| Author | Message | ||
     Roland Kutasi (Disco1) Senior Member Username: Disco1 Post Number: 309 Registered: 10-2002 |
Has anyone had any experience with "anti photo radar" license plate covers? I'm looking at purchasing a set of "Chameleon" covers. Anyone with any info? Thank in advance. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2306 Registered: 02-2002 |
Other than the fact they're illegal, and can get your vehicle impounded? -L | ||
| Carter Simcoe (Carter) Senior Member Username: Carter Post Number: 695 Registered: 04-2002 |
they aren't illegal everywhere | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 168 Registered: 02-2003 |
Most don't work all that well from what I've been able to gather. They also draw undue attention from police officers even when you aren't doing anything wrong. Why not just get a good radar detector (Valentine 1) and call it a day? -P | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1761 Registered: 02-2002 |
More importantly, maybe we should be driving the speed limit and stopping for red lights. (I can't believe I just posted that!) | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2310 Registered: 02-2002 |
LOL! Perrone, but radar detectors are illegal here, too.....  -L | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1764 Registered: 02-2002 |
Leslie: Time to get your amateur radio license. Federal pre-emption allows reception of law enforcement transmissions (at least, there used to be). Although, I have always wondered what would happen if this were to be challenged on this basis. the LAW may support it, but one would still be out the time and expense until you were exonerated. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2311 Registered: 02-2002 |
lol, actually, if I could ever put aside enough time, or rather, keep remembering to practice my morse, I'd go ahead and get it.... (I know you don't have to do morse now for the novice, but since they've dropped it to 5wpm, it seems silly not to go ahead and learn it and test it and go ahead for technician).... Regardless, I think that that federal loophole applies to communications, not sensor detection. Anyway, I know where they usually hide between home and work, and try to drive (somewhat) sensibly, so, I don't worry about really.... it one of my few gripes w/ VA..... it's nothing like my gripes w/ Cali.... Oh well..... -L | ||
| Roland Kutasi (Disco1) Senior Member Username: Disco1 Post Number: 311 Registered: 10-2002 |
I don't think they are illegal here in OZ. What got me started on this was a TV news article about a spray on product just released here called "photo blocker". www.phantomplate.com | ||
| Tommy Dougherty (Skydiver) Member Username: Skydiver Post Number: 139 Registered: 03-2002 |
Leslie, The fine for possession/use of a radar detector in VA is far far less than the cost of a ticket and/or insurance rate hikes. I took this into consideration when I installed a remote mount/undetectable BEL into my disco (and other vehicles).  -Tommy | ||
| Jason McCombs (Jasonmc) Member Username: Jasonmc Post Number: 59 Registered: 06-2003 |
guys i watched a an expose one the news onetime. it was here in San Francisco right after they installed these sutomated ticket machins that watch with automated cameras to catch people running red light inintersections. the shwed the guy who's job it was to read the images taken by the camera. they showed how he basically used Adobe Photoshop to change the contrast on the images adn no matter what he was able to read the license plate number. they tested like 3 different kinds of plastic covers adn tehy tyed the spray on stuff and then the guy used photoshop and read all the plate numbers without problems. those things are basically junk and only a scam. However they are usfull in keeping your tabs from getting stolen. In oakland having your tabs stolen is frequent thing. | ||
| Mark Albrecht (Markalbrecht) Member Username: Markalbrecht Post Number: 93 Registered: 11-2002 |
Jason -- you raise an interesting issue: is a red-light photo that has been digitally manipulated admissible if you contest the ticket? As I also recall in CA there have been some problems with the certification of the red-light cameras and a class action suit. | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 188 Registered: 11-2002 |
Y'all need to get yourselfs a Series Rover. All of your speed related worries will go away . Max T. | ||
| Perrone Ford (Perroneford) Member Username: Perroneford Post Number: 169 Registered: 02-2003 |
Leslie, there is no "novice" any more. There is the basic license, extra, and advanced I believe. The first license gets you 6m and higher. Unless you plan on talking across the country, I should think the no-code license would suffice for almost anyone. I was supposed to sit for mine last weekend at the national field day, but I've not had time to study. I am really looking forward to being able to work 2m and fooling around with some 6m. 70cm is also pretty popular, and the new digital modes are AWESOME. I am going to be using the APRS stuff when I get my license. It's VERY hip to be able to see where other hams are anywhere in the world while you're on the go. -P | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 2312 Registered: 02-2002 |
