RADAR DETECTORS...

[Wage Slave]

A phonetically alliterative allegory?

[Russell]

Detecting nipples through my back mirror is probably not gonna work...

[Coligny]

I have decoded the message: "Kamikaze cows" is an alliteration for the females of the Yamato nation, and Mr. Phentermine is saying we need radar to detect their nipples.

And don't forget the flour... The guy certainly stopped by Toyohashi...

[matsuki]

I have never been caught speeding, even if I do not have a radar detector.

On highways, I do keep track of cars in my rear mirror to detect the ones that might be a speed control. They are recognized as follows:

. Brand: Toyota Mark II or something like that

. Color: White, gray, or black

. Mirrors on the fender, I have been told (though I did not confirm this)

. There is some obstacle hanging from the roof in between the two passengers: this is the siren light coming out of the roof when used. This obstacle can be seen clearly enough when it is dark, because the car behind it shines its lights through the car's back and front window.

. Car tends to keep some distance, while keeping the same speed as you.

I also noticed that they usually have patrols when the weather is reasonable. I only saw one patrol in all those years in rainy weather. They do have night service, though I do not know if they patrol after 1:00 AM. When there is a traffic jam in the going direction or the opposite direction, there are no patrols (because they cannot easily return).

I pass a police station along the highway very frequently, and in surrounding stretches of highway they tend to patrol. Obviously, in that area my speeding is down to up to 20 km/h above the limit. They won't catch you up to 20 km/h on the highway. On local roads they do catch offenders below 20 km/h over the limit, so be careful.

I do not speed on the local roads, or only somewhat on the ones I know very well. Local roads tend to have more frequent controls than highways, especially in some seasons (safety season = bonus season).

Some may comment that my behavior is irresponsible, but if I go 30 km/h over the limit, than I still only go 90 km/h on most stretches of highway I frequently use. Compare that to the regular limits of 100 km/h or 120 km/h in the Netherlands on highways (occasionally 80 km/h and 130 km/h): then again in the Netherlands, it is pretty strictly enforced.

I won't talk about Germany this time, because some people might go ballistic...

While I agree on them using Toyota's for highway patrol, so far I've seen nothing but unmarked crowns and none of them had fender mirrors. (so that info seems pretty dated) During the day, from what I've seen, if you're being paced, you're already fucked. It's the act of passing the unmarked cars that gets their attention. (the cruise in the slow lane and wait for someone to fly by them) So....basically, if you're careful about what you pass, you should be ok.

I tend to leave Tokyo/Niigata around 9:30~10:00 at night so that I arrive just after midnight when exiting means the tolls are cut in half. I've yet to see an undercover at night going either direction but during some stretches, I hardly see any cars at all. I doubt I'd ever be able to spot an undercover car's hidden gear at night though I've yet to see one with foglights, HIDs, etc. so sometimes it's obvious it's not a patrol car, other times I slow to let whatever it is pass me.

[Russell]

Toyota Mark 2 or Crown is kind of the same for me. Never understood the difference.

Your strategy sounds good to me. It is indeed better to not fly past cars in the left lane, and if you do decide to pass cars in the left lane it is better to be between two cars that have the same speed as you.

For peace of mind I also like there to be a truck behind me, because the cops won't use those.

Suspicious cars: yes, just slow down and let them pass. I do the same.

[Yokohammer]

I have passed obvious cop cars travelling at 100 km/h at about 102 km/h a couple of times with no problems. I think you're OK as long as you're well within margin of error and don't "fly past." But then I always move back into the left lane as soon as possible, which is also a good idea.

The long line of cars driving right behind cop cars on the roads because they're too chicken-shit to pass always makes me laugh.

[Coligny]

Usually, 102 at the speedo means 97 as real ground speed...
On the Audis their is a cheat code to display the real speed on the aircon unit instead of the temperature reading, it was always 5 kph less than the needle gauge...

[Yokohammer]

Usually, 102 at the speedo means 97 as real ground speed...
On the Audis their is a cheat code to display the real speed on the aircon unit instead of the temperature reading, it was always 5 kph less than the needle gauge...

102 km/h as displayed by the GPS speedo in my radar detector.
The car speedo is generally conservative by a few km/h, as you say.

[Kanchou]

Bump. It took five years but I finally got a ticket. I was doing 103 km/h in 80 zone... And was caught because I passed a grey Mark X without noticing the tiny roof light.

All the cops work in teams of two and wear helmets when they drive, so check for that.

[Salty]

Bump. It took five years but I finally got a ticket. I was doing 103 km/h in 80 zone... And was caught because I passed a grey Mark X without noticing the tiny roof light.

