Radar Detectors to be banned.

[dmwill]

Yup. Rob Johnson is at it again.

Spotted today in the West. Has the intention to ban them totally as they do not save lives.

Thoughts?

I have a few myself but in a hurry - I'll express the later...

[addicted.to.speed]

Radar detectors save MORE lives than speed cameras - how many times do you slow down when your radar detector has a false alarm?

[monk_13]

Radar detectors save MORE lives than speed cameras - how many times do you slow down when your radar detector has a false alarm?

Exactly the same thing i was thinking. I know I do.

[poonisher187]

Personaly, I hate the keent but seriously... just stop speeding everywhere and you won't have problems...

Only thing we should be worrying about is those dogpingpingpingpings in blue who "RBT" you and go through your whole car looking for a frayed bit of cloth on your seat or a chrome pipe in your engine bay and BAM yellow.

But yes, banning radar detectors is just another way of making some revenue in these "tough economical times"

[Ryan1080]

Personaly, I hate the keent but seriously... just stop speeding everywhere and you won't have problems...


I personally have no problems copping it doing 20 or 30 kays over. BUt one of those innocent 8 kays over fines are ridiculous profiteering. Hence why the radar detectors shoudl stay legal, to avoid this crap.

[SIK RX3]

maybe they should ban speed cameras then, they do not save lives...

[Miggy]

maybe they should ban speed cameras then, they do not save lives...

Right on!

The only reason they want them banned is to raise revenue no other reason at all.

[Wuked]

^^ Agree with Ryan about those annoying few kmh over fines when going down hill or just not focusing on the speedo.

Anyway the point of speed cameras is to make people slow down. Radar detectors make people slow down.

Gov just trying to get more money in the downturn is the only reason this has come up again imo

[cplagz]

Having my radar detector definitely made me a more aware driver. Also I think the SRS(?) system in them is great for emergency vehicles and roadworks - I always got notifications before I heard sirens.

[dmwill]

Arguments against outlawing them...

-Eyes are kept on the road and not always focused on the speedo.
-Foot goes off the throttle regardless of the speed when ever it sounds off - even false alarms.
-Thousands of people will be out of pocket with a device upto $1000 that they are not allowed to use.
-Technology available to police for use in radars and such has caught up to detectors (weaker output signals, rear facing cameras etc) hence detectors are not as effective as they used to be.
-Small number of people without a job (The ones who earn a living from selling the devices).
-People will go to greater measures to avoid getting pinged - stealth installs, hiding plates, all the so-called stealth paints etc.
-More people will get charged for 1-9kp/h over limit resulting in further backlogs in the fine system. A delay of upto 6months in receiving a fine has no justification.

I'm not one for writing letters, contacting people etc.... But seeing I will be out of pocket with a device worth a few hundred that I am not allowed to use, I am looking at writing up something to our good friend Rob. Maybe I'll include the receipt asking to be reimbursed.

[fsbk]

so bullshit hopefully common sense prevails and doesn't get passed the upper house. what's the deal with them in other states? are you allowed them in nsw, vic, qld, sa etc?

random speed camera's are a blatant tax on the community. i'm all for static camera's in notorious black spots for speeding related accidents with plenty of warning signs. this almost guarantees the speed limit will be adhered to.

[dmwill]

Banned in every other sate/territory (Sale and use of...)

WA has allowed the use of them, despite the Government suggesting banning them for the last 10-odd years. Michelle Roberts back in the day wanted to charge anyone using one to face a fine of upto $2200.

[McLOVIN]

$1200+ fine if caught with a radar detector in NSW. Another fine for the same amount if you refuse to hand it over.

[fourseven]

The argument that always kept this from being written into law in the past was that it slowed people down at some point. Hopefully this will continue to prevent kneejerk legislation changes.

[PSI 304]

Being a seller of radar detectors i see so many people come in to buy them...and when asked 'been pinged have ya?' all too often i hear "i was doing 3k's over and the dog pingpingpingping still got me!". Its not just younger drivers either, ones in there 50's and 60's are all investing in them!

