Aircraft to enforce speed limits?

KCE90M3 · 03-03-2009, 10:36 AM

So I noticed this on AOL when I went there to check my mail this morning....interesting article about speeding over 100+ mph. Didn't realize some states spent so much money enforcing speed limits...cameras I've heard of, but aircraft?

http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/...02142009990001

777ER · 03-03-2009, 11:58 AM

It's still around but sporadic.

Express · 03-03-2009, 12:08 PM

the planes are all over the north florida area. watch out I-10 users.

SoYank · 03-03-2009, 04:42 PM

In Virginia one of the first signs you'll see after crossing the state line says "Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft". How can an aircraft "enforce" a speed limit? Land on your car? All the aircraft can do is determine your speed. The enforcement takes place on the ground.

jlaw · 03-03-2009, 04:55 PM

Very common. The method I'm aware of is calculating your speed based on the time it takes you to travel between two predetermined points on the road. Ever see those big white perpendicular lines across the highway?

777ER · 03-03-2009, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlaw

Very common. The method I'm aware of is calculating your speed based on the time it takes you to travel between two predetermined points on the road. Ever see those big white perpendicular lines across the highway?

The problem with that is right after you pass by one of the white line at high speed... slow down to a crawl or pull over to the side of the road and wait a min or so and go on your merry way...that messes the est. speed based on time.

Blake · 03-03-2009, 05:12 PM

what really blows my mind away is that our cash strapped government is spending all this money on catching speeders by airplane. i'm well aware it's nothing new, but you would think there are bigger fish to fry than a couple of bmw's zipping down some lonesome interstate in the high desert.

RRGOO7 · 03-03-2009, 05:36 PM

Very Very common here in Florida

Blake · 03-03-2009, 06:31 PM

at least speed cameras aren't as common here as they are in the UK and europe...yet...

Seminole · 03-03-2009, 06:44 PM

Yup, I've seen them use little Cessna's here in FL.

Those white lines that run across the highway are what they use. There is a spotter who watches for a car moving at a higher rate of speed than the cars around him, then calculates the average speed based on how long it takes to go between two lines. Down the road a bit are usually a few Troopers ready to pull out and pull over the car that the aircraft radios to them. You could pull over and stop, as 777er suggested, but the road is littered with those white lines. It would be a much better idea just to drive the speed limit than stop every time you see a white line.

Blake · 03-03-2009, 06:49 PM

or outrun the awaiting troopers too

777ER · 03-03-2009, 07:11 PM

The way it works is the spotter in the aircraft picks a car out, flips a switch on the timer once you pass the white line, then flips the switch again when you pass the next white line.
It gives out a average speed reading based on the formula to convert time into speed.
There is a small margin of error involved in this way, (something around 2%) which is the reaction from seeing the car go by the white line to flipping the switch.

It's a average speed, slowing down or speeding up between the white lines affects the average a lil bit.

Now the problem is they have to radio the cop car up ahead and give a brief info on the color and the lane the car is in and a update to the officer's car once he's on the road and if he's behind the correct car or not (ie if there's two white cars within each other, the spotter will inform the patrol car on the ground that's the one he's behind before they hit the lights).

Not sure what FL laws says but most state laws requires both officers to show up in court when it's contested...the spotter in the aircraft and the pursuit officer.

synclastica_86 · 03-04-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blake

what really blows my mind away is that our cash strapped government is spending all this money on catching speeders by airplane. i'm well aware it's nothing new, but you would think there are bigger fish to fry than a couple of bmw's zipping down some lonesome interstate in the high desert.

I do a bit of flying and I think that you a wrong. I rent a small cessna 172R (the same plane they use for catching speeders) for around $150/hr. Catch a few speeders and they will be profiting.

Blake · 03-04-2009, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by synclastica_86

I do a bit of flying and I think that you a wrong. I rent a small cessna 172R (the same plane they use for catching speeders) for around $150/hr. Catch a few speeders and they will be profiting.

perhaps, but at the same time its far cheaper sitting in a bend with laser gun. the whole plane operation costs more than the plane...you've got manpower on the ground too. suddenly, after you factor in all expenses, it becomes a very expensive operation with diminishing returns. the government spends too much on crap like that for non-violent crimes.

.:bHd:. · 03-04-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 777ER

The way it works is the spotter in the aircraft picks a car out, flips a switch on the timer once you pass the white line, then flips the switch again when you pass the next white line.
It gives out a average speed reading based on the formula to convert time into speed.
There is a small margin of error involved in this way, (something around 2%) which is the reaction from seeing the car go by the white line to flipping the switch.

It's a average speed, slowing down or speeding up between the white lines affects the average a lil bit.

Now the problem is they have to radio the cop car up ahead and give a brief info on the color and the lane the car is in and a update to the officer's car once he's on the road and if he's behind the correct car or not (ie if there's two white cars within each other, the spotter will inform the patrol car on the ground that's the one he's behind before they hit the lights).

Not sure what FL laws says but most state laws requires both officers to show up in court when it's contested...the spotter in the aircraft and the pursuit officer.

