September 20, 2006
Police Laser: Protecting Yourself
The use of LIDAR (laser) guns by police to detect vehicles speed is growing rapidly throughout the United States, as well as the world. With this growing threat, it is very important that drivers realize that a radar detector alone should not be trusted to protect them from laser. In this post, I want to explain in basic terms how police laser works and why it is difficult to successfully detect. I will also point out several products that are effective at slowing down or stopping this threat.
How Police LIDAR Guns Work
Before you can defend yourself against LIDAR, it helps to have a basic understanding of how it works. Police laser guns release a narrow beam of light at a targeted vehicle. Portions of this light are reflected off the vehicle and back to the laser gun. From this reflected light, the laser gun can calculate the speed of the vehicle.
In order for the laser gun to calculate a vehicles speed, the light has to be reflected back to the gun. Because of this, police are trained to target the more reflective areas of the vehicle. Typically this is the front license plate, headlights, or perhaps a shiny front grill.
Why Is Laser A Problem For Radar Detectors?
With regular old police radar guns, the actual radar signal is very wide and it bounces off just about any obstacle in its path. This makes radar comparatively easy to detect because, even with instant-on radar, your detector will typically "catch a bounce" when the officer targets another vehicle around you.
At 1000 feet the laser beam is only 2 feet wide and, unlike radar, it doesn't "bounce". This narrow beam has to actually hit your radar detector before it will produce an alert. In most cases, the police officer will be targeting your car before your detector alerts you and, since the laser gun can calculate your speed in less than a second, you will not have time to respond before getting a ticket.
Luckily, there are several choices, both active and passive, available for those looking for a solution to police laser.
Laser Jammers
The best defense against police laser is a laser jammer. Laser jammers are an active defense against laser, actually interfering with the light from the laser gun. A laser jammer will block the light from the laser gun, preventing the gun from calculating a speed.
According to recent tests, the best laser jammers currently available are made by Blinder. The Blinder M20 provides 2 transceivers, which will provide coverage for the front of a vehicle or both the front and rear of a motorcycle. The Blinder M40 includes 4 transceivers, enough to cover both the front and rear of a typical vehicle.
We also offer the Shifter ZR3 from Escort. This jammer also tested very well and will integrate with your high end Escort radar detector.
Passive Solutions
If the laser gun can't find a reflective surface, it can't provide the vehicle's speed. It's as simple as that. Passive laser defense products work to make your vehicle less reflective. If the police officer needs to hit your vehicle for several seconds before he can get your speed, that is time for you to respond to your radar detector's "LASER" alert and slow down.
Laser Veil is the best passive solution available, and is far less expensive than a laser jammer. Laser Veil is a translucent paint-like substance that you apply to the reflective areas of your car, such as the headlights, fog lights and license plate. It makes these areas much less reflective, which could significantly reduce the range of a laser gun.
Laser Veil has been tested and was found to be quite effective. It can even be used in combination with a laser jammer to reduce laser punch-through, making your jammer even more effective.
The Laser Shield is a non-reflective license plate cover. Since police are trained to first aim the laser gun at a license plate, using a Laser Shield could buy you a couple of seconds if you have a good radar detector. However, you have to keep in mind that it only covers the license plate, so the police officer will usually pan right to the headlight if he isn't getting a speed from the license plate.
We have found that the best passive solution involves a combination of Veil and a Laser Shield. The manufacturers of Veil recommend against applying Veil directly to a license plate, so the Laser Shield is a perfect compliment. Apply Veil to the headlights and fog lights of your vehicle, then to a Laser shield. Place the Laser Shield over your license plate, and you're in business.
Two Way Radio FCC Licensing
Two way radios communicate with each other by using using radio waves, which are regulated in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC decides what types of devices are allowed to use various frequency ranges, and they have the power to charge users of these devices a registration fee. A registration fee is required for many types of two way radios.
Keep in mind, we are not the FCC. We are only providing this information as a benefit to our customers. If you have detailed questions concerning licensing, we suggest that you contact the FCC directly. An FCC license is not required before purchasing radios from us, and we do not provide information to the FCC about our customers.
Below, I list several popular types of two way radios and provide important details such as how to register and the cost of registering. This information is only applicable to customers using two way radios within the United States. Customers from outside the United States should check with their governments for information on any two way radio regulations that may apply.
FRS Radios
The FCC does not require a license if you are using FRS.
The Family Radio Service (FRS) was intended to be used by family, friends, and associates to communicate within a neighborhood or while on outings. Radios used for FRS cannot transmit at more than one half watt of power and they must have non-detachable antennas. Because of these rules, the range of FRS radios is typically limited to a half mile or less.
It is now actually rare to see a radio that only operates on the FRS. Most consumer radios now support both FRS and GMRS. If you purchase a FRS/GMRS dual service radio you can use it for FRS only (and avoid the license requirement) by staying within the FCC's rules for FRS. Basically, just be sure that you are only using channels 1-14 and have the radio in low power mode. In low power mode the radio will automatically limit it's power to one half watt of power.
GMRS Radios
According to the FCC, the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a land-mobile radio service created for short-distance communications for an adult individual and his/her immediate family members.
A GMRS license is good for five years, and is renewable. One license covers the individual named on the application and their immediate family members. The FCC defines "immediate family members" as a spouse, children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and in-laws.
A GMRS license is currently $80, and the easiest way to get one is to apply online through the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS). The ULS Radio Service Code for GMRS is "ZA". If you would prefer not to file online, you can file FCC Form 605 manually.
Business Radios
The business two way radios that we offer operate in the 150-174 Mhz (VHF) and 450-470 Mhz (UHF) frequency ranges. These frequencies fall under the FCC's part 90 regulations for Industrial / Business communications.
The licensing cost for business frequencies is usually much less than the cost of a business licensing consumer (GMRS) frequencies, but the license process is much more involved. Before applying for a license, the business must contact a Frequency Coordinator to be assigned frequencies that are not already used in their area. After receiving your frequencies, you can complete the license application using the Universal Licensing System (ULS). Getting started tutorials for ULS are available through the FCC's web site.
The cost for a license varies based on the frequency, but for the frequency ranges that our radios support the cost is $155. A license is usually issued for 10 years, and is renewable.
Business Or Consumer Two Way Radio - Which Is Best?
We frequently get questions from business customers asking if they really need to buy a "business" two way radio. Business radios are generally much more expensive than consumer radios and the features are often very similar, so it is easy to see why this can be confusing. In this post I'll try to explain the common differences between these types of radios, and hopefully provide enough information for you to decide what's best for your business.
FCC Regulations
Whether a 2 way radio is "business" or "consumer" is decided by the frequencies that it uses to transmit and receive communications. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has set aside 22 UHF frequencies as general frequencies for use by consumers. These frequencies make up GMRS and FRS channels that are supported by the consumer radios that we sell.
Technically, use of the GMRS channels requires an FCC license. This license is good for 5 years and covers the applicant and his/her immediate family. GMRS licenses are not issued to businesses. Here is a note from the FCC's GMRS license application form (form 605):
Note: For GMRS: effective January 1, 1989, new or major modification applications may NOT be filed by non-individual (business) applicants/licensees. (See Rule 1.929(c) (4) & 95.5(b).
For GMRS radios to be legally used by businesses, each person using the radios would need an individual GMRS license ($80 each). A business could use the radios on an FRS channel without a license, but when using FRS channels the radio cannot transmit at more than a half watt of power. This is generally only good for a quarter to a half mile of outdoor range.
Business radios use different frequencies ranges that have been approved by the FCC for business use. These frequencies are not as popular, so you typically don't have to worry about "chatter" on your channels. You can also get business radios that operate on VHF frequencies, which work better than UHF outdoors or inside of and around wood structures. An FCC license for your business is $105. You will pay more upfront for your business radio, but if there are several employees that will use it you will likely save money after factoring in the license cost.
