The Lowdown on Lidar • Hacker News Board

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#191

Post by LordKano » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:29 PM UTC

omegaham wrote: post #141

MichaelDickens wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Speed limit laws don't exist to generate revenue. They exist to disincentivize speeding. If speed limit laws didn't exist, can you imagine lawmakers saying, "We need more money. Hey, I know! Let's charge people money for driving over a certain speed!"

The idea of a speed limit is sound. But there are organizations that work to game the system. A great example is the multitude of sleepy towns right next to highways. They have a police force that is exclusively utilized on the five miles (or less) of highway that officially fall within the town limits, writing tickets to people who pass through. For example, Lindale, Ohio has a population of about 170 people and col…

Virginia is also a state that bans the use of RADAR/LIDAR detectors.

I suspect that this business model is in trouble if GPS makers begin to track speed-limit information and pass that along to their users.

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#192

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:34 PM UTC

mseebach wrote: post #138

mortov wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Often (but not always) in the UK, the laser is accompanied by video footage which shows where the beam has been trained and it is a combination of both the video and laser reading (shows on the video) which is the evidence. (all tripod mounted - so I suspect many of the issues detailed are well known). Sounds like that would give good supporting evidence for a challenge. However, traffic violations is most places are…

In the UK, speed cameras seem to be accompanied by road markings: http://southport.qlocal.co.uk/southport/news_list/New_Speed_... I always assumed that the radar was only for deciding to take and submit the pictures, the actual speed measurement (especially if challenged) would be done using the markings on the road. That only requires the speed camera to have a reliable to 1/100 second clock which isn't exactly rock…

[deleted]

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#193

Post by cge » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:37 PM UTC

ihaveajob wrote: post #12

Speed radars are good for speed traps, but not so great to prevent speed related incidents. They share the same fatal flaw with all other single-point speed meters: You can just slow down for a minute, while you pass by the speed trap, and then speed up for the rest of your trip. Instead, a 2-point speed meter (i.e. license plate readers every few miles, measuring time between matching reads) system is superior becau…

If I recall correctly, for reasons I don't understand, this is not only not implemented in California, but not even legal there.

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#194

Post by bliggity » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:38 PM UTC

Arjuna wrote: post #150

curtis wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd really like to see more transparency when it comes to title changes. The most recent case where one of my submissions had a title change mirrors what kudu is describing here: a meaningful (and I think accurate) title changed to a generic and vague one -- followed by a rapid decline in the rate of upvotes. I think there are legitimate reasons for title changes, and I think that the Hacker News mods generally do go…

"I'd really like to see more transparency when it comes to title changes." I think dang is working hard to be transparent about this topic. You can see a number of examples of this by reading through the following search result [1]. Cases in point: He has reverted titles to their original form... "Ok, we'll change the title back again." [2] He is open to suggestions... "If anyone suggests a better title, I'll change…

Title changes are a perennial point of friction. Much time and energy by many parties has been spent over months debating and analyzing it.

Why not just implement a title history feature? Mods can change title, then users can click a link to show title history.

For extra points, you could make the title history page a poll/voting system which allows users above n karma, registered for x months to vote on their preferred title. Top voted title after y votes and z time after initial title change is what's used.

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#195

Post by blumentopf » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:42 PM UTC

alphonse23 wrote: post #151

taeric wrote: post #4

I confess I was expecting to not care for this. I'm not sure how any of it should be surprising, as it seemed fairly straight forward analysis of the tools. That said, this was a ridiculously fun read. More detailed than expected for some parts, and always informative. I'm glad it did not come across as anti speed detectors. Really more of a "know the limitations."

I hope he realizes this, as much as I hope everybody else realizes this, that the only reason why he got the violation reduced was because he brought his attorney on board. Anybody who lives in California whose contested a ticket knows that 9/10 times (if not even more than that) judges side with the officers -- whether they have a strong case or not -- the State of California certainly doesn't want it's residents to…

I'm surprised they exonerated him, considering his driving history...

