DO RADAR & LASER DETECTORS REALLY WORK? -- PLUS -- BEN'S TIPS TO MINIMIZE THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF A SPEEDING TICKET (AND WHO TO CALL FOR LEGAL HELP IF IT'S TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE!)

Is Your Heart Beating A Little Faster Thanks To The Red Light In Your Rear-View Mirror?

First...my disclaimer: This section is not intended to encourage you to break the law. I'm not going to lecture you about the dangers of speeding--and the real life potential physical danger to you and others on the highways of America and beyond if you choose to drive faster than the posted speed limits. That's not my job.

I deal with the realities of life. The fact is that almost as of us speed from time to time, some of us more often than others. We obviously don't intend to get behind the wheel and cause bodily harm to anyone, nor do we plan on going out and getting a ticket that could cost us hundreds--even thousands--of dollars in fines and higher insurance premiums. So let's talk reality: From rating the radar/laser detectors to choosing a course of action if you do get popped by the law, to learning how to avoid a ticket in the first place (outside of the obvious...drive the speed limit!!!), I'll do my best to arm you with information that's entirely legal, but controversial and definitely politically-incorrect.

Rating The Radar & Laser Detectors

Technical thanks are necessary: Team Dover wants to thank the great folks at Earmark Car Audio: www.earmarkcaraudio.com/ for providing the assorted equipment that we tested for this segment. Check out Earmark for a great selection and competitive pricing...here's their locations: Addison: 4021 Beltline Road (Between Marsh & Midway) (972) 458-7927; Plano: 3132 W. Parker Rd. (SW Corner @ Independence) (972) 612-6886; Dallas: 5711 W. Lovers Ln. (Between Inwood & The Tollway) (214) 350-5500; Richardson/Garland: 940 E. Beltline Rd. (Main St, 1.25 Mile East Of Central) (972) 644-1311.

I've been using radar detectors since the 1970s, and got my first radar-laser combo detector in 1992. I got my first one at Radio Shack and it worked fine...and I'm sure it paid for itself many times over by tipping me off to the existence of police radar and giving me time to check (and adjust if necessary) my speed. I still use an Escort Passport Solo 4 and even after learning what I'm about to share with you in this special report, I'll still continue to use my radar/laser detector.

The newer laser technology is pretty good (from the law enforcement perspective) and pretty tough to "beat" them...thanks to some help from the best and brightest Fort Worth P.D. has to offer, one thing has become painfully clear: No matter how good you think your reactions are, you're no match for today's speed limit enforcement technology. We tested some of the best detectors available on the market today and frankly, it doesn't matter how much you spend, you're dead meat. The more expensive detectors have some additional bells-and-whistles, but the fact remains: Even if you had reflexes like an NHL-caliber goalie, you're no match for today's radar/laser technology. Why? Read on...

Static vs. Trigger Radar Guns

When I mentioned the fact that I'll continue to use my radar/laser detector, I'm not doing so because I'm trying to delude myself into thinking I've gotta chance in the cat-and-mouse game of speeding without getting caught. Most of the radar I encounter is on I-30 between Dallas and Fort Worth, and my detector goes off when the police are popping speeders with their "gun" radar units...I'm lucky enough in most cases to be going slow enough, and not be driving in the far-left lane and I usually avoid the pink slip. When my detector goes off, usually it's someone else getting the ticket in front of me.

But more and more law enforcement agencies are using "gun" radar units. They're off until the cop pulls the trigger and it suddenly sends a burst of radar waves out that send your detectors screaming off of your dashboards. If you're in the wrong place or going the fastest (in the eyes of the cops), you lose. Hearing the radar detector react to these bursts gives you a chance to slow down and hopefully avoid an expensive day in court. Older law enforcement agencies will use the static radar units that you can pick-up in plenty of time to adjust your speed. Maybe.

Bottom line? Today's radar detectors that I personally tested at the Texas Motor Speedway for this story all worked...just too late. The detectors all went off about the same time/distance from the police officers operating them. The problem? The cops had us "locked in" anywhere from .5 to 1.0 seconds before the detectors went off in the car. You're busted!

Laser "Guns" = Instant Tickets

I've gotten my share of tickets as a result of police officers' using laser guns to detect my speed. A word to the wise: If you own a laser detector (most detectors sold today are "combination" units that detect both radar and laser) and the "laser portion" of your detector goes off? Take my advice...slow down, and get out your drivers license and insurance card, because you're dead meat. They've got you. It doesn't matter how quick or how hard you jam on your brakes--it's over. Get ready to put on a good face for the police officer you're about to be visited by.

"May I see your license please???"

