try metallic green

it's bright in summer
it's bright in winter , stands out in any weather , rain or shine, dusk or dawn... i can't afford to drive stupid in this car, to expensive, the cops are on my case every time


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1096905195.jpg

It's not color but driver's age. I'm pretty sure there's a detector out there none of our esteemed law enforcement contributors are willing to tell you about. It somehow (kinda like the vaseline on Fuchs) senses how old you are. I used to get tickets allll the time when I was twenty something, but now I haven't had a ticket in over 15 years. Maybe it bounces badly off of grey hair-not sure.

as for laser guns... get a garage door opener and receiver. mount it on your car... as soon as the laser hits it... it will reply ... and the laser gun will get an error...the thingie is beeing sold around here and in the uk as an LRC-100 , and because it's just IR and sold as garage door openener, they can't say a thing about it... just make sure you slow down when the led goes off... no need to give them a chance to lock on to your other side( unless you want to rig a gizmo on each side of your car... , but they will get suspicious then,... and find other means of catching you)

stealth planes don't have flat surfaces to reflect radar, as we know. i spent a lot of years driving a '49 cadillac convertible that had virtually no flat areas, and constantly escaped radar traps, even though i was well over the limit, i never got popped. i got to thinking that the car was impervious to radar due to it's shape. any truth to that?

Stealth planes have flat surfaces that angle reflections away from radar recievers. The old StingRay Corvettes had the radiator angled toward the road. Car & Driver did a test of reflectivity years ago and the Corvette was the best for stealth.
John, your just a lucky guy ;)

edit

Thhey call it 'arrest me red' for a very good reason

PG-13

Chris Rock vid
"How not to get your ass kicked by PD"


http://www.laserp.com/chris_rockfp.htm

Ron, you don't want to kill this good thread, do you?

YES! I definitely fall into this category and while I'm sure I'm still sarer than 95+% of the drivers doing the speed limit, I'd be safer still if I wasn't looking for law enforcement all the time.

oh I didn't mean any disrespect.. that vid is being passed around the Nassau Co PD main bldg and my friend passed it on.. The NYC PD in-house pics are the best. FD pics are usually fire scenes. The in-house FD WTC pics are extraordinary. Don't ask me about the arson investigation training films.

Sorry Ron, I didn't mean to offend either.

I just think that if the video is the one I'm thinking of, it's funny enough to jack this thread off course... :D

If it is the one I'm thinking of it is legendary! I just saved it :D

Wrong..

a friend just said new radar units have a screen that tracks multiple targets. They're easy to use and much easier to monitor traffic. I'll have mfg names soon. So there is no hiding in traffic if the new units are used.

djmcmath

Since you mentioned that I brought up points you'd like to clarify, I feel it only appropriate that I respond.

You stated I said
"Laser has an infinitely narrow beam, is undetectable, and guarantees a perfect shot"
Didn't state this. I did say it has a narrow beam. This is confirmable. I did in fact say that it is not detectable by "older" detectors looking for K or X band. We tested the laser. We set up tin cans on a fence line at varying distances. We were able to accurately measure the distance of these cans individually, meaning we were targetting each can on it's own and not picking up any surrounding objects. The lasers have a multitude of uses, including accident and crime scene reconstruction, as the straight line beam (much like a pen type laser pointer, which does not spread to 60 feet either) is that accurate. This is the same type of laser technology that has been in use for land surveying for years. If they did spread as you say, I certainly wouldn't have trusted them when they built my house and marked all the foundation and property lines to precise specifications. And there is no "perfect shot", which I don't believe I said either. It is far more accurate, using the scope and dot sight, but is dependent on obstructions, distance, and stability ie// tripods.

"does not give you license to shoot the headlight of a vehicle barely visible between two trucks, as you state"
Never "stated" this either. I said the laser can pick a specific car out of a half dozen vehicles.

"Radar is unbeatable; radar detectors don't work, etc. Not true at all"
Didn't say this. I even qualified the fact that there is much more to radar than simply a reading, and listed training, calibration, and experience etc as examples. Detectors do work. That's why I said there is always the "one up" game to come up with the next technology.

"Police officers also typically use very poor radio discipline."
Not a quote of my statement, but an observation of your own. But I'd still like to add that this may be true in your jurisdiction, however radio traffic is minimal in our jurisdiction, as with most major departments thanks to the implimentation of in car computers. Also, most major metropolitan areas have converted to digital networks. So the local hammie won't find us on any scanner.

"anytime I do 65 in a 60, my adrenaline pumps up and I'm hunting every overpass, scouting every car for being a potential unmarked, and making paranoid drops back into the right lane at any sign of potential "Imperial entanglements.""
This is probably more of a danger than cruising at a "reasonable" speed. Taking your attention off the road to scout everywhere for the smokey and making constant paranoid lane changes will make you more prone to accidents from lack of attention and will simply infuriate other drivers and draw more attention to you, which is what you are trying to avoid. Although there are always some rogue cops, or those on power trips, most won't bother speeders who travel within a reasonable limit over. I know myself, if I was running a 50 zone, I'd only stop those 75 and over as there are many fish in the sea, and I didn't like the small ones.

