user 72902

Correct answer. Answering "yes" gives the officer probable cause to conduct a field sobriety test.

Edgy01

Situation awareness and familiarity with the roadways and your local police enforcement areas is the most important knowledge for you to survive with a 911. Detectors are fine for SA but you have to do your due-diligence. Unless you absolutely know the roadway and that there won't be someone out there with their trigger finger on the radar transmitter, let someone else take the lead.

I absolutely always stay in the right hand lane unless I'm actively passing anther vehicle. I think it makes you look slower. If you're out in the higher speed lane by default you are the speeder. There are plenty of other drivers in lesser cars who love to challenge the speed limit. Let them. Let them clear a path for you. One reason I got a cabriolet this time was because you just don't look like you're going that fast compared to a coupe. They figure you're retired, out for a nice calm, slow drive, and they leave you alone.

Regarding the drinking and driving, the best policy is not to drink. Then you can give the honest answer of, "no, I have not been drinking." The combination of these cars and alcohol make for a very bad situation. More Porsches have been wrecked by guys drinking and then driving.

USMC_DS1

We have 3 Escorts(9500i, 9500ix, and Redline). Redline has served me well. Picks up well ahead of the LEO gun. Agree, however, that a deligent LEO will get you if he works the RADAR/Laser gun right. I had one pick my car out of the middle of a group of cars. He just perfered pulling over my m3 at the time and didn't mind telling me so... not always safe to speed in a group of cars. BTW, the "California stop" fine is even worst than a speeding ticket... in California. Paid $480 last month - was caught by a camera in a Hertz rental car.

SToronto

Impaired driving is just plain wrong. So many consequences, assuming you don't care about people's lives the others are also quite severe. Check out the latest case here in Toronto, Range Rover split in half around a pole, drivers friend died. Impaired driver and excessive speed.

Vancouver-BC

That area is particularly nasty especially if you're travelling east on Marine and hit the area by the reservation and golf course where the speed limit drops from 80 to 50 km/h. I live out there and have seen them set shop up there regularly.

Kennirvine you nailed it, Vancouver is probably the worst city in NA for poor drivers. The only advantage is everyone is moving so slow you can't get into too much trouble.

Vancouver-BC

Absolutely. One advantage of being in the West.

sandwedge

And answering "no" while not being truthful may result in the same probable cause. Last ticket I got was for speeding three years ago late one Saturday night. Not a drop consumed but that officer was right in my face through the rolled down window. Any amount consumed beyond a drink or two will probably register on the scent test and you'll be asked to exit the car just the same.

MICHAELWWW

Did stupid human tricks in Kettering Ohio after accelerating too fast in the left hand turn at a stoplight. Failed the pen test even though I was sober as a Mormon. Did alphabets and numbers twice with the proficiency of a fiftht grader. Then had to stand on one foot and count to 30 by 1000's before I was allowed to leave. I have not Been able to duplicate this task!

Sharkys

The last time I researched 'speed traps' was a long time ago in California. And at the time, speed traps were illegal. Of course there was (and perhaps still is) a strict definition of what constitutes a speed trap. That said, you should not be convicted by hearsay and in cases where the the 'clocking' is done by another officer (by car, foot, air) and you are written the citation by another officer, you may succeed in having the ticket dismissed. In some cases, only one of the officers will show up in court and so how can you properly defend yourself when you are unable to 'poke holes' in the non present officer testimony? The judge will either move the case to a time when both or all officers are present or dismiss upon your request on grounds of hearsay. You are taking a chance here, because you may not be able to elect traffic school this far down the road - if you are found guilty. Can someone in the legal profession confirm?

Dudley

I depend on the V1 and it has served me pretty well - except for "instant on" radar. I drive in a winter indoor karting league. After a couple hours of racing, the "Red Mist" comes over me and I could easily hit 90 in a 50 on the ride home. Now I set the cruise control as soon as I leave the parking lot.

gonz911

All of this is true, but with radar they don't just pick up the guy in the "lead" as they can (and do) track multiples.

Jake951

The only time I ever got bagged was by laser. There was absolutely no time to react when the V1 went off. Laser is line of sight. When the detector goes off, it means you have been hit and it's time to pull over and get ready to hand over your registration and license. The only real defense against laser is a laser jammer. It's legal in most states.

In MA, where I live, laser is widely in use on the Mass. Turnpike and in some local communities.

MikeJim

It was interesting for me that after a few years of HPDE track days, driving my car on the interstate actually felt dangerous and I slowed down. I now set the cruise control at 75 (or even 70) in a 70 mph zone and just enjoy the ride.

Inevitably some bonehead in a Mustang or Corvette or BMW can't help himself and has to dick around with me. Even worse are Japanese speedsters with young drivers. Mini-vans driven by aggressive moms, talking on the phone. Entitled road hogs with "Disabled" parking stickers. Economical Pruis's going 60 in the left lane (with the left turn signal on). Inattentive Republicans in Cadillacs weaving. On the interstate, I feel like a target. On the track, I feel free....and safe.

Zeus993

The take-home message would be then to go to the track to go fast, spend the money on that instead of a radar detector, and keep the tickets down. I like it.

MikeJim

Uh, yeah. Except you can buy two radar detectors for the cost of a track weekend.
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