Durability
Business radios are usually designed to hold up to abuse better than consumer radios. Consumer radios are usually built for infrequent use: weekend hunting trips, multiple car caravans, skiing, camping, amusement parks, etc. They are usually lightweight with a thin plastic casing. Business radios are designed to be used for hours every day, and they will hold up better than consumer radios. Many are built to military specifications.
Battery Life
If your business plans to use radios for more than a few hours a day, battery life is something that you will not want to overlook. Most consumer radios include rechargeable batteries that are good for 8 hours or less of use. As is typical of batteries, this life will likely diminish slightly over time. Some business or professional radios are also limited in their battery life, but others will typically 13 hours or more on a charge.
Accessories
Business radios typically have a better selection of accessories than consumer radios. If accessories, such as headsets or earpieces, are important to your business, you should look at what accessories are available before you choose a radio. Things like rapid chargers and multi unit chargers are only available for business radios.
Accessories
Common Scenarios
There are some scenarios where a business radio is always your best choice. For example, anytime you expect to use the radio frequently and for more than 7 hours with each use. If you purchase a consumer radio for this, there is a good chance you will be disappointed with the battery life. Also, if you are in a "tough" work environment, such as a construction or industrial situation. Consumer radios are not designed to take this kind of beating.
It would best to choose a consumer radio in a light-duty situation where very little range is needed. This would allow you to get away with only using the FRS channels and avoiding the license fees. A great example is a school that needs radios for directing traffic in mornings and afternoons.
I hope this has been helpful. If you have any specific questions you can, as always, feel free to call or email us!
FRS and GMRS Frequencies
All of our consumer two way radios operate on either the GMRS or FRS channels, and most support both. We are sometimes asked for the exact frequencies of these channels. Below is a table showing the channel number, type of channel, and the frequency.
| Channel | Type | Frequency |
| 1 | FRS / GMRS | 462.5625 |
| 2 | FRS / GMRS | 462.5875 |
| 3 | FRS / GMRS | 462.6125 |
| 4 | FRS / GMRS | 462.6375 |
| 5 | FRS / GMRS | 462.6625 |
| 6 | FRS / GMRS | 462.6875 |
| 7 | FRS / GMRS | 462.7125 |
| 8 | FRS | 467.5625 |
| 9 | FRS | 467.5875 |
| 10 | FRS | 467.6125 |
| 11 | FRS | 467.6375 |
| 12 | FRS | 467.6625 |
| 13 | FRS | 467.6875 |
| 14 | FRS | 467.7125 |
| 15 | GMRS | 462.5500 |
| 16 | GMRS | 462.5750 |
| 17 | GMRS | 462.6000 |
| 18 | GMRS | 462.6250 |
| 19 | GMRS | 462.6500 |
| 20 | GMRS | 462.6750 |
| 21 | GMRS | 462.7000 |
| 22 | GMRS | 462.7250 |
September 19, 2006
How To Avoid & Beat The DUI / DWI Rap!
By Richard Wallace II
Author of "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets - How to Beat & Avoid Them!"
This is article number 6, in the continuing series of articles that I have been writing for Banoggle.com. All of my previous articles can still be viewed here, so if you missed any of the fascinating articles that deal with beating speeding tickets, avoiding speeding tickets, photo camera radar, radar detectors and the bait and switch of speed detection equipment you should catch up on your reading today, you will be glad you did.
In this, the sixth article in my series, we will look at how a motorist can learn how to avoid and beat the driving while intoxicated or operating under the influence rap. Now before we get under way here, I first must tell you all why I felt that an article dealing with beating and avoiding a DWI rap was necessary. In its simplest terms, I feel the punishment does not fit the crime and it is widely unfair in its enforcement. Let me explain. You see, in all states the DUI / DWI / OUI laws apply equally to the motorist who consumes 3 or 4 drinks and then decides to drive a motor vehicle and the same for the motorist who consumes 10 or more drinks and then operates his car. The punishment and penalties are rendered the same for both motorists. It is clear to me from my over 15 years of law enforcement experience that the motorist who consumes 3 or 4 drinks is far more sober and able to operate a motor vehicle properly than the motorist who consumes 10 or more drinks. The real hazard on the roadways today is this severely intoxicated motorist, not the business man or woman who decided to have a few drinks after work and then drives home. While both of these people may be legally drunk according to the law, with the blood alcohol level being .08 in most states, which is about 3 drinks in an hour, the real threat to public safety is the severely intoxicated driver, not the light drinker. I advocate laws in all states based on the levels of total intoxication, not just if the arrested persons blood alcohol level is over .08. There are many other factors that need to be considered before we throw the book at somebody who just consumes a few drinks. Again, simply put, the punishment should fit the crime and it does not in my opinion.
In this article I will tell you a little about what the police are taught in the academy to assist them detect drunk drivers. You will learn how to avoid detection if you have been drinking and decide to drive. You will learn what to do and most importantly, what not to do when stopped by the police. You will learn why you should refuse all field tests as well as any blood alcohol test you are requested to submit to by the police. By using my strategies outlined in this article, you will probably never get convicted of drinking and driving in a court of law. And lastly you will learn how you can save your drivers license and also thousands of dollars by not paying fines and insurance surcharges.
What Police Look For
All members of various law enforcement agencies nationwide must attend some type of police academy prior to becoming a certified police officer. And one small part of the training they receive while at the academy is how to spot or detect a suspected drunk driver on the road. They are taught to look for certain actions or violations of the motor vehicle code. Many of these actions or the failure to perform them, is a clear signal to the police that the operator may be intoxicated. Some of these actions and violations that the police are taught include the following:
- Operating a motor vehicle at night without headlights being turned on.
- Operating a motor vehicle at night with the high beam lights on at all times.
- Failing to use turn signals when making a turn.
- Failure to turn off turn signals after a turn is made.
- Speeding.
- Slow Speed in areas where it is not logical.
- The ever famous weaving to and fro upon the highway.
- Sudden and short braking due to slow reactions or intoxication.
Any of these as well as many others outlined in my book, can trigger the police to initiate a traffic stop. If you make a conscious effort not to commit any of these violations, you will greatly reduce your chances of being stopped by the police. Remember, the police need probable cause to stop your vehicle, don't give them any. By knowing what the police look for prior to stopping a suspected drunk driver, you greatly reduce your chances of being detected and stopped by the police.
If You're Stopped
If the unfortunate does happen and you get stopped by the police, there are some very important things you need to know before you ever get stopped, and these include what to do and most importantly, what not to do or say to the police. Lets talk a little about those strategies and tactics now.
If you find yourself getting pulled over, first, pull over well off the highway and off the road itself. This reduces the likelihood your vehicle will get towed if you get arrested. Next, get yourself together. Pop a mint or gum in your mouth. When the police officer comes up to the vehicle be sure you NEVER admit to drinking ANY amount of alcoholic beverages. Do not self incriminate yourself. Make the police officer do his job, don't help him out. Answer questions only when necessary. Believe it or not, you do have the right to remain silent. Be cooperative but do not give the officer any evidence to be used against you. If the officer suspects you have been drinking he may ask you to perform some oral tests like counting or reciting the alphabet. You must refuse these and any and all other tests. Yes, you can refuse to take these tests. For some reason people believe they must submit to the field sobriety tests and this is not true. You must refuse all oral and then actual field tests like walking the line, standing on one foot, following the pen with your eyes and any and all other tests. Simply tell the officer you are refusing all tests and are invoking your fifth amendment rights against self incrimination. You are trying to give the officer little or no probable cause to arrest you. Remember, an officer can only arrest a person with probable cause and in a DUI / DWI case, that probable cause is the field tests administered at the scene of the traffic stop. By refusing all tests, the officer is left with a couple of choices, he can let you go, call a ride for you or take you in for DUI / DWI. Believe me, the officer knows he is on shaky ground by arresting you without any or little probable cause other than his observations.
