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Path: utzoo!watmath!sunybcs!kitty!larry
From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal
Subject: Re: Radar Detector Legislation
Message-ID: <302@kitty.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 10-Aug-85 19:03:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: kitty.302
Posted: Sat Aug 10 19:03:23 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 11-Aug-85 08:26:48 EDT
References: <1081@homxa.UUCP>
Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY
Lines: 44
Xref: watmath net.auto:7554 net.legal:2001

>   I heard on the news today that a NJ assemblyman for Middlesex County
>   (Schwartz I believe) has introduced legislation making the sale, possession
>   and use of radar detectors illegal in New Jersey.  As I am not a resident of
>   NJ I cannot contact my representative and complain but I urge all of you
>   netters in NJ and everywhere to fight this sort of legislation.
> 
>   Radar guns should be unconstiutional but the case has never made it to the
>   Supreme Court.  Radar guns are electronic surveillance devices that the ...
>   ...
>   You may flame me for sounding paranoid, but I am angry at the fact that each
>   year the government tries to enact more unconstitutional laws to control our
>   behavior.

	Why not get to the root of the problem and campaign for the abolition
of all speed limit laws?  If states have speed limit laws, then clearly there
must be some method for police to ascertain the speed of moving vehicles.  What
do you want police to do if they have no radar devices?  Work on an honor
system and place roadside signs which say to motorists: "Flash your lights if
you are speeding so we can stop you and write a summons."?
	Radar detectors are devices to facilitate the commission of a crime -
speeding.  Period.  If you feel that a speed limit encroaches upon your
personal freedom then, as I said above, get the laws abolished.
	Also, more sophisticated devices than radar detectors are presently
being developed by at least two companies that I know of.  They use a low
power infra-red laser which works on a doppler principle, and is precisely
aimed at suspect verhicles using an optical sight.  One company is specifically
developing their product around a video camera/recorder which will take
photographs of vehicles exceeding a preset threshhold, with a superimposed
time/date/speed legend.  They even have an optional second generation image
intensifier for nighttime use.  This IR doppler method has been feasible for
many years; only cost has been a limiting factor.  I understand that a cost
of less than $ 5K will shortly be reached, which will make it a viable
product for police department budgets.
	I can't wait to see the detectors for modulated IR...  :-)

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