Questions for LEOs/ Is this legal?

[ethomas]

I have a few things that I'd like to know about from LEOs, specifically in California.

1. When a police officer pulls you over, and lets you off with a "warning", does this "warning" get put into some sort of database so that another officer could I I've already been warned about something? I ask because I was given a warning for using an electronic gadget while driving, as the officer put it, even though it was an iPod. Yet the CVC only bans use of communications devices like cell phones.

2. I was going down a wide, empty street one day, going about 60 in a 45. I saw a squad car parked with the parking lights on, making a speed trap ahead, yet he was faced the other way, so I presume was unable to clock my speed. By the time I was next to him, I was going under 45. He then proceeded to follow me for about a mile, tailgating me the whole way there. What was he doing? Waiting for me to break a traffic law? Running my plates?

3. Is it illegal to place an item securely on a car if it wasn't intended to be there by the manufacturer? I live in a fairly rural area, and going through fields is common place with my beater 88 jetta. I want to place a bar of wood on the front so that if I were to hit small objects, it wouldn't damage my bumper. Would this be illegal to fit onto a car if it were securely fixed? Because I don't see how it is any different than gardeners adding wooden scaffolding of sorts on the sides of their trucks to hold more cargo.

[phantasm]

I have a few things that I'd like to know about from LEOs, specifically in California.

1. When a police officer pulls you over, and lets you off with a "warning", does this "warning" get put into some sort of database so that another officer could I I've already been warned about something? I ask because I was given a warning for using an electronic gadget while driving, as the officer put it, even though it was an iPod. Yet the CVC only bans use of communications devices like cell phones.

2. I was going down a wide, empty street one day, going about 60 in a 45. I saw a squad car parked with the parking lights on, making a speed trap ahead, yet he was faced the other way, so I presume was unable to clock my speed. By the time I was next to him, I was going under 45. He then proceeded to follow me for about a mile, tailgating me the whole way there. What was he doing? Waiting for me to break a traffic law? Running my plates?

3. Is it illegal to place an item securely on a car if it wasn't intended to be there by the manufacturer? I live in a fairly rural area, and going through fields is common place with my beater 88 jetta. I want to place a bar of wood on the front so that if I were to hit small objects, it wouldn't damage my bumper. Would this be illegal to fit onto a car if it were securely fixed? Because I don't see how it is any different than gardeners adding wooden scaffolding of sorts on the sides of their trucks to hold more cargo.

1) some states or departments require paperwork for every stop, others don't. If its a written warning, most likely its just internal department paperwork.

2) what makes it a "speed trap"? Did the speed limit suddenly change? You were speeding, and radar works in all directions, and eyes work in all directions (many agencies are trained in observational speed). Who knows what he was doing. Running your plate? Probably. Waiting for ANOTHER violation? Maybe.

3) not sure about the requirements. Do they make brush guards for your car?

[ethomas]

Thanks for the brush guard idea, but sadly they don't make beefy brush gaurds for my little old piece of junk. In terms of speed trap, (I'm not sure if its a universal term), but at least in California, its simply where police bog down and point their radar guns where they expect speeding traffic. I presumed the radar would be one way since an officer would need to turn around in his seat, shoot radar gun through the metal caging, through the small window opening, and hope he/she got an accurate reading.

[Curt581]

Don't know much about radar, do ya?

Not many agencies use the old style "radar gun" like what's shown on TV. Most newer radars use remotely mounted transmitters wired to a dash-mounted box. Many have dual transmitters that can shoot in either direction with the flip of a switch.

[phantasm]

Thanks for the brush guard idea, but sadly they don't make beefy brush gaurds for my little old piece of junk. In terms of speed trap, (I'm not sure if its a universal term), but at least in California, its simply where police bog down and point their radar guns where they expect speeding traffic. I presumed the radar would be one way since an officer would need to turn around in his seat, shoot radar gun through the metal caging, through the small window opening, and hope he/she got an accurate reading.

So a speed trap is a cop going out to enforce speeding regulations where he expects people to break these speeding regulations? Imagine that? What a concept.

I guess I utilize red light traps, since I go to common places that people blow red lights to enforce that infraction.

[note sarcasm]

[ethomas]

It's bit different when theres dozens of police officers set up with a few clocking speeds and manning the radios while the rest are down-road issueing tickets to the speeders with the efficiency of a Nazi death camp. Note the sarcasm.

[BJJVad]

1.) You ask because you want to know so you can try getting away with it again.

2.) Do you know what they say about "assume"? BTW Slow down and you won't have to worry about the officer following you.

3.) It has been my experience that any time you hit something (wood bumper or not), it's going to mess up your car. You state that the vehicle is a "beater 88 jetta", would it matter if you smacked something?

It's bit different when theres dozens of police officers set up with a few clocking speeds and manning the radios while the rest are down-road issueing tickets to the speeders with the efficiency of a Nazi death camp. Note the sarcasm.

What a stupid @$$ comment. I like this mentality. Because there was more than 1 Officer doing his job, it must be illegal. So illegal it stacks up with 100,000's of jews that died in a slavery camp.

I believe you have your answers. I am done reading your stupidity.

1st time borrowing Samuels clicker button. Hope this thing works..

[RoadKingTrooper]

It's bit different when theres dozens of police officers set up with a few clocking speeds and manning the radios while the rest are down-road issueing tickets to the speeders with the efficiency of a Nazi death camp. Note the sarcasm.

You don't know much about radar, speed enforcement or police procedures..............much less brush guards:rolleyes:

You are an (what's the term I always call idiots who write like this?) musta forgot

Have the best day ever!

[scott715us]

It's bit different when theres dozens of police officers set up with a few clocking speeds and manning the radios while the rest are down-road issueing tickets to the speeders with the efficiency of a Nazi death camp. Note the sarcasm.

