so whats the total low down on radar detectors?

[632 Regal]

i dont even want to go into details for the fear of being banned but is valantine the proper animal to choose when my detector has retired? There is almost too much information on this and it is as confusing.

[Reidal]

Valentine have a good name world wide.

With technology leaping forward so fast, a current detector can be out of date within weeks or months, but enforcement tend to stick to what they have for budget reasons so your money won't generally be wasted to quickly.

I'd ask around the car clubs and similar locally as to what works and what doesn't and go from there.

Before moving to Australia from New Zealand, I had a Mitsubishi GT3000 twin turbo so a detector was first thing on my shopping list. I bought a uniden 5000 from memory (about 5 years ago now) and it was current for laser, fixed camera and most speed guns at the time.

Illegal here in Australia so now it is just gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere.

Mount them as high as reasonably possible so they can have a good chance to see the laser/radar beam.

Also don't ignore the good old Mk 1 version detector (the eyeball) as it is often just as effective as the electronic version.

Oh, also there are some devices advertised as "jammers". Don't waste your money. They don't generally work.

Reid

[Sweetwater]

I'm voting that detectors are a waste of money.

With the instant on technology and the speeds that get you pulled over, there isn't enough reaction time to bring a car down to the limit in the time you have.

I'll wait for the testimonials to put in their claims, but I think the MK 1 in combination with the NeuralNet (common sense) are the best determinants of whether you'll get a ticket or not.

[Jeff N.]

Just part of the overall armor but a good part.

A good traffic ticket attorney on retainer is also a very good plan.

[tim s]

most of the cops in my area still use standard radar. it only has to save you once to pay for itself. i also notice i am more alert & drive slower due to the detector reminding me of the troopers.
tim s.

[MBXB]

I use a V1, and a compact pair of binoculars.

[Jon K]

I have a V1 hardwired... and i don't speed often, but when i do i've been lucky. it has saved me a few times but usually i saw the cop and or knew the location and that it was a trap area. a couple times in NJ i have been driving to the shore and got nailed with instant-on. fortunately not speeding, or not enough to warrant reaction... it's hard to say if it is actually worth having a V1 or not.

[50 fiver]

I have been radar certified, and I know that a radar detector only works if the officer has it running, there is a rocker switch that we use to cut it off and on. Rarely do we run it all the time. You have to see the car speeding, then cut the radar on and get the clock. By the time a radar detector picks it up, it is too late, because the cops radar has already got the speed of the vehicle. Radar detectors only work if the cop runs his radar all the time, which we are taught not to do, so basically, radar detectors won't work if the officer is proficient with radar and is taught to use it right.

[Jon K]

I have been radar certified, and I know that a radar detector only works if the officer has it running, there is a rocker switch that we use to cut it off and on. Rarely do we run it all the time. You have to see the car speeding, then cut the radar on and get the clock. By the time a radar detector picks it up, it is too late, because the cops radar has already got the speed of the vehicle. Radar detectors only work if the cop runs his radar all the time, which we are taught not to do, so basically, radar detectors won't work if the officer is proficient with radar and is taught to use it right.

exactly. i find that a radar detector is more usefull for those speed sign zones that we have on I-95. I see them anyway, but at least if i am not paying attention or am in a rush and forget the zone, i hear about it 2 miles in advance from V1.

[NoSpeedLimits]

That's great info. Thanks! And all these years I thought my detector was broken.

[632 Regal]

I was cruising along in an unfamiliar area in the dark, limit was 40 mph as I approached a small town. Then without warning flashing lights...umpfhhh. Pulled over, handed my cards, 90 questions, and wait. 20 minutes, sobriety test, blow test, arrested, outstanding warrent for child support (good attorney...FIRED yesterday!). Anyways the next day after I retrieved my car I went past the area to see the speed limit sign, sure enough the officer wasn't lying, it was there 35 MPH...behind a tree almost impossible to see. Detector is dead as I drove past one of them speed radar boxes and my detecter just sits there, looking at me :| I think Im going to research more on the valantine, they are definetly hard core from what I have read so far.
Thanks for all the oppinions guys!!!

[G Feller]

Sorry for all the trouble. That sucks. Is the child support thing the detail you were worried about sharing? Who are we to judge? Well OK, this is huge public forum and there are some fascists out there . . .

How fast were you going?

