Rebecca

If anyone's interested - they're testing them and asking whether they're legal etc ....

mista weava

let us know what the results are - can't get c5 on the isle of wight!

weava

TopBanana

Anyone know where i can get a laser jammer from for a nicer price?

Fatman

They interviewed a chap from the Police and he said that they're all legal apart from the laser jammer. If caught using one of those, he said that it would be up to the individual to convince a court that it was fitted for legitimate reasons. Otherwise they'd be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.

S.B.

Garage door opener.

ajm

How can they do you for obstruction of justice if they can't prove there was any case to answer in the first place!?

Its like saying "we have no idea whether or not you were speeding, so we are going to do you for preventing us from doing you for speeding!"

wtf?!?

Fatman

I think they would argue it's their legitimate right (nay, duty!) to check whether you're speeding.

However, from a pragmatic point of view, they've got to try and 'do' you for something if they suspect you've used a jammer against them. Otherwise use of jammers would be too widespread and the Police would lose the upper hand in the technology arms race. They can't beat you with their technology so they'll bludgeon you with the law instead.

BlackScoobyWRX

So does the electric garage door opener answer actually have any relevance to these jammers?
Just curious !!

Fatman

The devices referred to as 'jammers' are IR laser devices that detect a signal and send another signal in return. When returning home, your car receives a signal from the IR transceiver by your garage door. Your car responds by sending a confirmation signal and voila! the garage door opens.

It's merely coincidental that Police laser speed cameras use the same frequency.

BlackScoobyWRX

Cheers Fatman - it just so happens that I have an electric garage door.
Just means that if anyone else drives past with one fitted, the fookin' thing will open and expose my pride and joy
uuuuuuuuhm

greasemonkey

Good defence in theory, but you'd probably have to prove to the court that what you're talking about exists and works.

Fatman

Yes, that's true, It certainly would be a risk.

Your saving grace is that lasers can be very directional and very well focused. i.e. it would be possible that the beam emitted from the garage could be very thin and projected precisely where you want it, to avoid accidental triggering.

Huxley

Just about sums them up They will always find fault in something!!!

mwp

regardless of whether you have an electric garage ... i'm curious how they prove it was turned on and operating if when they stop you it's turned off.

why is there the presumption of guilt until proven innocent ?

if you carry a knife and someone near you gets stabbed after an argument with you, it doesn't mean you did it until you prove you are innocent and had a legitimate reason for carrying the knife - you may have to answer questions, but the burden of proof is surely on the police ?

Rebecca

So why don't the police just use a different frequency then?

TopBanana

I've heard that some laser guns detect whether or not they're being jammed. Perhaps they only worked against the older jammers though? (class 4?)

Fatman

...they probably could do. A frequency change would scupper all of these 'jammer' efforts.

Yes, I've also heard that some speed guns will be able to detect/report use of jammers. However the reference (a thread on Scoobynet, not necessarily definitive!) was in the future tense.

MJW

... until some enterprising individual develops a laser-jammer-detector-jammer

Fatman

ah, but then some resourceful soul might develop a bit of kit to counter the laser-jammer-detector-jammer. And the arms race continues!

MJW

I think it would be easier to fit rocket-propelled grenades in the bottom of the spoiler - no camera van, no evidence !!

Fatman

'Bond cars' for everyone!

mista weava

which radar detector came out top?

did they test the beltronics 550 - if so how did it get on?

Weava

Fatman

They compared several types of detector, including the 550 and also the GPS-based systems. Of the 550-type, there was the 550 itself and also an alternative (whose name I've forgotten) which mounts on the rear-view mirror. The 550 detected the laser, whereas the other one didn't. However the 'other' detected the Gatso camera before the 550. It performed fine, but I think Tiff liked the other system because it was quite discreet and the 550's beeping got a bit annoying.

TelBoy

They tested loads, but none in specific detail, and didn't nominate any particular one as the winner.

Overall comments were what we all know - fair performance for Gatsos and mobile cameras, pain in the **** for town centres, and that you need GPS for total coverage.

mista weava

yeah as i thought. the 550 can be tirsesome, but great for the mobiles.

i have a lrc100 also, so i guess the gps system is next to have every possibility covered (other than VASCAR).

what about snoopers?

Weava

Fatman

In their test, the 550 also picked up scattered laser light (from a car two ahead which was being targeted) - which I found surprising.

mista weava

Thats good!

thought it was sposed to be the dogs - pleased with those results!

jwallis

Any idea where to get the garage door mechanism from?

(Yes really, it's not just an excuse to buy a jammer!)