Someone brought this up in another thread. I've never seen it discussed as it's own topic.

Everyone knows that bright red cars attract unwanted attention from those who are entrusted to enforce the law.

What about darker red, such as the medium red that our 87s and 88s are painted?
What about a darker red with a lot of metalflake? (Like the newer Eclipses?)

Is there something psychological about a red car that antagonizes people?
What about the "ticket magnet" tendencies of other colors?

What about yellow?
Bright blue?
White?
Silver?

None of our cars are what you'd call "low profile".
Just wondered about other people's experiences, or if there have been any scientific studies done.

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Raydar

I'm not the fig plucker.
I'm the fig plucker's son.
But I'll pluck figs
'Til the fig plucker comes.

I would love to paint my Formula the "Mazda Yellow" that the MP5 is available in. The only thing stopping me is I'm afraid it would make the car more of a targer in parking lots and the like for my stereo, or to have it stolen. Right now the black paint doesn't make it stand out, and I like my "stealth" capabilities, even in a not so common car.

I've driven red cars most of my life and I was never able to coorelate color with tickets. I found that the faster I drove the more tickets I got. I drove a bright red LT-1 Trans Am for five years and was never ticketed.

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first, understand i usually get along fine with police. my cars are all white or grey or black. i drive like an old lady.

i've been stopped once in the last 5 years, in a borrowed red car. i thought i was making a joke when i told the officer "you guys really do like red cars". he wasnt amused, and things went to heck from there. but when i read the police report, all he said was "I stopped a red car". no speeding, weaving, lights out, etc. draw your own conclusion.

A lot of police stop cars for speeding because they stand out. If they are patroling, they are much more likely to stop a car that catches their attention. Red is a color that really stands out amoung the grey and tans on the road. So its going to attract a cops gaze. If it happens to be speeding, its like being a sitting duck. However, an incomspicuously colored car can just as easily be stopped if it stands out too... and by driving a lot faster than other nearby cars or frequently changing lanes it can stand out just as well as a red car.

Basically, obeying speed limits, or at least not breaking them by large amounts as long as the traffic is all moving at that pace and your fairly safe.

One other big tip-off the police notice is a radar detector. They can easily spot it hanging in a front window, and its a big tip-off that you speed, whether or not you are at the moment. People who don't speed don't need them.

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John
AOLIM: Fformula88

1988 Fiero Formula
2002 Jeep Wrangler Sahara

quote Originally posted by jscott1: I've driven red cars most of my life and I was never able to coorelate color with tickets.

I have found the opposite to be true. In my Red 88 GT I have gotten pulled over a couple of times where it was obvious that it was because of the color.

The most memorable one was when I took an off ramp off an interstate of which I had the been cruising at around 67 MPH (cruise control). At the end of the off ramp you had to turn left or right onto a 45 MPH road. As I was stopped at the stoplight I saw two cars (one white one black) that where participating in a drag race from the previous light about 1/4 mile down the road. I turned in behind them and watched as the one in the right lane had to slam on his brakes to avoid a semi that had just turned onto the road about 500 ft down the road. I caught up to the semi and thought that where he had turned onto the road was where the speed resumed to 65 MPH. I waited till a car in the left lane passed me and proceeded to hit the resume button on the cruise control.

The truch was doing about 40 MPH and so I was accelerating from 40 to 67 MPH and BEFORE I was able to clear the truck I saw blue and red lights in my rear view mirror. I assumed that he was after the two guys drag racing so I moved over to the right lane and to my surprise he followed me. I promptly pulled over onto the shoulder and the cop came up to my car and asked if I knew why he pulled me over. I replied "I assume that it might be because I came up to speed to soon" as I had noticed the 65 MPH sign as I was overtaking the semi. He took my license and went back to his car and returned when he saw that I have a clean record and gave me a warning.

So he didn't pull over the kids racing at 80-90 MPH. He didn't pull over the car in the left lane that passed me and the truck and had obviously accelerated to 65 MPH at the intersection. He pulled me over for accelerating to the speed limit a few hundred feet before the speed limit sign.

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I used to think that bright red cars attracted more attention, but I have not been pulled over one single time since I got my '88...

