New white Ford Explorer photo radar unit?

[lilmira]

Yeah no pic but you all know what an explorer looks like.

Spotted it on westbound crowchild this morning as I was heading east towards downtown. Obviously I didn't have time to have a better look and confirm as I was traveling near the speed limit ;). There was some gadget above the dash that caught my eyes. What's interesting is that it has a ski/snowboard rack on top. I'm not talking above crossbars, an actual ski rack!

If it's indeed a photo radar unit, that's pretty damn sneaky. They might put a bike on the back next.

I think I saw another one (blue?) last week on eastbound Crowchild too.

Not 100% sure but Ford Explorer parked on grass, kinda suspicious.

Watch out guys! Photo radar van might be a thing of the past.

[spikerS]

Saw a pea green escape with the gear, I have also witnessed F-150 photo radar units recently too.

They still use the vans, but they are quickly learning people can spot the vans a mile off, and need to change it up to generate more revenue.

[Squishy]

Out of curiosity, do they get your speed when you're behind them still or as you get in front then take a photo? I'm sure this has been discussed before but haven't searched.

There's also a new white f150 that I saw sitting on the shoulder of deerfoot doing photoradar, no black tags or anything. No rack either
Also passed a newish escape the other night sitting in the shoulder as well. Not sure of color.

[Doozer]

Originally posted by Squishy
Out of curiosity, do they get your speed when you're behind them still or as you get in front then take a photo? I'm sure this has been discussed before but haven't searched.

A couple thoughts, although I imagine DayGlow or someone with specific knowledge may chime in.

Obviously in Alberta they have to take your picture from behind, because we only have rear plates. Also, the flash is pointed frontward on the photo vehicle, and that wouldn't do much good for a rear picture.

So those, combined with the fact that I imagine there would be some legal loophole that would've been exploited if they took your speed in one location but photographed you in another, means I think you can be pretty confident that they only take your speed as you get in front of the photo vehicle.

[interlude]

I saw it this morning, I think it was silver?

Right above the driver side, there was a flash mounted (the ski racks probably cover it or it blends in with the ski rack)

Definitely a sneaky photo radar unit, I usually slow down when I see any car/truck/van pulled to the side road.

[slinkie]

Pretty sure i got flashed by something right where bow trail EB becomes 9th ave at about 3am last night

[toor]

The radar shoots forward, anybody with a detector can tell you that. They set up in personal vehicles and rentals, so it could be damn near anything.

[natty54]

Saw a ford edge on crowchild the other day.

Just look for the black fleet sticker!

[Squishy]

Most of the newer vehicles don't have black fleet stickers anymore.

[R-Audi]

The white explorer with the ski rack (which is actually a flash on top) definitely had a black fleet sticker.. saw it on deerfoot by Southland last night.

[NoMoreG35]

Whenever I see a Ford/Dodge/Chrysler parked on the shoulder, I slow down.

[403ep3]

Whenever I see other cars on the side of the road I continue driving normally beause I obviously don't speed!

[revelations]

Drives me nuts that every time a random civilian vehicle is parked on the DeerFoot shoulder (well away from traffic) people slow to 80kph, fearing the photo radar grim reaper. :facepalm:

Sure, if its a emergency vehicle with lights you SHOULD slow down to 60kph (by law) but if its just a pos car thats broken down and away from traffic .... keep moving at the speed limit !!

[jsn]

anytime I see a vehicle parked to the side, I slow down. I'm not saying I slow down to below speed limit, but I'll always double check my speed as soon as I see any vehicle parked, no matter what make or colour. They're getting trickier and trickier. I think I've mentioned this on another thread before but I've seen them put photo radars on white trucks with huge tool boxes on the back by construction sites. They were parked near the construction workers trucks too so it was definitely one of the most discrete vehicles I've seen.

[SportEL]

Which lanes do a photo radar vehicle capture on a 3 lane road for example?Would it catch only the 2 lanes on the right, or all?

