The Fuzz in a Charger

[HeavyFuel]

Here's a story from last weekend when my wife and I were on the highway to attend a wedding.  

Shortly after we got on the road, a car with California plates zoomed past us....must have been going close to 90 mph   and it rubbed me the wrong way.  The pace of everything in our quiet state has been ratcheted up in the last few years by the world's relentless need for bubbling crude (oil, that is...black gold, Texas tea) and I don't like it one bit.      Quickly a plan was hatched to sooth my passive aggression regarding North Dakota's hostile takeover.   This reckless maniac in front of me would become my 'Hero'....thank you very much!   (Because of our late departure my GPS nagged that we'd arrive at the wedding just in time to walk the aisle with the happy couple unless we made up some time on the road.)  

Okay, so California Dreamin' flew past and my right foot lowered in an attempt to keep pace.  I explained to my sweetie that we used to call them 'Heroes', and they earned this moniker because of their fearless (not really) speeding habits.  Other drivers would fall in behind him, establishing the 'hero' as point man/car who would lead a line of giddy law breakers down the highway to hell.  The theory being that the cops would nail the point, and the lemmings would be saved from legal prosecution.    

Well, the hero of this story was moving too fast for my comfort, so I started to back it down and sure enough, one of North Dakota's finest was going in the opposite direction.  I cranked my head and watched the mirrors, waiting for the cherries.....nothing.  

I looked at dollface (she loves it when I call her that) and we supposed that the NDHPs must be feeling generous today.  Whoa, hold on....what's this?  Coming up quick from the rear.....white Dodge Charger, complete with all the bells and whistles, all switched off.  This trooper was in stealth mode,     and blazed past me before my heart rate had a chance to elevate.

Californication was long out of sight, and in a short time the NDHP cruiser was too.  We peered at the road ahead....waiting....YES!  Justice prevails, and by the time we parade past, the perp is getting what I'm sure was stern lecture on what can and can't happen on his stretch of ND highway, yah, you betcha.  

The Mrs. and I were quite pleased with the way we outsmarted the fuzz and snookered Mr. Golden State, neither of which we can really take credit for.  

(disclaimer - if you are from California and find this offensive and are now mad at me....well....I don't care   )

[charge69]

I call them "runners" down here and I will occasionally get about 1/4 mile behind them and follow. If they are bobbing and weaving in traffic, no way I will try to stay with them.  Some of them do some pretty stupid things in traffic around here and I seem to usually be disappointed by not finding them stopped down the road. I guess they got bigger fish to fry around here! Ha!

[fizz]

I am also from ND, currently living in the peoples republic of MN. We work constuction in nd, sd, mt. nb and I particularily dislike cally peoples habit of passing on a wide open road and hitting the brakes. Takes a while to wind a big rig back up. I hate it so much that if see cally plates in my rear view I hit the brakes before they pass. I don't think I would notice a prius on my back bumper. By the way, I hear that negative stuff about the oil patch all the time from people overcharging with their hand out. Way better than foriegn oil.

[Charger440RDN]

This is too funny!   I do that all the time too if I see somebody speeding maybe 10 over the speed limit I get behind em. Here in Illinois though they just passed a law where you can get arrested for doing 30mph over the limit.

The only time I hit 100 is when I'm out in the Cornfields, but usually the sheriff will be out on the country roads.

[oldcarnut]

This is too funny!   I do that all the time too if I see somebody speeding maybe 10 over the speed limit I get behind em. Here in Illinois though they just passed a law where you can get arrested for doing 30mph over the limit.

It wouldn't help here. They just pull the whole group and ticket everyone.  I believe anything over 25 can be 6pts and reckless driving and or arrested too depending  on attitude of driver and officer.  I once got pulled when I was almost at the rear of the pack but the leader got away

[Indygenerallee]

They just pull the whole group and ticket everyone.

Yep they do that here in Indiana as well!!

[TPR]

A very enjoyable read. You are quite the storyteller.
I love seeing idiots get their just deserts. Nothing more satisfying.
TPR

[Troy]

All he did was pass you? If you're doing your preferred speed in your lane and he's doing his preferred speed in his lane then I fail to see the problem here. That's why they call it the "passing lane". Some people have a higher tolerance for risk (ie. they understand they may get a ticket and are OK with taking that chance). I understand that speeds vary around the country (and are entirely too slow in Canada!) but I spend a great deal of time on highways with 70-75 mph speed limits and almost everyone is running about 10 mph over. I don't see 90 as being terribly reckless. If you're used to 45-55 mph two lanes then there's a big gap in perception.

