Speed Violation -> Radar Detector Purchase

[Hammer]

Well, it had to happen sooner or later, I suppose.
On Monday I got caught in a speed trap. Beautiful day, top down on the convertible, driving down from the Akyu Ootaki waterfall amidst some gorgeous scenery ... when a little helmeted guy jumps out and starts frantically waving a flag in my face. They were set up with a bus with tables and benches to process their victims, so they were definitely there for a "fundraiser."

I was doing 62 in a 40 zone, so I can't really complain, and I will accept the consequences gracefully, but they were hauling people in one after another, some for doing about 46 in a 40 zone. Definitely a fundraiser. Nobody does 40 down that road ... and it was downhill too, further increasing the chances of getting a bit over the limit.

Anyway, so that's 2 points on my previous spotless license (which will automatically clear in three months, assuming no more violations), and a JPY 15,000 fine. Lovely.

And just BTW ... they didn't even want to look at my AR. They were actually very polite.

So the next day I went out and bought a radar detector. Cellstar/Assura AR-G1A.

It's still sitting on my desk, to be installed at the next opportunity, but I'm amazed at the technology they're packing into these things these days. Not only does it have GPS so it can tell you exactly where the permanent speed cameras and police stations are, plus locations where the police frequently set up traps and more on map displays, but it has a gyro so it can keep tabs on your location in tunnels and during other brief GPS blackouts, and warn you of excessive acceleration or deceleration (which you should be able to notice without help, but it's still cool). An accurate digital speed display is another nice feature, and there's a bunch of other neat tricks it does that I haven't figured out yet. Free monthly data updates are available from the net.

Cost at my local Autobacs store was 19,800, marked down from the retail 29,800.

Interestingly, Japan is one of the few countries where radar detectors are totally legal.
There's a list on the Wikipedia page here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector

I am impressed. More info once I start using the thing.

[chokonen888]

That sucks!

If they actually gave a shit about speed, they'd just position an very visible officer on a bike (or two) but as you said, sounds like the department is holding fundraiser for their next hostess clubbing event.

Painting my next car radar absorbing matte black stealth

[Russell]

Recently the patrols for traffic violations were very much intensified here in Hyogo prefecture too.

I got caught twice within one month for not fully obeying the 一旦停止 sign, and though it costs me only 7000 Yen per time, it racketed up 2 points twice, meaning that my license will get suspended when I get 2 more points within one year... (to get it back I would need to follow a 1-day lecture by some moron).

There goes the gold-status of my driver license, and with it the discount I presumably receive on the car insurance.

Anyway, thanks for the tip about the radar detector. It now becomes very useful for me to purchase one too. Off to Autobacs...

[Hammer]

Recently the patrols for traffic violations were very much intensified here in Hyogo prefecture too.

I got caught twice within one month for not fully obeying the 一旦停止 sign, and though it costs me only 7000 Yen per time, it racketed up 2 points twice, meaning that my license will get suspended when I get 2 more points within one year... (to get it back I would need to follow a 1-day lecture by some moron).

There goes the gold-status of my driver license, and with it the discount I presumably receive on the car insurance.

Anyway, thanks for the tip about the radar detector. It now becomes very useful for me to purchase one too. Off to Autobacs...

I've noticed speed traps all over the place lately ... unfortunately I didn't spot the one I got caught in. I suppose I should have been more careful. The police coffers must be getting low. Such a PITA.

As for the radar detection thing, I'm not entirely sure how useful that'll be. There's a possibility that if you've been pinged you're already busted. I think the "stealth" radars are like that. In the manual it says you have up to 30 seconds leeway with a standard radar, but almost none with a stealth radar. But just knowing the locations of permanent and frequently set up traps will be an advantage.

We'll see (I hope not by being busted).

I'm usually very careful, but you can still get busted just by going with the general traffic flow.

[Gaspard de Coligny]

Well, it had to happen sooner or later, I suppose.
On Monday I got caught in a speed trap. Beautiful day, top down on the convertible, driving down from the Akyu Ootaki waterfall amidst some gorgeous scenery ... when a little helmeted guy jumps out and starts frantically waving a flag in my face. They were set up with a bus with tables and benches to process their victims, so they were definitely there for a "fundraiser."

I was doing 62 in a 40 zone, so I can't really complain, and I will accept the consequences gracefully, but they were hauling people in one after another, some for doing about 46 in a 40 zone. Definitely a fundraiser. Nobody does 40 down that road ... and it was downhill too, further increasing the chances of getting a bit over the limit.

Anyway, so that's 2 points on my previous spotless license (which will automatically clear in three months, assuming no more violations), and a JPY 15,000 fine. Lovely.

And just BTW ... they didn't even want to look at my AR. They were actually very polite.

So the next day I went out and bought a radar detector. Cellstar/Assura AR-G1A.

It's still sitting on my desk, to be installed at the next opportunity, but I'm amazed at the technology they're packing into these things these days. Not only does it have GPS so it can tell you exactly where the permanent speed cameras and police stations are, plus locations where the police frequently set up traps and more on map displays, but it has a gyro so it can keep tabs on your location in tunnels and during other brief GPS blackouts, and warn you of excessive acceleration or deceleration (which you should be able to notice without help, but it's still cool). An accurate digital speed display is another nice feature, and there's a bunch of other neat tricks it does that I haven't figured out yet. Free monthly data updates are available from the net.

