Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Is your city one of the top ten worst speed traps in America?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/is-your-city-one-of-the-top-ten-worst-speed-traps-in-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/is-your-city-one-of-the-top-ten-worst-speed-traps-in-america/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/22/is-your-city-one-of-the-top-ten-worst-speed-traps-in-america/#commentsSpeeding ticket getting handed out

The weather is finally beginning to turn warm in parts of our great nation, and with spring looming, plenty of people have an eye on scratching their road trip itch. Before you take to any wide-open expanse of tarmac, it might be worth taking some time to note some of the worst speed traps in the country. Yahoo Autos has gone through the trouble of ranking the top 10 cities with the worst speed traps in the U.S., and while no one should be surprised to see that Los Angeles, California has claimed the number 10 spot, there are a few surprises on the list.

Colorado Springs, Colorado managed to break into the top five with a number four ranking. The locality boasts a heady 186 speed traps, and local law enforcement says that they're happy to write citations for drivers who exceed the limit by 1-4 mph. But it was Texas that took the cake by driving away with three of the 10 spots, including the top two. Austin took the silver metal with 189 traps, while Houston was crowned the speed trap capital of our nation with a staggering 373 hotspots. Head over to Yahoo Autos to check out the full list.

[Source: Yahoo Autos | Image: Mark Wilson/Getty]

Is your city one of the top ten worst speed traps in America? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>law enforcementspeed trapsticketsTue, 22 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19854117/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/22/is-your-city-one-of-the-top-ten-worst-speed-traps-in-america/19854117/article-detail.xml 19854117 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/police-ticket-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/police-ticket-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Report: Texas man becomes human speed-trap warning sign]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/report-texas-man-becomes-human-speed-trap-warning-sign/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/report-texas-man-becomes-human-speed-trap-warning-sign/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/27/report-texas-man-becomes-human-speed-trap-warning-sign/#commentsFiled under: , ,

speed trap

Running into a speed trap is a gut-wrenching feeling. Regardless of whether you are going two or 20 mph over the limit, you always have to glance in your mirror to make sure Johnny Law isn't on your tail. In that spirit, a Lakeway, Texas resident is fed up with the traps in his town and has decided to fight back against them all by his lonesome. Lance Mitchell, co-founder of the website SpeedTrapAhead.org, is taking to the streets and warning other motorists about nearby speed traps.

If he's out on the road and spots a police officer in a speed trap, Mitchell will backtrack to a spot ahead of the trap, then don a bright orange "Speed Trap Ahead" t-shirt in order to alert other motorists of the waiting radar run around the bend. While the Austin American-Statesman notes that it's illegal to warn others of an enforcement action, it is not illegal to warn others when the enforcement pertains to matters of the traffic code. In fact, Mitchell believes he is doing the same work as the officers initiating the speed traps but also saving everyone money in the process. People slow down when they see him thus avoiding a ticket and a raise in insurance premiums.

Needless to say, the Lakeway Police Department doesn't exactly agree with Lance Mitchell's methods. It's fined him, jailed him and eventually the two went to court. Mitchell won and then turned around and sued the town and a few of its police officers. A confidential settlement was reached and the unemployed Mitchell can now breathe easy for a few months thanks to the cash infusion. We're guessing that it also gives him some more free time to wear his orange t-shirt...

[Source: Austin American-Statesman | Image: Corbis]

Report: Texas man becomes human speed-trap warning sign originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austin texaslakewaylance mitchellspeed trapspeed trapsspeedingspeedtrapahead.orgMon, 27 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19777877/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/27/report-texas-man-becomes-human-speed-trap-warning-sign/19777877/article-detail.xml 19777877 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/speed-trap_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/speed-trap.jpg <![CDATA[Escort Passport iQ marries GPS with radar detector]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/escort-passport-iq-marries-gps-with-radar-detector/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/escort-passport-iq-marries-gps-with-radar-detector/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/10/27/escort-passport-iq-marries-gps-with-radar-detector/#commentsFiled under: ,

Passport iQ
Escort PASSPORT iQ - Click above for high-res image gallery

Escort IQ radar screensEscort has released its brand-new Passport iQ automotive accessory. We would call this a radar detector, but it appears to be much more than that. The Passport iQ, in addition to detecting radar and laser, has a built-in GPS unit, Bluetooth connectivity, red light and speed camera notifications, speed limit information and live traffic updates. All of this information is displayed on a five-inch, full-color touchscreen.

The price of the Passport iQ is $649.95, which, assuming it works as advertised, is peanuts compared to a few speeding tickets and a bump in car insurance rates. Escort offers the unit on a trial basis for free, for 30 days. It also comes with a 90-day free trial subscription to Escort's Defender Database, which comes loaded with thousands of speed trap locations.

Read more about the Escort Passport iQ in the press release, after the jump.


