My car supposedly goes 420,000 furlongs per fortnight. (I haven't had it up past 300,000 or so.) So I blow past the cops at top speed. If they are carboard, they blow away in my wake. If they are real, they won't catch me from a standing start.

At least they have cardboard cops. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island i've seen empty cars parked on the highway for fake speed traps. At least in Canada they use half their ass in their trickery.

Thanks for the heads up.
/Canadian

Wait which one was the cardboard cop?

Vancouver drivers seem to be funny about the speed traps. Medium or Light Traffic on the highway will slow down to about 70 kmh if motorists see a cop on the side of the highway aftering having pulled someone else over. As if the cop will think: "Hey that guy was doing 5 over the limit - I'm going to stop what I'm doing right now, get back in my car, and catch up to him"

In another submission I think I read that a tow-truck driver had stopped and tried to talk to one of them.

Anyone else read that as dicks?

My sister was bitten by a mechanical moose.

/got nothing

ZAZ

156 mph? Not bad.

How many rods to a hogshead does it get, though?

FTSAA: And these mock-ups are so realistic that while being tested on a Vancouver street this week, "a tow-truck driver pulled up and started talking to it," Staff Sergeant Ralph Pauw told a press conference on Thursday.

I'm going to call BS on this one. Not that I'm the final BS authority on Fark, but I wanted to get the ball rolling.

buttcat: FTSAA: And these mock-ups are so realistic that while being tested on a Vancouver street this week, "a tow-truck driver pulled up and started talking to it," Staff Sergeant Ralph Pauw told a press conference on Thursday.

I'm going to call BS on this one. Not that I'm the final BS authority on Fark, but I wanted to get the ball rolling.

I dunno, they've got good weed in Vancouver.

DJMikeWazowski: At least they have cardboard cops. In Massachusetts and Rhode Island i've seen empty cars parked on the highway for fake speed traps. At least in Canada they use half their ass in their trickery.

It's actually way more effective use of money than real speed traps. Plus it pisses people off less, while being exactly as effective in reducing speeds.

/retired 100,000mile dented ass cop car: $800 at auction
//Mannequin $200
///Cop uniform $100
////Not actually getting pulled over? Pr..nevermind

I got 2 tickets within 2 weeks for 1) running a red light (it was yellow), and 2) speeding when I was switching lanes. (checked speed before and after and was going at the speed limit, if I "skipped over" it would be for a second while I was trying to avoid hitting the other car when it changed it's speed)

Both as BS and contesting both, so I'm really getting a kick out of your replies.

_{/over 25 years of driving, no tickets.}

I was in Vancouver several weeks ago. The drivers are insane, and I've lived and got much of my early driving experience in Montreal which has a reputation for aggressive drivers. Every second or third car I saw had some sort of damage to it. Not a lot of fun in a rental car where you've waived the insurance.

klick

[AH-64_hovering_behind_bushes.jpg]

[ottopilot.jpg]

[japanesepolicecarwithflashingbluelightalongsideofroad.jpg]

[someBruceMcCallpictureofapapermacheairplanefromamid70sPlayboyfeature.jpg]

/why no, I don't use an image host
//mmmm, coffee

In Morrison, CO. the Jeffco sherrifs used to put a manequin in the driver's seat of one of their cars and park it on the side of the road to slow people down.

Austria does this in a bunch of the ski valleys. Don't know how effective it is, because I've nearly had head-on collisions with Russian-plated SUVs TWICE there, and witnessed a Ukrainian-plated Suburban completely ignore a crosswalk while the Apres Ski crowds were stumbling around on the sidewalks.

/ Not used to people disobeying in-town traffic laws
// Germans and Austrians like rules

imfallen_angel: I got 2 tickets within 2 weeks for 1) running a red light (it was yellow), and 2) speeding when I was switching lanes. (checked speed before and after and was going at the speed limit, if I "skipped over" it would be for a second while I was trying to avoid hitting the other car when it changed it's speed)

Both as BS and contesting both, so I'm really getting a kick out of your replies.

/over 25 years of driving, no tickets.

