Does anyone know if Alabama uses "Pop" radar? What about adjoining states. I'm thinking about updating my V1. Valentine said I shouldn't upgrade unless it's in use around here. I've read that having the "pop" upgrade can result in more false alarms. Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

last I read on POP mode is that it was not recommended by the radar gun manufacturers for use to accurately clock traffic. something about the gunn diodes not being stable enough for such a short "burst" (to put it as simple as I remember)

so I wouldn't worry about who's using it or not.

 

And last I read was because of the reasons stated in RPOZ4Z's post, the POP radar reading has to be supplemented with a regular reading to make it "legit". So that means you'll probably pick up the follow-up ping (most likely via instant-on Ka or something).

Of course, this all assumes that the cops are using it in your area at all (which you don't know yet), and that you would have the cahoney's to ask "can I see the speed readout" and "what kind of radar did you use to trap me?".

Maybe you could call your local authorities and just ask? Seems too easy, right? I don't see why they wouldn't tell you.

 

RPOZ4Z is correct...I am a law enforcement officer in Kansas and just purchased all new radar equipment for our vehicles. MPH is the company that has the patent on POP technology. Unfortunately for them, a lot of departments have been required to disable the POP due to the fact the radar cannot stabilize fast enough to get an accurate speed reading, therefore the tickets officers were writing were inadmissable in court. We purchased Stalkers which are far better anyway...I will add that they only time a radar detector is really any good is if it picks up the radar hitting a car in front of you. With today's radar technology, I can check a vehicle's speed and lock him in in less than a second. And in Kansas, it's not necessary for me to even lock him in. Our new Stalkers also have a "Fastest" mode which basically allows me to hit two cars at once; the faster one's speed will be displayed in the "Fastest" window on my screen. Speeders beware...

 

JT -

Thanks for the important tips on how radar is being used today. Hopefully, we'll be getting the hits from readings hundreds of yards in advance to help remind us to lift our right foot and watch our speed through the trap zone.

Personally, I use my V1 as a right-foot-lift regulator as opposed to "I'm racing now and don't want to get caught." When I hear the Ka burst, I'm off the gas trying to eyeball the source.

Our beautiful Corvettes make it easy to get in the speed zone that attracts the wrong kind of attention. Any leverage we can get is helpful. Conversely, I'll bet law enforcement looks for their own leverage as well.

Thanks again for the tips...Bill

 

but the good thing about a corvette is that it's a "harder" target to get a reading on than a vehicle that has a metal body.

this gives you a "little" more time to react.

 

 

Not trying to open a can of worms here... You are probably a decent guy just doing his job... and... if your not doing your job, your supervisor will probably ask you about it... Something like... "If your not to busy could you write at least 2 tickets a day ? am I right ?
It just seems that speeding has become one of the biggest hipocracies on todays highways... and a lot of money is involved... Over 1 million speeding tickets in California alone last year... How much "net" revenue was that ? Or is it just considered another form of "tollway" money by cities and counties?
What this country needs is an Autobahn... ie... a smooth road with guardrails and impact barriers... Also need a special license and vehicle inspection to go along with it... Doubt it will happen in my lifetime... however... Montana came close once upon a time!

 

Nope that will never, ever, ever happen. Why? Because Americans can't drive to save their lives.

Now before any of you go off on me...I'm an American. Born and grew up here. So I'm not biased from being raised somewhere else. I live through the same muck each of you live through every day.

There is a very, very small minority of drivers in this country who could safely handle an autobahn-type highway. Why? Because we have some of the worst driver education and licensing programs in the world, next only to countries who do not use automotive technology.

In Europe you must take class after class after class before you are ready to start testing for your license. I can't remember the exact figure but the average German spends near the equivalent of $1500 towards education before they can obtain a license. During the course of this education they learn all the basics, plus things like car control, what it feels like to lose control, and how to recover when control is lost, etc. etc. And most of the education time is spent in the vehicle.

In America, if you choose to, you can take driver's ed...once. And in this course you learn about the safety equipment in the car, how to parallel park, and maybe...if you're lucky..you may go out on the interstate for a few miles just to see what that speed feels like. The rest of the time is spent in the classroom learning facts so that you can bluff your way through an explicit and easily forgotten set of answers for a written test.