Cost at my local Autobacs store was 19,800, marked down from the retail 29,800.

Interestingly, Japan is one of the few countries where radar detectors are totally legal.
There's a list on the Wikipedia page here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector

I am impressed. More info once I start using the thing.

If the product has been designed by smart peeps, the GPS speedo is supposed to work with the database and sensor to warn you of overspeed only on dangerous zones... Now if it was designed by japanese... it's just craming as much usless unrelated shit together for the sake of whatever they were high on...

(My HUD GPS speedo have fixed alarm that you set up to desired speed limit -up to 4- and a bluetooth module sending GPS data to whatever you want.)

[Hammer]

(My HUD GPS speedo have fixed alarm that you set up to desired speed limit -up to 4- and a bluetooth module sending GPS data to whatever you want.)

Oh yeah? Well mine also functions as a digital photo frame!
So there! (nyah nyah nyah ...)

Seriously though, the damn thing can display the vehicle's roll and pitch, it displays an altitude graph for the past 30 minutes, it displays the number and positions of currently accessible GPS satellites around the globe, it logs GPS data to a micro SD card so you can plot routes on a map, it displays your car battery voltage ... and ... and ... it has a whole bunch of sneaky features for locating radars, speed cameras, and police vehicles ... and ...

... I'll let you know after I actually figure out what the heck it can do for me.

It really does work as a digital photo frame, by the way.

[Gaspard de Coligny]

Ok, but does it give blowjobs ?

[Big Booger]

Do you have to take the classes for overspeeders? I had to. And then at renewal time I had to watch a 3 hour video on road safety for 2 of the last 3 renewals I did! It sucks ass. I just slept through the thing.. as did almost everyone else.

[Hammer]

Do you have to take the classes for overspeeders? I had to. And then at renewal time I had to watch a 3 hour video on road safety for 2 of the last 3 renewals I did! It sucks ass. I just slept through the thing.. as did almost everyone else.

No special classes ... yet.
Believe it or not, this was my first speeding violation. Hopefully it'll be my last ( ).
The points (2 points) clear automatically after 3 months, which is a relief. But, unfortunately, it stays on my record and means that I do have to sit through a longer lecture at my next license renewal. You have to sit through one at renewal time anyway though. The minimum for little angels is 30 minutes, I think, so it might be an hour or two.

[Hammer]

Quick update ...

So far I'm so pleased with the first AR-G1A I bought, I went ahead and bought another one for the second car. So the next challenge is how to wire them in nice and cleanly. I bought some wire molding for use in cars that looks like it'll neatly conceal any wire that has to run over visible areas of the dashboard, and some adhesive wire clips for use in other areas.

If I do a presentable job I'll take some pics.

[Hugh Jørgen]

Your adventure with the speed trap reminded me of this:

What Goes Through A Biker’s Head When You Try And Kill Him

Thought Nineteen: "Wouldn't it be nice if cops wrote tickets for bad driving instead of just speeding? That way, the roads might actually be safe and stuff."

[Gaspard de Coligny]

Quick update ...

So far I'm so pleased with the first AR-G1A I bought, I went ahead and bought another one for the second car. So the next challenge is how to wire them in nice and cleanly. I bought some wire molding for use in cars that looks like it'll neatly conceal any wire that has to run over visible areas of the dashboard, and some adhesive wire clips for use in other areas.

If I do a presentable job I'll take some pics.

So invest immediately in these kind of non marring tools:

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/profession ... 737?item=4

And check online if you can find the Maker's manual for disassembly. It was a life save with the Note... Basically, 99% of the interior (and maybe 50% of the whole car) is press-fit but you need to know were the clips are and in which order the parts have to be taken appart

[Gaspard de Coligny]

Your adventure with the speed trap reminded me of this:

What Goes Through A Biker’s Head When You Try And Kill Him

Thought Nineteen: "Wouldn't it be nice if cops wrote tickets for bad driving instead of just speeding? That way, the roads might actually be safe and stuff."

Cute... but somebody remind them that the road and traffic laws apply to them to and after we'll talk aboot that whole murder thing...

[Hugh Jørgen]

Your adventure with the speed trap reminded me of this:

What Goes Through A Biker’s Head When You Try And Kill Him

Thought Nineteen: "Wouldn't it be nice if cops wrote tickets for bad driving instead of just speeding? That way, the roads might actually be safe and stuff."

Cute... but somebody remind them that the road and traffic laws apply to them to and after we'll talk aboot that whole murder thing...

Right, because the proper response to someone you feel has gotten ahead of you, regardless of how they did it, is to attempt attack with a deadly weapon. Also, you realize that filtering is allowed in Japan. Not on yellow lines, not between lanes of different types (straight lane/turn lane), and not to cross the stop line when at the intersection. There are rules, naturally, but it is allowed.