Refuse All Tests
If the police officer decides to arrest you, once you arrive at police headquarters you may be asked again to perform oral and other sobriety tests. Now you are being filmed and recorded, so again, refuse everything. When asked to submit to a blood, urine or breath test to determine your blood alcohol level, you must refuse these tests. Yes, you will lose your license but you will also lose it if convicted for DUI / DWI and I will tell you why you should refuse shortly. Remember, the police are trying to build a case against you by getting evidence, do not help them by giving them anything to help build their case. With no field tests, sobriety tests of any kind and no blood alcohol levels, the police will find it difficult to get a conviction in a court of law against you for DUI / DWI. At this point you may be processed and released on bond or arraigned in court. Be sure to hire a lawyer and a good one because he will help you get out of the arrest completely.
Counting Your Losses
Now let me talk to you and present a comparison of your losses versus your gains should you refuse all field and blood alcohol tests. Follow closely and you will see the wisdom behind my strategies and tactics that I just presented. You will see that you will save your drivers licence from being taken for lengthy periods of time as well as saving thousands of dollars in fines and insurance premiums.
First, if you properly parked your vehicle once stopped by the police, and well off the roadway, you may save money by not having your vehicle towed from the scene of the traffic stop. In refusing to submit to blood alcohol level testing, you will receive an automatic loss of license for about 6 months for a first time arrest. This is a loss for sure, but not a big one. And you may have to pay a restoration fee to the registry of motor vehicles to get your license back, so another loss. Now lets move on to the gains. If you have followed my advice and refused all field, sobriety and blood alcohol level tests, you have given the state a hard case to prosecute. And with a good lawyer, no jury or judge can convict you based on just an officers observations. So in court, the case will probably get dismissed or the charge changed to a lower offense. A complete victory for you. Just be sure the plea bargained reduction is not a reckless driving because the same fines and insurance premiums may be imposed against you. If is very doubtful the court will want to prosecute you because of their weak case, so most will plea bargain with a defendant and his attorney. So if you win in court and are not convicted for DUI / DWI. you will not have to face two days in jail, any fines which usually range around $500.00, you will not have to pay over $200.00 to attend an alcohol awareness program and most important, you will not face mandatory SR-22 insurance premiums on your automobile insurance policy. All states and insurance carriers require this SR-22 insurance which is essentially insurance on your drivers license. It is usually equal to or more than you currently pay for your automobile insurance. The average cost for the SR-22 insurance is $1,500.00 each year for 3 years or more. You do not have to pay this because you did not cooperate with the police and help them build a case against you so you could get convicted in court for DUI / DWI. And by having no conviction on your driving record, you do not face lengthy license suspensions in the future should you get stopped and cited for other traffic violations. And finally by not getting convicted for DUI / DWI. in court, you suffer no suspension or further loss of your operators license.
Final Tips
Some additional information you should be aware of if you do drink and drive include the following. If you ever pull over and want to rest or sleep it off, be sure to turn the engine off and remove the keys from the ignition. In some states, a running even tho parked vehicle, or a vehicle with the keys in the ignition constitute operation, so be sure to follow this rule. If you have only consumed a drink or two and get arrested for DUI / DWI. you may want to take the blood alcohol level tests to show that you are innocent and are not driving drunk. Remember, one alcoholic beverage is what the average human body can remove from its bloodstream per hour and no more. Drinking coffee or water does not sober up an intoxicated person. People need to know their own bodies and how well they can handle their consumption of alcoholic beverages. Everybody is different. A person may look drunk and is not, just as a person whom is legally drunk, may not look it. Anybody that consumes 3/4 or more drinks in an hours time period is most likely legally drunk. So drink wisely and carefully.
In closing, I hope that you found this article helpful and educating. I am not here telling you that I am advocating drinking and driving but lets face it, Americans consume a lot of alcoholic beverages every day and inevitably people will get in their vehicles and drive after drinking. I am here to educate the public, assist them in understanding their rights when it comes to getting stopped by the police for suspicion of DUI / DWI and let them know they have protection under the law. I do feel that the person who consumes 10 or more drinks and gets in a motor vehicle and drives away, deserved to be prosecuted to the fullest extent under the law. He is clearly not using proper judgement is poses an immediate hazard to others on the roadway. For the casual light drinker, I ask they use good judgement, consume liquor responsibly and follow my advice should they find themselves getting stopped by the police.
As I have explained to you in my other articles as well as in my book entitled "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!"available for purchase right here Banoggle.com, if you are unfortunate to find yourself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket or other traffic violation, you must remember to remain calm, be polite to the officer, cooperate without admitting any guilt, and do not be afraid to use a good excuse or ask for a written or oral warning from the officer. And always appeal each and every speeding ticket and go to court. You should also follow all of the tips, tactics and strategies I talk about In my book the "Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets" You should do your homework and prepare for your day in court. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need advice. You can contact me via my website or telephone number as found in the "Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets" book again which is available for purchase right here.
I hope you found this article both revealing and easy to understand. Thank you for taking the time and interest in the reading of my articles as well as visiting the BuyRadarDetectors.com website. May God Bless us all and keep us safe upon the highways and byways.
Photo Camera Radar - What Is It? How It Works & How To Beat It!
By Richard Wallace II
Author of "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!"
This is article number five in a continuing series of articles I will be writing for Banoggle.com. You can still view and read all of my previous articles at this website and all are encouraged to do so. You will be very glad you did.
In this, the fifth article in the series, we will discuss Photo Camera Radar and will look into what it is, how it works and most importantly, how we can beat it.
Photo Camera Radar
Photo Camera Radar is something that is still relatively new here in the United States but it has begun to pop up in almost every state. It is very widely used in European countries as a means of issuing speeding tickets. Photo camera radar works exactly like it sounds. A camera is attached to a radar unit along with a computer. The computer is programmed to tell the camera when to take a photo of any vehicle observed exceeding a certain speed limit. Some cameras will take a photo of the front and rear of the speeding vehicle in an attempt to show the face of the operator as well as the registration number of the target vehicle. Some foreign countries hold the vehicle registration owner liable for the speeding ticket even if they were not the operator at the time of the violation. What happens next is that the photos with legible license plate numbers are sorted out, the registration numbers are run into the motor vehicle computer and tickets are then mailed out to the corresponding registered owners based on the speed limit that was violated by the offending vehicle.
A successful challenge to a photo camera radar ticket is achieved by looking at several important things. Statistics have shown that the vast majority of these photo camera radar tickets are illegible because of these reasons:
- Illegible license plate number
- Make and model of the vehicle is or is not identifiable
- Indistinguishable driver or operator
If you have received such a photo camera radar ticket, immediately appeal it and ask to see the photo records that supported a ticket being mailed to you. Look to see if any of those reasons apply and then explain it to the court official hearing your appeal case.
Another popular strategy that many have used successfully is to simply ignore the ticket that you received in the mail and do nothing. Why you ask? When you receive a speeding ticket under normal conditions, you receive it in person from a police officer and many times you sign the bottom of the citation promising to appear in court. When you get a photo camera radar ticket by mail, you never sign anything. Legally you do not have to respond, appear, pay or anything else. The only way you will ever hear anything about the ticket is if an officer shows up at your door with a summons for you to appear in court. When you're asked about the ticket you simply reply you never received a ticket, it must have been lost in the mail. Since most if not all local, city, county and state agencies do not send these types of tickets out via "certified mail" there is no way to prove that you ever received it. Remember, these types of speed traps are a business. In most jurisdictions the equipment being used by the law enforcement agency is on loan or is being leased to that department because a portion of each and every photo camera radar ticket's revenue goes to that company that loaned or leased the equipment to that agency. In these types of speed traps they just bank on a certain number of obedient ignorant people simply mailing in their fines pleading guilty.
When preparing to fight your photo camera radar ticket in court, be sure to check the admissibility of such a ticket in the courts within your state. Many state courts have deemed these photo camera radar tickets to be unconstitutional for a variety of reasons, many mentioned in this article; yet many police departments and their respective cities and towns continue to operate such traps because they know a certain percentage of the violators will just pay their fine and send it in paid in full. So do not overlook doing this important step in the fighting back process.