"Sure, you're supposed to leave the radar off until after you've visually estimated a car's speed, then fire for 3-5 seconds to confirm your estimate with radar -- but that clearly isn't what happens."
You get good and bad in every bunch. Most do it this way, as there are always targets, but admittedly, I am sure that some just leave it on. Next time you see a cop running radar, watch him. If it's handheld and not dash mounted, you'll see him actually aim the unit at individual targets, which means he's triggering, but if the unit just sits there pointed down the road in his hand the whole time, he's most likely fishing. And there is no legally specified time limit here, or in the manufacturers instructions for obtaining a reading. A reading can be obtained in as little as a second and locked.

"speed doesn't actually kill"
Oh, I agree whole heartedly. I admit myself that I have a heavy foot. This is probably why I was also reserved when running radar, setting higher minimums then some, and would also reduce speeds for the respectful average joe. But speed, when combined with other factors, as you gave examples of (phones, eating etc) can kill. No different than, "guns don't kill people, people kill people." But that's a whole other thread.

Safe travels and keep the shiny side up...
Jim

I think everyone is putting too much thought into it. The science behind radar and lazer guns used by police is pretty solid. They are calibrated, tested, and certified on a regular basis to ensure the accuracy.

In the agency I work for, there are 2 different duties, crime cars and traffic cars. Crime cars are assigned criminal calls and attempt to do pro-active law enforcement such as observation arrests. Each officer can write tickets, but it is not their primary mission. In my experience, the more active the officers are in pro-active law enforcement, the lower the crime.

Traffic cars handle traffic collisions and usually assist crime cars in criminal offenses. Traffic enforcement is their primary duty. If you are pulled over by a traffic cop or motorcycle cop, you are almost assuradely getting a ticket. There is seldom a way to talk your way out of a ticket with these guys. In addition, there are set days that the traffic officer goes to court (something like a Tuesday and Thursday). He/she tesitifies in front of the same judge each and every time. If the officer is solid and knows his stuff, it is difficult to beat him at his own game in front of the judge who knows the cop's reputation. On the other hand, if the cop is a soup sandwich, it is not that difficult. It is just luck of the draw.

There is too much thought going into it. A couple of days ago, I saw a beautiful silver 993 speeding. I pulled him over to ask him to slow down and so I can check out his car! We talked Porsche stuff for about 15 minutes......

David

David

Sounds much like my attitude. Give respect, get respect...

Stay Safe.
Jim

"There is no unconcious color effect. "

Uh.... you simply cannot make this statement with out a study to show there is none (or none that is detectible in a comprehensive study). You can say "I feel sure I don't and that my fellow officers don't." But assumes that you can detect your own (and others) unconscious thoughts.....

I guarantee that if I prescribe a sugar pill for your headache, you will a bit better. Placebo effects are very powerful and ubiquitous.

Hi Randy

Okay, I'll submit, but I don't think anyone's gonna put any money, time or effort in on this one. Now what about those promotional VWs that had like the 5 or 6 different colors on them? Wouldn't that just throw a wrench into the whole study...

I think enough points have been raised by all, on varying sides that we could continue this debate forever. But from the cops on the board, the message is clear. At least on a "conscious" level. But I can tell you definitively that I've never issued, or not issued, a ticket to someone giving any thought to the color of the car as a basis. I would hope that as a reasonably intelligent society, we were beyond that, even on a "subconscious" level. I just can't see it.

Now if it were the last car Pcar at the dealership in that color, and he got it before me, then I might just make a conscious decision...

:D

Johnny Walker...

In response to your question about surface angles and radar. Surface angles and shapes do have a bearing on the refraction and reflection of radar. However in the case of the stealth like the B-2, it is also a combination of radar absorbing composite materials and paint that assist in the stealth aspect.

Now you're wondering where to get that paint...
If only we knew. We'd be millionaires.

Jim

copper - I believe all of you who posted that car color was not an issue.

As to a study -- you'd be surprised at what people will do when in graduate school.... or even out. e.g. I just got a printout of the year and model for evey Porsche registered in my county. If it was in computer readable form, I'd work up some statistics on it. Worth 15 minutes.

Randy, just to throw another wrench in the equation consider night time. It is far more difficult to see a color when it is dark outside. In addition, lighting conditions during night time would also be a factor. In the agencies in SoCal, motorcycle cops (most are strickly traffic enforcement) only work during daylight hours.

Just some more factors to think about...

Great discussion, David

Randy

I'd be interested in hearing some of the facts since you have the document, like the most common color. Although this wouldn't tell us about tickets/traffic stops, it would give us an idea of the popularity of different colors.