Turns out he apparently blew a red light with his Boxster in 2010 and hit another car:

http://attitudeofgratitude.typepad.com/attitude_of_gratitude...

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#196

Post by dtrizzle » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:45 PM UTC

jstalin wrote: post #96

In Michigan, a speeding ticket is a civil infraction, not a criminal offense, so the legal standard is preponderance of the evidence , not beyond a reasonable doubt , as the slide deck says. I suspect it's the same in California.

In CA, infractions are crimes so the reasonable doubt standard applies. See Cal. Pen. Code section 16. http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/16.html

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#197

Post by btbuildem » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:48 PM UTC

ihaveajob wrote: post #12

Speed radars are good for speed traps, but not so great to prevent speed related incidents. They share the same fatal flaw with all other single-point speed meters: You can just slow down for a minute, while you pass by the speed trap, and then speed up for the rest of your trip. Instead, a 2-point speed meter (i.e. license plate readers every few miles, measuring time between matching reads) system is superior becau…

It's not the speed that is the problem - it's the relative difference in speed between two nearby vehicles that you should be concerned. Someone doing 55 in a 55 when everyone else is doing 70 is being a hazard, in their case following the speed limit is outright dangerous.

This is of course in context of freeways - residential streets etc do require a hard speed limit.

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#198

Post by uwe_dushan » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:50 PM UTC

alphonse23 wrote: post #151

taeric wrote: post #4

I confess I was expecting to not care for this. I'm not sure how any of it should be surprising, as it seemed fairly straight forward analysis of the tools. That said, this was a ridiculously fun read. More detailed than expected for some parts, and always informative. I'm glad it did not come across as anti speed detectors. Really more of a "know the limitations."

I hope he realizes this, as much as I hope everybody else realizes this, that the only reason why he got the violation reduced was because he brought his attorney on board. Anybody who lives in California whose contested a ticket knows that 9/10 times (if not even more than that) judges side with the officers -- whether they have a strong case or not -- the State of California certainly doesn't want it's residents to…

I managed to win 3 tickets in CA (over a period of about 9 years) using trial by written declaration. In fact one of them was using a very similar argument to OPs. It's a bunch of work as I painstakingly assembled my case with loads of supporting evidence but I think it's important to stand up for yourself.

Admittedly all 3 cases were dismissed because the officer didn't bother to write a response but TBWD is a lot cheaper than lawyering up and does sometimes work.

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#199

Post by kelnos » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 9:50 PM UTC

alphonse23 wrote: post #151

taeric wrote: post #4

I confess I was expecting to not care for this. I'm not sure how any of it should be surprising, as it seemed fairly straight forward analysis of the tools. That said, this was a ridiculously fun read. More detailed than expected for some parts, and always informative. I'm glad it did not come across as anti speed detectors. Really more of a "know the limitations."

I hope he realizes this, as much as I hope everybody else realizes this, that the only reason why he got the violation reduced was because he brought his attorney on board. Anybody who lives in California whose contested a ticket knows that 9/10 times (if not even more than that) judges side with the officers -- whether they have a strong case or not -- the State of California certainly doesn't want it's residents to…

There's more than just the citation cost, though. A ticket that involves points will come with a corresponding insurance premium increase for at least a few years.

Re: The Lowdown on Lidar

#200

Post by gertef » Thu, Jul 31, 2014, 10:06 PM UTC

blumentopf wrote: post #195

alphonse23 wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I hope he realizes this, as much as I hope everybody else realizes this, that the only reason why he got the violation reduced was because he brought his attorney on board. Anybody who lives in California whose contested a ticket knows that 9/10 times (if not even more than that) judges side with the officers -- whether they have a strong case or not -- the State of California certainly doesn't want it's residents to…

I'm surprised they exonerated him, considering his driving history... Turns out he apparently blew a red light with his Boxster in 2010 and hit another car: http://attitudeofgratitude.typepad.com/attitude_of_gratitude...

That's a strange story. According to the blogger's version og the incident, he was struck an injured by someone clearly breaking the law. Why wasn't the other driver detained by police and arrested?