You know what my driving test was in Lafayette, LA? You left the DMV, took a right, crossed some railroad tracks until you got to a light. Took a left, continued about a mile, took another left to cross back over the same tracks. Take another left, go about a mile, turn right then park back at the DMV. Took about 2 minutes if there was traffic. Sad huh?

If I hadn't sought my own training...reading, autocrossing, practicing late nights when I was kid in a mall parking lot (learning what it felt like to lose control, because I was curious) then I know sure as hell I wouldn't be ready for something like an autobahn. Probably still am not ready.

Plus..the fact is that in European countries with these routes they are often very crowded with traffic anyway. At best you may get to display some speed for a quarter mile at a time before you have to slow for trucks and such. And most of the roads do have limits. It's not like everyone here thinks it is.

Sorry..just being devil's advocate. I've seen so many threads about the idea of an American autobahn and I just think it's a very, very bad idea. Our country's driving rules, education, and roadway system would need to undergo some substantial changes first.

-Smokey

 

If my last post wasn't long enough already... you filled in the gap nicely... I was trying to keep a long subject short...
Every observation you noted combined with your own experience tells me you "know" the average driver on America's roads... and... its scary ! Will it ever change ? I doubt it... If their is anything we can learn from the Europeans ? It would be respect... respect for the road and each other... and ones abilities, combined with common sense... Hows that for a "long shot" ?

I use to run a license plate frame that said...
"Tailgaters crash from terminal stupidity" It left my possesion on the back of a 35th Anniversary car I use to own... The new owner liked the message and wanted the frame... I figured I could always have another one made... then I figured it would just be an excuse for somebody to go off on me someday... probably after they rear ended me...

 

This is totally off the subject of pop radars, but the thread has already gone south in that reguard anyways, so I figured Id add to it too.

Im really scared to drive as it is with the amount of morons on the road. State transportation services give out drivers liscenses like its no big deal, and we complain when they try to start tougher liscense initiatives. Its just too easy for people that know nothing of the mechanics of physics in any sort to drive. Very few people know how to control their car in out of control circumstances. I think that people have complacent about the whole subject. But thats normal for Americans about anything.

snoopdan

 

[QUOTE=snoopdan]This is totally off the subject of pop radars, but the thread has already gone south in that reguard anyways, so I figured Id add to it too.I understand your point and agree... It seems we have covered the liabilities of the POP feature in certain police radar units... an advertised feature by the manufacturer that can entice law enforcement to buy their product... could it be "about the money" ?

Im really scared to drive as it is with the amount of morons on the road. State transportation services give out drivers liscenses like its no big deal, and we complain when they try to start tougher liscense initiatives. Its just too easy for people that know nothing of the mechanics of physics in any sort to drive. Very few people know how to control their car in out of control circumstances. I think that people have complacent about the whole subject. But thats normal for Americans about anything.
Perhaps we should start a thread about driving in America ? From that perhaps, we could do more than just talk about it... Another "special interest group" for safer driving in our country ? A focus group perhaps ? Can we agree that most people who take an advanced driving school become safer drivers on the street ? That still doesn't address the complacency factor you mentioned above... or said another way... when nobody cares... #!&@ happens... I wouldn't put everybody in that group though... their are still plenty of people who care... MADD... etc... This kind of change requires very heavy lifting if you know what I mean... For most Americans to sign up for driving school in droves, you have to make it entertaining, cheap, and fun all at the same time... otherwise... forgetaboutit

ZRXMAX

 

I agree completely with Smokey...having been on the autobahn. The drivers in Germany and Austria (for the most part) obey the rules. They don't pass on the right, they will yield to faster vehicles (without taking it as a personal insult) and they are much better drivers than Americans.

There is no way now that Americans could become that disciplined.

However, we do have an autobahn in the US. It is in Atlanta and it's called I-285 (albeit without the normal autobahn rules). When I'm travelling 80, I'm being constantly passed like I'm standing still. The only way to get a ticket here is to actually run into a patrol car if you can find one.

No flame against LEOs, I used to be one for 12 years.