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1988 Quad 4 Coupe 5 speed
More pics of the coupe
1986 GT 5 speed, 1984 SC Auto
AOL: LastMinuteBastrd AIM: SavedbyJebus

I don't think the laser gun cares what color you car is.

(a couple of pennies)

Another reason red is a ticket magnet is because red is the hardest color to see. Red blurs the quickest when moving. Green is the easiest color to see, that is the reason that night vision is usually green. So if you don't want a ticket get a green car, or don't drive fast.

These aren't my opinions just what a science teacher told me once.

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I have some friends who are police and deputy sheriffs. They said they notice brite color cars for a longer distance.

1. Red/brite
2. Yellow
3. Orange

I don't think tickets are color related. I have found that they are hair related. The less hair on my head the less tickets I get.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Red 88 GT T-Top 3800 Supercharged
White 88 GT Stock
Please give me a rating if you appreciate my contribution.

you have your cause and effect backwards

people who prefer red cars tend to speed more

statistically

somehow I doubt a cop will sit on the side of the highway, clock a car going 89mph, then when he sees its blue

suddenly a peacefull tranquility comes over hims - ahhhhhh Bluuuuuue - urg to kill falling, falling.... gone :c)

quote Originally posted by skitime: I don't think tickets are color related. I have found that they are hair related. The less hair on my head the less tickets I get.

HAH HA !!! LMFAO !! oops, fell out my chair !

The other day I started to make a post that was going to ask, What do you think the most "invisible" colors are.

I had it all typed out, then my computer <burbed> & lost the connection. I never got around to typing it out again.

Here's what I think are "invisible" colors:

White
Gold
Silver
Primer (grey)
Beige
Lt. Blue

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www.centralfloridafieros.com/Coolblue87GT.htm

[This message has been edited by CoolBlue87GT (edited 09-27-2002).]

quote Originally posted by quantum1: Green is the easiest color to see, that is the reason that night vision is usually green. So if you don't want a ticket get a green car, or don't drive fast.

OK!

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Looking for Fiero posters?

ummmmm if you don't want a ticket, get a crown vic, and paint it

BLACK AND WHITE.

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blue 87gt, loaded, mr mikes interior,OZ f1 plus rims, and a wee bit of TLC within that bad a$$ v-6, and now RCC coil overs wheeeeeee

Sorry guys, that question of color as reported by me is based on psychological and statistical research that came out in the 1970's when I used to be in the business (psychology not law enforcement). It is now thirty years old, and I cannot remember the references (I'm a bit over thirty years old), but it was and is accurate.
Quantum1 may have the answer. There was no evidence that the police had acted with malice. They just did pull over many more red colored cars than any others.
You may never have been stopped in your scarlet machine, but that doesn't effect the statistical realities.

My car is presently many colours. It does draw plenty of attention from the local constabulary, though.

Usually the sight of the fat, grey haired b@st@rd driving like a granny reassures them and they drive on past.

Just pick the times you go fast carefully.

quote Originally posted by Oldmike: [B]. They just did pull over many more red colored cars than any others. B]

Statistically, a correlation does not prove cause and effect. As someone above stated, red cars may be attracting people who naturally drive fast.

Also, cars that are likely to be driven fast, (Camaros, Firebirds, Fieros and Vettes) are more likely to be red that your Camrys, and Accords which are less likely to be speeding, and so on.

Statistics pulled out of the air and anecdotal stories can't prove anything. You would have to do a controlled experiment to draw any conclusions.

Here's one thing that has been scientifically tested: Darker colors, black, deep blue, dark green, etc. are a little harder for infrared to get a solid reading on. A red car is real easy for the gun to read your speed, and cops are more likely to pull someone over when they have a clear reading of the speed.

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"Wise man say, when in doubt, mumble."

Erwin

quote Originally posted by jbigie: Here's one thing that has been scientifically tested: Darker colors, black, deep blue, dark green, etc. are a little harder for infrared to get a solid reading on.

Since orignal police radar is microwave and they are now using LASER I'm not sure what infrared reflectivity has to do with it.