You did raise one point that was vaguely mentioned earlier in this thread: The worst places to speed are those with which you are unfamiliar. No idea where a cop might like to hide behind a tree, around a bend, where the speed limit signs might be conveniently tucked behind trees, etc.

Hope your new attorney is a bit more astute.



I was cruising along in an unfamiliar area in the dark, limit was 40 mph as I approached a small town. Then without warning flashing lights...umpfhhh. the next day after I retrieved my car I went past the area to see the speed limit sign, sure enough the officer wasn't lying, it was there 35 MPH...behind a tree almost impossible to see.

[632 Regal]

Actually I am paid in advance with the child support thing, I have no intention of shorting the 1st ex on that, kid chows a lot! lol. The rest of the story is what I worry about and that wont be told.

I get to appear infront of the FOC Referee, I am going with or without my atty, he hasnt called me back in 2 days. I think I have enough paperwork to prove I'm paid in advance and their system took $1024 and never credited my account, its just applied and sitting there. I never got a notice to appear in the first place so needless to say I didnt make it to court and was issued a bench warrant. Lets see here add 1024 to my arrears of 124 and we are in credit of exactly 900 dollars.


Sorry for all the trouble. That sucks. Is the child support thing the detail you were worried about sharing? Who are we to judge? Well OK, this is huge public forum and there are some fascists out there . . .

How fast were you going?

You did raise one point that was vaguely mentioned earlier in this thread: The worst places to speed are those with which you are unfamiliar. No idea where a cop might like to hide behind a tree, around a bend, where the speed limit signs might be conveniently tucked behind trees, etc.

Hope your new attorney is a bit more astute.

[bahnstormer]

i've always considered getting a jamer b/c when u have one and use it all the other ppl around u with radar detectors freak out. heheh
great fun on the highway!

[50 fiver]

I must admit, sometimes we will leave radars running so that it screws up everybody with detectors. I would save the money for a detector and put it into my car, or if you must drive fast(and we do own fast cars) maybe put it into an account to pay your lawyer and insurance when you do get a ticket.

[Jeff N.]

I always looked at detectors as just one more item to help level the table. They won't save you every time and if you think they will, you are in for trouble. On the other hand, a good detector can tip you off in a lot of situations.

Of course, no detector will save you from the ticket I got in central Oregon years ago. I was on a deserted country highway and came around a sweeper at speed and *screech* went the detector as the motorcycle cop zapped me with the instant on gun.

Lots of guys in our local CCA chapter get out of tickets by using the well-known ticket specialist lawyer. 50 has a great point there as well!

Jeff

[MBXB]

Caareful with the jammer. It's a transmitter and as such requires a station license. You're talkin major fines for operating one. With my luck, an FCC van would just happen to be checking. LOL


i've always considered getting a jamer b/c when u have one and use it all the other ppl around u with radar detectors freak out. heheh
great fun on the highway!

[Jon K]

Caareful with the jammer. It's a transmitter and as such requires a station license. You're talkin major fines for operating one. With my luck, an FCC van would just happen to be checking. LOL


Also becareful and know the policies of the states you drive through. Here in PA, a radar detector is almost useless. They use VASCAR and timing devices in local and state jurisdiction. Only staties use radar, and even then its seldom. we apparently have a ton of timing devices. NJ on the other hand tends to use radar heavily, but almost all the cops i pass are using instant on.

[Tiger]

That's true... but that 'decoy' driver gives the rest of us warnings on our radar detectors... Granted... if you are lone speeder, you are dead no matter what unless the 5-0 was doing paperworks instead of being alert.

Majority of time with mass traffic, that momentary blip gives us radar detector user the warning that there is a 5-0 somewhere near... and double check our speed... keep us on toes...

[JeremyT]

V1, hands down. I've been armed with one since they were first introduced 11 years ago. Every few years I do my own personal comparison of all the top contenders, and still the V1 outshines them all. The only speeding tickes I've gotten were in another car w/o the V1. The unit has paid for itself over and over & continues to every day. I cannot say enough good things about it.

[Reidal]

I'm interested in an alternative device available here in Australia. Called Road Angel

www.blackspot.com.au

Operates by GPS using web downloaded files defining hot spots, fixed camera's etc with the ability to input your own sites as you find them.

Not sure if it is available in the US or Canada, but I know it can be found in the UK.

More a gentle reminder than an active defender.

Reid

[mike wong]

I use a V1, and a compact pair of binoculars.

[MBXB]

If I have a passenger, that's their job to scan as far ahead as possible; If I'm alone, I just take quick peeks only when no traffic around.

