Good fun on I-15, CHP question!

[sscates]

This afternoon around one o'clock I was heading up the 15N just past Via Rancho Pkwy in N County San Diego. A black convertible 964 with a whale tail wanted to have some fun. Sounded good. We had litttle traffic to deal with, but he got the jump on me because of a slower car. He was pretty quick to 100. I shifted from 3rd to 4th at about 120 (5500-6000RPM). I had passed him before the shift. I ran til about 140. He was a good sport, gave each other the flashing lights and then he exited the freeway. Hello if you're a Pelicanite. I always thought that the CHP didn't use radar on the freeway. I know that they use it on Highways, but weren't allowed to use it on the freeway. There is a few spots on the 15 that are good places to run, north of San Diego. Just piece of mind for my high speed jaunts. Happy Trails.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Oh boy, are you gonna get some ***** for this. Cool story though.

[sscates]

I forgot the question. Does anybody know the legalities of CHP using radar on Freeways?

[Jack Olsen]

I always thought that the CHP didn't use radar on the freeway.

I hear you can't get preganant if you have sex standing up, too.

They use Ka band, and I've got the tickets to prove it.

From the California driving FAQ:

"...there seems to be a mistaken impression that the CHP is not permitted to use radar. This is false; although for years the Legislature shot down funding for radar equipment, local jurisdictions have always been free to provide gear to the CHP for local trouble spots, and I believe the CHP now has funding to buy a limited number of radar units of their own. And remember that local police and sheriff's deputies have never been reluctant to use radar."

After CHP testing was done with radar in 1995 (on sections of I-5), its use was expanded dramatically, starting in 1997.

[sscates]

Thanks for the info, Jack. My next question, is there a radar detecter out there that really works? I used to have one when I was 16. It did a good job of letting me know to look in my mirror. It's lights came on just after the police turned their's on. Is there a real detecter that's worth it's money? And I don't want something hanging in my window, either. Built in detectors front and rear, maybe?

[DavidI]

All police agencies can use radar to the best of my knowledge. Most have forward and rear shooting radar.

Next time you are near a CHP police car, look at the left side rear deck area above the rear seats. There is a cylinder looking thing with a white dome cap on it. That would be the rear facing radar. The front one is usually near the rear view mirror.

[steve911]

Valentine One

[cowtown]

My area (Sacramento) is lousy with CHP Ka-band radar cars on the highway. They just got themselves a white Camaro Z28 with a low profile light bar. It's sneaky.

The Valentine One gives more than enough warning when I'm going 85...I don't know how fast you can slow down from 140.

[swbsam]

the first speeding ticket I recieved in nineteen years was on the 15 headed to SD just before the 78 there were three of them just waiting at the bottom of the hill under an overpass, it was like shooting fish in a barrel . it was after I got one comming back from AZ. on the 10 a year later thet I decided that I had better get a radar detector, the only detector worth spending your money on is a V1 http://www.valentine1.com/

[onewhippedpuppy]

Every few years Car and Driver does a comparo of radar detectors, and every time the Valentine One wins. Not cheap, but less than a ticket/ increased insurance.

[Neilk]

Originally posted by cowtown
The Valentine One gives more than enough warning when I'm going 85...I don't know how fast you can slow down from 140.

I borrowed my brother's V1 a couple of times. The first time I used it the KA band warning came on. I didn't see anything but slowed down... three miles or so later I passed a cop. So unless he has instant on or is well covered, it might be possible to slow from 140.

[swbsam]

keep something in mind , no detector can see around corners and the smart cops park right around corners and nail you because you can't see them till it's to late .

[goat]

Originally posted by Neilk
The first time I used it the KA band warning came on. I didn't see anything but slowed down... three miles or so later I passed a cop.:

They really work at a distance of 3 miles?
Wow. I guess if there are no hills & twisty turns you might be in luck.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by swbsam
keep something in mind , no detector can see around corners and the smart cops park right around corners and nail you because you can't see them till it's to late .

not exactly.

in mountain twisties you may get slight readings from reflections..

It starts slow and rapidly screams.. gotta be quick for a fast slam of the pedal.

The V-1 earns it's keep

[swbsam]

one time at band camp.......wait thats another story, ok I'm headed to palm springs it was one of those days I felt like making the land speed record , were out by the wind mills for those of you that have been there I'm doing about 130 and I've got the stereo way up and my wife starts pointing at the V1 , it's going off big time I can tell he is behind me as the V1 tells you which way it has detected something, so as fast as I can I kick it down to 65 and move all the way into the right lane about thirty seconds later I can see him comming up fast , he looks me over but there is nothing he can do, one of many times the V1 has paid for itself.

[swbsam]

Originally posted by RoninLB
not exactly.

in mountain twisties you may get slight readings from reflections..

It starts slow and rapidly screams.. gotta be quick for a fast slam of the pedal.

The V-1 earns it's keep

if you can see him he can see you .

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by swbsam
if you can see him he can see you .

the V-1 is churping before I'm in his sights from his radar reflecting off of the close mountain walls.

the routine becomes an instant pedal slam after you go thru 1st mountain road speed trap..

[pwd72s]

Driving to Cambria '01, my then new V-1 warned me of Ka band radar many times...THen I'd spot a CHP car, usually travelling in the opposite direction, on I-5...which I would classify as a freeway. Funny thing tho...once South of Sacto, the Ka alarms fell silent. Perhaps it's a California regional thing? North of Sacto, the California Highway Patrol runs moving Ka band radar...a LOT. At least it did then.

[swbsam]

Originally posted by RoninLB
the V-1 is churping before I'm in his sights from his radar reflecting off of the close mountain walls.

the routine becomes an instant pedal slam after you go thru 1st mountain road speed trap..

well I think were all just hoping there not using instant on or no matter what your using it's ticket time.

for some time now I've been using the rabit principle, I wait till I find someone that wants to drive faster then me then I just follow them, if the cops are using radar they can only pull over the car thats in front because they can't testify as to how fast anyone else was going .

[ubiquity0]

I've driven for hours on end at night on the I-5 between LA & the Bay Area without a single blip from my radar detector, & never seeing a cop. It can be a total free-for-all at these times.