Typical Radar Rules Still Apply
Remember, radar itself has many flaws, so ask to look at the records of the piece of equipment that contained the radar unit. Be sure it has been calibrated, inspected and that tuning forks were used to calibrate it daily, which oftentimes does not take place. Almost every state in the United States requires radar units to be calibrated daily by members of law enforcement and inspected every 6 or 12 months by an independent laboratory to assure us of the integrity and accuracy of the speed detection device being used to nail speeders is in proper working order. Photo camera radar produces many false readings for sure, just as normal police radar units do that the police officers use every day. Be sure to read my article on this website about how to beat a speeding ticket issued by police radar, you will find it very useful as you prepare for your day in court in a photo camera radar based speeding ticket. For a more in depth look into the flaws with speed detection devices as well as many tested, tried and successful ways to fight back and beat a speeding ticket in court, you may wish to consider picking up a copy of my book entitled "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!" available for purchase right here.
Tips For Avoiding A Photo Radar Ticket
Some helpful tips to make your vehicle less noticeable or detectable to a photo camera radar station are to keep the license plate somewhat dirty or illegible. Or one can try taking off the front license plate so that the front camera cannot record the plate number. Be careful however, because in some states you can get a traffic ticket for failing to display your front license plate. Some motorists have painted their plates in high gloss clear coat paint to make the photos glossy and thus making the license plate illegible. There are also some special license plate covers and sprays that one can purchase right here at Banoggle to assist you in masking the appearance of your license plate, thus avoiding detection by the photo camera radar speed trap station.
Don't Forget
If the unfortunate does happen and you get stopped for speeding, make sure you remain calm, be polite, cooperate, admit nothing including your speed, and if you plan to use an excuse, be sure it touches the emotions of the officer and it could work and get you out of a speeding ticket. Do not be afraid to ask for a break or an oral/written warning, and yes you can do this.
I hope this article, the fifth in the series has helped you develop an understanding of what photo camera radar is, how it works and operates and most important of all, how one can challenge, defeat and beat it in court if not on the roadways by use of either a license plate cover, spray or by purchasing the VF2 photo camera defeating device. I welcome your feedback, comments and advice. Please contact me through emails at the Banoggle.com website. Thank you for taking the time to read my article, happy and safe motoring and God Bless us all.
Police Radar Calibration - The Old Bait and Switch Game
By Richard Wallace II
Author of "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!"
Hi everybody, Richard Wallace here again with my latest article in the continuing series of articles I will be writing for Banoggle.com. My first, second and third articles can still be viewed on this site for those of you who may have missed them. The three articles are just full of fantastic insider information on how to beat, avoid and get out of a speeding ticket as well as the pros and con's of owning a high quality radar detector. Be sure to read the articles, you will be very glad you did.
In this, the fourth article in the series, I am about to blow the lid off and truly reveal insider information on police radar calibration that will just leave you absolutely stunned and in complete disbelief. You will learn why I believe 3 out of every 5 speeding tickets has been written illegally or in error. Please read on.
The Law Of Radar Calibration
Every state here in the United States requires by law, every law enforcement agency be it local, city, state or federal, to either annually or semi-annually send out every police radar unit in that departments inventory to an independent laboratory for a complete inspection and certification. The purpose of this is quite obvious; we want to be sure that every piece of police radar being used be in proper working order so that mistakes are not made and speeding tickets not issued in error or unjustly. OK, so how does all of this work and why does it matter?
First, we want an independent inspection performed which will assure the integrity of the inspection. We do not want the police to police themselves, which is why state law requires an independent laboratory conduct the inspections. All states require the yearly or semi-yearly inspections. Secondly the law requires that each and every law enforcement agency deliver to any laboratory that has been government certified to conduct these inspections, their departments police radar units. Thirdly, the law requires that every police radar unit in that departments inventory be sent out within that states yearly guidelines. The majority of law enforcement agencies all across the United States fail to confirm to these standards as required by law. This is why I feel that 3 out of every 5 speeding tickets has been issued either unjustly or in error of some kind.
I Conduct A Survey...
In the summer of the year 2003 I began to conduct a survey of various local, city and state law enforcement agencies all across the United States. I interviewed either on the telephone or in person a department member of each of these law enforcement agencies, which totaled over 150 departments. The survey took months and months to complete but nonetheless it was finished late in 2004. The focus of this survey was quite simple actually; I was looking to find the answers to two questions in two subject areas. The first question revolved around finding out how many police radar units any given department had, followed up with did each and every radar unit get sent out for inspection as required by that states law. The second question was a follow-up question based on the answer to the first about the number of units any given department had in its inventory. What I attempted to elicit from the department official I interviewed was if that department sent an officer to court with calibration and inspection paperwork from a police radar unit that they knew not to be from the unit the police officer was operating at the time the speeding ticket he was going to court for was issued. The answers to these questions in these subject areas were just startling and left me in complete disbelief.
The Survey Says...
Out of the over 150 different local, city and state law enforcement agencies that I interviewed, I learned that 127 or the majority of these agencies had in their departments inventory police radar units that were routinely being used yet had not been sent out within the mandated annual or semi-annual inspection period. Further, 107 of these law enforcement agencies admitted that their officers went to court with calibration and inspection paperwork from a police radar unit that may have been different from the one they were operating when the speeding ticket they are now appearing in court on was issued. Many times I was told, the officers were not aware of what I called the "bait & switch" of the calibration and inspection paperwork. These officers would go into court and testify under oath that the paperwork they brought with them that day into court was in fact from the actual police radar unit they were using when they issued the speeding ticket that was the subject of the court case they were now testifying about. Let me explain how and what this information means to all of you who receive a speeding ticket and plan to fight back in court. This piece of information alone could be the one thing that makes your case and breaks the states case against you.
The easiest way to sum up what I learned from this independent survey was to just use my own police department as an example. Many of you are well aware that I am a retired police officer from the State of Connecticut with over 14 years of loyal and faithful service. I was forced to retire in 1996 due to a line of duty injury, which caused me a permanent disability. My own department had about 6 radar units in our inventory. We would send out 1 or 2 of those 6 radar units to be inspected and certified by an independent laboratory each and every year as required by Connecticut Law, yet we would use all 6 of those radar units all the time. Many of our radar units had not been sent out for inspection in years. If and when we had to appear in court on a speeding ticket matter, my department provided to me paperwork from whatever radar unit had been sent out for calibration and certification that year, even though it may have not been the unit I was using when I stopped the motorist for speeding who was now appealing his ticket in court. Oftentimes I knew I had paperwork from a different unit and other times I did not. As is the case in most states, it takes months and months for a speeding ticket matter to be brought up in court for trial and by that time many officers forget which piece of police radar they were using when they made that traffic stop and issued the speeding ticket. It is this reason most officers are unaware they are going to court with paperwork that may not necessarily be from the unit they were using many months ago. So just using my own department for example, if we only calibrated 2 out of the 6 police radar units in our inventory each and every year as required by law, then every speeding ticket issued with those 4 police radar units that were never sent out for inspection and certification were issued either illegally or unjustly, thus bringing me back to why I believe that 3 out of 5 speeding tickets issued every day in the United States was issued unlawfully. This "bait & switch" practice did not just occur in my own department, based on the survey I conducted it appears as though it takes places in the majority of law enforcement agencies all across the United States and most likely everyday.
How This Helps You Beat Your Ticket
OK, so now we know the truth, that the majority of law enforcement agencies are unlawfully using police radar every day. What does this mean to you, the motorist or to you, the operator who has received a speeding ticket and wants to fight back? It means that you are know armed with true insider information that you can use to help you beat a speeding ticket that was issued with police radar.