The main point to emphasise about them is that they arent designed as "radar detectors" but more as Saftey Warning Systems (SWS's). 5 Very valid points emailed to me by my supplier yesterday morning with their response to the news segment:

"1) radar detectors are still 100% legal
2) we have been put in this argument many times before and have always won as there is no evidence to support the banning of detectors
3) there is over 120 SWS transmitters being used in WA 24/7 and only 26 multanovas being used in shifts so the units are obviously a safety orientated device
4) banning detectors wont make you stop speeding. If you choose to speed you will with or with-out the technology by your side
5) governments need people to tell them to improve road safety by taking factual precautions like more driver training and improving roads"


I think point #3 puts it in perspective a bit.

[dmwill]

3) there is over 120 SWS transmitters being used in WA 24/7 and only 26 multanovas being used in shifts so the units are obviously a safety orientated device

I think point #3 puts it in perspective a bit.

http://www.adrawa.com.au/sws.htm

Very good points mentioned in above link.

[Alt_F4]

3) there is over 120 SWS transmitters being used in WA 24/7 and only 26 multanovas being used in shifts so the units are obviously a safety orientated device

Ok so that would be 120 safety devices, with a fair amount of capital invested in them with the focus of saving lives... and the government wants them to be made useless.

Nice one.

[Volatile Rob]

Being a seller of radar detectors i see so many people come in to buy them...and when asked 'been pinged have ya?' all too often i hear "i was doing 3k's over and the dog pingpingpingping still got me!". Its not just younger drivers either, ones in there 50's and 60's are all investing in them!

The main point to emphasise about them is that they arent designed as "radar detectors" but more as Saftey Warning Systems (SWS's). 5 Very valid points emailed to me by my supplier yesterday morning with their response to the news segment:

"1) radar detectors are still 100% legal
2) we have been put in this argument many times before and have always won as there is no evidence to support the banning of detectors
3) there is over 120 SWS transmitters being used in WA 24/7 and only 26 multanovas being used in shifts so the units are obviously a safety orientated device
4) banning detectors wont make you stop speeding. If you choose to speed you will with or with-out the technology by your side
5) governments need people to tell them to improve road safety by taking factual precautions like more driver training and improving roads"


I think point #3 puts it in perspective a bit.

I take it you got Scott's email :)

Everytime this comes up, its always put to rest and forgotten about as quick as it came...

It's just the same old shit from our government revisited every couple of years.

The quicker we forget about it, the quicker it'll disappear from the news again.

Rob

[Rich]

f**k the goverment and ther stupid ideas. I have noticed that I drive slower and I am more aware of my speed with the detector. im constantly getting false alarms, and keeping my eye or ear on it. driving a car without it i tend to check my speed alot less. and SWS rocks! every car should be fitted with an SWS receiver.

either way im glad I bought one of the stealth models.

on a seperate note, I saw something this morning which I see every couple of weeks which reminded me of useful policys that the goverment could be initiating. went through my local school zone this morning obviously 40kph. one cop on each side of the road. both of them busy writing out tickets. I must have seen them there 20 or 30 times and everytime they are always writing tickets. there is definately no shortage of people speeding through school zones.

hmm which is more dangerous to society? speeding through a school zone with heaps of kids running around or going out to a deserted piece of bitchumen and dropping a skid?

time for the MAKE OUR SCHOOL ZONES SAFER FOR OUR KIDS Campaign

1st time caught speeding in a school zone. standard fine plus vehicle confiscation
...
3rd time caught speeding in a school zone. standard fine plus vehicle confiscation for good, and vehicle crushed.

bout time the government introduced punishments that fit the crime.

and dont even get me started on drink drivers. less than 2 years prison for drinking and driving and killing someone. and you still get to keep your car?

WHAT A JOKE!!!

[Lonewolf]

and dont even get me started on drink drivers. less than 2 years prison for drinking and driving and killing someone. and you still get to keep your car?

WHAT A JOKE!!!

I like the people that lose their licence like 25 times and keep driving. No long term punishment so they keep doing it.

