This was received by the NMA office but I don't know precisely what day it was aired. If you were busted by a bear using one of these guns, you may want to investigate the situation a bit further.


" BBC program "Inside Out" tonight will air results of tests of
one of the most popular laser speed detection guns used by police
forces in the US and UK. In the program, a pair of American
specification LTI 20-20 guns, manufactured by Laser Technology
Inc. of Colorado, point at the same moving vehicle but record
substantially different speeds.
The source of the error is well-known. When the aiming point of
the laser gun, which is designed to be hand-held, moves or "slips"
across the target vehicle, an extra distance is either added to or
subtracted from the speed calculation. A tiny movement can add up
to a substantial difference. Engineering Professor John Brignell
describes the amount of motion needed to cause a slip error at a
distance of 500 meters: "Very roughly, without doing any
calculations, we are talking about the camera moving about the
thickness of a human hair."


The hosts of the BBC program were able to clock a stationary car
at 6 MPH. In tests of a moving vehicle, the laser gun produced
erroneous readings almost a third of the time, displaying speeds
that were off by as much as 26 MPH.


The devices can be upgraded and used as mobile speed cameras,
particularly in the UK where an estimated five million drivers
have been convicted based on laser speed readings over the past
five years.


"I am 100 percent certain that these devices are not suitable for
gathering legal evidence of vehicle speeds," said Paul Smith,
founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign. "They make
mistakes and the BBC film proves it. Millions of drivers will be
entitled to refunds, licence points removed and in some cases a
large amount of compensation."


I am trying to do a Google search to locate this tape on the BBC. If I am successful, I will post the link. An NMA activist friend is considering how to legally document this information to present as a defense. I am as interested as anyone, and will stay on top of it. We will be back, to quote Ahnald.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/sout...d-cameras.shtml

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/02/224.asp

http://www.theagitator.com/archives/019495.php

And if you get busted, check here: http://primarylaw.com/primarylaw/fo...ckets/speeding/

See you later.


Happy motoring.

 

How interesting...my son was done by a laser in the uk last spring...wonder if he can go back and appeal in the light of this....he was driving a Golf Turbo and thinks it was the car that attracted the interest rather than his speed....he was doing 90 on the M6 (same as interstate in US) where the speed limit is 70.....so if the system can be up to 26mph out he would be safe ( he actually says he was nearer 100). He has now bought a Road Angel (we dont get these in the US) which is fantastic.

 

v interesting info!

what is a road angel?

 

I was hit by a laser signal once, according to my V1. I hit the brakes hard as soon as it flashed and the trooper just stared me down as I went by. I was going 90 to 95 when it happened. I never did know why he let me go. Perhaps my slowing so quickly gave him an erroneous reading?

 

I don't want to spend time here on this, but getting on the brakes immediately with a laser or radar hit is the CORRECT thing to do. Think about it. Play it out in your mind. Think of why your car has a speedometer.

 

http://www.road-angel-gps.co.uk/

MBORKOW..........The road angel is a wonderful gps device that tells you about black spots, known staionary speed cameras (GATSO's) and will detect laser, radar etc.....have a look at the website

 

Huh???

 

The German magazine Auto-motor-und-sport ran an article on that (they actually tested a few different situations on the road as well) and found that it is quite possible that the reading is inaccurate unless the vehicle measured is the only one approaching. If there is either another car behind or next to it the laser is prone to flip-flop between the two vehicles.

 

I think the system is built for a stable return for 2-3 secs. If your speed is decreasing rapidly, then the laser sys cannot generate an "overspeed" alert. Perhaps why you got away with it... though the fuzz saw your initial 90 mph speed hence the frown!!

 

Or, you have a laser jammer as I do. Mine gives them a "no reading" or "error" report....which will get you a good "look" as you go by smiling!

 

What the bear probably saw was a steadily and drastically declining rate of speed, if laser is like radar. His evidence vaporized before his eyes and a frown came over his face. No evidence, no bust. Never forget to ask for the reading on the gun.

 

Yep, I can vouch for that. I've an Escort Laser "Diffuser" or Jammer as I call it. Been tagged 5 times (once doing 95), never a ticket...just a nasty look!

 

hmm, so those laser jammers actually work? I got nailed coasting down a big hill in CT in july, 86 in a 65 via laser, V1 went screaming but by the time I nailed the brakes it was too late. The officer made a big deal of giving me a "break" and knocking down the speed on the ticket so it wasn't an arrestable offense. Once I opened the envelope he knocked the speed down from 86 to 85...thanks a lot buddy! $284 later....

 

I wonder if we could get a group buy on a laser jammer......we would firstly all have to agree on what the best one was.....also we could then maybe do a group hard install at various venues????

 

http://www.jamradar.com/

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Accessories/laserradar.htm

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=8502