All the cops work in teams of two and wear helmets when they drive, so check for that.

Not to worry - no longer eligible for Gold, but Silver isn`t so bad.

[Wage Slave]

But don't you have to sit through shame on you session?

[Kanchou]

Of course I was lectured about how driving at the speeds the road were clearly designed for and everyone drives at is "dangerous" and how there have been fatal accidents recently. I swear they just set the speed limits so low and then barely enforce them so people will drive at reasonable speeds.

I don't care about paying a fine, but I just don't want to have to "apologize" at work for doing someone literally everyone does. At least I wasn't doing 120.

[chibaka]

I don't care about paying a fine, but I just don't want to have to "apologize" at work for doing someone literally everyone does.

Why would you want to do that? Are you a driving instructor or something?

[Russell]

Bump. It took five years but I finally got a ticket. I was doing 103 km/h in 80 zone... And was caught because I passed a grey Mark X without noticing the tiny roof light.

All the cops work in teams of two and wear helmets when they drive, so check for that.

Not to worry - no longer eligible for Gold, but Silver isn`t so bad.

Is that a new system?

I thought there were only three classes: Gold, Blue 5 year, Blue 3 year.

Did that change?

[Kanchou]

I don't care about paying a fine, but I just don't want to have to "apologize" at work for doing someone literally everyone does.

Why would you want to do that? Are you a driving instructor or something?

I am a semi-public employee so if I speed faster than 30 over (even worse at 50 over), drink and drive (instant firing), or cause a serious accident with injury (punishment depends on situation) I am liable to get my shit fucked up.

I suspect I got lucky having been caught doing only 23 over...

[Russell]

I don't care about paying a fine, but I just don't want to have to "apologize" at work for doing someone literally everyone does.

Why would you want to do that? Are you a driving instructor or something?

I am a semi-public employee so if I speed faster than 30 over (even worse at 50 over), drink and drive (instant firing), or cause a serious accident with injury (punishment depends on situation) I am liable to get my shit fucked up.

I suspect I got lucky having been caught doing only 23 over...

How does your employer know when you would speed more than 30 km/h?

I am a semi-public employee too, but I never heard about this rule.

[Kanchou]

Not sure. I think you're actually required by law to report serious violations to your employer if you're a public employee... That or the violation is reported to the media or your employer of its serious enough.

[Russell]

Not sure. I think you're actually required by law to report serious violations to your employer if you're a public employee... That or the violation is reported to the media or your employer of its serious enough.

But is speeding over 30 a serious violation?

If there is an accident or serious violation like drunk driving, I can understand that it could have repercussions, but just a fine for speeding over 30 and under 50?

[FG Lurker]

Just a short note on the unmarked patrol cars:

It is definitely *not* only Toyota cars in use. I have seen many unmarked Skyline sedans (non-GTR type) and recently unmarked Subaru Legacy Turbos too. I've even seen a few unmarked Legacy Turbo *wagons* in use now. The cops are starting to get more adventurous with their ghost cars. Be alert out there folks.

[Coligny]

1 the skyline and GTR are no longer on the same plateform branch as of the r35
2 Subaru is Toyota Since general motors sold their shares in 2005

I think any police sedan available in panda color scheme have chances to be also available in undercover version.
And there's a shitload of panda subies these days...

[Salty]

Bump. It took five years but I finally got a ticket. I was doing 103 km/h in 80 zone... And was caught because I passed a grey Mark X without noticing the tiny roof light.

All the cops work in teams of two and wear helmets when they drive, so check for that.

Not to worry - no longer eligible for Gold, but Silver isn`t so bad.

Is that a new system?

I thought there were only three classes: Gold, Blue 5 year, Blue 3 year.

Did that change?

No changes - you have it right. I got carried away with the Olympics staduieum news - so I just made up that Silver level.

[Kanchou]

Not sure. I think you're actually required by law to report serious violations to your employer if you're a public employee... That or the violation is reported to the media or your employer of its serious enough.

But is speeding over 30 a serious violation?

If there is an accident or serious violation like drunk driving, I can understand that it could have repercussions, but just a fine for speeding over 30 and under 50?

Speeding more than 30 over is a pretty severe fine IIRC, and if you're a public employee, there are some fairly serious consequences.

Speeding 50 over is no longer just a fine, it's a criminal charge. The court gets involved.

[Kanchou]

Just a short note on the unmarked patrol cars:

It is definitely *not* only Toyota cars in use. I have seen many unmarked Skyline sedans (non-GTR type) and recently unmarked Subaru Legacy Turbos too. I've even seen a few unmarked Legacy Turbo *wagons* in use now. The cops are starting to get more adventurous with their ghost cars. Be alert out there folks.