1) They are always yelllow
2) You check your speed before and after switching lane? Thats truly incredible... I'd look into another defense when in court to contest them

And of course you'll contest them, everyone does these days. Everyone knows that the arresting officier won't show up. It doesn't make you a better driver if you win.

/Never had a ticket in 18 years.
//Won't contest any of them if I ever did, even if I think they are wrong, because I did a damn lot that warranted one in 18 years, and I find the whole contest process ridiculous.
///Flame on!

Why not? It's a lot cheaper than installing traffic cameras. People slow down at both, and you save not only the money of the cameras, but the wasted paper and postage sending tickets to people who don't have to pay them.

/since mailing a ticket does not count as being properly served

imfallen_angel: Both as BS and contesting both, so I'm really getting a kick out of your replies.

You'll probably get them both reversed. 99% of people don't contest the ticket and just pay the fine; when you do contest them they have to set up a court date and notify both you and the ticketing officer.

The ticketing officer may be working that day and he's not gonna request off just to go to court to defend a single ticket. He could be out writing 50 more that would make up for it. The problem is, you'll probably have to take some time off from work yourself, but the results are a big difference between you and he. He can make more money for the city by missing the trial, whereas you will lose money if you just pay the ticket.

/good luck
//I should have contested mine ($100) I got when I changed lanes on a 600cc cherry red 2001 Honda CBR F4i; I imagine he just wanted to piss of the 'punk' that wasn't being delayed (as much) by rush hour who was weaving smoothly (turn signals included) thru traffic at 30 mph. That, or the fact that you can change lanes so quickly on a bike that from the moment i flipped the turn signal on and then off it may not have flashed the signal even once.

Nexzus

In some states and provinces when a police officer turns on his lights the speed limit is automatically reduced. So you're doing 5 under, the cop at the side of the road hits a switch, and immediately you're doing 30 over and lose your license. I think Alberta drops the limit from 110 to 70 when the lights go on. The theory is, this protects emergency vehicles. I've never seen evidence that it does. Utah accidentally released statistics showing that it does not, then said they were wrong when somebody called them on it.

phillydrifter: The ticketing officer may be working that day and he's not gonna request off just to go to court to defend a single ticket. He could be out writing 50 more that would make up for it.

That's why in most places all fifty of those tickets have the same court date on them. The next officer has all of his on the next afternoon, etc.

Cops in canaduh are made out of cardboard anyways. They do nothing but stand around and expect to get paid for it.

/Heil Harper.

I would put real cops about 1/4 mile (1/2 kilometre?) past the cardboard cop for when everyone recognizes Officer Friendly for what he is.

carrot: That's why in most places all fifty of those tickets have the same court date on them. The next officer has all of his on the next afternoon, etc.

I've never contested a ticket, I've only heard 3rd party stories, so I don't know, I'm just talkin' outta my ass.

Regardless of if they show up at court, I learned to drive well and I always use my turn signals, so the only possibilities were that he wanted to be a dick to the kid on the brand new motorcycle, or i switched lanes so quickly that the turn signal never got to fire even once. I should have contested it, but I just paid it. Ancient history now.

i'm going to go look for that 2-D cop on my way to work today... on my 3-D Vespa.

thaduke: ZAZ

156 mph? Not bad.

How many rods to a hogshead does it get, though?

damn I wish I read your Weeners before I spent 2-3 minutes doing it myself...

ZAZ: Nexzus

In some states and provinces when a police officer turns on his lights the speed limit is automatically reduced. So you're doing 5 under, the cop at the side of the road hits a switch, and immediately you're doing 30 over and lose your license. I think Alberta drops the limit from 110 to 70 when the lights go on. The theory is, this protects emergency vehicles. I've never seen evidence that it does. Utah accidentally released statistics showing that it does not, then said they were wrong when somebody called them on it.

Hmmm, interesting, never heard of that, but it sounds worth looking more into for a curiousity "did you know" factor.

Rattrap007: thaduke: ZAZ

156 mph? Not bad.

How many rods to a hogshead does it get, though?

damn I wish I read your Weeners before I spent 2-3 minutes doing it myself...

