NZ Proposing to ban radar detectors too!

[jimbo01 0]

Aparently this is also going to save lives.

In my expereince (Valintine 1 & Escort 8500) the way the cops operate their radar means the moment you detect it, they have you. All you can hope for is they have got someone else.

What I find mine useful is:

• detecting when a cop is about, and be prepared for the non speeding cars to suddenly slow when they see the cop. As it also has GPS and provides a speed read out it's also useful to keep to the speed limit, especially in cars like the 740 which has a speedo which reads 100kph, but is actually doing just on 91kph.
• Detecting cops hiding at the end of a passing lane.
• Detecting mufti cops operation in a provocative way, i.e. driving unesseisalry slow but speeding up where there is any oportunity to pass (grrrr) - example mufti SV6 cop crusing at 85-90kph just north of Tokoroa Nov 07, and building up a big tail. When a passing lane appears he's doing about 105kph!

In my experience prior to my Valentine 1 being stolen I was able to drive at a comfortable speed, without having to be on the lookout for cops; as a result I was able to enjoy driving a lot more, and I was more alert.

So waht are your views on radar detector?"

[Nobimmer 694]

I've always had one and never had a speeding ticket. I think they work well and to ban them would be a waste of time.

Seriously how are they going to know.

[Jeddy 0]

Aparently this is also going to save lives.

In my expereince (Valintine 1 & Escort 8500) the way the cops operate their radar means the moment you detect it, they have you. All you can hope for is they have got someone else.

So waht are your views on radar detector?"

I'm not sure if thats true.

I think they have to be reasonably close in order to get a read (about 100m or less) and be able to visibly see your car. It also takes time for them to get a read(their radar has to work out the speed the cop is going and check your speed,

Often i find myself detecting cops 400+ m away (sometimes not even it sight) and having ample time to slow down.

There will be ways around this, such as dash mounted ones which aren't visible with the alert hidden away.

I'll try and find a link with more detail

[bradc 0]

it is only a matter of time before they ban them

[joel 0]

If cops can have radars, we should be able to too

Edited January 10, 2008 by GIJoel

[Guest Simon*]

If cops can have radars, we should be able to too

Yeah and if they have guns and tasers, we should have those too!

[jpp 0]

Yeah and if they have guns and tasers, we should have those too!

And be able to tap any ass we want, turn some flashy lights on and run reds

[Guest Simon*]

And be able to tap any ass we want, turn some flashy lights on and run reds

Yeah and the biggest perk of being a cop is half price Junkfood if you're in uniform

McD's, KFC, .....

I really want forward firing machine guns for slow time wasters

[Braeden320 0]

I've got a Beltronics XR950, was the top of the line when I brought it and its great, gets very good range on statehighways where you need it most.

Bottom line is though if i'm driving a car without one I don't tend to speed as I can't afford to not have a licence for work.

Was heading up to taumranui last week and saw a plain clothes Honda Accord Euro Copcar, trying to catch people round the back of the mountain.

Im going to worry about them banning radar when it actually happens.

[Guest Simon*]

I've got a Beltronics XR950, was the top of the line when I brought it and its great, gets very good range on statehighways where you need it most.

Bottom line is though if i'm driving a car without one I don't tend to speed as I can't afford to not have a licence for work.

Was heading up to taumranui last week and saw a plain clothes Honda Accord Euro Copcar, trying to catch people round the back of the mountain.

Im going to worry about them banning radar when it actually happens.

True. Like you I'll believe it when I see it.

There's an Accord Euro cop here too that does the Napier-Taupo road and a new Orange SV6 with rego "DYK..." as well.

I have a Bell like yours and I rate it.

How's Palmy today?

E: You P.North guys should pop over sometime for one of our drives - you'll love the change of scenery

Edited January 10, 2008 by Simon*

[Braeden320 0]

True. Like you I'll believe it when I see it.

There's an Accord Euro cop here too that does the Napier-Taupo road and a new Orange SV6 with rego "DYK..." as well.

I have a Bell like yours and I rate it.

How's Palmy today?

E: You P.North guys should pop over sometime for one of our drives - you'll love the change of scenery

To be fair im looking forward to leaving it and heading to Rotorua in a few hours!