I saw a dark metallic grey Legacy pull someone over a week or to ago. But IIRC they still all have tiny roof lights... That said I don't think you would be able to see it from the rear unless you're driving a very tall car.

I think you'll be fine as long as you don't pass one of them. Look from the rear for two helmets and a second rear view mirror.

You really have to be actively engaged in looking for these cars, since they're chosen entirely because they don't stick out.

FWIW, mine was a dark grey Mark X.

[kurogane]

Speeding more than 30 over is a pretty severe fine IIRC, and if you're a public employee, there are some fairly serious consequences.

Speeding 50 over is no longer just a fine, it's a criminal charge. The court gets involved.

Yes, and true in many places outside the US I thinks, and probably some states there, being a state thing I think. Which is good, because speed kills, even if Japanese toll roads could easily handle a 90 K limit.

Kanchou,
First, condolences, and second, if you are supposed to report it then you should. And if you are supposed to report it there should be a dedicated form on which you do that, so look for that? Other than that, ask about it with somebody at work or in a similar position whose discretion you trust. AND SLOW DOWN YOUNG MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (JOKE!!!)

23 K over is a tooth sucker, but if it is just a ticket, points and a fine.............meh. Somebody will make gravy with it because you're a foreigner but all but outright Aholes know it could have been them.

As an afterthought, if it just an administrative wrist slap (ticket, points, fine?) then you might be exempt from the reporting requirement. I once had to report a late night scuffle because the cops got involved but The Boss just said not to worry about it, don't do it again, ad WTF were you doing out at 3 am on a school night???

And slow down, eh

[Kanchou]

I'm a pseudo-public employee so I don't think I have to report anything, and in fact speeding less than 30 over isn't even listed as one of the things subject to disciplinary action, so I think I'm OK.

The gentlemen of the gendarme said "pay the fine and that's it."

[kurogane]

YEA!!!!!!!!!!!! I would double check that requirement so it doesn't come back and bite your tush down the road, but it sounds like you are clean. Which is nice. As a reference, I always used to drive the Bus Driver legal (limit +8-10 K) and never once had any problems. I don't speed much anywhere anyways, and I get the frustration but................Was this on a toll road expressway thingy? 23 over on a normal highway actually seems a touch much unless you're in Nowhere Land. Anyways, glad to hear you skated..............

[Kanchou]

It was on the highway, but the speed limit should really be 100 / 120, which the roads and cars were clearly designed for.

I admit that 20 over on the local roads is pretty much my cruising speed unless the conditions dictate otherwise.

[Yokohammer]

It was on the highway, but the speed limit should really be 100 / 120, which the roads and cars were clearly designed for.

... under optimum conditions.

If it's rainy or windy or snowy or foggy or whatever, or is expected to be, the limit is often dropped to 80 as displayed prominently on the electronic speed limit signs.

It's advisable to stay within the 10% margin of error, but even that won't save you if you get cops on a "training" mission. A friend of mine was ticketed at 2 km over the limit because the sempai cunts cops wanted to show their young proteges how it's done. The fact that it impacts the driver's licence/record doesn't mean squat.

[Russell]

Not sure. I think you're actually required by law to report serious violations to your employer if you're a public employee... That or the violation is reported to the media or your employer of its serious enough.

But is speeding over 30 a serious violation?

If there is an accident or serious violation like drunk driving, I can understand that it could have repercussions, but just a fine for speeding over 30 and under 50?

Speeding more than 30 over is a pretty severe fine IIRC, and if you're a public employee, there are some fairly serious consequences.

Speeding 50 over is no longer just a fine, it's a criminal charge. The court gets involved.

Thanks for the warning.

I'd better limit my speeding then.

[Russell]

Just a short note on the unmarked patrol cars:

It is definitely *not* only Toyota cars in use. I have seen many unmarked Skyline sedans (non-GTR type) and recently unmarked Subaru Legacy Turbos too. I've even seen a few unmarked Legacy Turbo *wagons* in use now. The cops are starting to get more adventurous with their ghost cars. Be alert out there folks.

I saw a dark metallic grey Legacy pull someone over a week or to ago. But IIRC they still all have tiny roof lights... That said I don't think you would be able to see it from the rear unless you're driving a very tall car.

I think you'll be fine as long as you don't pass one of them. Look from the rear for two helmets and a second rear view mirror.

You really have to be actively engaged in looking for these cars, since they're chosen entirely because they don't stick out.

FWIW, mine was a dark grey Mark X.

These roof lights are retractable, as far as I have been told.

So, if you see a bump in the center under the roof of the car behind you, it could be such a light, and you'd better be careful.