So the difference in a speed trap is where some officers are utilizing radar while others are stopping the vehicles a short distance down the road. :rolleyes:

[PapaBear]

For our esteemed OP, here is the official, California Vehicle Code, definition of "Speed Traps"

Speed Traps

40802. (a) A "speed trap" is either of the following:

(1) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.

(2) A particular section of a highway with a prima facie speed limit that is provided by this code or by local ordinance under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22352, or established under Section 22354, 22357, 22358, or 22358.3, if that prima facie speed limit is not justified by an engineering and traffic survey conducted within five years prior to the date of the alleged violation, and enforcement of the speed limit involves the use of radar or any other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects. This paragraph does not apply to a local street, road, or school zone.

(b) (1) For purposes of this section, a local street or road is defined by the latest functional usage and federal-aid system maps submitted to the federal Highway Administration, except that when these maps have not been submitted, or when the street or road is not shown on the maps, a "local street or road" means a street or road that primarily provides access to abutting residential property and meets the following three conditions:

(A) Roadway width of not more than 40 feet.

(B) Not more than one-half of a mile of uninterrupted length. Interruptions shall include official traffic control signals as defined in Section 445.

(C) Not more than one traffic lane in each direction.

(2) For purposes of this section "school zone" means that area approaching or passing a school building or the grounds thereof that is contiguous to a highway and on which is posted a standard "SCHOOL" warning sign, while children are going to or leaving the school either during school hours or during the noon recess period. "School zone" also includes the area approaching or passing any school grounds that are not separated from the highway by a fence, gate, or other physical barrier while the grounds are in use by children if that highway is posted with a standard "SCHOOL" warning sign.

(c) (1) When all of the following criteria are met, paragraph (2) of this subdivision shall be applicable and subdivision (a) shall not be applicable:

(A) When radar is used, the arresting officer has successfully completed a radar operator course of not less than 24 hours on the use of police traffic radar, and the course was approved and certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

(B) When laser or any other electronic device is used to measure the speed of moving objects, the arresting officer has successfully completed the training required in subparagraph (A) and an additional training course of not less than two hours approved and certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training.

(C) (i) The prosecution proved that the arresting officer complied with subparagraphs (A) and (B) and that an engineering and traffic survey has been conducted in accordance with subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2). The prosecution proved that, prior to the officer issuing the notice to appear, the arresting officer established that the radar, laser, or other electronic device conformed to the requirements of subparagraph (D).

(ii) The prosecution proved the speed of the accused was unsafe for the conditions present at the time of alleged violation unless the citation was for a violation of Section 22349, 22356, or 22406.

(D) The radar, laser, or other electronic device used to measure the speed of the accused meets or exceeds the minimal operational standards of the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration, and has been calibrated within the three years prior to the date of the alleged violation by an independent certified laser or radar repair and testing or calibration facility.

(2) A "speed trap" is either of the following:

(A) A particular section of a highway measured as to distance and with boundaries marked, designated, or otherwise determined in order that the speed of a vehicle may be calculated by securing the time it takes the vehicle to travel the known distance.

(B) (i) A particular section of a highway or state highway with a prima facie speed limit that is provided by this code or by local ordinance under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 22352, or established under Section 22354, 22357, 22358, or 22358.3, if that prima facie speed limit is not justified by an engineering and traffic survey conducted within one of the following time periods, prior to the date of the alleged violation, and enforcement of the speed limit involves the use of radar or any other electronic device that measures the speed of moving objects:

(I) Except as specified in subclause (II), seven years.

(II) If an engineering and traffic survey was conducted more than seven years prior to the date of the alleged violation, and a registered engineer evaluates the section of the highway and determines that no significant changes in roadway or traffic conditions have occurred, including, but not limited to, changes in adjoining property or land use, roadway width, or traffic volume, 10 years.

(ii) This subparagraph does not apply to a local street, road, or school zone.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 315, Stats. 1995. Effective January 1, 1996. Operative January 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 2, Ch. 104, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 1037, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.
Amended Sec. 18, Ch. 1008, Stats. 1999. Effective January 1, 2000.
Amended Sec. 3, Ch. 521, Stats. 2000. Effective January 1, 2001.

Tomorrow we will learn many more definitions for your edification and amazement. Don't be late for class!

Oh, yes, just for clarification, were you wearing ear buds or a headset while listening to your iPod?

[Creeker]

It's bit different when theres dozens of police officers set up with a few clocking speeds and manning the radios while the rest are down-road issueing tickets to the speeders with the efficiency of a Nazi death camp. Note the sarcasm.

I don't need to deal with any more ignorance this week.

Here's a tip: Don't get your terminology from your Stoner buddies.

I need to use an idiot meter before reading some of these drivel swamped AAC questions... but I'd have to turn all the way around and aim it thru the cage and tiny rear window... :rolleyes:

Anybody have one of those monitor mounted idiot meters yet?

Sam's click is in full effect. {{click}} :bye:

[Samuel]

Hey, I wanna play too, I wanna play too!

::CLICK::

:beer:

[Roger Dat]

You admit to doing 15 miles an hour over the speed limit. Stop speedng and none of this is ever an issue.

As for Creeker, I hear Iphone makes an idoit detecter app :yup:

[GoDirectly2Jail]

To the OP: when I am relaxing during my precious and all-too-short off time, the very last thing that I want to do when I'm on here is respond to is healthy doses of your attitude. It is quite obvious from your sub-10 posts that you intend to operate just short of the ban line, while spewing your useless drivel.

You have joined an exclusive club, as this marks only the second time that I've used the ignore function here, so don't bother responding as I won't see it. Ahh.