Many of us have long suspected that the police do not play fair or by the rules, and the results of my survey clearly point this fact out. Let me tell you how we use this "bait & switch" against those law enforcement agencies who don't play fair or within the scope of the law. If you find yourself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket where police radar was used, the most important piece of information you need to obtain with your discovery request is a list of all models, makes and serial numbers of each and every police radar unit the arresting department has in its inventory along with the calibration and certification paperwork from each unit. You may be met with some resistance but you must be determined to obtain this important list. Seek the assistance of the trial court if you are having difficulty with the arresting law enforcement agency. The obvious reason you want this list is to check and be sure that this department has calibration and certification paperwork for each and every radar unit they have in the inventory. If you discover they have 20 pieces of police radar and only have calibration and certification paperwork for say 15 of those units, that means 5 of their radar units may or are being used in violation of state law guidelines. You want to bring this to the attention of the court. The point you want to make is to get the court to believe this law enforcement agency may have used a radar unit to stop and ticket you that had not been sent out for calibration and certification. You want the court to suspect the department may have used one of those 5 units unlawfully. This creates reasonable doubt in your case and you could easily win a complete dismissal of your speeding ticket.
As I have explained to you in my other three articles as well as in my book entitled "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets - How to Beat & Avoid Them!" available for purchase right here Banoggle.com, if you are unfortunate to find yourself on the receiving end of a speeding ticket you must remember to remain calm, be polite to the officer, cooperate without admitting any guilt, and do not be afraid to use a good excuse or ask for a written or oral warning from the officer. And always appeal each and every speeding ticket because the odds are in your favor if you fight back and go to court. Over 50% of those who appeal their speeding ticket win in some fashion, be it a compete dismissal or at least a reduction in either the fine or points on their driving record.
For those of you who received a speeding ticket and police radar was used, you must follow my advice and first, appeal your ticket in court, and then request all calibration and certification records from each and every piece of police radar the arresting department has in its inventory. If you follow my advice as discussed in this article, you should be able to raise doubt if you have uncovered a department has not conformed to the calibration and certification laws in your state. You should also follow all of the tips, tactics and strategies I talk about In my book the "Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets." You should do your homework and prepare for your day in court. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need advice. You can contact me via my website or telephone number as found in the "Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets" book again which is available for purchase right here.
I hope you found this article both revealing and easy to understand. Thank you for taking the time and interest in the reading of my articles as well as visiting the Banoggle.com web site. May God bless us all and keep us safe upon the highways and byways.
Radar Detectors - Friend or Foe?
By Richard Wallace II
Author of "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!"
This is the third in a continuing series of articles I will be writing for Cricket Ventures and their fantastic website Banoggle.com. As many of you will recall, my first and second articles, which can still be viewed here on this website, talked about the basics involved with beating a speeding ticket and how one can learn to speed without getting caught respectively.
In this, the third article in the series, we will ponder this thought; "Radar Detectors-Friend or Foe?" Well, in this authors opinion, a radar detector is definitely a friend of the motorist and I hope once you have read this article, you will agree with me.
Common Misbeliefs
There are just as many proponents as there are opponents of radar detectors and for a variety of reasons. Some special interest groups claim that radar detectors cause people to speed and cause accidents. There is no evidence to date that radar detectors cause higher speeds or play a significant role in causing widespread accidents. This does not say that there are not people who possess detectors who drive hostile and dangerously. This is of course true. Some of these drivers undoubtedly believe that by having a radar detector they are immune from being stopped and issued a speeding ticket until it happens. It is then they will realize they are just as susceptible to being caught for speeding as somebody who drives without a radar detector. Such gross driving habits will come to the attention of law enforcement with or without the operator possessing a radar detector.
Average traffic speeds are determined by the public's own view of what they perceive to be safe and reasonable at the time. Radar detector owners are generally safe drivers. Some surveys have shown that drivers whom used detectors had fewer accidents per mile than non-owners and drove more miles between accidents and also and more often wear their seat belts.
Radar Detector Basics
Lets talk a little about what a radar detector actually is. Basically, a radar detector is a radio-like device that scans back and forth between several programmed frequencies that are licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to law enforcement agencies nationwide. Police radar itself is nothing but a device that emits a radio wave that monitors the speed of vehicles and we call it police radar. A radar detector is a device that picks up those police radar radio waves and then alerts you to the presence of the police radar. Most all radar detectors today also include the ability to detect laser (lidar) speed detection devices. Laser is a piece of equipment that sends out beams of light as opposed to radar's radio waves; that refracts and reflects off the violator/speeding vehicle which then return to the laser unit. Speed is then calculated by measuring how quickly these pulses of light are reflected given the known speed of light. A good radar detector will have the ability to detect and pick up all frequencies of police radar as well as laser.
The Insurance Lobby's Fight To Ban Radar Detectors
There are many who feel that banning radar detectors will make the "unsafe" driver become a "safe" driver. Only education and sound enforcement programs will accomplish that. Nonetheless, every year insurance lobbyists in many states try to pass legislation that will ban the radar detector. More than 100 attempts to ban radar detectors have taken place in different states over the years and all have been defeated. Only Virginia and the District of Columbia now ban radar detectors. All states however, have bans on detectors for operators of commercial vehicles like tractor-trailer operators. Today insurance company lobbyists actively promote such goals as mandatory insurance coverage and increased use of surcharges, which only better themselves, not their clients. It is the insurance companies who are speaking out in favor of bans on radar detectors, saying they encourage speeding. Again, studies have shown nothing of the kind, yet the media takes this misrepresentation and reports on it, and starts the calling for bans on radar detectors. Would it surprise you to know that a few of the largest insurance companies routinely donate police radar and laser guns to law enforcement agencies throughout the Unites States every year? They claim it is done for the benefit of public safety when in reality it is done to increase the amount of insurance surcharge revenue they take in yearly.
Dozens of traffic experts and engineers have done studies that show the facts to be a little clearer than the insurance industry would like us to believe. Simply put, radar detectors alone have no influence on the traffic speeds or accidents. Further, the use of police radar by law enforcement does little to slow the speed of traffic upon our highways. These traffic experts know most people drive a safe and reasonable speed even if it exceeds the posted speed limit and that by merely possessing a radar detector, one does not automatically become a speeding reckless driver, or one who increases the risk for an accident.
Speeding tickets are a basis for money making for the state, city or town and the insurance companies. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a multi-million dollar tax-exempt agency uses its resources to promote unrealistically low speed limits, combined with covert methods of enforcement, only for the safe of lining its own pockets.
Why Do I Need A Radar Detector?
Ok, so why own a radar detector in the first place? Well the simple answer to that is it will greatly help to reduce your chances of being stopped for speeding by members of law enforcement provided you use it wisely and responsibly. A high quality radar detector will warn you in advance of a radar speed trap ahead as well as to the existence of police laser that may be in use also. A good detector will actually detect the presence of police radar before you actually observe the police officer and of course before he observes you. When laser is being used however, be very careful to watch for the laser alert mode of your detector. Laser, when being used, is shot directly at your front license plate, in other words as the officer is aiming the laser gun at your vehicle and "see's" you, you also have just observed him and so has your radar/laser detector. You could only have a fraction of a second to correct your speed when law enforcement is using laser so be careful and stay alert. Fortunately, use of laser by police is still very rare. Pay particular attention to the brake lights of vehicles in front of you on the highway, they are braking for a reason and it may be because they have observed a police officer ahead operating radar or laser so you may want to slow your speed down until you can be sure it is ok to speed through a particular area.
A Detector Can Save You $$$
No article about the pro's and con's of owning a radar detector would be complete without discussing the financial consequences one would likely not face if they owned a high quality radar detector. You see, the average speeding ticket issued today is around $150.00 and when you add the insurance company surcharges that are imposed for between 3 and 5 years depending on the state you reside in, that average around $125.00 per year, your overall total financial liability for just one speeding ticket ranges from $525.00-$775.00! Compare that to the few hundred dollars you would spend on a high quality radar detector and you come out well ahead of the game. Owning a radar detector makes good sense and I highly recommend it.
