Speeding Tickets by Aircraft Stopwatch

HappyAndy wrote: Every time I see those lines I want to come back in the middle of the night and paint a bunch more lines parallel to the real lines to "foul" the timing

"Did you know, you can use old motor oil to fertilize your lawn"

-Project Mayhem

I know Illinois has roads marked with a sign saying "Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft"

I know of at least three in the Nor ILL area alone. Remember, Illinois NEEDS your money.

Doesn't seem like it would be particularly lucrative as compared to have a donut eater just sitting on the side of the road with a radar gun.

I have heard that many states are doing away with it due to a poor cost/income ratio.

Years ago Jean Lindamood, when she was still writing for C&D, told the story of driving across Texas in a 911 (I think) when she realised there was a VASCAR plane pacing her. "The only way to beat a VASCAR ticket is to not get to the other end of the timed distance. So, I stopped, repacked my luggage, took off my cowgirl boots, and as my average speed gradually approached 55 mph, the plane flew away."

Or something like that- I laughed, and still remember it 20 years later.

Even better... On the Ohio Turnpike, they used to give speeding tickets based on when you got your ticket punched on the on ramp, and what time it was when you exited the offramp

Timing-based tickets aren't admissable as evidence in California, speed has to be done with radar or through pacing. The CHP used to fly the planes anyway, though, because most people didn't know that.

Recently they've stopped flying them because the flight hours cost too much.

iceracer wrote: I have heard that many states are doing away with it due to a poor cost/income ratio.

Its expensive enough to run a chopper and they need that for non-traffic related enforcement as well.

I have a friend who used to assist in the chopper. Before they got the spot lamp and fancy equipment, they would fly low and he would point his hand out the window towards the suspect. He tried that once in the turbo chopper and found out it wasn't as easy. Had a hard time getting his arm back in.

N Sperlo wrote:

iceracer wrote: I have heard that many states are doing away with it due to a poor cost/income ratio.

Its expensive enough to run a chopper and they need that for non-traffic related enforcement as well. I have a friend who used to assist in the chopper. Before they got the spot lamp and fancy equipment, they would fly low and he would point his hand out the window towards the suspect. He tried that once in the turbo chopper and found out it wasn't as easy. Had a hard time getting his arm back in. I'm heart broken.

novaderrik wrote: isnt this how they nailed that one guy going something like 250mph on a motorcycle a few eyars back? turns out that the bike in question wasn't anywhere near capable of those kinds of speeds, but the cop swore up and down that his calculations had to be right on..

But the Konigsegg in Texas was......and I think thats how they got him as well.

Also, I don't think most of those single engine planes they use can go that fast.....I know most helicopters can't.

yamaha wrote:

novaderrik wrote: isnt this how they nailed that one guy going something like 250mph on a motorcycle a few eyars back? turns out that the bike in question wasn't anywhere near capable of those kinds of speeds, but the cop swore up and down that his calculations had to be right on..

But the Konigsegg in Texas was......and I think thats how they got him as well. Also, I don't think most of those single engine planes they use can go that fast.....I know most helicopters can't.

IIRC, world record is about 250 in a modified bird. Typical military hardware is sub 200.

EvanR wrote: Even better... On the Ohio Turnpike, they used to give speeding tickets based on when you got your ticket punched on the on ramp, and what time it was when you exited the offramp

simple.. lose the ticket.. better to pay max rate than a hefty fine and points