Would def be kean to pop over for a drive sometime, I think theres at least 2-3 active members here.

Edited January 10, 2008 by braeden.

[cainchapman 0]

Never had one and the speeding tickets I have had wouldn't have been worth buying one to avoid.

My personal opinion is that they are of limited value and that by being observant, you can spot the cops.

Granted with them getting proper mufti cars (like the Honda and there are a couple of different models up here), they are a little harder to recognise.

I like the thought of being able to carry a taser though. Does that also mean that I need to lunch on doughnuts to have this privilege?

[Guest Simon*]

I like the thought of being able to carry a taser though. Does that also mean that I need to lunch on doughnuts to have this privilege?

Well if you wanted to, I'm sure they could get you them half price too!

[Grant 4]

Hmmmmm....donuts!!!

[joel 0]

With radars people tend to go, say average 20ks over the limit so 120 ks

My theory is that traveling at 120ks is safer than 100.

Driving along at 100ks in traffic I am board sh*tless, mind wandering, looking out the windows ect

120, alert, constantly scanning the horizon and every car including ones on the side of the road, also people on the side of the road making sure there are no cop cars or no ones pointing a laser at me. There for picking up all the hazards and being very conscious of everything that’s happening on the road.

I know you guys are going to say you should do this at a hundy, but the concentration just seems to go out the window.

Using the radar for peace of mind.

If they do ban them people will just hide then, like the illegal scramblers in the grills etc

If you are speeding excessively no radar will stop you getting a ticket, but it my help the fine be a little cheaper or be enough to save your license.

So theres no point banning them

Ha hope that’s not off on too much of a tangent

Hers a site that shows how to conceal a v1 http://www.540i6.com/v1.html

Edited January 10, 2008 by GIJoel

[martyyn 2]

In my experience prior to my Valentine 1 being stolen I was able to drive at a comfortable speed, without having to be on the lookout for cops; as a result I was able to enjoy driving a lot more, and I was more alert.

So waht are your views on radar detector?"

If your under the speed limit in the first place why are you on the lookout for the police ?

So far all the 'reasons' people have listed on BS to justify radars are just the same old excuses for people who want to speed and get away with it.

[martyyn 2]

My theory is that traveling at 120ks is safer than 100.

Driving along at 100ks in traffic I am board sh*tless, mind wandering, looking out the windows ect

120, alert, constantly scanning the horizon and every car including ones on the side of the road, also people on the side of the road making sure there are no cop cars or no ones pointing a laser at me. There for picking up all the hazards and being very conscious of everything that’s happening on the road.

Thats got to be the funniest thing Ive heard all year....it hasnt crossed your mind that your more alert because your breaking the law !?!?!

Priceless.

[jimbo01 0]

If your under the speed limit in the first place why are you on the lookout for the police ?

So far all the 'reasons' people have listed on BS to justify radars are just the same old excuses for people who want to speed and get away with it.

120kph is what I term a comfortable speed for many of our roads, although I don't have a problem with sticking to the unoffical limit or 110kph (which is about where I try to drive these days, except when passing). What makes driving frustrating are the ignorant creeping along at about 80-90kph, and to safely pass these I will exceed 110kph, so yes I want to know when cops are about.

[jimbo01 0]

it hasnt crossed your mind that your more alert because your breaking the law !?!?!

Priceless.

I think that was what he meant. He's more alert because he's on the look out for cops.

Personally I would rather be on the look out for idiots, who pass when it's not safe to do so, who cross into the other lane taking 'racing' lines through a corner, who are distracted (text, phone, books, makeup, noisy kids in the back seat, etc) and driving erractically, and especially those not paying enough attention to the task at hand. This is an attitude I developed through over 25 years of riding motrcycles. When riding I assume 2 things, (1) Car drivers want to kill me, (2) i'm invisible.

Someone merely going fast, passing safely, and keeping to their lane, repsecting other road users - I don't worry about them, but unfortunately they seem to be the easiest target to detect, fine, and pretend that is making a difference.