The use of a high quality radar/laser detector coupled with my tips, tactics and strategies as discussed in my second article as well as in my book will greatly reduce your chances of getting stopped and ticketed by members of law enforcement. I highly recommend everybody purchase a high quality radar/laser detector today to better help them avoid the costly speeding ticket and subsequent insurance surcharges that follow. Your best source for the purchase of a high quality radar detector is right here at BuyRadarDetectors.com. They have the greatest selection and the best prices on the web. For a complete list of all of my tips, tactics & strategies, please pick up a copy of my book "An Educated Guide..." also right here at Buy Radar Detectors. The book is full of very valuable information on the equipment the police are using today, how one should conduct themselves at the scene of a traffic stop which may get them out of a speeding ticket, how to challenge and beat any speeding ticket in a court of law, and of course, how one can speed without getting caught.
Some Final Tips
If the unfortunate does happen and you get stopped for speeding, make sure you remain calm, be polite, cooperate, admit nothing including your speed, and if you plan to use an excuse, be sure it touches the emotions of the officer and it could work and get you out of a speeding ticket. Do not be afraid to ask for a break or an oral/written warning, and yes you can do this.
In closing, I hope I have brought you to a better understanding about the use and ownership of a high quality radar/laser detector. When used correctly and responsibly they work and work well! I hope you can use some of this information and become a safer more efficient speeder while using a radar detector. Remember, it takes time, practice and effort. Traveling at high rates of speed may not get you anyplace faster and could even get you a speeding ticket or cost you your life. So speed wisely, safely and always watch out for the other guy. Thank you for taking the time to read this article, watch for the next in this series and God Bless us all.
Avoiding A Costly Speeding Ticket
By Richard Wallace II
Author of "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!"
This is the second in a series of articles I will be writing for Cricket Ventures and the company's website Banoggle.com. As many of you will recall, my first article which can still be viewed on the Banoggle.com website, talked about the basics involved with beating a speeding ticket. In this article, my second in the series of many to come, I would like to talk about how one can learn to speed without getting caught, thus "Avoiding A Costly Speeding Ticket!"
Today's motorists have the choice of driving the speed limit or exceeding it. Most choose to exceed it, myself included. It is important for me to state however, that I am not advocating everybody running out and speeding all over the highways and driving in a reckless manner. On the contrary. I am talking about people who choose to speed but do it safely, effectively, without getting detected or caught by the police. Yes speed does in many instances increase the risk of accidents or loss of human life. Speed can be a contributing factor should something go wrong when a person is exceeding the speed limit. What I do advocate is that everybody drives safely, reasonably, and sensibly even if at speeds above the posted speed limit.
What is quite ironic is that most speeding tickets are given for speeds that are neither extremely high nor dangerously low. Most are given to people who are operating only slightly over the posted speed limit, between 10-15 mph. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found and documented the safest speeds to travel at are between 10-15 mph over the posted speed limit, or those traveling with the flow of traffic, yet it is this very group of motorists who are stopped and issued the most speeding tickets.
Like any other skill, speeding without getting caught is something that one must learn and practice in order to become effective and good at it. In other words, a person must learn to sharpen their speeding skills if they wish to be successful.
By following some of the following tips, tactics and strategies I will tell you about, one can expect to become a safer and more efficient speeder and thus, will greatly reduce their chances of being detected, stopped and ticketed by the police. While I will certainly give you some great information in this article, your best source for all of my tips, tactics and strategies will be found in my best selling book "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How To Beat & Avoid Them!" available for purchase right here at Banoggle.com and now in its fourth edition printing.
Probably the most important tip I can give you is to simply pay attention at all times. Watch your mirrors and be fully aware of your surroundings. Look for police cruisers behind you, up ahead on the side of the road, hiding on bridges and overpasses. Watch for the officer in an undercover or unmarked vehicle parked on the side of the road up ahead. Be alert for anything and always be on the watch for the nasty sneaky police officer with his radar or laser gun. Don't be that motorist who was stopped because they did not see the officer clocking him from behind for the last two miles. Yes it can be tiring always being on the watch, but if you avoid getting stopped or issued a speeding ticket because you detected the presence of the police nearby, and adjusted your speed, you will have saved yourself hundreds of dollars in fines and in insurance surcharges.
Another important but almost hard to believe tip that works very well is when traveling down the roadway and you observe the police officer parked on the side of the road operating radar or laser and you think you may have been caught by the officer for speeding, as you slow down and pass by the officer, wave to him as go by.
Yes, I said wave to the officer. Why? Well because I know from my over 14 years as veteran police officer, the officer will think a couple of things if he sees you wave. Instinctively the officer may think he knows you and he may wave back, this is human nature. Secondly, the office may think you are waving to him in acknowledgement of your speed and you are slowing down and letting him know with your wave you are slowing and sorry for going a little to fast. Trust me, this tip works well. Many officers who see you wave will wave back, many will think oh OK, this guy knows he is speeding and is acknowledging it with a wave, I will not stop him or her and issue them a speeding ticket.
The following are a few of the various tips, tactics & strategies that I have in my book "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!" that allow a motorist to speed without getting caught by the police for speeding.
- Use a high quality radar/laser detector. This fact cannot be overstated. The use of a high quality detector with all of the tips & tactics greatly reduce your chances of getting stopped for speeding.
- Monitor the police radio frequency bands with the use of a high quality police scanner. This will allow you to listen to the police and you can pinpoint where they are hiding on the highways.
- Monitor the truckers airwaves with a CB (citizens band) radio. The truckers all know where the police (smokies) are hiding.
- Learn to speed in the flow of traffic and try not to be the last car in the pack. Often times it is the last car in the pack the police will stop first.
- Watch your mirrors at all times especially your rear view mirror. The police love to follow and pace you with their cruisers.
- Use extreme caution when crossing town, county, city or state lines. The police love to sit on their jurisdiction boundaries and catch speeders coming or going.
- Learn to speed at the change of shift for the police in your area. Most departments change shifts at 7 or 8am, 3 or 4pm and 11 or 12am. About a half hour before an after that hour, there is very little traffic enforcement on the highways.
- Watch the brake lights on vehicles ahead as well as headlights being flashed by oncoming traffic. Both could warn you about the presence of a hiding officer operating radar or laser.
- Slow down in areas known to be speed traps. The police all have their favorite spots and are usually in the same places day in and day out so be aware of these spots and slow down as you near them.
- Do not be fooled by observing an officer operating radar/laser and think you are safe to speed down the highway. The police will often play a game by planting another officer a mile down the road to catch those who think they can speed because they just saw the police a mile back.
- Be very careful at night or on roads with little traffic. You stand a greater risk of being detected for speeding at night because you can not observe cars on the side of the roadway and in little traffic, you have no other traffic to assist in cloaking your vehicle. It is difficult to get stopped for speeding if you are in a pack of speeding cars. Again, try not to be the last vehicle in that pack.
- And the final tip I will share with you is to know how many police cruisers are on duty at any given time in your town, county or city. In many jurisdictions all across the United States, people know there are say 3 or 4 police cruisers on duty at any given time in their area. Well if you see all 3 or 4 cruisers together or at different times and you are keeping track, you can be relatively sure its OK to speed through that jurisdiction if all the police cruisers and officers are accounted for.
For a complete list of all of my tips, tactics & strategies, please pick up a copy of my book "An Educated Guide..." right here at Banoggle.com. The book is full of very valuable information on the equipment the police are using today, how one should conduct themselves at the scene of a traffic stop which may get them out of a speeding ticket, how to challenge and beat any speeding ticket in a court of law, and of course, how one can speed without getting caught.
If the unfortunate does happen and you get stopped for speeding, make sure you remain calm, be polite, cooperate, admit nothing including your speed, and if you plan to use an excuse, be sure it touches the emotions of the officer which gets him down to your level and it could work and get you out of a speeding ticket. Do not be afraid to ask for a break or an oral/written warning, and yes you can do this.
This just about concludes my article on Avoiding a Speeding Ticket. I hope you can use some of this information and become a safer more efficient speeder. Remember, it takes time, practice and effort. Traveling at high rates of speed may not get you anyplace faster and could even get you a speeding ticket or cost you your life. So speed wisely, safely and always watch out for the other guy. Thank you for taking the time to read this article and God Bless us all.