I generally drive faster than the speed limit and I almost always have the cruise control set so I don't get carried away. Even so, when someone passes me like I'm sitting still I *know* they are going waaay fast and don't mind seeing them get pulled over. If they don't then I don't let it affect me in any way. The only time I have to weave through traffic is when someone takes it upon themselves to regulate how other people drive OR they're oblivious to their surroundings (and generally chatting on the phone). I can't begin to describe how annoyed I get by having to pass on the right! (Because I shouldn't ever have to if everyone else was doing their part.) The knuckleheads intentionally cutting off faster drivers or slamming on their brakes to "prove a point" are far more dangerous - but probably not as dangerous as the ones not paying attention at all.

The problem with following your "hero" is that half of them are more like sprinters than long distance runners. They may be going fast for a couple miles but then their ADD kicks in and they forget what they're doing and slow down. I once passed the same guy 11 times on a trip to Tennessee - with the cruise control on. Each time he'd see me and mash the pedal to get in front again. If you're going to lead then lead - otherwise get out of the way! If you do find a good one then slow down when they slow down. Jumping ahead might just get you a ticket even though you've been following for 100 miles.

Troy

[HeavyFuel]

Just havin' a little fun at an out-of-stater's expense, Troy.         Something to wrap a story around...no big deal, we all have to deal with way worse all the time.

[twodko]

I'm from Calidickupia and that bozo put every other driver in serious danger. I hope ND's finest not only lectured him but nailed his ass with a very pricy reckless driving ticket! Common sense and curtesy still prevail here in the PRK......in a lot of us anyway.

[Troy]

Just havin' a little fun at an out-of-stater's expense, Troy.         Something to wrap a story around...no big deal, we all have to deal with way worse all the time.

I hear ya! Look at it this way: as long as you have an overabundance of out-of-towners the police aren't as likely to use locals as a revenue source.

Troy

[Brass]

I get drafters in my wake all the time.  They usually don't keep up.  I drive fast but not recklessly; always signal well in advance and never cut anyone off.  As Troy aptly described, I only weave when regulated.  And as previously mentioned, I have seen drafting backfire many times – cops will sometimes pick off the last in line or try to get the whole string.  To me, the very rare ticket is tax paid for the privilege of speeding.  It helps that I have a nondescript white car and try to stay in the right lane unless passing.

Btw, if someone you're drafting suddenly slows down, it could mean different things:
Their radar detector is working.
They're entering a known speed trap.
They're tired of being pushed or drafted too closely and want to see if you'll sack up and get on point.

[Brock Lee]

I got behind a black Charger speeding toward Ohio. It was the garden variety Charger, not an R/T or SRT8. Guy looked normal enough inside. I rode behind him for several miles and he was doing about 90. The right lane opened up and I decided to take the lead. Just as I was starting to edge up to him, blue lights started flashing from the backup light rectangles! I backed off and he turned them off. Got to work and talked to an officer about it and he said there were several of these stripped down looking Chargers out there. You cannot tell they are police cars from the outside until those lights come on.

[ws23rt]

These stories bring back memories. I was at my usual 80mph by myself at night on an interstate. No other cars in either direction and open country.
I felt something that made me look to my right and there was the state trooper next to me with all lights off. He turned on his dome light and that is what made me look. He had a big grin and was obviously having a good time.
I met him before on that same stretch when he asked if my (fuzbuster) helped me much. I said it did and maybe saved me ten times the price I payed for it. He said It wont work with him Because he didn't use his radar. He said it wasn't sporting. I like to chase and pace he said.
He enjoyed his job and there was never a question about my guilt. I payed my fines.
BTW my car was a 68 hemi RR with 3-23 gears. Out on the open road it always ended up at 80mph. It was not my fault.

[charge69]

I was going to San Antonio to visit my daughter's family a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday and things just weren't going right for me. One of those days where things just seem "out of joint" but you can't put your finger on it.  I live on the North side of Houston so I was taking Beltway 8 around the city as I usually do to get on I-10 west to head for San Antonio.

I hadn't gone but about 5 miles around and was travelling with a pack of quickly moving traffic. I do not like travelling beside someone and I was moving a little faster than the guy next to me when my Escort gave a big laser warning as we were just about to top an overpass and I saw him. A constable in a Tahoe stopped in the emergency lane on the left and he had his laser gun pointed at me or, at least, someone in my pack of cars.

As we passed him, he was putting the Laser gun in his Tahoe and getting ready to go after one of us. I was hoping it wasn't me but ...... you guessed it ..... he pulled up right behind my Lexus and started flashing his lights! Damn it, I said to myself and pulled into the emergency left lane as there was just too much traffic to get over to the right. All I could see in my rearview mirror was a Tahoe with flashing lights right behind me anyway!

