# Your speed is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926 "2003-09-11T06:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/1 "2003-09-11T06:16:46Z")
You know those radar things the cops set up that say “Speed limit 25 MPH” and underneath is a readout of your actual speed? Do those things record data, send data or do anything other than give a simple display of your speed (as measured by radar)? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/2 "2003-09-11T06:21:52Z")
Most are just a fancy warning device, but some do take your picture if you’re speeding so they can mail you a ticket a couple weeks later. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/3 "2003-09-11T07:23:41Z")
I’ve always found it funny how many people slam on the brakes before coming across these things, even (at least the ones over here) clearly have no sort of camera mounted on them. Of course, I’ve instinctually done it once or twice myself. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Doubt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/df705f/32.png) [@Peter\_Doubt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Doubt)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/4 "2003-09-11T07:52:37Z")
They do record highs, lows, and averages. They are often used to gather information for proposed speed limit changes or justify the need for more (or less) traffic enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/5 "2003-09-11T08:04:56Z")
In San Jose, they put them on a street where later they will put “Speed checked by radar” signs, and a photo-radar trailer, and give out tickets. It’s your first clue they’re getting serious. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/6 "2003-09-11T12:31:30Z")
I usually just throw beer bottles at them…😃 Seriously, I’ve seen them with cameras in them, so watch out. One time, I saw a motorcycle cop standing in the bushes, pointing his radar gun at me. If I was armed, could I get away with blowing him away? I mean, here’s this guy hiding in the bushes pointing a gun at me… ---
**Author:** ![pestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e5b9ba/32.png) [@pestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pestie)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/7 "2003-09-11T14:23:39Z")
Those things are supposed to make you slow down? I thought it was a sort of contest to see who could get the highest score. ---
**Author:** ![Fish\_Cheer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fish_cheer/32/17179_2.png) [@Fish\_Cheer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish_Cheer)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/8 "2003-09-11T14:54:33Z")
But ours max out at 199. (km/h, that is) ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/9 "2003-09-11T15:13:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by pestie \* > \*\*Those things are supposed to make you slow down? I thought it was a sort of contest to see who could get the highest score. \*\* So then pestie…I assume this was you - [Picture](http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/images/02/carlateforchurch.htm) ? The authorities have been notified…😉 ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/10 "2003-09-12T00:44:17Z")
This was in a recent movie, but my friends and I did this years ago. We used the machine as a baseball speed gun, until it got smashed with a 50 MPH fastball right down the middle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/11 "2003-09-12T01:41:50Z")
Just be glad they don’t put 1920’s style “Death Rays” on them to shoot at speeders. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-speed-is/200926/12 "2003-09-12T03:49:38Z")
In Wisconsin they don’t. Photo radar is illegal here by statute. What they really do is get people with radar detectors to slow the heck down.😃