Gallery: Escort PASSPORT iQ

Escort PASSPORT iQEscort PASSPORT iQ Menu ScreenEscort PASSPORT iQ Speed WarningEscort PASSPORT iQEscort PASSPORT iQ Nav Screen

[Source: Escort]

Continue reading Escort Passport iQ marries GPS with radar detector

Escort Passport iQ marries GPS with radar detector originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Escortescort passport iqescort radar detectorgpspassport iqradar detectorred light camerasspeed trapsWed, 27 Oct 2010 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19691589/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/10/27/escort-passport-iq-marries-gps-with-radar-detector/19691589/article-detail.xml 19691589 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/passportiq01_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/passportiq01.jpg <![CDATA[Trapster exposes speed traps on your mobile device]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/#commentsFiled under: , ,

"Your mobile phone alerts you as you approach speed traps." That's the idea behind Trapster, an innovative service that uses technology, not the age-old flashing headlamps approach, to notify other drivers of a police speed trap. Motorists who come across an enforced speed zone are encouraged to report the location via an application running on their cell phone, PDA, and other types of devices. The notification is then broadcast to other Trapster members who receive audio or text message warnings as they approach the area.

There are four default alerts: police, speed camera, red light camera, and usual hiding place. Each is displayed in a color that alters from green to yellow to red, based on the "confidence" of the trap (more reports on a single trap increase the confidence). In a helpful move, known traps can be viewed on a Google-powered map on the Trapster web site before you leave the house or office and jump behind the wheel.

According to the inventors, Trapster works with any kind of phone. However, it is optimized with devices that support GPS or WiFi. While you'd think law enforcement would oppose the exposure of their speed traps, it hasn't been met with much resistance, as it actually encourages motorists to slow down. Unfortunately, as others point out, it also requires drivers to take their eyes off the road as they fumble to send alerts with their electronic devices.

[Source: AOL Autos]

Trapster exposes speed traps on your mobile device originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 May 2008 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Highway PatrolHighwayPatrolLaw EnforcementLawEnforcementPoliceRed Light CameraRedLightCameraSpeed TrapsSpeedingSpeedTrapsTicketTrapsterSat, 24 May 2008 11:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1204729/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/05/24/trapster-exposes-speed-traps-on-your-mobile-device/1204729/article-detail.xml 1204729 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/trapster_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/05/trapster_450.jpg <![CDATA[Njection and Garmin partner to identify speed traps]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/njection-and-garmin-partner-to-identify-speed-traps/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/njection-and-garmin-partner-to-identify-speed-traps/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/27/njection-and-garmin-partner-to-identify-speed-traps/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Njection is a website for guys like us. In addition to their forums and picture resources, they have compiled a database of more than 50,000 speed traps worldwide -- areas with high radar use and speed cameras -- that works with Microsoft Live Maps. Njection is now offering owners of Garmin GPS units the ability to download speed trap and red light camera information to their portable navigation units.

A SpeedTrap-enhanced Garmin portable GPS unit will be a great companion on a road trip, long commute, or while traveling in unfamilar areas. However, as sophisticated as the technology is getting, GPS still won't find your lost keys.

[Source: PRNewswire via Winding Road]

Njection and Garmin partner to identify speed traps originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>GarminGPSNjectionspeed cameraspeed camerasspeed trapspeed trap exchangespeed trapsSpeedCameraSpeedCamerasSpeedTrapSpeedTrapExchangeSpeedTrapsThu, 27 Mar 2008 17:41:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1149706/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2008/03/27/njection-and-garmin-partner-to-identify-speed-traps/1149706/article-detail.xml 1149706 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/garmin_speed_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/garmin_speed_opt.jpg <![CDATA[New navi in UK guarantees no speeding tickets]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/04/new-navi-in-uk-guarantees-no-speeding-tickets/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/04/new-navi-in-uk-guarantees-no-speeding-tickets/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/04/new-navi-in-uk-guarantees-no-speeding-tickets/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Though the isle of Britain isn't that large in terms of square miles, it still contains 24,000 potential speed traps (about the same number in Ohio, we think). The Rossini Navigator and Camera Spotter is a satellite navigation unit that has each one of those traps plotted on its digital topography and will audibly warn a driver if one is fast approaching. The unit also does the whole door-to-door, turn-by-turn navigation thing, but the addition of such comprehensive camera spotting technology moves it to the head of the class. The distributer of the Rossini Navigator, Car Parts Direct, has also decided to guarantee the device will keep you ticket free in the UK by offering £60 cashback if the device offers no warning of a speed trap and a ticket is issued. Those purchasing the Rossini Nav system will also get free camera updates emailed to them through January of 2009, since most people don't bother to go get updates on thier own when they're made available. The unit costs £399 and is ready to use right out of the box.

[Source: Car Parts Direct]

New navi in UK guarantees no speeding tickets originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cameracar parts directCarPartsDirectnav systemnaviNavSystemrossini navigatorRossiniNavigatorsat navSatNavspeed cameraspeed trapspeed trapsSpeedCameraSpeedTrapSpeedTrapsMon, 04 Dec 2006 16:37:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/712536/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/12/04/new-navi-in-uk-guarantees-no-speeding-tickets/712536/article-detail.xml 712536 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/51796cpd-_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/51796cpd-.jpg -1 2