So if trying to catch and fine speeding motorists works how come the road toll is up this year? Thats the current fixation. How come the Australian state with the most draconian speed laws has the higher road tool than states with a more relaxed attitude. As the recent UK study found, inattention is the single biggest cause of accidents, not speed. Yet inattention is hard to detect, although the results are easy to find - they are the majority of people who cause accidents. At least some effort is now going in that direction - the campaign on not drivin g while tired is a step in the right direction.

Banning stupid acts like texting, and perhap using a mobile while driving, would all help; except none of these are in the new proposed NZ laws.

Edited January 12, 2008 by jimbo

[my_e36 43]

Banning stupid acts like texting, and perhap using a mobile while driving, would all help; except none of these are in the new proposed NZ laws.

Well, nowadays teenagers TXT while riding bicycle single handed and without helmets. Obviously, TXTing is more important than life!

Banning mobile phone use (or at least make handsfree kit compulsory) would save more life than the Election Spending Bill.

[tire 10]

Well, nowadays teenagers TXT while riding bicycle single handed and without helmets. Obviously, TXTing is more important than life!

Rofl, guilty

[greenday-rulz21 4]

Rofl, guilty

+1

[kiwi535 538]

I think that was what he meant. He's more alert because he's on the look out for cops.

isnt that the same as being ealrt cos you are breaking the law.....you are alert cos you are likely to get nabbed by the cops!

[bravo 34]

Im going to worry about them banning radar when it actually happens.

Start worrying then Link

[the stig 0]

Found this on the radar direct site:

LABOUR PROPOSE TO BAN THE USE OR POSESSION IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OF ALL EQUIPMENT TO DETECT, OR INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF SPEED MEASURING EQUIPMENT!!...... HAS IT HIT A BLACK HOLE?

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

On the 21st of December 2007 the Labour party announced by a press release what they claim are several new road safety initiatives.

THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS (which we have obtained under the official information act) WERE RELEASED FEBRUARY 2008. These proposals need first to go to the LTSA for drafting and then to a select committee for review. The select committee call for public submissions and read all relevant material in relation to all the proposals. The select committee then advise parliament of their findings. If the Government believe they have the support of the MMP parties they then hold a vote in parliament on the proposed changes.

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Radar Direct is preparing relevant information for the select committee on the positive attributes of owning and using a radar detector, including international studies to support this.

In 2007 Radar Direct had been speaking to interested parties about Safety Warning Systems (SWS). SWS gives moving vehicles or stationary zones the ability to transmit a signal to radar detectors to alert them to a potential hazard. Imagine being able to know that an ambulance is approaching 1km away, or being told you are approaching a rural school bus or school zone.

As radar owners we know that one "beep" makes us check our speed. Radar Direct will continue to introduce SWS into NZ. Make a positive step and turn ON this valuable safety feature. The next SWS installation will be on the Pakuranga Highway outside the Saint Kentigern College. This SWS tranmitter will say ³SCHOOL ZONE AHEAD².

WHAT WE KNOW

• Any public or select committee hearings on Radar Detectors may not be heard until 2009. (well after the election)

• Rumour about laws coming into effect April 1st are incorrect. No date as been set and there is a process that has to be followed.

• Cabinet agreed THAT THERE WOULD BE A 2 YEAR LEAD IN PERIOD BEFORE THE PROPOSALS BECOME LAW assuming that it becomes law.

• A ban on the sale of radar detectors is not possible under current legislation because the products in themselves are not dangerous.

• Police will not be given the power to search vehicles for equipment to detect or interfere with speed measuring devices because it would breech The Bill of Rights.

• The actual proposal is to ban the use or possession, “in a motor vehicleâ€, of “all equipment†to detect or interfere with the operation of speed measuring devices. This would also ban all GPS car navigation products from Navman, Garmin, Tom Tom and Uniden as they also detect non radar based speed measuring devices.

• At present discussion we have had with other Political parties indicates there is little to no cross party support for these proposal.

You have a right to know when you are been listened to by electronic surveillance. Radar is listening for you. If you feel that your property rights of ownership are been abused by these proposals then you know what to do.

There are already Safety Warning System transmitters operational in New Zealand. Soon more will appear in School Zones and on Trucks being use in road reconstruction.

Radar Detectors are a huge benefit to road safety and have contributed to the lowest road toll in 40 years!

I thought that the ban was going straight into effect this year??