[G Feller]

. . . I tried driving with binoculars. Stupid, but no one else was around on those Iowa backroads. It is nearly impossible and a freaky trip.

I do not advise it.

[632 Regal]

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[AllanS]

I've seen those in british car mags. In the US, we really don't have traffic cameras anywhere near the extent that the uk apparently does (I didn't know that aus had them until now!), and hopefully we never will.

Maybe near the cities (or in california) we'll see a couple of them, but the US may just be too big for a successful deployment. Added to that is our right to face our accuser, and the general disregard for speed limits.

[Jon K]

I've seen those in british car mags. In the US, we really don't have traffic cameras anywhere near the extent that the uk apparently does (I didn't know that aus had them until now!), and hopefully we never will.

Maybe near the cities (or in california) we'll see a couple of them, but the US may just be too big for a successful deployment. Added to that is our right to face our accuser, and the general disregard for speed limits.


My computer system in the 5 uses a GPS software that is heavily developed in Europe areas, and has designated warnings for approaching known speed traps and cameras... it's very neat. Unfortunately no one has gone and plotted the location of traps and cameras in the US yet. Still a neat feature.

[Robert K]

I actually made a spreadsheet years ago that had speed in miles per hour on one axis and trip distance on the other. The grid then showed all the times in minutes it would take to drive each distance at various speeds. You know what I learned from that exercise? You've got to drive long distances to really save yourself a lot of time on a trip. For instance, driving a 50 mile trip at 65 mph would take 46 minutes. That same trip at 80 mph would take 37.5 minutes...a savings of 8.5 minutes. As the trip distance gets shorter, your time savings goes down. For me, saving 8.5 minutes on that trip doesn't justify the chance of getting a nice fat speeding ticket and a raise in the ole car insurance premium. I just cruise at the limit and let everyone else get the tickets. And trust me, here in my neck of the woods in Kentucky, they give out plenty of them on the I-24 near Paducah.

So, if you want a detector and want to speed, I don't really have a problem with it as long as you drive responsibly and don't endanger others. But why don't you slow down a few mph and spend the detector money on some other upgrades such as a CD player, sheepskin seat covers, sway bars...

Grace and peace,

Robert K
1991 535i

[Jeff N.]

...there are situations the police don't consider such as:

- you are driving with the traffic flow when the flow is above the posted limit. It's safer to not be the slowest car out there but the police don't consider this if you are pulled over.

- those moments of inadvertent attention lapses where you find your self above the limit but you didn't mean to be.

I've gotten tickets in both those situations. In either case, I was just the "unlucky guy".

Sooo...when the police start considering my "overall" driving record vs. my speed at that very moment with no context is when I'll consider not having a detector. I view the device more as an attention alarm than as a "free pass" to behave unsafely.

...my 2 cents...

Jeff

[rockyfeller]

Robert, be honest, no one really drives at the speed limit. There is a flow of traffic and to drive too slow is actually unsafe, you become an obstacle. So a cop having a bad day and not liking your Bimmer can easily fish you out of the crowd even when you drive with the flow. It is important to remember that even on public roads it is safe to drive brisk, just don't weave between nervous families carrying children, make sure your vehicle and the road is in condition, and the weather is good and traffic is light. Reckless driving is for those kids in Civics and Integras. E34 drivers should be more responsible, experienced and civilized. Being careful and tolerant to others on the road is key. Our cars were designed for the autobahn, if you really drive your car at speed limits that's sad. Your car is screaming to really be driven. Corollas are cars made to be driven at the limit. So it's a open road and V1 on the dash for me!

[632 Regal]

you wrote that. I was going speedlimit, 40 on the dot. It was a speed trap where the sign that said 35mph was hidden behind a tree and I had no clue there was a trap cause my detector didnt warn me. If it had I would have probably been watching for a trap since the roads werent heavily traveled at that time. SO...sometimes even when you do the limit you can get unfair tickets and it's in my best interest to defend myself from this kind of cheesy chicken **** police activity.

[Robert K]

I understand the driving-with-the-flow theory. But I'm not sure I've ever been in a traffic situation where the entire flow of traffic was going so far above the limit, that doing the posted limit was dangerous. But, I also don't do much urban interstate driving, which I know is different than my rural interstate driving. That was a conscious decision I made to never ever live in a major city. But getting back to the flow theory, don't be suprised if the prosecuting attorney asks if everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do it too?