[Zhariak]

Originally posted by R-Audi
The white explorer with the ski rack (which is actually a flash on top) definitely had a black fleet sticker.. saw it on deerfoot by Southland last night.

I got a ticket by this one last night...

I saw it, slowed down. As I was passing it I looked over, didn't see a camera so sped back up... Then Flash... Ticket...

[Nakadah]

Originally posted by lilmira


Spotted it on westbound crowchild this morning as I was heading east towards downtown.

Which part of Crowchild exactly? Like b/w Shaganappi and the University? I drove by a newer white Explorer parked on the side, but it was not a photo radar.

Are they legally allowed to take pictures of speeders when there is no camera sign somewhere on the road?

Police is getting sneaky for sure. I was followed by a green Escape one generation older than the current one not a while ago.

Also during the winter I could not believe my eyes when I saw a car being pulled over by a Toyota Sienna 2004-2005ish.

[speedog]

Originally posted by Nakadah
Are they legally allowed to take pictures of speeders when there is no camera sign somewhere on the road?
Please tell us you posted this in jest?

[lilmira]

The white explorer strikes again on eastbound crowchild by 53st I think. Yeah I had a better look this time, there are two flash lights on top.

[NoMoreG35]

Originally posted by Zhariak


I got a ticket by this one last night...

I saw it, slowed down. As I was passing it I looked over, didn't see a camera so sped back up... Then Flash... Ticket...

:rofl:

[nzwasp]

I just passed a blue ford explorer with a ski rack I was travelling east on glenmore and it was parked on glenmore west under the crowchild tr bridge. I think it went off 4 times while I was driving by. Officer must be raking it in.

[A2VR6]

Saw the white one and the blue one both on deerfoot on the way back north tonight... one was just north of memorial and the other one south of beddington trail. Both had the lights mounted off the carrier on the roof. I feel bad for the guy behind me who got hit up twice on the same stretch of road...

[amear]

i saw a silver 2007? crv on Barlow and 32nd NE with 3 big ass antennas and a laptop on the passenger seat. There was small ghost lights all around the car too including on the bumpers and glass! not sure if it could be a radar van? or undercover cop? his plate read something like MOJOS, or somshit.

[whydontchathen]

Originally posted by A2VR6
....I feel bad for the guy behind me who got hit up twice on the same stretch of road...

guy behind you got hit up twice??? annnnd you? are u gonna get tickets in the mail too? idgi,

[osspasha]

my radar detector escort 9500 ix, give me full Ka band before i pass the truck, less than 100 meters, helped me to dodge a ticket twice in edmonton, on calgary trail where it drops to 50, and as u get in edmonton through gateway trail. hope it will work with those new cars

[93VR6]

Originally posted by SportEL
Which lanes do a photo radar vehicle capture on a 3 lane road for example?Would it catch only the 2 lanes on the right, or all?

Catches all lanes

[firebane]

There is a black ford f150 that likes to hang around the SW Calgary area. I've seen him sit on 37th ave parked on the side with other vehicles and have also seen him parked on the side of the road near Bow Trail Pedestrian bridge.

Only way I knew it was a photo radar was that it was dark and the flash went off.

[Doozer]

Originally posted by SportEL
Which lanes do a photo radar vehicle capture on a 3 lane road for example?Would it catch only the 2 lanes on the right, or all?

:rofl: :rofl: Because it makes perfect sense to NOT capture the lane that's going to have the fastest traffic.


I heard once that the high-mounted photo radar (stationary on a pole) can pinpoint and capture a license plate/speed across 5 lanes of traffic in rush hour.

No idea whether it's true or not, but I think it's safest just to assume that with any photo radar, you can be caught wherever you are, and drive appropriately.

[A2VR6]

Originally posted by whydontchathen


guy behind you got hit up twice??? annnnd you? are u gonna get tickets in the mail too? idgi,

No, I made sure i passed the vehicles at around 100 km/h and I didnt see the flash go off when I passed the radar units. It was a car a few hundred meters behind me that got hit up when I looked in the mirror.