Ha ha. The filter never ceases to amuse me.

unfknreal:
I dunno, they've got good weed in Vancouver.

You beat me to it.

Fake Tim Hortons... the ultimate bait when I wake up in the morning.

/Canadian
//Loves his freakin' Timmies

ZAZ: Nexzus

In some states and provinces when a police officer turns on his lights the speed limit is automatically reduced. So you're doing 5 under, the cop at the side of the road hits a switch, and immediately you're doing 30 over and lose your license. I think Alberta drops the limit from 110 to 70 when the lights go on. The theory is, this protects emergency vehicles. I've never seen evidence that it does. Utah accidentally released statistics showing that it does not, then said they were wrong when somebody called them on it.

A wha? I've never heard of that, though I suppose it could be true.

Now, if a police officer is pulled over to the side of the road ticketing someone you are supposed to drop to 60km/h when passing them. The reasoning is that the cop has to stand on the side of the road with traffic flowing right behind him. It's a loss less likely he will be hit by a car going 60 than car going 130 (probably the average speed on Alberta highways). I think the same law applies to any emergency workers, and possibly tow trucks, that are pulled over and working on the shoulder.

Very few people actually do slow down of course, and those that do normally drop only to 80-90. But the fines are huge if you do get busted.

As to the actual topic, I don't think the cardboard cops are weird at all. From a distance you can't tell if they're real, so you slow down. From that perspective, it's a very smart idea.

Though I imagine they'd get vandalized pretty quickly.

I could see them using these in the American south. I two hours they'd be cut nearly in half by shotgun pellets.

/like the stop signs

Clocked at 150 clicks? Hmmm, I bet it can do do the Kessel run in under 12 parsecs too.

/Clicks, like parsecs, is a measure distance rather than speed.

ZAZ

My car supposedly goes 420,000 furlongs per fortnight. (I haven't had it up past 300,000 or so.)

You didn't happen to read the book "Know-it-all", did you?

I've lived in Canada all my life and I had no idea Moose Poaching was a problem.

Anyone else notice the one cardboard cop was pinching the other cardboard cop's ass?

Nexzus:

A wha? I've never heard of that, though I suppose it could be true.

Now, if a police officer is pulled over to the side of the road ticketing someone you are supposed to drop to 60km/h when passing them. The reasoning is that the cop has to stand on the side of the road with traffic flowing right behind him. It's a loss less likely he will be hit by a car going 60 than car going 130 (probably the average speed on Alberta highways). I think the same law applies to any emergency workers, and possibly tow trucks, that are pulled over and working on the shoulder.

Very few people actually do slow down of course, and those that do normally drop only to 80-90. But the fines are huge if you do get busted.


Tis true, applies to ANY emergency vehicle on the side of the road (tow truck, police car, etc.)

I think slowing down to 60 is just plain crazy when you are traveling at an average of 120 kph.

/slows down to ~ 90-100
//moves over a lane if I can

Teafortwo:
And of course you'll contest them, everyone does these days. Everyone knows that the arresting officier won't show up. It doesn't make you a better driver if you win.


BTW They've changed the rules so that the arresting officer does not have to show up anymore.

I know cuz I tried contesting one in Gatineau, QC.

The cops in B.C. may be cardboard but the cougars are real.

What happens when it rains or snows, as I'm sure it does frequently in Canada? Last I checked, moisture and cardboard don't mix too terribly well.

I contested a ticket in Vancouver. I showed up and was waiting in the lobby. The cop who gave me the ticket was there. Apparently he was in court for a while doing all his tickets in one bunch. He was really pissed off because he just lost his previous case (why do they take it so personally?). Anyways he was pissed so gave me a dirty look then walked out of the building.

When I got to the JP, I pleaded not guilty. The JP told me he could postpone the trial because the cop didn't show, but since they were so busy and I was nice and polite he would just drop the charges.

FWLIW

If there is a better place to speed than rural Canada, I can't imagine and its not for lack of trying. Took my shiny new 94 Stang GT(followed by COBRA, then Porsche) to Kallispell and met a pretty cool State trooper. A very good person, and smarter than his mandate.

