered any so who knows.

--Donnie

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