If you remove the MINI nameplate and replace it with Buick, will you still be a cop attractor?

 

An example that is more in line with your equation is

8/5*4=6.4
8/(5*4)=0.4

So, the placement of the paranthesis as to whether something belongs in a denominator really matters.

I know, I know...the equation was just playing, but I can be a bit **** retentive that way

As for cop attractor, I have attracted a couple cops, but so far they have just wanted to look at my car I kinda think that they want to see if my lights are legal, but they are hooked up to my brights so then they just act interested in my car

 

Not just "act like you have been trained in high speed pursuit"--I HAVE been trained in high speed pursuit (former EMT and police officer) and they get curious about me in my MINI.

I can't do math, so I'm not going to get close to that formula you guys are working on.

Instead I'll try to put it in plain language for those of us who are much safer when we stay away from numbers.

Hmm, let's see: VERY distinctive appearance, not a common sight on most streets, awesome handling, way too much fun to drive, (generally) very high visibility colors(chili red, hot orange, etc), stripes, and then add additional lights, distinctive exhaust sounds--all designed to draw attention to you and your MINI. Then I seem to have a MINI Gremlin in my car that makes me drive differently when in the MINI. Of course, there is also the shine from all the smiling that MINI drivers and co-pilots do, and: Yep! It attracts people, including cops!

But then, isn't that part of why we all got our MINI's?

I guess it is a curse we must live with. Reminds me of a saying: With incredible power (aka a MINI), comes great responsibility.

 

Hmmmm..... must be age, or something. I always thought if you look older, they feel your less likely to act an idiot. I mean, I have more than once spotted an unmark get up right behind me (always look for those cop antenna thingies) like they're waiting for me to try something but I always just brushed it off as being paranoid. I don't feel anymore noticable than other cars. I have to travel to Panama City once a month and there is a section of road I have to travel, 231, that has that annoying 65 mph to 55 mph, to 45 mph, to 35 mph speed limit and then back up again change and the unmarks are very agressive there. I set my cruise control right at 65 and then bump the brake when the speed limit changes. I usually notice on the average at least 3 unmarks tail me for awhile every time I go in or leave the city. I think there is some Highway Patrol training camp close by there.

I mean, in the city I live in, we have more than our fair share of kids in their "Fast and Furious" wannabe cars. They don't know how to drive and they put everyone at danger with agressive tailgating and pulling fast lane changes that nearly clip the front end of the car they pull in front of. If I was a cop, I would be all over someone like that as opposed to someone driving a Mini.

 

Ok I think I got something that ties in driving habits and what not better. I was sure to include lots of parenthesis this time.

Let
I = Cop attractibility Index
M = Motoring style Index
V = Vehicle Styly Index

A = acceleration
S = Speed
L = lawful speed limit
C = Lane changes per mile
X = appearance style index
Y = Sound of vehicle
D = number of doors
E = Number of exhaust exit points

M = ((S*C)/(L*A))*10
V = ((X*Y*E)/D)
I = (((S*C)/(L*A))*10)*((X*Y*E)/D) = M*V

I even included a chart. The first 9 data points are all MCSs with various level of modifications and driving habits all on a 65MPH highway. Point 10 is a rough estimate of a Bugatti Veyron driving pretty aggressively in the same situation.

 

Oooooh...math fight! YAY! "Almost" as exciting as the Perf Mod forum!

 

I can't believe I noticed this, but why is acceleration in the denominator? And what is this appearance style index?

On a related note to the Bugatti, it reminds me of a anecdote of Harrison Ford in his F50. So the story goes that Harrison Ford is going like 110 down the freeway when a cop pulls him over. When the cop asks him why he was speeding, Mr. Ford replies with, "If you were driving this car, what would you be doing?" The cop supposedly let him off.

 

acceleration is in the denominator because faster cars have lower numbers. I should have specified it's the 0-60 time in seconds. If it was not in the denominator wouldn't a Yugo be more attractive than a Veyron?

The appearance index is a work in progess, kinda subjective I suppose. So it would individualize based on a particular officer. As some officers might be more likely to check out a ferrari rather than a classic muscle car and vice versra.(read I don't have a good answer so I'm BSing like a champ)

 

Well, I finally got a response from my younger brother who is a City of Milwaukee patrolman on this topic.
Here was his response:

Of course, this is one cop's opinion but as it turns out, we all drive "cute" cars and are not percieved as dangerous unless we're going too fast.

 

My MINI may have just become more of a cop attracter. If my windows are down they just might see that I'm playing dvd's through my nav screen, illegally visable to the driver. Come and get me coppers! With a quick flick of my hidden toggle it'll be back to nav like they were seeing things. Muahahaha!

 

Sound okay w/ me.

 

...we are not allowed to stereotype anymore...what it is now called is profiling: the colour of the car does not necessarily matter...and it is tinted windows that cause the most concern for officer safety because we can't tell if Granny Mae is trying to get her home made hot apple crisp to the family gathering on time or if it is some thug with a pistol grip shot gun...if you are in a corridor that is known to be travelled by individuals transporting "goods" and you meet the rest of the criteria (see MINIotaple's entry), then you are most likely going to be more closely scrutinized than other vehicles. ...and addressing tinted windows, we can't tell the age, ethnic group, race or gender of the driver until they roll the window down... Mick

 

You obviously have some fallacious and extraneous factors here.