Beating A Speeding Ticket - The Basics
By Richard Wallace II
Over 100,000 every day; over 40 million a year; the average fine is $150.00; 90% just send in the fine, only 10% fight back but out of that 10%, over half win in court; and 2-3 out of every 5 were issued unfairly or unjustly. What am I talking about you ask? Why the speeding ticket of course! Yes, that great revenue enhancer the speeding ticket. In this article I will discuss the speeding ticket industry that exists in the Unites States today followed by how you can defend yourself, fight back and beat a speeding ticket in court. All of the information contained in this article is applicable in all 50 states.
How Much Do You REALLY Know About Speeding Tickets?
No one really knows exactly how many speeding tickets are issued every year here in the Unites States for sure, but we do know it is in the millions upon millions. Considering the long-term financial consequences of a speeding ticket, people should not treat getting a speeding ticket lightly. Speeding violations have an amazing impact on your life starting with your driving record which will be muddied for years along with your hefty fine but the most startling realization one can face upon getting a speeding ticket, is their punishment by their insurance company. A speeding ticket can drive up your premiums for 3-5 years depending on which state one resides. The average surcharge imposed ranges between $125.00-around $500.00 depending on the driving record of the insured.
When all is said and done, the average speeding ticket can cost a person several hundred and even thousands of dollars. Yes, our speeding ticket industry revenue each year tops out around 13 billion dollars when you add the attorney fees and driving schools to the equation. Compare that to the entire lottery system in all 50 states which tops out around 3 billion dollars and you can see how much money is in fact made from just speeding tickets alone. So again, do not take getting a speeding ticket lightly.
In addition to the financial burden that is placed on the motorist we must add the fact that the punishment simply does not fit the crime. Many misdemeanor charges like disorderly conduct carry a $50.00 fine in court, yet the speeding ticket can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. Does this seem fair? We can also talk about the police themselves not playing fair or by the rules. We all know the police themselves are the biggest offenders of the speed limits yet they commit those violations under the protection of their badge, how unfair. We can talk about big name insurance companies who actually donate radar and laser units to police departments all over the country with the premise it is done for public safety. We all know why that equipment has been donated to the police and that is so more tickets can be written, thus allowing insurance companies to raise the premiums of their policyholders who receive a speeding ticket. Public safety? Lets talk about speeding and public safety for a moment. Numerous studies have been done by many different private and public agencies and the bottom line found was that raising the speed limit does not necessarily mean more accidents or fatalities. In fact, what the majority of those studies found were that people who traveled 10-15 miles over the posted speed limit, or with the flow of traffic, were the safest drivers on the road. About 80% of all speeding tickets issued were for speeds less than 20 mph of the posted speed, which again, is the safest group of speeders on the highway.
In my book, "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How to Beat & Avoid Them!" which is available for purchase right here at Banoggle.com, I talk about the equipment the police use for speed detection, the traffic stop itself, how to prepare and fight your ticket in court and finally a chapter talking about how one can speed without being caught. My book is very educational especially for the layperson who has no knowledge of how greedy our speeding ticket industry is, or what kind of equipment the police use and how it can be beaten in court, as well as how to fight back and win in court. While I will attempt to talk a little about each topic here in the article, one is encouraged to purchase the book to learn all that there is to know about speeding tickets in general.
I have already talked about how unfair the issuance of speeding tickets can be because of the outrageous fines and insurance surcharges, the punishment not fitting the crime and the police not playing fair or by the rules. What I want to talk about now is how one can become empowered to believe that if they get a speeding ticket, whether deserved or not, that they feel like they can fight back at our greedy speeding ticket industry and win! There are many things one can do to beat a speeding ticket should they decide to fight back. Of course, a lot of how one prepares themselves for their day in court depends on how they conducted themselves at the scene of the traffic stop; so lets talk about that.
If you find yourself being pulled over for any traffic violation by law enforcement, it is imperative you pull over safely, cooperate and be polite. Never admit your speed to the officer when asked and do not volunteer any information that can be used against you in court at a later date. The correct reply to any question about your speed should be something like "I am sorry Officer, I was not aware of my speed" that's it, say nothing more. Remain calm and be polite. Do not just hand the officer your license and registration and let him walk back to his cruiser because if you do this, you have lost your only chance to talk your way out of a ticket by using an excuse or even just simply asking for a written or oral warning. You can't get something you never asked for, so ask for a warning, and yes, you are allowed to do that. If you decide to use an excuse, you must use one that is sincere and can touch the emotions of the officer. For example, family emergency involving wife, kids or relatives; wife is pregnant with first child; the money to pay for the ticket will come from feeding the family; females inform the officer your monthly visitor has arrived and it is an emergency; or your being harassed by another motorist with some type of road rage and you are trying to get away, this falls under the necessity of speed defense. Never use excuses like late for work, not paying attention, you are suffering from a medical condition or just traveling with the flow of traffic because they do not work, officers hear these excuses all the time.
Important Things To Know If You Have Just Been Issued A Ticket
OK, so you were not able to talk your way out of the ticket and the nice officer just issued you a $175.00 speeding ticket, now what do you do? Well, there are some very important pieces of information you must obtain at the scene of the stop that will help you prepare your defense in court. My book goes into great detail in Chapter 2 regarding the traffic stop, but the most important information you must get is the type of equipment used by the officer, the model and serial number, the cruiser registration plate number and cruiser I.D. number and the officer's name. Some officers will freely provide this information and others will refuse to answer all of your questions so you must obtain as much information as you can by just looking at the police cruiser and observing what kind of equipment is being used as well as the cruiser plate and I.D. numbers. When you have your day in court, you will want to compare the paperwork the police officer brought with him to the information you obtained at the scene of your stop to be sure everything match's up. Often times the police will come to court with paperwork from a different radar or laser unit than they were actually using when you were stopped and ticketed, so be on guard for this tactic. Again, refer to my book the "Educated Guide..." for more in depth information pertaining to the traffic stop and the equipment the police are using in the field.
I tell everybody who gets a speeding ticket to plead not guilty, fight back and ask for a hearing or a court date. Never just pay the fine by sending it in paid in full. The odds are in your favor if you fight back; provided you do a little preparation and follow my advice.
Preparing For Your Court Date
In most states once you ask for a hearing or court date, you have a few weeks to begin to prepare your defense and your case. You will need to obtain some official documents from the police department that issued the ticket to you which include the calibration and repair records for the radar or laser unit used; the officers training records; the departments F.C.C. license; as well as the daily arrest logs. Refer to my book for the complete list with an explanation of what and why you need these records and how one can go about obtaining them. Many times the arresting agency will not provide these official documents until the actual trial date so do not surprised if that occurs.
There are dozens upon dozens of different tactics and strategies one can use to fight their speeding ticket in court. My book goes into great detail in this regard but let me list some examples here for your knowledge. I want you to believe after reading this article that one can in fact arm themselves with the information and knowledge necessary to actually fight back and beat a speeding ticket in court.
Some of those tactics and strategies that are used successfully to challenge speeding tickets include the following:
- 1st time offenders with a clean driving record-obtain copy of your driving record from your local DMV and show court-most courts give 1st time offenders a break by dismissing their first ticket.
- Two officer tag team - both have to appear in court to testify in the case and the odds of that happening are very rare. One officer cannot testify about the actions of the other, it is hearsay.
- Attack the training records of the arresting officer. Many states require re-certification every 3-5 years.
- Attack the technology itself like radar and laser. Both are easy to challenge in court.
- Offer to make a charitable donation in lieu of the fine.
- Overpay the actual violation amount. The state will issue you a refund check for the difference. Do not cash the check, keep it. Because you have not cashed the ticket, the court case/docket cannot be closed properly thus no information gets reported to your insurance company or department of motor vehicles.
- Check to be sure the area you were stopped in was properly posted with the correct speed limit signs. In most states the sign has to be within 1/4 mile of area of stop.
