Is it illegal for cops to use radar while driving?

[giant_mtb]

Just as the title says...

I ask because my brother said that it is illegal for them to do and I figured it probably is as well.  Like if some cop pulled up behind someone on the highway and (since cops usually are driving 65-70 in 55 zones) the person in front would feel pressured and go faster...and then the cop could nail them for speeing...


But anyway...?

[TBR]

Just as the title says...

I ask because my brother said that it is illegal for them to do and I figured it probably is as well.  Like if some cop pulled up behind someone on the highway and (since cops usually are driving 65-70 in 55 zones) the person in front would feel pressured and go faster...and then the cop could nail them for speeing...


But anyway...?

I don't think cops ever pressure people into speeding unless they are in hot pursuit or something, otherwise just about 95% of the people on the road will slow down to 5 mph under as soon as they see a cop and the rest certainly won't speed up.  

[Catman]

I use moving radar all the time, it's not illegal.  

[Rupert]

It wouldn't do much good to use radar if you're right next to the target car. You know how fast you were going and they were going the same speed. It's called pacing.

[giant_mtb]

Hmm...I see.  I almost never see cops driving and clocking people.  They usually try to hide (they aren't very good at it) and just sit there for hours at a time trying to catch people speeding... <_<    

[Raza]

Just as the title says...

I ask because my brother said that it is illegal for them to do and I figured it probably is as well.  Like if some cop pulled up behind someone on the highway and (since cops usually are driving 65-70 in 55 zones) the person in front would feel pressured and go faster...and then the cop could nail them for speeing...


But anyway...?

I don't think cops ever pressure people into speeding unless they are in hot pursuit or something, otherwise just about 95% of the people on the road will slow down to 5 mph under as soon as they see a cop and the rest certainly won't speed up.

It happened to my brother on 206.  Unmarked cop tailgated him through a speed trap--40 to 30.  Nailed him for 42 in a 30.  He wasn't even the the 30 for a block before he was pulled over.

[BartsSVO]

Just as the title says...

I ask because my brother said that it is illegal for them to do and I figured it probably is as well.  Like if some cop pulled up behind someone on the highway and (since cops usually are driving 65-70 in 55 zones) the person in front would feel pressured and go faster...and then the cop could nail them for speeing...


But anyway...?

I don't think cops ever pressure people into speeding unless they are in hot pursuit or something, otherwise just about 95% of the people on the road will slow down to 5 mph under as soon as they see a cop and the rest certainly won't speed up.

It happened to my brother on 206.  Unmarked cop tailgated him through a speed trap--40 to 30.  Nailed him for 42 in a 30.  He wasn't even the the 30 for a block before he was pulled over.

I just let off the gas when a cop pulls that kind of junk now. I was pulled over for something like 46 in a 35 once from a cop riding up on my butt at nighttime. I didn't get a ticket that time but I'm perfectly content just to make them pass me or turn off the road once they realize I'm not going to fall for their crap. Of course I rarely encounter this anywhere except for towns that have a reputation as a ticket trap.  

[City Pig]

Hmm...I see.  I almost never see cops driving and clocking people.  They usually try to hide (they aren't very good at it) and just sit there for hours at a time trying to catch people speeding... <_<

It's pretty hard to hide a white cruiser with 'POLICE' written in one foot high letters on the side! :)

And no, there's nothing illegal about using tracking radar. Our Provincial Police have radar that can get you coming up from behind them or in front of them or coming towards them while they are driving. Us poor city forces get nothing that good... <_<  

[TBR]

I can see how it would work with an unmarked car, but when most people see a marked car they slow down considerably, even if it is tailgating them.  

[R33 GT-R]

Here many times when they light on your ass they're calling in your plate to check for warrants and such.  I usually slow to 10mph below posted limit to arouse their curiosity and waste their time.  If they spend 5 min on me then I've saved someone a ticket down the road.  I call it proactive obstruction of justice.  

[TurboDan]

I've always wondered whether most departments (or state agencies) have the radar that could track someone coming up from behind.  

[R33 GT-R]

I've always wondered whether most departments (or state agencies) have the radar that could track someone coming up from behind.

I found out they did about 4 years ago when I was going around 85 in Mississippi.  Cruising along following another car and clear behind for at least half a mile.  I top a hill and enter a long straitaway and I notice a dark vehicle in form of highway patrol topping hill behind and I'm talking at least half a mile.  I couldn't really make out if it was a cruiser or not and figured he was so far back by the time I could tell I would back down and be ok.  As he hit roughly the quarter mile mark I could see the lights on top good, low profile blue, and I backed off.  Almost as soon as I backed off he hit the lights and pulled me over.  The car I was following sped on and I was not a happy camper.  The good thing was through playing football at Southern Miss I formed friendships with many of our escorting Highway Patrolmen.  After talking to him a bit we had several mutual friends and he shook my hand and allowed me ticket free passage.  I did ask him however why he didn't pull us both over, he said he called in another officer ahead to get the other guy.  I was like man yall are really on top of things and sure enough as I topped the next hill the guy I was following was on the shoulder getting his service.  I had no idea the radar worked as well and at such range as to get me in that situation.    

