I've been meaning to write this up for some time, but just remembered.

A couple of years ago while crossing Ohio on the Turnpike (scaaaarrrry Highway Patrol), I wasn't paying attention and went right passed a Laser speed trap well in excess of 80mph. I caught sight of the cop at the last second and he was still leisurely fixated to his laser gun, looking upstream. He was completely oblivious to my passing.

Afterward I looked at the XKR from the standpoint of laser reflectivity and realized that the features of our cars (especially with HD headlights) are not conducive to returning a laser beam well. All curves, blacked-out headlights and a laser scattering recessed wire mesh grill (pre '05 of course). Our parking lights and driving lights are the only good targets for the cops.

Has anyone else had this experience? Was I just supernaturally lucky, or are we just unexpectedly a bit stealthier than a normal car?

Thankful either way! (whew) - Ciao

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but we're just as visible as the next guy to a laser. The aerodynamic shape of the car doesn't come into play in returning visible light toward a source.

Thought experiment: imagine standing, say, 100 yards in front of the car on a pitch black night. Shine a light on the car. Can you see it? You can, because of the reflected light. And unfortunately our cars will show up just as well as something with a flat nose.

It's more about how mirror-like the surface is, so keep the car well waxed!

 

Correct. You just got lucky.

 

Yeh - luck was the first option of course.

I think my Guardian Angel is a Gearhead. Of course, he/she "does" entertain me all too often with a chat with the nice policeman, ..... and pretty printed mementos of the encounters!

 

My 2001 XK8 Coupe certainly wasn't invisible to the French lasers!



Fortunately the Gendarme loved the car and issued the lowest possible fine.

Graham

 

Am I reading that right ... 40 kph in a 30 kph limit?

How many euros is that worth, if you don't mind the question. Looks like it might be 90. Sacreblue!

 

Yeah

British Speed Cameras work as well!

 

Yes, written as 'four twenty ten' of course.

 

That has to be worst front license plate location I've ever seen. What lobotomized government official came up with THAT?!

Unbelievable. Someone desperately needs to be shot.

 

Actually, though the UK plate has to be that size, the location is my homage to the e type.

The official uk number plate location is mounted across the over riders and ruins the look across the grill.

But each to their own.

Regards

 

I know that stretch of the A14. A favourite spot for the mobile cameras!

 

I could have used that information 4 years ago. LoL

 

NO - more than 30kph but less than 40kph above the 130kph limit on the N1 from Rouen to Boulogne. It was a 90 Euro on the spot fine.

Graham

 

I have 2 speeding tickets to prove that laser does work. My Valentine 1 works great, it lets me know when I have been "hit" with laser.

 

Oh, I sooooo agree. I always thought my Passport 8500's laser alert was just there to let me know when to pull over. Someday I "will" blow some bucks on a laser jamming system. They are the only countermeasure that work.

 

I should have figured it was something like that. At least you were having fun!

 

I've since seen them in the same place on two occasions.

The difference between the Gendarmerie and the UK Police is the French make no pretence it is motivated only by road safety. As the officer who stopped me explained, the Gendarmerie retain the income from the fines so its primary purpose is departmental budget control!

Graham

 

The Jaguar number plate carrier can be mounted in one of two positions and it depends on the dealership how it is done:



My 2001 XK8 on the right had it fitted in the lower position which doesn't obstruct the grill. My 2005 XK8 on the left had it fitted on the over riders which I think looks dreadful.

Graham

 

yup sorry but i have my plate E-type style self adhesive strip like smoogyx100's
because i refuse to have that ugly chunk of plastic **** screwed to the
front of my XK spoiling the lines.