To be honest, about 95% of the time, I do drive the speed limit. And it even occurred to me on the interstate two days ago when a state cop drove by that I didn't even think about checking my speed or hitting the brakes. Why??? Because I had the cruise set at the limit. It's actually kind of nice to not having to be watching all the time for cops or slamming on your brakes if you think you see one approaching in the horizon. It's also nice to not have to worry about getting $100+ speeding tickets and paying other consequences with court, higher insurance, lawyer fees, etc.

If you want to drive over the limit, go right ahead. If you don't, but want to protect yourself for those few times you fail to slow down for a slower zone, then buy a detector, buy a jammer, paint your car with stealth paint. This is America. It is your choice. But with some choices, there are consequences. The alternative I gave lessens your chances of receiving consequences and doesn't cost you a cent. You are free to agree, disagree or do whatever you want to. I just offered my $.02.

Grace and peace,

Robert K

[ryan roopnarine]

i do 55 when i don't have to be anywhere in a hurry (most of the time). limit when i drive with a passenger or if congestion is heavy.......and 15 over max if i'm SOL for time. the limit on fl turnpike is 70......most of the traffic only goes 75, but if you go below that, people are pissed off at you....i get myriad nasty looks when i do 55 :D its nice to not have to slow down for the police, but i have this feeling that one day a cop that's had a bad day is gonna try to ticket me for impeding traffic...i guess i'm just looking for a fight, and am ready to take the week off and make the ticketing officer eat feces if that day ever comes.

[Brian C.]

:p

[ryan roopnarine]

:p

with all of the water i've made the car drink during the past week, it better be 36-37 mpg at 55 and at least 31 at 70 for short drives.

[Jeff N.]

...
To be honest, about 95% of the time, I do drive the speed limit. ...


So how would you feel if you got a ticket for one of those 5% of the times? Would you feel it's "fair" or that you got a raw deal because someone deserved it more? Do you think you would go to court and explain that 95% of the time you are below the limit? My problem is that 95% of the time counts for nothing. All the state has to find is that you, at that one instant moment, were above the limit.

I had a police officer once write me for 30 in a 25 4 blocks from my house. You don't intentially speed in your own neighborhood. But I had just pulled onto the arterial and was adjusting this or that and slipped over the 25 for a moment. Ooops. Intentional? Nope! Fair? Well...according to the letter of the law, yup. In my book, nope. State 1, Jeff 0.

How 'bout this one.... Was in a small town in the other side of the state having a nice weekend with my then girlfriend at an upscale resort on a hilltop. Was coming down the hill, at the posted 30mph limit, and got zapped by the local sheriff hiding in the bushes. Turns out there was a very quick 25 mph zone there and I was doing 32 in the 25. Basically, this was a revenue trap to get out of towners. Once the sheriff saw my Seattle (big city, out of area) reg, I got a nice $72 ticket. Intentional? Nope. Fair? I don't think so.
State 2, Jeff 0.

Or this one...The police officer sitting at the bottom of a long, steep hill in a business district. In the dark, at 9:30 at night. No traffic...no pedestians...no homes...no nothing. Except me coming down the hill at 38 mph (that's what the ticket said). Was that speeding...yup, by the letter it was. Was I endangering anyone with my "reckess" behavior. Nope, I would say that most reasonable folk would say no. Turns out this is a well known (to the locals) speed trap to get out of area people. Locals are known to get off, those of us from other cities get the prize. State 3, Jeff 0.

..just a few of my experiances over some 25 years of driving.

My point remains this...there are those who abuse radar detectors and see them as a free pass. Then again, there are those like like me who've been burned several times by some pretty out-of-context enforcement. To be fair, I've also been treated fairly by some officers. But, with the ramifications of tickets and the fact that the courts only have to find you in violation for that instant, I think a radar detector helps even up what our government has setup as an unfair game.

Now, I don't even drive with one every day....so why the rant? I suppose it's because I really don't like folks who associate me occasionally using a radar detector with someone who's reckless or abusive. I sort of read that in your post Robert - maybe I was wrong. Judge me as you will I suppose... :)

Cheers!

Jeff

[Crewblunts]

I run an escort 8500 and like everyone else says it just helps when I am not paying attention to where I am driving. The police generally sit in the same spots around here and it is very woodsy (connecticut) so it doesn't help a ton. but it does save me every now and then. Even once is worth it to me. but overall i am pleased with the escort 8500.

-Phil V