- Find fault and errors on the ticket itself, this is very common in law enforcement.
- The officer fails to appear in court means automatic dismissal in most courts.
- Your speedometer was broken. Bring proof of repair from a garage to court.
- The arresting police agency has an expired F.C.C. license.
- The arresting police agency has switched the calibration and inspection paperwork and you have proof of this.
Other Info And Tips
These are just some of the dozens of tips, tactics and strategies I talk about in my book "An Educated Guide to Speeding Tickets-How To Beat & Avoid Them!" Of course, in my book I go into depth and completely explain how any of the above tips and tactics can help you fight back and win by beating your speeding ticket in court. Of course, I hope you never get stopped for speeding in the first place and get a ticket. I have an entire chapter in my book that talks about how you can speed without being stopped or caught by the police. A lot of my information is simple common sense like watching for brake lights come on in a car in front of you as well as watching your mirrors so you can see that you are being paced or clocked by a police cruiser behind you. There are other tips in that chapter that reveal real valuable information like speeding when the police change shifts, or knowing how many police cruisers are on duty at any given time in your town and if you see them all together, you know you're probably free to speed anywhere in town. I do want to mention one very useful little tip to avoid getting stopped for speeding by the police and that is when you see the cruiser and officer ahead and you think you may have been caught by him or her for speeding, as you approach the cruiser and officer, of course slow down, and then wave, yes wave. Let me tell you why. Police officers are human just as we are and when somebody waves to them, they react the same way we do. We think that perhaps we know that person so we may wave back and in the case of the police officer, the same holds true. In addition, the officer also can believe that you have acknowledged to him with your wave that you are aware of your speed and you are correcting it by slowing down. Many times the officer will not stop you for speeding because of your wave to him. This tip works, trust me; try it next time you see a police officer parked on the side of the road. Do not be surprised when he waves back or smiles in acknowledgement to you. And lastly I cannot forget to mention how important using a high quality radar/laser detector is to anybody who finds themselves exceeding the speed limit. Often the small price paid for a good detector will be less than a speeding ticket and the insurance premium increases combined so make that purchase today. Radar/laser detectors do work and by using many of the tips and tactics I talk about in my book, one can become a safer, smarter speeder who never gets stopped.
In this article written here for Banoggle.com I wanted to get across to you, the motorist, that you have people out here who are committed to helping those of you who feel you have been victimized by our greedy speeding ticket industry fight back with the knowledge that we are here to help you every step of the way. For those of you who purchase my book, I give you a toll free telephone number to call my office direct and speak with me for as long as necessary to answer your questions and to lend you a place to vent and or just talk about your experiences. We are in this battle together and with your support we can all hope to change the way our governments set speeding ticket fines, how our courts interpret and impose penalties for speeding violations, and how our own insurance companies penalize their policyholders for something our own government agencies deem safe, and that is traveling with the flow of traffic or at between 10-15 miles above the posted speed limit. Also, try not to blame the police officer for stopping motorists for speeding, as hard as this may seem. There are many fine officers out there who would prefer not to stop people for speeding but their superior officers force them to. Remember, the police officer himself does not set the fine or impose the insurance surcharge. We do however, ask the officer to be fair and impartial, play by the rules and to give the benefit of any doubt to the motorist he or she has stopped. If the police were a little more respectful and polite I feel there would be less of that anti-police attitude that many motorists seem to have and we all would have a greater respect for the men and woman of law enforcement in America today.
There will always and forever be speeding tickets; it's a fact we all must live with. If we drive safe, sensible and not recklessly, we will hopefully never find ourselves on the receiving end of a speeding ticket. However, if the unfortunate does happen and you get a speeding ticket, you must fight back by pleading not guilty, asking for your day in court, properly preparing yourself by doing your homework, reading "An Educated Guide..." visiting your local library, maintaining your innocence in court, and empowering others who find themselves in the same situation. Remember, you are innocent until proven guilty, make the state prove their case. You can fight back and you can win.
Thank you for taking the time to read my article on Beating A Speeding Ticket - The Basics. I would love to hear from you with your comments and criticisms both good and bad. May God Bless us all.
September 18, 2006
Why Buy From Banoggle.com?
We understand that you have many choices when it comes to purchasing automotive and communications related electronics. In this article, I would like to point out a few things that separate us from our competitors.
- Fast Shipping - As we state in our shipping policy, our goal is to ship every order that is submitted before 4:00PM EST the same day. We meet this goal with over 99% of our orders.
- We warehouse our products - We own our warehouse and we stock all of the products that we sell. You would be amazed to learn how many web sites simply take orders and pass them to a huge distributor for shipment. Have you ever wondered how that company you've never heard of can afford to have thousands of products "In Stock"? They can't -- they have them "drop-shipped"!! Drop shipping can lead to a very bad customer experience because the company you're buying from has no control of the product being shipped. There is no way to guarantee that the product is even in stock, or that a shipping error will not occur.
- Great Prices - We scout our competition daily to be sure that our prices are always competitive. On many products, we are also able to offer discounts to customers purchasing in larger quantities.
- Web Site Tools - We have developed intuitive tools, such as our Smart Search or Product Comparison pages, to make it easier for you to compare products or locate products with certain features. We also strive to provide detailed product descriptions and explanations for each feature of a product.
- Product Knowledge - Have you ever tried asking a specific product question at one of those sites that sell thousands of products? Good luck. Even smaller sites are often unable to make recommendations or offer information beyond what is available on the site. We are different. When we decide to branch into a new product line, we invest the time to become experts on those products. That means our web site will offer more detailed information, and when you call or email we will be able to answer your questions and offer helpful advice.
- Contact Information - You would be suprised at how many web sites do not list a phone number or a physical address on their web site. Some don't even offer an email address! You won't have that problem with us. Our contact information is featured prominently on our web site, and we are always happy to assist you.
- Customer Service - If you have a question about an order or have a product you would like to return, we are always happy to assist.
- Experience - We have been in business on the internet since 2002, and in that time we have learned what it takes to make an online business succeed. When you buy from us, you can rest assured that we will be here to support you after the sale.
Banoggle.com Customer Reviews
It's easy to understand why someone would be uneasy about making a purchase from an internet site they're not familiar with. If your personal information, such as your credit card number, fell into the wrong hands it could cost you plenty of time and money.
We want you to feel at ease when you shop with us, and the following links to our customer reviews are one way that we can show that we are legitimate. The reviews below are from our other sites as well as this one. They are maintained by reputable third parties so you can be certain that the reviews you are reading are real, and left by customers just like yourself.
| Shopping.com | |
| Shopping.com - BuyTwoWayRadios | |
| PriceGrabber.com | Click here to read reviews |
| Amazon.com | Click here to read reviews |
Welcome To Banoggle.com
Banoggle.com has just launched and is brand new! Thank you for visiting! This web site may be new, but our company is not. We have been in the ecommerce business since 2002, operating the niche web sites BuyRadarDetectors.com and BuyTwoWayRadios.com. Since our first site was launched, we have become successful because we offer our customers the combination of expert product knowledge and great prices. This will continue to be our focus with Banoggle.com.
Why A New Site?
At the moment, Banoggle is little more than a consolidation of the products that we already offered on our other sites plus some fresh content. However, in the near future we will be adding several new product lines. Having a more generic site like Banoggle means that we can add new products more easily, without the overhead of creating a new site for each type of product.
Our plan is to add products that fall under the very general Automotive and Communications categories. Within the next few months look for CB Radios and Police / Racing Scanners to join Two Way Radios in the communications category, and Alcohol Detectors and Digital Vehicle Compasses to join Radar Detectors under the automotive category.
Why The Name Banoggle? What Does It Mean?
Anytime I have told someone about this new site, their first question is inevitably about the name. Banoggle is a word that we made-up while trying to come up with a name. After months of back-and-forth, Banoggle just happens to be the name that stuck. We wanted something short, unique, and catchy. It's definitely short and unique, but we'll have to wait and see how catchy it is!