Amusing DPS encounter in Hickory Creek (Denton County)

[sjfcontrol]

A lot of people who get pulled over when asked if their radar detector went off say no. I use to just use what we called the trigger on the radar so I didn't have to leave it running just for that reason. When I observed a car speeding I could just hit that button on the top of the remote and it locked in their speed. If someone had a detector it would come across as a half a second beep.

Just to add a little humor what I sometime found amusing was sitting at a light behind someone with a radar detector in view of me. You can hit the same button I mentioned above and make their radar ping over and over again. If you're really good you can tone out different songs like shave and a haircut, etc. Drives them crazy and they usually turn it off.

The musical "ping" definitely made me smile. I wish that had been available when I was in uniform......

Of course, we had our own repertoire of options, some of which would most likely be frowned on today but were OK back then.

Pray -- Do Tell!!

[davidtx]

[
BTW , I don't use a radar detector to break the law. I use it to keep me from breaking the law.

Ummm, how does a radar detector prevent you from breaking the law? (Outside of the area immediately surrounding the LEO, anyway.)

I have a radar detector in one of my cars. I really don't use it to speed - DPS typically uses instant-on radar, so its pretty useless for that. APD likes to use laser, detection is pretty useless here too. It DOES keep me more alert though. It occasionally helps me notice a speed limit change with an LEO sitting nearby.

What I really, really want is something to tell me what the speed limit is at the moment and warns me if I'm over. 70 daytime, 65 night, 65 trucks, speed limit changes that are obscure and obviously there for revenue enhancement. School zones with side street entrances in the middle....

[sjfcontrol]

What I really, really want is something to tell me what the speed limit is at the moment and warns me if I'm over. 70 daytime, 65 night, 65 trucks, speed limit changes that are obscure and obviously there for revenue enhancement. School zones with side street entrances in the middle....

Hmm, sounds like an interesting GPS/mapping application. Though be careful what you wish for. Once the computer knows both your speed, and the applicable speed limit, it could be made to tattle on you!

[GOP]

I use a radar detector to speed, and get a way for it! i commute about 25 miles one way to work, so any way to shave a few minutes off is ok with me.

The DPS and sheriff deputies here usually keep there guns on all the time. So when that detector goes off I have plenty of time to slow down.

[srothstein]

What I really, really want is something to tell me what the speed limit is at the moment and warns me if I'm over. 70 daytime, 65 night, 65 trucks, speed limit changes that are obscure and obviously there for revenue enhancement. School zones with side street entrances in the middle....

Hmm, sounds like an interesting GPS/mapping application. Though be careful what you wish for. Once the computer knows both your speed, and the applicable speed limit, it could be made to tattle on you!

It could also be used as a governor on the motor without your desire.

[Bob Landry]

I was driving below the speed limit on the way home from work - about 55-60 in a 65. There was a grass fire off in the distance on the side of the road. The truck I was behind was the reason I was driving below the speed limit - he was interested in the fire, I was interested in getting home after a long commute. As soon as I had a clearing in the left lane, I moved over and accelerated around the truck. Behind me, up came racing a full-size white Chevy pickup. I wasn't seriously speeding at this point - maybe 2-3mph over the speed limit (normal traffic flow reaches 75-80mph on this stretch of highway). When I saw the truck come racing up on me, I stepped on it, then moved over into the right lane. At this point, the truck is tailgating me, so I sped up some more... By this point, we're both WELL over the posted speed limit (I honestly don't know fast we were going, I was just paying attention to the road and trying to figure out why this guy was riding my bumper). I pulled into the turning lane on the shoulder to prepare to pick up a movie for my wife, and the truck stayed right on my tail - he was so close, I couldn't safely slow down to enter the parking lot - I overshot the parking lot entrance a few feet (remember, he was riding my bumper), and (stupid, I know) I flipped the guy off. He responded by flashing his badge out his window. I pulled into the parking lot at the next opportunity, he got out and gave me heck for speeding, but never asked to see my license or insurance - he told me to put it away.

I was pretty ticked about the whole ordeal, but kept my cool. Personally, I felt like this guy acted WAY inappropriately in an off-duty, personal vehicle. I know I shouldn't have let the guy push my buttons, but (as a police officer) he should have never been pushing the buttons in the first place. I would have never sped up that much if he hadn't come racing up on my tail. I keep wondering if maybe he felt partly responsible for escalating the situation, but probably not.

I still have a great amount of respect for LEO, but guys like this don't do much for public opinion.

On my tail or not, I would have slowed down and made my turn. Some cop rear-ends me, his problem, not mine.. See ya in court, buddy.. Owwwww, my neck....

[boomerang]

What I really, really want is something to tell me what the speed limit is at the moment and warns me if I'm over. 70 daytime, 65 night, 65 trucks, speed limit changes that are obscure and obviously there for revenue enhancement. School zones with side street entrances in the middle....