As he walked up to the Lexus, I fished my driver's license and Concealed handgun license out to hand to him. When he got to my window he said "I clocked you going 82 in a 65mph zone. I said I am not sure how fast I was going as I was just moving with the traffic beside me but I certainly could have been going that fast as I did not look at my speedometer. I handed him both licenses as you are supposed to do here, especially as I had my G30 in a hidden holster right next to me. He quickly looked at my CHL and handed it back to me and asked if I had insurance. Yes sir I replied and my wife started fishing for the insurance card in the glove box. She did not find it right away and he said "that's alright, I can find out when I check my computer" and he walked back to his Tahoe. About the time he reached his vehicle, my wife found our insurance card. I just said to hold it as he can find out we are insured anyway.

About a minute went by and he walked up to my car and handed me my license and said "try to slow it down a little sir and have a good day!" I was both elated and a little stunned that he did not at least give me a warning ticket but, I got back up on the Beltway and went my merry way! I thought about that all the way to San Antonio and did slow down a little! Ha! My loaded Glock G30 next to me apparently was a non-issue to him also!  Gotta love Texas!

[ACUDANUT]

We call them bird dogs here. They normally will get pulled over before you.

[1974dodgecharger]

here in nebraska they stop the slowest ones! rumor is if u go over 20 cops cant catch u because they can only go over 10 posted limit to cacth folks. 


i only know because thats what i did on freeway posted is 55 out of towneres like pack of 10 were hitting 95 plus and i was hitting 85 to stay behind.  long story short cop stopped me and gave me 10 over instead of 20 because he said its unfair the othere were going 30 plus and he has no right to stop them cause he cant go over 10 to keep up so he took me the slowest out of the pack 

[ws23rt]

here in nebraska they stop the slowest ones! rumor is if u go over 20 cops cant catch u because they can only go over 10 posted limit to cacth folks. 


i only know because thats what i did on freeway posted is 55 out of towneres like pack of 10 were hitting 95 plus and i was hitting 85 to stay behind.  long story short cop stopped me and gave me 10 over instead of 20 because he said its unfair the othere were going 30 plus and he has no right to stop them cause he cant go over 10 to keep up so he took me the slowest out of the pack 

Interesting to hear an honest input from the enforcers. It is true though that the drivers that don't move with the pack are a hazard.
I recall a drive south from Sacramento to La on a sunday that was a real white knuckle drive. For 300mi it was bumper to bumper surging from 65 to 95 mph. If an opening to change lanes happened it would be filled quickly. If I was a CHP there I would go take a break.

[1974dodgecharger]

That's first hand experience he saw my 3 kids in the car and asked where i was going. I just said home.....

[ACUDANUT]

That Nebraska story sounds a "city policy". Not the State Police.

[Ghoste]

Also seems a little hard to imagine. 

[1974dodgecharger]

That Nebraska story sounds a "city policy". Not the State Police.

it was on the highway dont remember if it was city or highwayman, it was i80i think the main highway through nebraska.

[Chargerguy74]

My last 3 tickets were all photo lidar (laser). The laser beam is so narrow it has only set off my Beltronics STI Magnum once, and that was a horizontal shot. The 3 that got me were all hiding on overpasses and at a steep angle when they shot me. I was clueless to what happened. I always cruise over the speed limit, I don't wanna say how fast, don't want to incriminate myself, but it's usually lower than a speed that would result in my vehicle being towed if I was stopped. Our speed limits up here (Canada) need to be adjusted. Our cars have advanced well beyond what we had back in the day, but our limits haven't changed. Normally I will shield myself in the slow lane, unless I find myself having to pass too often. I usually end up sitting in the fast lane. I am very far from a dangerous driver. I feel I am one of the most alert out there, and you have to be alert when you're rippin. Not everyone signals, and not everyone checks their mirrors or blind spots before lane changing. It's definitely something you need to watch out for. I am constantly scanning and processing info, as everyone else should be. To the "drafters" or shadows, keep your distance! You noticed I have a detector and wanna keep up with me that's fine, but you better leave me room to brake, which can happen fast and hard if I get "popped". I've been lucky in the past when I felt it was too dangerous to brake on a drafter when I got popped, so I just let off, dropped a gear, and lightly applied the brakes, still doing well over the limit, no ticket though. I'm thinking of buying a laser jammer now, oops I mean parking sensors. I would've saved a few hundred $ already.

[ACUDANUT]

That Nebraska story sounds a "city policy". Not the State Police.

it was on the highway dont remember if it was city or highwayman, it was i80i think the main highway through nebraska.