[Stealth22]

Sorry to bump this, but thought I'd add my $0.02.

I've seen the Explorers on Crowchild on two separate occasions, blue and silver, usually around Dalhousie Station. First time was going east, second time it was westbound.

Both vehicles had the flash mounted on the roof by the driver's door, and both had black fleet stickers.

I think I know why they switched from the minivans though. I used to have one of those Caravans...they're utter pieces of shit.

Ok, being serious now haha...my guess is, Ford gave them a discount on the Explorers, especially with the new Interceptor coming in to replace the Crown Vics.

If you buy enough of those things (between marked patrol, unmarked traffic, undercover, photo radar), you can get a real good price on them. Plus, the vans are only good for one or two things. Photo radar being the obvious one, and I've seen the CSI/homicide teams in the newer (2008+) Caravans.

With the Explorers, if they want to change up the photo radar fleet, the Explorers can be re-purposed for regular patrol or unmarked traffic units, or vice versa, when they want to buy new cars for patrol or traffic, the older Explorers can be rotated over to photo radar.

It's easier on maintenance too...its easier to maintain a fleet of Explorers across all the different divisions, instead of having to keep Caravan parts on hand. And if a cop totals an Explorer, they can snag one from photo radar and put a set of lights in it. While the accident is investigated, the totalled car is replaced with an unmarked one in less than 2 days.

[FraserB]

Originally posted by Doozer


:rofl: :rofl: Because it makes perfect sense to NOT capture the lane that's going to have the fastest traffic.


I heard once that the high-mounted photo radar (stationary on a pole) can pinpoint and capture a license plate/speed across 5 lanes of traffic in rush hour.

No idea whether it's true or not, but I think it's safest just to assume that with any photo radar, you can be caught wherever you are, and drive appropriately.

Permanent mount speed on green can capture across multiple lanes since they use induction loops set into the road. The ticket will have which lane you were in and your speed, even if there or multiple cars in the photo.

Mobile units, as far as I know, can only capture the lane directly adjacent to them.

There is also a previous gen Escape that is olive green they use sometimes.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by FraserB


Mobile units, as far as I know, can only capture the lane directly adjacent to them.


I believe they can aim them at different lanes, but the further away the lane, the higher the chance of another vehicle blocking the view of the plate, or even if you see the plate, an arguement could be made it court over which car was doing the speeding.

[reeskm]

I'm so gonna park a sprinter van in front of those cash cows and pull out my newspaper and sip on my coffee.

[spikerS]

has anyone noticed that these photo radar units now mounting 2 black rectangular boxes along the top of the windshield, facing forward, and mounted OUTSIDE?

Wondering if they have combined the noise snare with these now, or what these are?

[Stealth22]

^ I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing it's just a newer radar setup so you don't have the gear taking up so much space inside the car.

Eliminates the need for the Caravans, which have a LOT of space in the front seats and on the dashboard. The Explorer is decently sized, but I don't think it has as much room as a minivan.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Proyecto2000]

Originally posted by spikers
has anyone noticed that these photo radar units now mounting 2 black rectangular boxes along the top of the windshield, facing forward, and mounted OUTSIDE?

Wondering if they have combined the noise snare with these now, or what these are?

I saw a white Ford Explorer on country hills blvd with this new setup catching people going down the hill just before the deerfoot south exit ramp and I have also seen this unit on Metis Trail.

Has anyone else noticed that these new photo radar units are not putting out a K or KA band? My Escort 9500 has not been able to spot these units but I have been able to see them after they flash and catch people ahead of me.

[Stealth22]

^ I haven't got a detector, but I don't think you have anything to worry about. You don't really need a detector in order to spot a photo radar unit, haha.