Wow that''s complicated.. only if they spent that much time trying to fight real crime

hollandjean · 03-04-2009, 02:01 AM

wow...that's 2 much....

jhv · 03-04-2009, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

In Virginia one of the first signs you'll see after crossing the state line says "Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft". How can an aircraft "enforce" a speed limit? Land on your car? All the aircraft can do is determine your speed. The enforcement takes place on the ground.

i lol'd pretty hard at the image i got in my head

03-03-2009, 10:36 AM	#1
KCE90M3 Private 3 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 1997 Infiniti I30 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: KC iTrader: (0)	Aircraft to enforce speed limits? So I noticed this on AOL when I went there to check my mail this morning....interesting article about speeding over 100+ mph. Didn't realize some states spent so much money enforcing speed limits...cameras I've heard of, but aircraft? http://autos.aol.com/article/safety/...02142009990001 __________________ 1997 Infiniti i30gold/tan/Pirelli SP4 All weathers/nothing/nada/zip/zero
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03-03-2009, 11:58 AM	#2
777ER Lieutenant 36 Rep 561 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	It's still around but sporadic. __________________ -Chris 2007 Montego Blue 328xi Sedan \| Poplar trim \| Steptronic \| Cold Package \| Power front seats w/memory \| Xenon Adaptive Headlights \| PDC \| 2008 Plate LED's \| PBX \| LUX v5.2
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03-03-2009, 12:08 PM	#3
Express Major General 369 Rep 8,693 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Promise Land iTrader: (17) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [8.30]	the planes are all over the north florida area. watch out I-10 users.
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03-03-2009, 04:42 PM	#4
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	In Virginia one of the first signs you'll see after crossing the state line says "Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft". How can an aircraft "enforce" a speed limit? Land on your car? All the aircraft can do is determine your speed. The enforcement takes place on the ground. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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03-03-2009, 04:55 PM	#5
jlaw First Lieutenant 29 Rep 351 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	Very common. The method I'm aware of is calculating your speed based on the time it takes you to travel between two predetermined points on the road. Ever see those big white perpendicular lines across the highway?
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03-03-2009, 05:12 PM	#7
Blake Banned 754 Rep 4,649 Posts Drives: Chevy Aveo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Parent's Basement iTrader: (7)	what really blows my mind away is that our cash strapped government is spending all this money on catching speeders by airplane. i'm well aware it's nothing new, but you would think there are bigger fish to fry than a couple of bmw's zipping down some lonesome interstate in the high desert.
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03-03-2009, 05:36 PM	#8
RRGOO7 Colonel 360 Rep 2,451 Posts Drives: GTR Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Miami FL iTrader: (13)	Very Very common here in Florida
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03-03-2009, 06:31 PM	#9
Blake Banned 754 Rep 4,649 Posts Drives: Chevy Aveo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Parent's Basement iTrader: (7)	at least speed cameras aren't as common here as they are in the UK and europe...yet...
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03-03-2009, 06:44 PM	#10
Seminole Colonel 448 Rep 2,032 Posts Drives: Red Flyer Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: 38.8977° N, 77.0366° W iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 E90 328i [7.00]	Yup, I've seen them use little Cessna's here in FL. Those white lines that run across the highway are what they use. There is a spotter who watches for a car moving at a higher rate of speed than the cars around him, then calculates the average speed based on how long it takes to go between two lines. Down the road a bit are usually a few Troopers ready to pull out and pull over the car that the aircraft radios to them. You could pull over and stop, as 777er suggested, but the road is littered with those white lines. It would be a much better idea just to drive the speed limit than stop every time you see a white line. __________________
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03-03-2009, 06:49 PM	#11
Blake Banned 754 Rep 4,649 Posts Drives: Chevy Aveo Join Date: May 2008 Location: Parent's Basement iTrader: (7)	or outrun the awaiting troopers too
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03-03-2009, 07:11 PM	#12
777ER Lieutenant 36 Rep 561 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	The way it works is the spotter in the aircraft picks a car out, flips a switch on the timer once you pass the white line, then flips the switch again when you pass the next white line. It gives out a average speed reading based on the formula to convert time into speed. There is a small margin of error involved in this way, (something around 2%) which is the reaction from seeing the car go by the white line to flipping the switch. It's a average speed, slowing down or speeding up between the white lines affects the average a lil bit. Now the problem is they have to radio the cop car up ahead and give a brief info on the color and the lane the car is in and a update to the officer's car once he's on the road and if he's behind the correct car or not (ie if there's two white cars within each other, the spotter will inform the patrol car on the ground that's the one he's behind before they hit the lights). Not sure what FL laws says but most state laws requires both officers to show up in court when it's contested...the spotter in the aircraft and the pursuit officer.
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03-04-2009, 02:01 AM	#16
hollandjean JD/MBA 14 Rep 164 Posts Drives: 2011 E71 2015 F36 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Drexel iTrader: (4)	wow...that's 2 much.... __________________ Boo-yah!
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