Some County Sheriff's have this policy too....Like mine.
We cannot pursue, period.

[Plum Crazy 68]

No offense from this Californian, because I've never met someone from California.  They all come from other states

[Ghoste]

Naturally the do-gooders who create these speed limits for emergency services expect that if they call 911 you will travel safely and slowly to their location.

[mauve66]

i'm still waiting for an officer to try to pull over more than one car with me in the group.  He has to be behind me for me to pull to the right, if i start to slow down and pull to the right then the car in front of me will naturally leap-frog ahead at a large distance, if the officer goes by me then i'm pulling back to the left.  Whatever you do DON'T look to the left while the officer is next to you, if you make eye contact then your out of luck.

the gun (other than laser) doesn't differentiate between cars, his eyes aren't calibrated either, he has to pick a vehicle that seems to match the speed, gun response time and visual acquisition time.
in the short time he's using the gun he can't verify that all cars are doing the same speed unless your riding bumper to bumper which you shouldn't do anyway

[bull]

No offense from this Californian, because I've never met someone from California.  They all come from other states

Or other countries. One of my favorite sayings is "the only problem with California is all the Californians."

Anyway, I call these guys "runners" too, because they're running interferance for the rest of us. I'm always happy when I get passed by someone doing 80-90 because I know they'll be keeping all the Smokeys busy for me, the guy who likes doing 70 everywhere. Rarely do I get to witness their commuting demise but I feel better knowing they're out there doing their part to keep my driving record clean.

[charge69]

That is EXACTLY how I feel Bull!  I might not go but 3 to 5 mph over the speed limit but there is always someone (a runner) going 12 to 20 mph over the speed limit going by me or in front of me around here and I feel comfortable letting the "runner" do his or her thing and run interference for me!

[ws23rt]

No offense from this Californian, because I've never met someone from California.  They all come from other states

Or other countries. One of my favorite sayings is "the only problem with California is all the Californians."

Anyway, I call these guys "runners" too, because they're running interferance for the rest of us. I'm always happy when I get passed by someone doing 80-90 because I know they'll be keeping all the Smokeys busy for me, the guy who likes doing 70 everywhere. Rarely do I get to witness their commuting demise but I feel better knowing they're out there doing their part to keep my driving record clean.

You speak for me as well. Although they are the makings of road rage they do remind the rest of us to pay attention to how we drive and what it may mean to the drivers around us.
For me what is legal is not what I care about in traffic. Protocol feels like a better word to use. It fits the situation and most of the drivers know what to expect. The odd driver puts us on alert and that is good for all of us.

[Chargerguy74]

i'm still waiting for an officer to try to pull over more than one car with me in the group.  He has to be behind me for me to pull to the right, if i start to slow down and pull to the right then the car in front of me will naturally leap-frog ahead at a large distance, if the officer goes by me then i'm pulling back to the left.  Whatever you do DON'T look to the left while the officer is next to you, if you make eye contact then your out of luck.

the gun (other than laser) doesn't differentiate between cars, his eyes aren't calibrated either, he has to pick a vehicle that seems to match the speed, gun response time and visual acquisition time.
in the short time he's using the gun he can't verify that all cars are doing the same speed unless your riding bumper to bumper which you shouldn't do anyway

Exactly. I just spent 10 minutes typing out a story about this exact thing when my computer died and I lost it all. I wont be retyping it. Long story short, I thought I was toast. There was just me and another vehicle heading North when a cruiser heading south crossed the median to come after the vehicle doing 100mph. It was either me or the other vehicle. I was far ahead of the other vehicle when the cruiser caught up to me. By then I already had my radar detector removed and wiped off the suction cup marks from the windshield. Then I went into grandma mode. 2 hands on the wheel, straight as a board, looking dead ahead and acting oblivious to my surroundings. There are two things you can't do in that situation. One is hit the brakes, and the second is make eye contact. He drove along side me for what seemed like an eternity. Then he hit the brakes, crossed the median and headed back south.

[UH60L]

So we're talking about "the fuzz in a sedan" then, not a '66 to '74 charger?......

(I immediately thought of the police driving a classic muscle car when I read the title....)

[Ghoste]

That's correct, the current version.

[472 R/T SE]

I have this app on my phone called Trapster.  Pretty cool little app that the public updates with laser trap or radar areas, construction, etc.  It tracks your speed & if you're in a known enforcement area all the bells & whistles go off.  By using the GPS it knows all the posted speed limits of the roads you're on.

You have to manually shut it off otherwise it runs in the background eating up data.