By the way, here's a snapshot of the blue Explorer that my dashcam caught today.

http://s18.postimg.org/k0qacqfiv/photoradar.png

[Mibz]

Originally posted by Squishy
Most of the newer vehicles don't have black fleet stickers anymore. You sure about this? I don't know the intricacies of vehicle registration but I imagine it would be a HUGE hassle to have all these City vehicles not registered to the fleet and the benefit of catching one or two extra people a month would be far outweighed by the administrative hassle.

Personally, I've never seen a police car, marked or ghost, without a fleet sticker.

[Stealth22]

Originally posted by Mibz
You sure about this? I don't know the intricacies of vehicle registration but I imagine it would be a HUGE hassle to have all these City vehicles not registered to the fleet and the benefit of catching one or two extra people a month would be far outweighed by the administrative hassle.

Personally, I've never seen a police car, marked or ghost, without a fleet sticker.

+1...I would imagine some undercover units (narcotics, gang unit, organized crime, etc) would have cars that aren't fleet vehicles. But everything else, from what I've seen, has always had a fleet registration.

[94boosted]

Originally posted by Proyecto2000



Has anyone else noticed that these new photo radar units are not putting out a K or KA band? My Escort 9500 has not been able to spot these units but I have been able to see them after they flash and catch people ahead of me.

That's weird... my Escort 9500ix went off when I passed one of the F150 Photoradar cash grab trucks not too long ago.


Originally posted by Mibz
You sure about this? I don't know the intricacies of vehicle registration but I imagine it would be a HUGE hassle to have all these City vehicles not registered to the fleet and the benefit of catching one or two extra people a month would be far outweighed by the administrative hassle.



:werd:

I can't remember which thread it was in but a while ago one of the cop beyond members said that for some reason people steal the fleet stickers from cop cars :dunno: So if you see one without any stickers on it that's probably what happened.

[Mibz]

So I've now seen the blue and white Explorer photo radar units. They're way easier to spot than early 00's minivans, haha.

[kenny]

Spotted a black Ford Transit Connect police van today with someone pulled over on 16th. Damn, another new vehicle that'll make me slow down haha.

I suppose its not a photo radar van, but I suppose they could end up being one in the future.

[lilmira]

Yeah, they are not hard to spot now knowing that they use that model.

Last week, I had to slow down when I spotted one parked on the side on Crowchild. It turned out it's just a Ford Explorer. :banghead:

[black13]

Look what I spotted yesterday. Had to do a double take. The camera is way less bulkier than what those dodge vans used to have.
http://i.imgur.com/cThWkyO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/cThWkyO.jpg?1

[FraserB]

These new ones are so much easier to spot haha.

[K3RMiTdot]

yeah saw this a couple weeks ago in the playground zone... i love how obvious it is. hopefully its not a temporary rig.

[flipstah]

I think it's easier to spot those Explorers. Those taillights are a dead giveaway when on. :rofl:

[bignerd]

They have sooo many vehicles now...

I saw the police working a police dog doing exercises over by 64th using a mercedes van (the equivalent of a dodge sprinter) it was dark grey with tinted windows all around but had hidden police lights on it...

[bspot]

Sorry to bump this, but I've passed two of these and I didn't pick up any Ka on my V1.

What's going on here? This would really suck. Now I'll actually have to pay attention when flying down Memorial by the CBC building :rofl:

[TheSmellOfVtec]

theres always dodge rams parked backwards in the fields when you're heading towards Chestemere via 17th and 16th ave and they have the little rear window open with a camera sticking out.

[desto2para]

I see at least 2 of those explorers parked under bridges on stoney all the time. Pretty easy to spot with those black boxes on the roof.

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by desto2para
I see at least 2 of those explorers parked under bridges on stoney all the time. Pretty easy to spot with those black boxes on the roof.

Yeah, the ones on Deerfoot as so easily seen because of the giant boxes. Maybe it's a decoy system, so you'll think ALL photo traps will have those? :rofl: