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Old 02-09-2010, 01:04 PM
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X5Sport X5Sport is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Eastern flatlands of the UK.
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At least you folks have a slightly less Draconian approach to speeding. We did once too when there were real policemen on the streets who would give you an ear bashing and a 'correctional lecture' before letting you on your way. Now it's all done by cameras and they give no leeway other than the 10% +/-2mph legal requirement.

My own experience with laser detectors is that the beam is so narrow even out to the 'typical' distance of 500 feet), and usually aimed at either the number plate (UK ones are highly reflective with a layer of micro glass beads) or headlight, that the detectors never actually receive the beam unless they are mounted on the front bumper. The beamwidth is of the order of an inch or less with no appreciable scatter for a detector to work on even out to a mile or so (and it's only about 1mm to start with). By the time the alarm has gone it's waaayyyy too late. About 1/10sec is all that's needed. The one time I did get caught I has less than 1/2 second's sight of the van with the laser/camera unit and the detector never beeped once (receiver at the base of the windscreen where the beam never went) as I went past. I was duly fined and had to pay up.

At least you guys get a better chance it seems - well in some States anyway.
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