[Ron From Regina]

Hmm...I see.  I almost never see cops driving and clocking people.  They usually try to hide (they aren't very good at it) and just sit there for hours at a time trying to catch people speeding... <_<

It's pretty hard to hide a white cruiser with 'POLICE' written in one foot high letters on the side! :)

And no, there's nothing illegal about using tracking radar. Our Provincial Police have radar that can get you coming up from behind them or in front of them or coming towards them while they are driving. Us poor city forces get nothing that good... <_<

What do you guys have? Both my brothers in the RCMP run Genesis Guns that are over 20 years old, although they tell me that Traffic Services guys (highway patrol) are using Ka band genesis 2.
I rarely encounter radar from city police. It is usually all laser.

[City Pig]

We (Hamilton) have old Muniquip radars (both tracking and handheld) but we also have newer LTI Marksman 20/20 lasers. In the city it is pretty much useless using radar because you  can't target the vehicle you want. We rarely use the radar units unless we are out in the sticks where there is little traffic...And for me, that's never.

The OPP are using the newest Genesis units. I'd be lying if I threw out the model names because I'm not sure what they are. They are very impressive though.

[Ron From Regina]

I would bet its most likely the Genesis II they are using. click

Cool things such as target selection. If you are running next to a big truck, so long as your are slightly faster than the truck, then can get a speed reading of both. Its a pretty cool little unit.

[giant_mtb]

I don't think we have any radar that can be used while the vehicle is moving or behind another vehicle.  One reason is that you never see cops around here pulling someone over all of a sudden...they usually have to go 80 MPH 'cuase the speeder is 2 miles ahead of them because they were using a normal radar gun sittin' on the side of the road.  I don't think moving/tracking radar would be very necessary around here anyways.

When I get my license...if a cop tailgates me and pressures me to speed...I BRAKE FOR TAILGATERS!  :P  

[Ron From Regina]

I don't think we have any radar that can be used while the vehicle is moving or behind another vehicle.  One reason is that you never see cops around here pulling someone over all of a sudden...they usually have to go 80 MPH 'cuase the speeder is 2 miles ahead of them because they were using a normal radar gun sittin' on the side of the road.  I don't think moving/tracking radar would be very necessary around here anyways.

When I get my license...if a cop tailgates me and pressures me to speed...I BRAKE FOR TAILGATERS!  :P

A lot of the older guns, such as the Original Genesis guns could only clock from a moving police car, if you were going in oposite directions. (ie, you meet a police car on the road.)

To do same lane (same direction) with the old genesis guns the police car has to be stationary to get the reading.....

That said, those guns are becomming more rare. Like I said above, the RCMP still uses them around here, but are phasing them out with newer technology.

[Secret Chimp]

I BRAKE FOR TAILGATERS!  :P

I've never really understood this. Isn't this like saying "I'm willing to risk rear-end damage to scare this guy"?

[R33 GT-R]

I BRAKE FOR TAILGATERS!? :P

I've never really understood this. Isn't this like saying "I'm willing to risk rear-end damage to scare this guy"?

I don't get the whole nailing the brake for tailgaters either.  Number one it's illegal and number two who wants to be in an accident.  I've got a better idea for you if your being tailgated, get the hell out of the way you're holding someone up.  What I do if I get irritated at being tailgated and I have no place to go, car in front and cars to side, just lift off the pedal and slow to a point where they go around you.  It still pisses them off but they at least get the hell away from you.  I think all drivers in Texas are taught to brake check at the DMV, they don't understand the left lane is for overtaking and the right is for flow.  These people will ride side by side for 10 miles bottlenecking all traffic behind and when you pull up about 3 ft off their bumper they nail the brakes.  This does however provide ample opportunity to switch lanes and overtake them.

[giant_mtb]

I wouldn't really brake...more like just tap the brake so my brake lights come on so maybe it gets their attention that they either need to pass me of get the hell off my rear.

[Raza]

I BRAKE FOR TAILGATERS!  :P

I've never really understood this. Isn't this like saying "I'm willing to risk rear-end damage to scare this guy"?

I don't get the whole nailing the brake for tailgaters either.  Number one it's illegal and number two who wants to be in an accident.  I've got a better idea for you if your being tailgated, get the hell out of the way you're holding someone up.  What I do if I get irritated at being tailgated and I have no place to go, car in front and cars to side, just lift off the pedal and slow to a point where they go around you.  It still pisses them off but they at least get the hell away from you.  I think all drivers in Texas are taught to brake check at the DMV, they don't understand the left lane is for overtaking and the right is for flow.  These people will ride side by side for 10 miles bottlenecking all traffic behind and when you pull up about 3 ft off their bumper they nail the brakes.  This does however provide ample opportunity to switch lanes and overtake them.

I agree wholly.  

[footoflead]

I wouldn't really brake...more like just tap the brake so my brake lights come on so maybe it gets their attention that they either need to pass me of get the hell off my rear.

all i do is tap the brakes to trigger the tail light switch...this usally scares them off...if its some kid talking of their cell phone driving some expensive car...and they dont listen to the light tap....then i brake hard and the stop the accelerator so they dont hit me...works everytime...i made one girl drop her cell phone :D she wasnt happy...o well ...i said get the F*** out of my tail pipe

[giant_mtb]

I wouldn't really brake...more like just tap the brake so my brake lights come on so maybe it gets their attention that they either need to pass me of get the hell off my rear.

all i do is tap the brakes to trigger the tail light switch...this usally scares them off...if its some kid talking of their cell phone driving some expensive car...and they dont listen to the light tap....then i brake hard and the stop the accelerator so they dont hit me...works everytime...i made one girl drop her cell phone :D she wasnt happy...o well ...i said get the F*** out of my tail pipe

Crazy kids! ^_^