Up here, we have a(n?) acceptable highway network based on the original Congressional modle, and darn few mounties to enforce it.

I drove a 600k down and back every week(two years) and only got pulled once, and that was to inform me that a semi toppled about 40 k ahead. One long look, one short "talkin" to and I was still ahead of schedule. The understanding is that if you look solid, drive smooth, and don;t stink of booze, you will get 1 (one) free pass by a police officer. I chanced it again, but understood that the next one would probably hurt enough to re-evaluate my priorities.

Good skills, good car, and good planning allowed me to drive on, but the VAST majority should'nt even have a car, let alone be out on the highway.


/education
//the more you know
less of them and more of...
right.

This actually makes sense. If you can't tell if it is a real cop or a cardboard one, you would have to be going fast.

First one of these things I see is coming with me.

In Vancouver this would be more appropriate if they could rework it so carboardcop is holding his sidearm and drawing a bead on drivers dawdling in the passing lane. On the island it would take a real cop firing real bullets to get people to pull over for passing traffic.

/Vancouverite

Teafortwo:

1) They are always yelllow
2) You check your speed before and after switching lane? Thats truly incredible... I'd look into another defense when in court to contest them

And of course you'll contest them, everyone does these days. Everyone knows that the arresting officier won't show up. It doesn't make you a better driver if you win.

/Never had a ticket in 18 years.
//Won't contest any of them if I ever did, even if I think they are wrong, because I did a damn lot that warranted one in 18 years, and I find the whole contest process ridiculous.
///Flame on!

1) I was forced to change lanes due to a Taxi in a NO-STOPPING zone right at the end of the street, by the time I changed lanes, I was over the lines and could not stop, but it was yellow... what's really nice was the fact that they were stopping everyone that they could at that corner that night... Went back and got pictures of them going after others doing the same thing. THe fun fact is I timed the light, and if you hit the corner when the light changes yeloow, any speed under 50km/h and you CAN'T make it across.

2) yep, checked speed, it's a very well known speed trap. I had to change lanes due to really bad road conditions making lane changes further on difficult (on motorcycle), a car was passing me on the right as I was changing lanes when he hit the brakes hard, so I had to dodge and do some fancy driving to not have a crash... the car had seen the cop and hit the brakes...


phillydrifter:

You'll probably get them both reversed. 99% of people don't contest the ticket and just pay the fine; when you do contest them they have to set up a court date and notify both you and the ticketing officer.

The ticketing officer may be working that day and he's not gonna request off just to go to court to defend a single ticket. He could be out writing 50 more that would make up for it. The problem is, you'll probably have to take some time off from work yourself, but the results are a big difference between you and he. He can make more money for the city by missing the trial, whereas you will lose money if you just pay the ticket.

/good luck
//I should have contested mine ($100) I got when I changed lanes on a 600cc cherry red 2001 Honda CBR F4i; I imagine he just wanted to piss of the 'punk' that wasn't being delayed (as much) by rush hour who was weaving smoothly (turn signals included) thru traffic at 30 mph. That, or the fact that you can change lanes so quickly on a bike that from the moment i flipped the turn signal on and then off it may not have flashed the signal even once.

I think that the cop saw me on a bike and went ka-ching!

Whenever he "radared" was possibly my movement from trying to avoid a collision...

This was during an announced month of traps, I was extra careful, didn't help. My respect for traffic cops after this is completely gone, I have to admit.

Ummm.... haven't they been using these both in Canada and the States for about five years? And I will give the person a shiny dollar to steal me one of those

This? Greenlighted? WTF? WhyyyyyyyyyyYYYY?

Somehow I don't think these new policemen are really cut out for their jobs.

sandn8r9
What happens when it rains or snows, as I'm sure it does frequently in Canada? Last I checked, moisture and cardboard don't mix too terribly well.

Um...sorry, you must be thinking of a different country. It only rains during the entire months of May in Western Canada (Not including BC) and for the rest of the year, its dry weather.

/We were lucky enough to get some decent amount of snow this past winter in YYC