FixedWing

<center><img src="http://gallery.rennlist.com/albums/albuq92/EastHartford_1043.sized.jpg"></center><p>
Here are my thoughts after using the Pro Laser LASER gun for a little while.

You often hear that LASER is instant and that there is nothing you can do about it once they hit you with it. As both Kevin and I can attest, it isn't true! LASER is actually quite difficult to use. Even at some quite short ranges (400 feet plus) we often could not get a speed on vehicles at all and it almost always took a few seconds before the unit would lock in when we could.

So when that V1 goes off, don't just assume you're done for. Slow down as fast as you *safely* can to the speed limit. If you're lucky, he will not get a reading on you until after you've slowed down.

I've used two units now. One was a binocular type unit with a magnification which I used in Europe. This made it really easy to target on the plate. The second is the Pro Laser unit. This also provided a targetting sight. Both tended to help the operator concentrate on the micro view. What I found is that getting a speed took concentration and it was almost impossible to be watching traffic and getting and independent feel for the speed while doing so. My point is that while the operator is using the unit, he probably isn't going to be aware that you are braking like crazy (unless he hears squealing tyres of course). So don't be a sissy about slowing down!

Also, the operator tends to watch the speed in the display while targetting you. The display doesn't lock until he releases the trigger. At least this is the way the Pro Laser worked. Maybe other units lock the highest speed but I can see obvious problems with that so I doubt they would. Point being that if you nail the brakes it will take him an instant to realise that your speed is dropping quickly and release the trigger. This too could shave a couple MPH off your speed should he decide to stop you.

When he releases the trigger it locks both speed and distance. At its heart, LASER is distance measuring equipment (RADAR measures speed and not distance -- the operator has no clue what distance it is operating at or what is in his range). He will write down your speed and distance. If you nailed the brakes, he might be tempted to write down the top speed he saw. Yet the distance will be the distance he released the trigger at since he won't know the earlier distances.

So if you have any intention whatsoever of fighting the ticket, ask him politely to see the LASER equipment. He will most likely refuse. But the fact that he refused helps your case. And if he agrees then first thing you do is take note of the reading on the gun. If the reading shows the distance he recorded yet a lower speed then that is evidence that can be used against the cop at trial.

Lastly, the colour of your car, the size of the vehicle whether you have crome on the front of the car, whether it is clean or caked in salt, and especially, whether you are running a front license plate, these all make a big difference in his ability to target your vehicle. Kevin was still able to get my S4 with no front license plate. But with one it would have been much easier. There were some dirty black cars which were just about impossible to get. So keep that in mind when you decide whether or not to run a front plate or to black out the crome or to remove the front fog lights. Remember that not having a front plate is rarely a moving violation (i.e. points &amp; insurance) whereas speeding always is.

Stephen<ul><li><a href="http://www.radar.co.nz/usa/gallery.htm">Pro Laser 2 by Kustom Electronics</a></li></ul>

FixedWing

If they were human we'd probably call them vain and insecure. I mean, they do make the fastest German cars on the road. They're the only major German manufacturers that don't have to abide by the 250 km/h maximum speed. So the least they could do is be honest about their speeds...

On the other hand, kudos to Audi for keeping their speedos accurate! :-)

The inaccurate speedos probably explain why the speed limiters don't kick in until after 250 km/h indicated.

Stephen

DaveD4

Great info! - thanks for posting

VerrÜckt

barely doing 180.

FixedWing

Maybe then it had different wheels. At least now it is "only" 10 km/h difference. :-/

Stephen

Mark P

Flat highway, cruise control set, OEM wheel/tire size, properly inflated...

GPS says 79.2:
<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/golf/misc_pics/images/79.2mph_gps.jpg">

ECUx reads ECU which thinks 79.3:
<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/golf/misc_pics/images/79.2mph_per_gps_ecu_thinks_79.3.jpg">

Speedo says ~82:
<img src="http://ctny.audiworld.com/mark/golf/misc_pics/images/79.2mph_per_gps_gauge_shows_82.jpg">

FixedWing

So you know that the car knows exactly how fast it is going yet has fudged the speedo. Not as much as Porsche does but they still did it.

Take a few readings and see if you can figure out the formula they used. Then you'll know your real speed from the speedo exactly.

Stephen