But it's been argued that Fieros with their plastic body panels and down facing radiator are less visible to radar. I've never seen that tested though. There are some counter-measures for LASER out there. Since LASER is just light, (sophisticated light, but light nontheless) active countermeasures can be used leagally.

Orange and Yellow seem to attract a lot of attention.

quote Originally posted by jscott1: Since orignal police radar is microwave and they are now using LASER I'm not sure what infrared reflectivity has to do with it. But it's been argued that Fieros with their plastic body panels and down facing radiator are less visible to radar. I've never seen that tested though. There are some counter-measures for LASER out there. Since LASER is just light, (sophisticated light, but light nontheless) active countermeasures can be used leagally.

Not sure what frequency the laser is. Might be UV. (I know the lasers used in fiber optics are UV.) I've seen articles about devices that can "confuse" laser. Don't remember the details, though.

As for the plastic body panels being less reflective to radar...
The radar signal will pass straight through the plastic panels, and reflect right off that big flat bumper bar. Or any other metal surface it strikes.
The only advantage a Fiero has is that it presents a lower physical profile than most of the surrounding traffic.

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Raydar

I'm not the fig plucker.
I'm the fig plucker's son.
But I'll pluck figs
'Til the fig plucker comes.

quote Originally posted by quantum1: Another reason red is a ticket magnet is because red is the hardest color to see. Red blurs the quickest when moving. Green is the easiest color to see, that is the reason that night vision is usually green. So if you don't want a ticket get a green car, or don't drive fast. These aren't my opinions just what a science teacher told me once.

Night vision equipment displays green because the gas inside only allows the green light to travel through.

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--Will | ironwill2000@hotmail.com

quote Originally posted by Raydar: [BAs for the plastic body panels being less reflective to radar... The radar signal will pass straight through the plastic panels, and reflect right off that big flat bumper bar. Or any other metal surface it strikes. [/B]

ok, so we need radar absorbing paint. electronic countermeasures, stealth technology!

I got pulled over last night in my bright yellow GT and the cop said "Do you know you have the worst driving record I've ever seen??!!" "Really?" I said. I told him that my record had improved in the last few years, because I sold my really fast car. Then he said "And now you have a YELLOW ONE???" He told me that wasnt any better. Then he let me go because that little squeal he heard from the tires was a careless ticket, and he saw that I didn't need one of those! I told him my tires were way too expenisve (19's) to burn off, and it might have been the whining of the blower.... He didn't believe that either.

He told me the car glows at night compared to everyone else. HA!

MOBILE

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Member MN Fieros Forever 1986 GT. Self Installed SC3800/getrag almost everything performance wise is modified/upgraded, inside and out. Over 10 years in Car Audio and Car Electronics Experiance P.S. GOT 19"s??(all the way around)

quote Originally posted by lurker: ok, so we need radar absorbing paint. electronic countermeasures, stealth technology!

I remember reading an article, several years back, about a coating that could be applied to metal that would absorb radar signals and not reflect anything back.
If I recall, it was applied to a bridge, somewhere in Japan. When the ship's radar was turned on, the bridge was virtually invisible.
DISCLAIMER: I don't remember if it was real, or was just a dramatization.

In any event, the coating was probably some sort of ferrite (powdered iron). It's the same stuff that the tunable cores in the center of radio tuner coils is made of.
I suspect that the F117 and the B2 are painted with something like this.
Anybody want a flat-black "stealth" Fiero?

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Raydar

I'm not the fig plucker.
I'm the fig plucker's son.
But I'll pluck figs
'Til the fig plucker comes.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Anybody want a flat-black "stealth" Fiero?

the germans were messing with raYdar-absorbing paint as far back as ww2.
i bet a fiero would look good in flat black..
at last, a paint job that pays for itself!

[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 09-30-2002).]

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Anybody want a flat-black "stealth" Fiero?

Hmmm... already got one of those too

and my GreenGT is also half Stealth/Primer Black

Come to think of it, I haven't been pulled over much in the GreenGT... just once for not getting out of a Cops way (and for loud exhaust). My only speeding ticket was acquired at night when the car was still stock 1987 Gold.

