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They help with instant-on, too, provided there's enough traffic. They are so sensitive that they usually pick up instant-on blips when the officer is hitting someone else before he's even in range of you. It's no guarantee, but having one has saved me a bunch of tickets.
I got stopped doing 71 in a 55 recently, though, and had the V1. It was instant-on and a curve he popped out of and hit me before the Excursion could do much braking (had a small trailer, which obviously didn't help). Here's what I do:
First, remove V1 quickly. Toss out of sight. Do it before the officer gets close enough to see you doing it. If he comes up from behind without you seeing him in time to remove it without him seeing it, skip this step (and you're probably hosed anyway).
Next, pull over at the first *safe* spot. You're going to annoy him far less by driving a little ways (make it obvious you see him by slowing appropriately) and finding a good place to get him out of the road than if you stop where he's got to worry about getting run over.
Before he's even out of his car, get your drivers side window down and have both hands visible on the steering wheel. Do not bother trying to get documentation out first. Just do this. Trust me. Oh, if it's dark, do the above *and* make sure and turn your interior lights on. Oh, cut your car completely off. Make sure any passengers know to keep their traps shut and their hands in plain site the entire time.
Once he approaches, do not try to play dumb. Do not try to play sad. Simply answer his questions honestly (though you can fudge a bit if you *need* to avoid self incrimination...I never answer "how fast do you think you were going?" with anything other than "oh, I suppose I could have been going a bit over the speed limit" or similar). Here's the real kicker: DO NOT TRY TO TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF IT. Simply be INCREDIBLY polite (though not to the point it sounds like you might be faking it) by using all those manner things you were taught at some point. They LOVE 'yes sir" and "no sir." They love not being asked for help. They love simple and safe.
So, continuing on with safe. When he does ask you for license and registration, tell him where you're going to get them. In my case I would usually say "okay, I'm getting my license out of my front right pocket, sir." When I pull it out I also hand him my concealed carry permit and I inform him of my armed status (so far I have been unarmed when stopped, so it's been easy...I'm not sure what to expect when I am armed, but again, constant and thorough communication will probably make things fine). When I go to get the registration I say "I'm getting the registration out of the glove box, sir."
Hand him the documentation. Don't offer any other info.
A couple times now I've followed this exactly after being clocked by the Highway Patrol (yes, those dirty rats who never let anyone off and who never reduce anything on the spot...and no, I don't think they're dirty rats, I'm just rattling off the common thing people seem to say in this situation) for speeding of enough that I should have been given an actual ticket. And I've now been let go with a warning and nothing else. Including the above 71 in a 55.
I don't know if I've just been *really* lucky, or if the concealed carry permit helps some, or if the Class A license helps some, or if all the politeness and safety and not trying to talk my way out of it is what did it. I'm guessing it's some combination of it all. I'd bet it has more to do with the safety things and the politeness and not asking for "help" on it, though. And I'm also quite sure that you (and I) might try this to the letter and have it not work at all. But I'm just posting what has worked best for me to avoid the lawyer.
Past all that, lawyer up. It'll be cheaper and FAR less aggravation in the long run.
--Donnie
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