[Gaspard de Coligny]

Sorry... replace press-fit with snap-fit... it's totally different process involving different materials... press fit usually involve two metal parts, carbonic ice and hydraulic press while snap-fit require pushing by hand two room temperature part one of them being more flexible than the other.

[Hammer]

Sorry... replace press-fit with snap-fit... it's totally different process involving different materials... press fit usually involve two metal parts, carbonic ice and hydraulic press while snap-fit require pushing by hand two room temperature part one of them being more flexible than the other.

I understood (I know I can be a pedantic pr*ck at times, but I got your meaning).

I'll be doing as little disassembly as possible. If I can manage a clean install by simply running the wire around and behind stuff, and by using the molding, which is pretty much the same color as the dash, then that's what I'll do. Who knows when I'll want to upgrade to a different model (although the power supply probably won't change, the installation method/location might).

It has stopped raining! I don't have a heavy work schedule. Today might be the day ... if I can get off my lazy derriere.

[Hammer]

Right, because the proper response to someone you feel has gotten ahead of you, regardless of how they did it, is to attempt attack with a deadly weapon. Also, you realize that filtering is allowed in Japan. Not on yellow lines, not between lanes of different types (straight lane/turn lane), and not to cross the stop line when at the intersection. There are rules, naturally, but it is allowed.

It's not just car drivers threatening bikers though. Some of these guys on motorbikes scare the crap out of me. Not because they're threatening me physically, but because its like they're trying to commit suicide using my car. That goes for young people on "genchari" who treat them more like skateboards than actual motor vehicles as well as riders of larger bikes who seem to think they're immortal. Lane splitting may be legal, but you have guys doing it at stupid speed through impossibly narrow gaps in moving traffic. Just stupid, no matter how you look at it. All it takes is one car to veer a little to the left or right and they're screwed. They can go splat themselves up against a utility pole or wall if they like, just leave other people's cars out of it (especially mine).

[Gaspard de Coligny]

Your adventure with the speed trap reminded me of this:

What Goes Through A Biker’s Head When You Try And Kill Him

Cute... but somebody remind them that the road and traffic laws apply to them to and after we'll talk aboot that whole murder thing...

Right, because the proper response to someone you feel has gotten ahead of you, regardless of how they did it, is to attempt attack with a deadly weapon. Also, you realize that filtering is allowed in Japan. Not on yellow lines, not between lanes of different types (straight lane/turn lane), and not to cross the stop line when at the intersection. There are rules, naturally, but it is allowed.

Dood, everything gets ahead of me, I don't have the car nor the driving style to be ahead. But when some asshole as the light turn green overtake me from the right to make a turn left I sometimes wonder where is the split between murder from me and suicide from him, same goes for the punks riding opposite direction like if we where in France or the US. Remember, I'm the guy who always try to get behind a Kuroneko Yamato or (that little panda moving company that name escapes me right now, Sakai maybe) truck because they drive the speed limits and stop at the red lights.

[Hugh Jørgen]

Both you and Hammer have valid points. I see insane riders every day. Those sorts bother me whether I'm in cager mode (trapped in a 4-wheel box) or riding a motorbike myself. But, I still don't think anyone should go at a rider with a car for any reason. Sadly, I have been on the receiving end of cars going at me on purpose and very aggressively, for no other reason that I legally split lanes and got ahead of them at some point. A taxi even went so far as to ram me, twice. I was very lucky to be able to get off the road before he either knocked me over or pushed me into the car in front. Okinawa is a bit of a special case, but the drivers down here do stupid, illegal shit just as often as the riders. No one is blameless, but people here do not seem to get that vehicular homicide is bad, mkay. It doesn't matter that the pedistrian/cyclist/motorbiker/other car did something that pissed you off. You just do not got after them with your car. Ever. Period.

/rant

[Hammer]

It doesn't matter that the pedistrian/cyclist/motorbiker/other car did something that pissed you off. You just do not got after them with your car. Ever. Period.

/rant

Well ... no, of course not. Nobody is disagreeing with that. The thought/desire has never even crossed my mind.
I thought the whole point of driving (other than getting from A to B) was to actively avoid hitting things, especially people.

Sounds like you've had some bad experiences.

I haven't seen much "road rage" up here, just plenty of stupid, careless driving. Pulling out of a driveway or away from the curb without even looking to the right is one I see regularly. Super stupid and dangerous, so you always have to keep a close eye on vehicles that might do that. The trouble is that sometimes they're hidden behind a wall or another car and you have no way of even knowing they're there. People on bicycles riding on the road against the traffic is surprisingly common, too. It's illegal, but bicycle riders seem to believe that no laws apply to them at all. Swerving out suddenly to cross the road without even looking is the norm. And people who are at least smart enough to pull over and stop when talking on the phone sometimes pick the stupidest possible places to do it. One guy was pulled over and chatting away happily on the offramp from the expressway! I mean, seriously, wtf? I could go on and on, but so far I haven't seen anyone yelling at someone or threatening them in any way. Maybe I just don't drive in the right places. I have noticed that drivers in Tokyo are a lot more aggressive though. Lots more horn tooting than I hear up here.