The best piece of advice I can give you as you're about to roll down your window to greet the law enforcement official that's about to give you a ticket? Don't be an ass. Don't be disrespectful. And for God's sakes, don't be memorable! Memorable?

Cops have memories...and what they lack in memories, they'll make up for by taking notes. I know. It happened to me once back in 1994 in Fort Worth; this awful female cop pulled me over for speeding; I had just gotten out of a doctor's appointment and was driving home with a 104 degree temperature. I was sick-as-a-dog and tried to tap into any compassion this person might have had in her body, hoping to get out of the ticket and get home and in bed. But this woman was a total bitch, had no regard for my physical condition and I was sick and mad as hell. My pleas for compassion got me nothing more than a clear memory in her mind when the case was heard in 1995. My ticket attorney met with the assistant D.A. that was prosecuting, the bitchy cop showed up and guess what? She'd made very complete notes on the back of the ticket that was in my "file jacket" as evidence in the Fort Worth courtroom. My attorney made a deal with the D.A., and $130 later, I went home. ($40 for the attorney and $90 "prob bated sentence" fee--which meant if I kept my nose clean and didn't get any tickets for 60 days, the ticket would be expunged from my record--thus saving my insurance premiums one more time).

Moral of the story? Keep it professional and courteous. "Yes sir. No sir. I didn't realize I was speeding, sir. I'm sorry sir. I'll do better next time. Thank you sir. Have a nice day..." Don't be a jerk, and don't give them a reason to remember you. They're just doing their jobs and you got caught. End of discussion.

Gotten A Ticket? Take Ben's Advice: Get Proper Representation!

I don't care how many "Perry Mason", "LA Law" or "The Practice" reruns you've watched in your life time, unless you've passed the Bar (no, not the Oui Lounge in Fort Worth or the Stoneleigh P in Dallas) and are a qualified attorney able of practicing law, hire yourself an attorney! These guys know what they're doing--this is an area of expertise they've developed over the years, and they understand "the system" a helluva lot better than you ever will. And for a reasonable fee ($40 in Tarrant County, $50 in Dallas County) they'll get you into a much better position to either get the ticket dismissed or negotiated to something that won't give your insurance company an excuse to jack up your rates or cancel you altogether.

If you're interested in my picks as the best "ticket attorneys" in North Texas, e-mail me at askben@bendover.com for their contact information and I'll be happy to direct you to legal counsel that I have a great deal of faith in. Be sure to specify where you received the tickets [city/county] so I can refer you to the appropriate attorney.

Wanna Avoid Getting A Ticket In The First Place? Here's 2 Strategies Worth Reviewing...

#1 is a no-brainer. Drive the speed limit. Give yourself more time and don't rush your way into an expensive ticket...yada, yada, yada. Okay...I said it.

#2 take a little more effort, but I think you'll like the results: Do a little reading and get a better understanding of the hows and whys of traffic law enforcement. Go to your bookstore or Amazon.com and get your hands on a book entitled: "Beat The Cops" by Alex Carroll. Their telephone order number is: (805) 564-6868 or you can check out their website: www.cleandrivingrecord.com Alex has been a guest on my radio show and a recent TV segment, and he's done his homework. The book might be too little too late if you're having to deal with a ticket today, but a little knowledge will hopefully go a long way towards minimizing the chances of another encounter with some of America's best and brightest from the law enforcement community.

OOPS! The Cops Already Nail Ya?

Here's Ben's Advice For (Fellow) Heavy-Footed North TexansLook...I like to drive fast as much as anyone out there. I drive between Fort Worth and Dallas at least 4-5 times a week, so I have many chances to get popped for exceeding the posted speed limits. And I have. If you're in a similar situation and want to avoid having those tickets show up on your record and give the insurance company a chance to raise your rates...then please re-review the information [above] and remember:

-- Cops have good memories.
-- Cops are human.
-- Treat them politely and with the level of courtesy they deserve, even if they're acting like jerks.

Remember, they've got wives and husbands (girlfriends and boyfriends) and kids giving them heartburn, too. They've got bosses they can't stand and have bad days just like you and I. So choose your words carefully, keep your temper in check, and get yourself a lawyer that knows his/her way around the traffic courts and will help you reduce the long-term impact of your latest infraction. If you got nailed in Tarrant County, click here. If you got popped in Dallas or Collin County, click here.

Closing thought:

For God's sake: Don't wait until the last minute to turn your ticket over to your legal counsel. Get off your butt and mail it to them (or drop it by one of their offices) as soon as possible. Remember: If you wait to handle this, you're more likely to forget about it until it's too late. and unlike excuses the success of excuses like "the dog ate my homework" all you're going to do by forgetting a traffic ticket is create a bigger--and potentially much more expensive--mess to clean up.

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