I myself prefer the "unique" colors, those you don't see on every second car. Like my Blood Orange.

In my opinion, there are too many black, white and red cars around. Seems to be all they're making...

Then you get the ricers with some bizarre paints. But that's another story.

Jim

What are you driving Randy? You've got no tagline/signature.

Jim

My emerald green targa with stainless roll bar and trim has cops staring all the time. Its not even that "bright" just something you never see as far as color goes. Luckily I almost never speed and never drive aggressively.

Threw this out to buddy who is a State Trooper (18 years of interstate). He says color of car really does not matter to him. Over 80 mph, driving style and conditions at that time are taken into consideration.

He is the master at finding drugs. If he dosen't find them the dog will. 2lbs of weed and an ounce of blow last week.

Like I say "don't break the law when your breaking the law"

These days all the car makers are putting out bright colors anyway.

I have a theory about color but not enough money to try it out...

A sedan is best b/c the shape doesn't really announce itself. It doesn't stand out of a group of cars like a 911 shape or a TT, vette etc.
Obviously if you're weaving and darting in every direction then you'll still attract attention.

Back to the color, I like to call it "old people color." It's a mix of metallic gold/champagne/beige... the kind that old people in Florida have on their Buicks and Olds. For me at least, it's the kind of color that simply *disappears* on the road. I know I don't even notice it. My eye doesn't slow down and stop on the car, especially w/ it's uninteresting shape.

So, for fun and quick commute, I'd like an M3 (for this purpose it can't be an E30) that looks like a 3 series, or a supercharged 330 (mmmm), or a 5 series, in gold/champagne paint, lowered w/ a sport suspension and stock wheels w/ sticky tires. I favor the 3 series over the 5 and over the audis b/c it's smaller and there's just so damn many of them. It's common and therefore does not stand out.

I had a cop tell me in front of my house that mine sticks out like a sore thumb and would be watching me (1966 brite Yellow 911)

my friend's car is like a respected thumb. He kinda drives with no patience so it's a good match to his car.. + his age and dress looks the official role.

He drives a black Ford 4-door sedan with the obvious police package, looks like a vhf/uhf antenna placed in the pro spot of the car, PD package tires & wheels, smoked windows, and his personalized lic plate was ordered somewhat similar to the NYC Feds. The PD almost pull over to let him pass.

LOL that's awesome. I'd love to cruise around in a crown vic or a marauder that looks like that.

I prefer to drive my P-car to my police car. The police car feels boxy and bulky-although it changes personality with the lights and siren.

Last Saturday, our police station got shot up! We called helicopters, additional stations, and were on top of the roof with AR-15's. Luckily, nobody was hit.

Who wants to trade jobs? Ha ha ha

David

If he dosen't find them the dog will.

-- This is up for decision by a Court right now - the Supremes I think. There are questions about whether it violates the Constitution. We'll see.

The Ford idea is a good one, but would only work for us 911 types in Germany...

I could probably get you an observer July 4th roof assignment in Harlem.

You won't be bored.http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/2ar15.gif

Not to debunk the 'color doesn' t matter' thread, but here's the story. I have a friend who used to drive from Seattle to Portland every weekend in 2.25 to 2.50 hrs where driving 5 MPH over the limit will do it in 3.0. She was driving a first generation, beige Camry. She was not a lane changer or tailgater. She just got in the left lane and kept it at 90 MPH. I rode with her a couple of times and we flew by the State Police sitting on the side of the interstate like we had a cloaking device. Since her boy friend was in Portland, she made this trip for 3 years without a ticket. Simply amazing. When she finally sold her car (not to me unfortunately) she bought a bright red Jeep Cherokee. You guessed it, on her first trip down with the new Jeep - bamo! Cited for doing 85 in a 60. Maybe her luck just ran out, but the timing is a little too much of a coinky dink.

That's exactly what I'm talkin' about. Yeah, I bet beige will work :D

Right beside a local hiway there used to be an old building that was used for traffic court on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On those days there was ALWAYS a bunch of red cars in the parking lot.

My car is irish green and previously it was forrest green. Both colors are fairly dark. I drive with gusto and haven't got a ticket in the p-car yet. That's over 9 years. I always thought it was because I just blended in.

Heard a rumour over here traffic police tend to play a game along the lines of snooker when on duty - i.e. along the same scoring lines - one point for a red up to seven points for a black. At the end of the shift, totals are compaired.
If there is any truth in this - if you own a red or black car - thats bad news!!!
Yellow, green, brown, blue and pink - fairly safe.
Don't know how much truth there is in this but heard it many times.

So whatareya tellin' me? This wasn't a good choice for a sleeper?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1097023606.jpg

LOL, well, rarly, between the meets wrapped around the rear wheels, and that wing.... you might have a losing battle on your hands.

Rarly,

how about this one?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1097044053.jpg

Jim