Tommy, Also, factor in that used to they would confiscate 'em, but not anymore.... Also, some cars even have 'em built in... hmmmm.......... Perrone, True, it's been restructured..... the Technician class is the basic level and it doesn't require code now; but the thing is, 5wpm is awfully slow, so if I'd just practice a bit, that'd get me most of the way to General class... (the test itself I wouldn't worry about, just the morse). It'd just leave the Extra class, which I dunno if I'd bother with or not.... Hmm........ What we all need to do is, drive a Series, with the tag mounted on the tailgate, and the tailgate left down while we're driving around, so the camera couldn't see it anyway..... (lol, as if you'd get a speeding ticket in a Series..... ) -L | ||
| M. K. Watson (Lrover94) Senior Member Username: Lrover94 Post Number: 875 Registered: 02-2002 |
i have some stealth technogoly for sale. it will prevent you from being picked up on radar....just mail me $9.99 plus $30.00 for shipping and handling i will give you everything you need to keep the boys in blue off your donkey and your hard earn cash in my wallet. act now and i will supply you with, not just one but two lifetime subscripiton to boys world. mxxx x | ||
| Garth Petch (Garth) New Member Username: Garth Post Number: 9 Registered: 02-2003 |
Roland At least in Victoria, those number plate covers are illegal, as it is to drive with an obscured or dirty number plate. Then again radar detectors are illegal, and the cops are using laser based hand held guns...although the cameras are still radar based, but they only give you 3 kph leeway before booking you for exceeding the speed limit Of course, we could just admit we're driving a 2 tonne vehicle with a high centre of gravity, probably with tyres and suspension which are a compromise for 90% of the kilometres we drive and slow down a little bit. One of the funniest, and scariest, things I read was a survey from the University of South Australia about 18 months ago, which indicated that 85% of drivers considered themselves to be above average. Leave aside the statistical improbability of this self determination of driving skills, it still means that the majority of people you share the road with are badly deluded about their ability to handle a pedal car, let alone anything else Garth | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 173 Registered: 01-2003 |
Leslie, Perone- Here is a sight that has the 2003 question pool and computer generates practice exams. http://www.wvara.org/wvexam/ I just got my license last week. About two weeks of study, and taking one of these practice exams (different every time) nightly. All you need is 70% to pass. I never got lower than that with all my practice sessions. You may want to take a practice session before you start to study. Get a basic Technician license then you have ten years to see if you even like the hobby then study to upgrade to another class. -Reed | ||
| Joey (Joey4420) Member Username: Joey4420 Post Number: 90 Registered: 04-2003 |
Technically if the Police want to push the issue. Any use of any type of Radar Detector and/or any item that may prevent an officer of the law from properly doing their job, could be called (this is from a WV law) Read the part about interfering with the perfomance of his duties (i.e. if you use radar detector to prevent the officer from properly using his radar gun then he could write you up on this regardless of what state you are in. Just a thought. §20-7-7. Conspiracy to violate chapter; withholding information; obstructing officers. Any person who shields or conspires with another in the commission of a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or who, upon inquiry, withholds information from enforcement officers, or who hinders, obstructs, interferes with, or impersonates, or attempts to hinder, obstruct, interfere with or impersonate an officer in the performance of his duties shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1773 Registered: 02-2002 |
My Extra class Amateur Radio Operator license allows me to transmit above 1.2 GHZ as a primary allocation. This same frequency range is used as a secondary allocation to among others, law enforcement. Their use cannot interfere with the primary alocated service, and must accept interference from the primary alocated service. So, my "Radar Jammer" is not really a jammer, it is a propagation predicting beacon-as long as I remember to Identify every five minutes. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Of course, I'm conveniently ignoring the part about lawful use. BTW-you guys are pussies with your no-code and tech licenses. Back in the day... Perrone knows where I'm goin' with this one, don't you? I became eligible for QCWA last December, yet have not applied. I also still have my original call sign issued in 1977 to a snot-nosed novice. At one point, I had 160-2 meters in the truck. Peace, Paul | ||
| Paul T. Schram (Paulschram) Senior Member Username: Paulschram Post Number: 1774 Registered: 02-2002 |
Oops, I forgot. Congrats Reed, now get on the air! | ||
| Reed Cotton (Reedcotton) Member Username: Reedcotton Post Number: 177 Registered: 01-2003 |
Paul- Thanks! Speaking of ECM devices, I just remembered thatin one of the boxes out in my barn is a microwave security device of some kind. Basically it was a salesmans model for the security system. It floodsw a room with standing microwaves and anything displacing tose waves triggers a relay. I remember when I first aquired it I took it out in the yard and aimed it at my dad's Lincoln with the radar detector in it. Lit the thing right up. So if anyone wants to take Pauls quasi-legal advice, I might have just the thing to do it with. I wonder how much descrimination there is on the recieving end of a radar gun? -Reed |
