people who drive alote in the midwest

i'm going on tour with my band this winter, andi was wondering if anyone knows what kind of tricks cops us to catch speeders if they have any ,like hiding behind bridges or whatever. anything will help thanks

Depends on what part of the Midwest. If it's the flat parts, then yes, bridges and overpasses. If you're in the parts with lots of trees, then it depends on the area and their devotion to "revenue enhancement".

For my part, most of lower Michigan is safe to go whatever speed on the highways, although since you're touring in the winter the whole snow and ice thing will be a factor. In upper Michigan, if you speed on the Seney Stretch (the straight part of 28 between McMillan and Munising) you're pretty much guaranteed to get a ticket.

Look out for deer, too.

speedtrap.org

[Edited on Nov 28, 2004 by pygmy]

hehe... running the red state gauntlet. Good luck.

When I was in Chicago recently I noticed they had vacant police cars sitting on the side of the road in strategic places. Kind of like scarecrows, I thought.

My advice: never speed excessively over the crest of a hill. They set up in the grass median and can nail you from half a mile or more away. Also, parking lots adjacent to the freeway are a frequent cop haunts.

don't speed on i-80 in ohio. i was going about 16 over and the ticket was $140, but even going 1-14 over the ticket fine would have been $120.

i wouldn't recommend going to ohio anyway, though.

One thing I have noticed in my travels from east to west is that not many west bound drivers get pulled over...the eastbound drivers on the other hand are more likely to have drugs in the vehicle so they get pulled over for just about anything.

[sarcasm] and make sure that you let the cops know you're from a coastal state and that those living in the fly-over are therefor automaticaly dumber than the enlightened sea dwellers. this would go a ways to explaining why traffic laws in the midwest are so different, and you should therefor be let off. [/sarcasm]

stay under 10 over and you should be fine. they'll hide whereever they can and like the semi-unmarked cars. i've found that the shittier the town you're in the less cops care about speeding. they have more important things to care about.

make sure you have it in a place you can hide it quick just in case. if a cop pulls you over and sees one of these he'll write you a ticket that'll make you walk funny for a week.

does it detect frequencies that other scanners don't?

i was asking because i my friend got nailed while using one a few months ago. don't know the brand or how good it is, but it worked like a charm until then. we were driving in the middle on nowhere with no traffic. went by a billboard with a cop behind it, and the thing didn't go off until we were past the cop. he got really pissy about the scanner and didn't give any break on the ticket.

why am i the only one inclined to just say don't speed

No, you're not Snottle...

Argh! NO! breakin' the law, breakin' the law! arrrggghhh!

I wouldn't be speeding on midwest highways this time of year in a big van and trailor.

I've known several bands that are lucky to be alive after flipping their vans. They lost all their equipment too...

[Edited on Nov 29, 2004 by xRedDan]

Have you ever driven across the country, it makes it very tempting. Not saying everyone that drives long distances speeds, but on some long empty roads it makes it hard for me not to. I drove from NewOrleans, LA to Sacramento,CA and I got a ticket in west Texas somewhere.

Becareful on days with nice weather. The cops will have someone in the air checking speeds.

If you just drive fast enough in the first place they won't chase you. Seriously, just try it.

Radar detectors are ok, but the best thing that I have found is a cb radio. Get one of those and listen to the trucker band. They will tell the other truckers where the cops are. You can get them cheap also.

K40 laser and radar detectors
Granted, it will cost you several thousand dollars more than a V1.


[Edited on Nov 29, 2004 by Ryan_Dipietro]

Cops in Illinois, Missouri, and parts of Indiana sit on overpasses watching traffic. The cop you see on the overpass may not be running radar, but if he sees you going faster than the pace of traffic, he may radio his buddy sitting a mile up the road to hit you with the radar gun and pull you over.

If your touring vehicle is old and/or has lots of stickers on it, be prepared to be pulled over for a "dim light check." The cop will tell you it looks like one of your brakelights or headlights is dimmer than the other and that you should probably get it checked out next time you get a chance. This is the cop's way of seeing if you've been drinking, or if you look or smell like you've been smoking marijuana or might be carrying it, or if you're acting in any suspicious manner, in which case they will try to search your vehicle. Have fun.

Keep the speed under 10 mph over the limit, and you'll be fine.

I've run a Valentine One for years, and it's a great asset if you drive a lot. Probably the best detector out there. It's semi-worthless against laser, though -- but so is every other laser detector. I have measured my V1 against actual instant-on radar and laser guns, courtesy of my law enforcement clients in several jurisdictions. The V1 works very well, but any driver should understand the following:

If you're the only car on the road and the cops are using instant-on anything, you're done. The detector will tell you you're getting pulled over and that's about it, since nobody else gets hit in front of you and creates a "splash" to set off your detector. Trust me when I tell you this -- laser guns in particular lock on very, very fast -- far faster than you can slow down. If you do get clocked, don't slam on the brakes when your detector goes off, especially on a clear road. That's an obvious sign that troopers look for.

Never be the fastest car on the road. Always let the other guy go who is in a big hurry and keep an eye on him, 'cause he's going to collect the ticket first.

Look for brakelights coming on for no good reason ahead of you. Something up ahead is causing people to slow down for a reason, whether it's an accident, a hidden cop, or a muffler in the road, you want to slow down too well before you get there.

No radar detector will protect you from timing (called VASCAR detection), either from a plane or a guy in a car. Look for white lines painted across the lane, spaced about 1/4 to 1/2 mile apart on the freeway, closer on local roads.

Pay attention to the speed limit, especially coming into or leaving a populated area -- the limit may suddenly drop by 10+ mph for no good reason well before town. This would be where the local cops pop those who aren't familiar with the signage.

Good luck, and remember to drive safely for your conditions and the capabilities of your vehicle.

[Edited on Nov 29, 2004 by Stiles]

My family just puts a FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) sticker on the window.