Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 02:02:45 GMT
From: robert.heuman@rose.com (robert heuman)
Newsgroups: comp.society.privacy
Subject: Radar Detector Prohib
Organization: Rose Media Inc, Toronto, Ontario.
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X-Computer-Privacy-Digest: Volume 2, Issue 011, Message 3 of 11


Date Entered: 01-20-93 20:54
"T. Archer" <ARCHER@utkvm1.utk.edu> says, in part:
 
> I needn't answer that.  You are assuming guilt and asking me to prove 
> otherwise.  That's not the way the law works, nor should it.

Only in some jurisdictions.  Try some of the Latin American countries 
and see if innocent until proven guilty holds water... it doesn't. 
You can also try China, Laos, and several of the countries in Africa.

Further, Radar detectors are now proving dangerous to Greyhound 
busses.  Seems they have RADAR to help the driver see obstacles in 
front of him that are not yet visible to the eye, etc.  A car with a 
detector passing the bus will have its detector set off, and then the 
car's driver tends to slam on the brakes and pull immediately in front 
of the bus, causing the driver to slam on his brakes, and all of the 
cars immediately behind the bus to follow suit. In bad weather this 
can cause a chain reaction crash.... Whether this is due to the radar 
detector in the car or the radar in the bus is a moot point, as the 
radar is for the safety of the bus and its passengers, while the 
detector is for the purpose of avoiding police radar detection of 
speeding violations - after all, there is NO other reason to have one 
in a car and operating, is there?

If one never exceeds the maximum speed limit or drives under the 
minimum speed limit, a radar detector is NOT required.  If one 
regularly exceeds the top limit, a detector might be the only way to 
prevent loss of a driver's license, due to point accumulation.  For a 
professional driver (Truck, cab driver, messenger, whatever) this is a 
livelihood situation. That is why they have detectors, and if any 
disbelieves this, ask THEM - they will confirm this statement.  It is 
the same reason they often use CBs to notify other drivers of police 
they spot when travelling the other direction on the highways and 
byways of the country.  I admit that they also advise re accidents, 
dangerous road conditions, and other factors on the CB.  They CANNOT 
provide such advise using their radar detector.  Therefore, I say BAN 
THE DETECTOR and make the road safer for the non-speeders.  If the 
threat of losing one's license to drive is more real, there will be 
less speeding.  This will reduce the number of high speed accidents, 
and the injuries that come from high speed accidents.  It will not 
eliminate them!  It will also do nothing re drunk driving, or drugged 
driving.  Those are other issues, and still have impact.  However, 
that they still will exist does not mean that a device whose sole 
purpose is to permit violation of speeding laws with greater impunity 
should continue to be sold.

A long screed, and one man's opinion only, but any in support of my 
position are welcome to join in.  Opposition is also welcome, if 
anyone can provide me with some reasoned position for continued use of 
radar detectors without spouting about the various amendments to the 
US Constitution (not applicable in the rest of the world) or nonsense 
about a right to listen to the full radio spectrum, which is also 
being abrogated by the US govt at the present.

Bob


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