Steve 96C4S

To answer your question: The reason one might buy photoblocker (I'm just considering their $25 bottle of spray, not their other products) is because sometimes you have to make a last second decision on a yellow light as to whether to stop or go, and sometimes (yes - even you, I'm sure) just say f*** it and blow through the yellow as you're rushing to get somewhere.

It's at that exact awful moment in time that the red camera light flashes, takes your license plate, and a week later you wake up to a $75 ticket in the mail. It hasn't happened to me yet, as I TRY not to ever do this, but I'm sure one day when I'm rushing home from work or off to an appt I'll get nabbed by the camera.

I AM considering spending the $25 guys! I just hate throwing good money out the window if others have tried it already and it doesn't really work like their website says it does. As far as getting a cheaper product from their competitor: you've probably already seen this-

They say:
Proven to WORK.
Independently tested by Denver Police Department and Fox investigative News
Featured on FOX News, NBC News, CBS News, Washington Time, Daily Mail UK, Swedish and Norwegian Newspapers.
Price: $29.99 for a large 6oz. Can .
One application is GOOD FOR LIFE.
One can protects up to FOUR plates.
Will NOT wash off or yellow.
Produces a strong reflection of photo radar flash, helping to prevent a costly ticket!
Features a FAST spray-on formula.
Appears INVISIBLE to the naked eye; only you will know it is on your vehicle!
Offers the BEST alternative for those areas where you are unable to use an anti-radar license plate cover.
Includes a 30-DAY money back guarantee.

VS the competitor:

NOT tested independently.
Rain will wash it off.
Must be applied regularly.
NOT permanent.
Price $29.99 - $49.99 for 2oz.
One bottle is enough ONLY for a maximum of 3 months.
Produces a reflection that is not as powerful as Photoblocker .
Non-refundable.

Tempted,
Steve

Jim Morton

Bob:

These are in Fremont on a couple of the long-ish cross roads between Mission and I880. Mine was at Mowry. There are over 15 signals in a around 2 miles. They are timed such that you stop every block without any timed through speed. Speed limit is 35, yet the signals force you to stop and wait even if you drive much slower than 35. The N/S traffic seems to be given priority over the E/W. Next time, I will go down to Auto Mall Pkwy and traverse back to Newark...

Ray/Glen:

What inane suggestions. You were not there! If you knew me instead of simply assuming, you would know that you are way off base. Please take your opinions somewhere else...

Regards

Mark in Baltimore

I drive over the speed limit on a regular basis; if the posted limit is 65 mph, I sure as hell don't keep my speed at or below that, nor do 85-90% of the other drivers out there. I make no apologies for it nor have I been involved in an accident in over fifteen years. Exceeding the speed limit does not necessarily make one a poor driver; I've been with plenty of people who stayed near the posted limit but scared the crap out of me through inattention, lack of depth perception, poor vehicular inputs, etc. I would much rather be a passenger with someone who drives briskly than someone who follows the letter of the speed laws but pinballs their way down the road.

I also would be very surprised to learn that Steve does a yellow light punch on a regular basis.

Glen

Jim, perhaps I don't know You but obviously I know many of Your friends and acquaintances in Your area. I've heard nothing but positives about You, not that You would care what I think of course. At some point when I run LS or Sears again I hope to meet You in person. As far as taking my opinion elsewhere, why should I? I certainly feel my post is as valid as any of the others on this thread.

GabiOsz

Draconian laws give no room for argument, I have had to drive my ex-girl friend to hospital in an emergeny on several occasions, (She sufferes from severe food allergies). Being stopped by a police car would usually result in them escorting you to hospital, where as you would have to work very hard to get out of a ticket given by a camera, otherwise you would have to stomach an £80 fine and 3 points on your licence. It's an extreme example, granted, but how many times have you drifted 5 mph over the limit? I am not the sort of person that flies through red lights or anything like that, but divisive money making schemes imposed upon us all, i take issue with. Just my opinion.

Jim Morton

Glen:

I am done... Hopefully, we can meet someday and I would happily debate traffic traps vs. street idiots over a nice cold one. Oh yeah, I gave those up last week. We'll you can have the cold one and I'll have a diet soda.

See you around!

Glen

Does anyone think that 110mph is reasonable on public roads where posted limits are 70-75?? Did I say 110 or speeding a bit, 5-15mph? I said 110mph, simply because it is an extreme example posted here sometime back. I am quite aware that all of us(that includes me) have run over the limits many times.

Glen

Jim, agreed. I will be glad to allow You the win in advance on the unreasonable speed trap, weasel traps debate. On second thought perhaps we should have it in a neutral environ, say..."Crustacean, Il Fornai, La Travina,or Sam's"?

993RS

Over in Italy, Italians have been using a clear woman's hairspray on their license plates, with apparently, quite some success. Never tried it myself... They also hang a CD from their rear window (this also flashes the light of the camera back, they say...)

Mark in Baltimore

Hmmmm. The CD would have to be at a perfect angle for the lens to flare out; this technique will not be effective, IMHO.

Dudley

A couple years ago, my navigator and I rented a car and spent a week driving around England. Every once and a while we would see signs bearing the image of a camera along the side of the rode. Being dutiful American Tourists, we pulled over at every camera sign and took a picture of what we thought must be a "scenic View". Sometimes, after looking around, we could not understand why the "scenic view" sign was placed when there seemed to be nothing worth photographing. Toward the end of our trip, we realized that the signs actually marked the locations of speed/stop light
cameras. Yikes!

993RS

Over here they sell regional maps showing where all the fixed radar traps are located. They also have, either a phone service, or a beeper, which provide actual information on where mobile radar traps have been recently sighted (by motorists). It is all perfectly legal. The latter is no guarantee, but improves the odds.

993RS

But, of course, when the "need for sped" urge gets too big, I just go up to Germany.....

Ray Calvo

Sorry, but you want to "charge", find a lightly used back road. In heavy populated areas with lots of lights and traffic, drive the rules. And if you decide to "just say f*** it and blow through the yellow as you're rushing to get somewhere", if you get nailed then you deserve the ticket.

I have been getting totally disgusted with the increasing numbers of idiots I have seen run red lights. So, if more get nailed, then good.

And what do you expect a company's website to say - "boy, this stuff really stinks"?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Great thread,...

OK,...Being the person to try anything once, I stepped up and bought some of these sprays a few years ago after getting hammered by a photo radar van while "speeding" in my M-B 300D. Its very tough to speed in a 3400 lb car with 36 RWHP. (yup, 72 at the crank 300K miles ago).

I read all the testimonials and even watched a TV new reporter do a story on this stuff.

So,.....I carefully coated the plate precisely as the instructions specified and then proceeded to test this at home before I placed my license at risk. I used a Nikon F3 with SB-20 flash loaded with Kodak 400 and took a series of photographs (framed as my photo radar pic looked) at several angles ranging from 40 degrees off axis to straight on.

LOL,.......Nice pics. I could read everything quite clearly including my license plate number, registration month and year,...

Just my 2 cents worth, but I'll certainly not risk my license and insurability with such snake oil,...IMHO, of course. Fool me once, shame on you,...fool me twice, shame on me,.....