My Tom-Tom does that. It displays my speed and the speed limit. The speed limit data is not 100% accurate but it's a start.

[Excaliber]

A lot of people who get pulled over when asked if their radar detector went off say no. I use to just use what we called the trigger on the radar so I didn't have to leave it running just for that reason. When I observed a car speeding I could just hit that button on the top of the remote and it locked in their speed. If someone had a detector it would come across as a half a second beep.

Just to add a little humor what I sometime found amusing was sitting at a light behind someone with a radar detector in view of me. You can hit the same button I mentioned above and make their radar ping over and over again. If you're really good you can tone out different songs like shave and a haircut, etc. Drives them crazy and they usually turn it off.

The musical "ping" definitely made me smile. I wish that had been available when I was in uniform......

Of course, we had our own repertoire of options, some of which would most likely be frowned on today but were OK back then.

Pray -- Do Tell!!

Sorry - details are reserved for other LEO's when sharing memories in person over a suitable beverage.

[chabouk]

I use a radar detector to speed, and get a way for it! i commute about 25 miles one way to work, so any way to shave a few minutes off is ok with me.

What's the speed limit along your route? How much time can you actually save?

25 miles @ 50 mph = 30 minutes
25 miles @ 60 mph = 25 minutes

And that's average speed, including starting and stopping and traffic lights.

Now, I think most speed limits are arbitrary and stupid and rigorously enforced just because violations are easy to prove, not because there was any actual unsafe speed involved. I'm a procrastinator and leave for work at the last possible moment, so I have plenty of incentive to hustle. But, I've timed my 6.5 mile route (two blocks 30 mph, half mile 45 mph, two miles 50 mph, 3 miles 55 mph, the last stretch 35 mph). Stop lights, school buses, and traffic conditions make a far bigger difference in my commute. I can drive 10 over, or 5 under, and still arrive at work within the same 3 minute window.

[chabouk]

I use to just use what we called the trigger on the radar so I didn't have to leave it running just for that reason.

I think you mis-spelled "I used the trigger because continuous mode is an unconstitutional search of the driver, and I only searched drivers with radar after establishing probable cause via my trained and accurate estimation of the driver's speed."

I'm sure that's what you meant. Right?

[sjfcontrol]

What I really, really want is something to tell me what the speed limit is at the moment and warns me if I'm over. 70 daytime, 65 night, 65 trucks, speed limit changes that are obscure and obviously there for revenue enhancement. School zones with side street entrances in the middle....

Hmm, sounds like an interesting GPS/mapping application. Though be careful what you wish for. Once the computer knows both your speed, and the applicable speed limit, it could be made to tattle on you!

It could also be used as a governor on the motor without your desire.

Naww -- There's no revenue involved in that...

[92f-fan]

I use to just use what we called the trigger on the radar so I didn't have to leave it running just for that reason.

I think you mis-spelled "I used the trigger because continuous mode is an unconstitutional search of the driver, and I only searched drivers with radar after establishing probable cause via my trained and accurate estimation of the driver's speed."

I'm sure that's what you meant. Right?

HUH ?

[KD5NRH]

A lot of people who get pulled over when asked if their radar detector went off say no. I use to just use what we called the trigger on the radar so I didn't have to leave it running just for that reason.

Uhh...someone I used to know...yeah, that's it...well, anyway, this guy used to use it to figure out when they'd left their radars on while they were at the local grease-and-gravy joint. He would then take advantage of the nice open road in front of the place to see how high of a speed he could get locked in on their radars before they finished their 2-hour lunch break.

[Fangs]

Now that's funny.

[E.Marquez]

I find it interesting that several Law Enforcement Officers have commented that they participated, ….no make that enjoyed harassing a citizen who was using a lawfully purchased and possessed device?
That’s funny??
So this is CHL centric forum.. What of the LEO’s out there that think it’s funny,, appropriate to harass, arrest, detain, disarm a TX citizen who has a lawfully purchased and carried handgun?

Why is it “funny” to harass a law abiding citizen for having a legal car accessory, but this same group would burn down this forum if it was posted that a LEO was having “fun” with a citizen in reference to his concealed handgun.

To the OP.. I apologize for hijacking your thread.

A lot of people who get pulled over when asked if their radar detector went off say no. I use to just use what we called the trigger on the radar so I didn't have to leave it running just for that reason. When I observed a car speeding I could just hit that button on the top of the remote and it locked in their speed. If someone had a detector it would come across as a half a second beep.

Just to add a little humor what I sometime found amusing was sitting at a light behind someone with a radar detector in view of me. You can hit the same button I mentioned above and make their radar ping over and over again. If you're really good you can tone out different songs like shave and a haircut, etc. Drives them crazy and they usually turn it off.

The musical "ping" definitely made me smile. I wish that had been available when I was in uniform......

Of course, we had our own repertoire of options, some of which would most likely be frowned on today but were OK back then.