I have a bright red car and I've only been pulled over once.... he walked around my car looking at it took my lisence and registration went back to his car, then came back a few minutes later and let me go *shrug*

Pollice laser and communications laser, are both IR wavelegenth (in the 800-1500nm range)

Also, light-amp nigit vision equipment glows green in phosphor, because that's the most efficent kind they can find. Light amp uses star light, which is white, with high blue color temp content.

It is a concidence that our human eyes have the most *chroma* sensativity (and luma crosover) in the green wavelegenth, due to the distribution of sensor media in our retena. (anyone familiar with the video world will reconise why 'bayer' single-chip cameras have twice as many green ccds as red/blue.)

IR night vision literally 'sees' heat (and will see pollice laser beams, etc. and is not dependant on star light at all.)

Did I mention I work in this indsutry?

Best!
Ben.

PS: Stealth Fiero. I have no comment.

quote Originally posted by Raydar: Not sure what frequency the laser is. Might be UV. (I know the lasers used in fiber optics are UV.) I've seen articles about devices that can "confuse" laser. Don't remember the details, though. As for the plastic body panels being less reflective to radar... The radar signal will pass straight through the plastic panels, and reflect right off that big flat bumper bar. Or any other metal surface it strikes. The only advantage a Fiero has is that it presents a lower physical profile than most of the surrounding traffic.

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Ben Cannon
88 Formula, T-top, Metalic Red. (2:13.138 at Sears Point) "Every Man Dies, not every man really Lives"
88 Formula, Northstar, Silver, In-Progreess. -Mel Gibson, "Braveheart"

never had a speeding violation in mine.. although I was near Grand Rapids in MI state cop looked over at me then I saw the brakes, I was only doing 78-80 in a 70 along with everyone else.

Needless to say I was going to find out so I sped up and hit the first exit I saw and busted down some streets

had the car goin on 5 years I just dont buy the color stuff. Ya it may stick out a little more but I don't think it'll be the deciding factor on what which person they clock. I've sped by a few in the day time and they didn't even look twice.

but if you look at todays cars many are going yellow and other funky colors. Guess us red car owners won't stand out as much anymore

guess it depends on how bright your red is

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-KC

1988 Formula, 3.4 modified 5spd
75 NX (Nitrous) 100% polly

[This message has been edited by LoW_KeY (edited 09-30-2002).]

lets see.. pulled over for ..

-racing profile- twice
-suspected DWI- (9am on my way to work still don't understand that one, they searched my car, did a field subriety test all that crap, and then was told "sorry have a nice day son" an hour and a half later)
just last week got a ticket for improperpassing my left tires crossed the yellow lines of the suicide lane.
2 -loud exhaust- tickets.. with a cat and full 50 state legal brullen muffler. both dismissed by judge.
-altered suspension- BUT the tennis ball rolled through just fine and didnt' hit a thing.. HA.. showed him..

orange looks nice in pictures.. but is a pain to drive...

and it causes accidents.. 4 kids in an altima pipe shootin lynds(wife) and my self they dumped the clutch next to us and PLOWED into the explorer in front of them... -darwin award-

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YES.. for the Last time.. 18s will fit on your Fiero.. SEE...

[This message has been edited by 1FST2M6 (edited 09-30-2002).]

I may be dateing myself but during the late sixties and early seventies if you bought a red car , you had to pay a higher insurance rate . The insurance companys logic was that people who owned red cars drove faster , got more tickets , and had more accidents . I lived in N.Y.C at this time .

If I can steal a chain of thought from Ski ,yes color plays a major role in how many tickets you get , the grayer my hair gets the less speeding tickets I get . Like I tell my wife I may be getting older but I'll never grow up .

Galen Smith
Red 85 Sport Coupe
Founder of Suncoast Fiero Club
Florida Fiero Council

[This message has been edited by fierogsmith (edited 09-30-2002).]

MOBILE,

I definatley concur that both of our yellow cars glow at night,, thats how i got pulled over a few weeks ago..it was way to bright for him to not see, then he had to critique the car...I DID BEAT THE TICKET FOR YELLOW TAILIGHTS, I EXPLAINED THAT MY CAR IS SO YELLOW IT COLOR BLINDED HIM\\

THEY BOUGHT IT