• Eliminate Sound of vehicle - unless the cop's behind you he probably can't hear it - or adjust for Doppler Effect.
• Eliminate number of doors...or prove a relationship, don't BMW sedans get tickets? A Mazda RX has 4 doors, eh?
• Eliminate # of exhaust points??? How is a cop to know this? You're moving too fast.
• Discount style - highly subjective, ugly cars get tickets too (and deserve it)
• Add new factor - COLOR extra weight to primary colors especially red, chartreuese, bright yellow, etc.
• Add new factors:
  • last time officer got laid? the grumpier the officer the more likely the ticket
  • is his tummy upset from too much Taco Bell, blue plate specials or greasy donuts?
  • YOUR attitude
  • YOUR SPEED, the more eggregious the higher the likelihood

 

Not to mention the fact that no one can tell the drivers intention at, for example, a four-way stop. Motorcyclist especially like the added danger of not at least being able to see if a driver is looking at them at an intersection, not that that means thay won't pull out in front of you anyway.

Anything darker than 35% shouldn't be allowed IMO, cool or not.

 

Yep, us cops are like (the opposite gender): you can't live with them and you can't with without them....

We don't get up in the morning and decide we will specifically target a specific type/colour car or person driving it...

How many times have you been driving along and wonder, where's a cop when you need them, because the driver or drivers ahead of you are driving in an unsafe manner (weaving, racing, cutting other drivers off without reason, harassing other drivers without a reason)? What caused you to wonder? Was it the way the person was driving? Well, maybe I am over simplifying it, but that is the same thought process we have...and MINIs are cute and don't present themselves as a "dangerous" car....but then again, bunnies are cute and adorable little critters until one bites you....

People, and this is a general statement based on eighteen years of personal observation, will buy a car that fits their personality: if they have an "alpha" personality, they will be more likely to pick a "muscle" car that is either black or dark denoting dominance and power .... yellow, orange, or red denote playfullness; pinks and pastels denotes flirtatiousness, green, blue and purple denote thoughtfulness and business, whites and greys denote those that are afraid of change or don't like to be in groups... .

NOW, I would also like to add that all that goes down the crapper when you try and apply it to a MINI.... ...don't try and analyze a MC/MCs owner, just roll with 'em and have fun. Mick

 

Well, one morning on the way to work, I get a little frisky on this stretch of road through farmland and woods with no homes. I take this sweet little sweeping left hander with a good rise and catch some air. When the officer finally catches up to me and asks the obligatory "what's the hurry", he says that he thinks I was going about 65 in a 25 but he was not able to get close enough to clock me. He writes a warning for rolling a stop sign and I wish him a good day. Car or poor judgement? You decide.

 

Uhhmm NO. I got it because my wife told me to

Also, I think the first paragraph above is an oversimplifcation. In fact, ... I see Many, Many MINIs ... very common, and 95% of the are completely plain. No graphics, nothing obviously modded. What you do see are the cars at car club meetings which are obviously modded w/graphics but in the general populace of all MINIs, I believe them to be a small percentage of the population... Just an opinion.

 

Very well put!
Now, I could comment on the cell phone oblivious, SUV driving type that put me in peril at least 3 times when I drove a Miata (rear ended twice as I was stoped at a red light) but, I don't even want to go there....

 

I don't know about you, but I beleive that a cell phone has become a part of our lives, like it or not, it is here to stay...I give kudos to those people that are smart enough to use a hands free unit. On the flip side, anyone using a cell phone (not a hands-free unit) and brainlessly flapping their lips :impatient is fair game....regardless of the vehicle they are driving. Somebody has to save them from themselves....and while we're on brainless; I almost got rear ended by a guy who was primping....okay, the secret is out, MEN DO PRIMP! Mick

 

Cop Attracters b/c of a 3" exhaust.

 

In the MC2 magazine, first edition, last page, it has a picture of Allegheny County, Pa. Sheriff's Office MINI Sport Coop, all-l-l dressed out with decals and light bars....sweet... Mick

 

Speed is already in there. As for style if you see a red(color is included in style) huge winged bass thumping riced out blender on wheels it's going to attract anyones attention; including jonny law, before the plain jane sedan going equally as fast. And yes cars with 4 doors get tickets, but performance oriented cars are generally two doored, generally. And Performance oriented cars encourage the driver to lay on the gas. As for sound, if the officer is snoozing in his ride what do you think is going to wake him up? the sound of Ferrari ripping past or an Accord?(think classic scene of incompetent local law enforcement snoozing behind some bushes under a billboard, the loud car tearing by waking them up to pursue.) And besides this all BS anyways so make your own chart .

 

...BS? Isn't that what friends do? We all get together BS for a little while, have a few laughs, talk about things that irk us or make us laugh, come to some kind of common conclusion (whether it is an agreeable one or the agreement to disagree, it's all good) and then we move on with life in general....Peace. Mick

 

I have wondered how many times off duty law officers have observed me taking corners without braking or slowing down. Not talking about speeding here. just approaching the intersection a posted limits and cornering like the MINI was meant to do, thus garnering attention when on job warranted offence or not

 

Again, it's not always the car, it's the way its driven; even it is driven well!

Proper apexing down a mountain road got me called in to Office Plod. The driver behind me reported me by mobile phone, and said I was driving "erratically"! Mind you I never crossed the center or shoulder lines and maintained the speed limit.

No ticket, no warning. Just a bunch of questions about my MINI.

Theo