I host a Criminal Defense Lawyers mailing list (hold the jokes please) on my
mail server and this passed by. I thought it interesting enough to pass along.
I have deleted traces of its origin.
Jim Altman jaltman@altlaw.com non illegitimus carborundum
http://www.altlaw.com/
-----Original Message-----
You all may not be happy to read the following.
I've excerpted it from my motorcycle club list.
It represents the recap from an interview between
a club member and a cop who uses radar.
I hope no one gives it to any prosecutors.
Just spent an afternoon with a friendly BMW R1100RT rider who happens to
be a motorcycle policeman. His identity and beat will remain classified.
His new 'toy' for enforcing speed limits is a brand new laser gun. He
has
been certified in it's use and thinks it is far superior to any radar
guns
he has used before. And yes, it WILL work in the rain. And officers who
use
it from cars don't even have to roll down their windows!
pr--Is it true that it is difficult to hit a motorcycle with a laser
gun?
MP--"Absolutely not. It's a breeze."
pr-Don't you have to hit the headlight to get a good return signal?
MP-"No. Nearly anything will return a signal. Your front tire, forks,
headlight reflector, fairing, windshield, faceshield, or helmet will do
just fine. I can pick you off at 1500 feet or more, easy".
pr-How accurate are they?
MP-"Accurate enough to hit you a quarter of a mile or more away, at
walking
speed. My unit also tells me your distance away from me in feet."
pr-Do you know if laser detectors work?
MP-We've tested a few, mounted them in patrol cars and have gone out to
test them. Every unit that had one I nailed at well over the speed
limit,
and in each case they NEVER told the officer I had gotten them in my
sights." (Smiling) Laser detectors are expensive pieces of sh** that
don't
even come close to telling you I am gunning you with laser. And if you
ever
DO get one to warn you of me, it's too late-I have your butt".
Well, folks, that's the gist of things with our friendly motor cop. Now
I
am sure that many may disagree with the laser detector 'review' he gave
me,
but he swears they are useless, and even if they did work, he has you
WAY
before you can react to any detector. And I have a tendency to believe
what
he told me. This was not a formal interview, just two motorcycle riders
chewing the fat at a local BMW dealer.
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