Cops messing with me?

[struan87]

Here's the scenario:
Last night I was driving to a friend's place, and I was on a big 4-lane divided curvy road. The speed limit is 35, which is a joke. So I'm going ~60, making sure to watch my mirrors so I can slow down if I see any other cars (there weren't any). Then I get to a big intersection where there are lots of stores, so I slow down and the V1 starts giving my typical shopping-center noise.

On the other side of the cross-street is my turn, so I take off from the light and start going about 45. Right before I make my turn, the V1 starts screaming "OH GOD RADAR SO CLOSE HELP", but I don't care because I'm already in the turn lane (it did freak me out, though). As I make the turn, I see the state trooper that was right behind me continue on down the road.

So my question is: do you think that guy was pinging me the whole time and seriously trying to get my speed, or did he see the lights through my rear window and decide to play with me? Gard, any insight?

2003.5 Sedan 6MT | Sport/Aero/Premium | Desert Platinum/Willow | 350Z intake | Pictures

[rlipps]

Did you notice if he was behind you before you took off from the light?

Also, were there any other cars on the road?

If there were other cars on the road, and he wasn't behind you before you left the light, then he was probably running Instant-On Radar and had just pulled out of a parking lot. I doubt that he was behind you the whole time. More than likely he had just gotten into his car, turned it on, and then pulled out onto the road you were on after you had passed him. That is the only explanation I can give because otherwise you would have picked him up earlier.

Either way, I doubt that the cop was really interested in apprehending you. You weren't going excessively fast anyway.

[struan87]

He definitely used instant-on, because I went from 1 dot of very intermittent signal to full-on. I don't think he was behind me at the light, because I didn't really launch, but I don't know for sure. There were other cars once I got to the light, but before that when I was going fast, nobody else was on the road.
I guess it's possible that he saw me going fast, pulled out to follow me, and then radared me when I was behaving and drove off in a cloud of frustration.

2003.5 Sedan 6MT | Sport/Aero/Premium | Desert Platinum/Willow | 350Z intake | Pictures

[Gardiner]

Never can tell, he might have been there filling out some paper work and noticed you and thought he would give you a quick check. Lots of times guys who run radar will have their owwn honey hole that they love to sit at. If that is the case, pay more attention there, esp since it has false hits to hide him.

2003.5 G35 A5 Sedan | 2003 Z06 Corvette | 2003 S10 Extended cab | 1991 Honda CRXsi

[struan87]

Yeah, I'm most careful in places like that. If I were radaring people, I would definitely hide in an area with lots of noise.

I'm going to have to start counting the hits on the way home so I'll notice any differences...

2003.5 Sedan 6MT | Sport/Aero/Premium | Desert Platinum/Willow | 350Z intake | Pictures