[SIK RX3]

drunks go buy alchohol, which is taxed heavily by the government, they care about a budget and pay rise/entitlements over anything else, not enough media coverage to warrant making a big fuss over, even if you crash into a house and kill someone's kid... like the coppers, your in with them or your out....

[ReaperSS]

Yup. Rob Johnson is at it again.

Has the intention to ban them totally as they do not save lives.

Thoughts?

I]

Ban hoon laws, they arnt saving lives either!!

[poonisher187]

Ban Rob Johnson, he hasn't saved lives either!!

Fixed.

[Sciflyer]

I take it you got Scott's email :)

Everytime this comes up, its always put to rest and forgotten about as quick as it came...

It's just the same old shit from our government revisited every couple of years.

The quicker we forget about it, the quicker it'll disappear from the news again.

Rob

Exactly

As i recall last time banning radar detectors was discussed in parliament there were one or two members who stood up for their use, the point was made that there is no evidence that banning detectors has any influence on the road toll whatsoever, nor does it encourage speeding or hoon behaviour or all the other bullshit they come up with

Seems very coincidental that the very time the police service budgets are getting hammered they are looking at any punitive measures they can find to squeeze more money out of the public.

wankers. :shake:

BTW i think you should edit the topic as there is no certainty they will be banned anyway, a bill hasnt even been introduced its just the usual suspects (eg Grant cockhead Dorrington) parroting on about the same old crap they do every year

[McLOVIN]

What does the Police budget have to do with the Government banning the use of radar detectors? Police don't work on commission.

On a different note, I remember when these things were legal in NSW. A family friend had one and it was always going off whenever you got near shopping centres and what-not. Apparently something to do with commercial grade security alarms. Does that sorta shit still happen?

[Sciflyer]

err you dont think Rob Johnson and Karl OCallaghan talk?

Wonder why the States' top cop has publically come out and said he would like to see them banned even before any legislation has even been drawn up?

[Fryman]

they are best mates

dorrington and callaghan , head piglet and road safety council, hand in hand dancing down the street.

according to that newspaper article, everybody in the western world "HATES" radar detectors and they are useless.

now that theres two, roberts was meant to have passed the legislation thru parliament but she didnt. These two doogooders are behind every major/minor traffic legislation out.

They will make it happen. Watch and see.

[dmwill]

What does the Police budget have to do with the Government banning the use of radar detectors? Police don't work on commission.

Because of the Police 3% budget cut (Along with cuts in other departments) There is no guarantee that any additional revenue will go to them anyway. That said, there is no evidence outlawing radar detectors that will increase revenue generated from speeding fines.



On a different note, I remember when these things were legal in NSW. A family friend had one and it was always going off whenever you got near shopping centres and what-not. Apparently something to do with commercial grade security alarms. Does that sorta shit still happen?

Still happens, though not from security systems, but mainly the sensors from auto-door openers and the likes. They operate on the K-band frequency, same as hand-held and dash mounted radars you see in cop cars. Always wondered if Police use a built up areas where people get false K-band alerts to their advantage. Go past a shop - think it's a false alarm, then BAM!

Still recall when I got pulled over and warned back in December for my detector supposedly obscuring my position. The cop was certain they would be banned soon, I hinted that its been talked about for the last 10 years and never will happen. Now I think that cop was right.

[McLOVIN]

So you actually think that the Police budget cuts have any influence on the passing of legislation that will create a new target, which will provide further revenue to the government, not to Police.

If that were the case, almost every single criminal offence would have a monetary fine attached to it rather than a gaol term.

As far as using false alarms as an advantage to catching people using radar detectors, it's actually quite rare to even hear about anyone being caught over here with one. I can count on one hand the number of reports I've read.

[Butcher]

I herd on the news that Mr Karl popo Cumisioner wont be getting a pay rise this year.
Farkin lol

[dmwill]

Good letter in today's West from some bloke suggesting why they should not be banned, not to mention a nice reference towards 'speed-phobic' Grant.

[Mistikal]

Very good letter indeed, just went and read it. Makes a very valid point and a very good argument towards not banning them.

Should they be banned, good bye to my RX65 and hello to a ~$1000 'upgrade' to my car.