Radar Detectors

[ddrueding]

My birthday is coming up, and I want a radar detector. Considering I consistently drive 1000+ miles a week at speeds averaging 80mph, the odds are against me.

Does anyone have one? Good experiences? Thoughts?

I'm debating just getting a Valentine 1, as they have been the "best" for a long time; but there are others that look to be good as well.

 

[timwhit]

I would recommend again getting one. When I had one I got a lot more speeding tickets than after I got rid of it. It is kind of like a license to speed in your head. You will end up going faster more of the time. Even if the radar detector goes off, you still have to have enough time to slow down to an acceptable speed. Most of the time you don't have enough time to slow down to within 10mph of the speed limit.

Waste your money on something else. I recommend cheap vodka.

 

[ddrueding]

timwhit,

I understand what you are saying, but I'm not deterred. I'm already driving quite fast, and I doubt I'll be slowing down if I don't buy one. This is more about risk management than behavoral modification.

 

[Mercutio]

Hookers and blow!

 

[ddrueding]

Expensive vodka and blow aren't issues, and I don't seem to have to pay for the rest

 

[sechs]

1. These things (particularly the ones that actually detect radar) tend to be illegal in many places.
2. In my experience with others who have them, they tend to be wrong most of the time (not going off when they should and going off when there is definitely no one checking your speed).
3. They don't work against VASCAR or any other speed-enforcement method which doesn't involve reflecting a beam of something off of your vehicle.
4. When you get pulled over, you will get a ticket. Whether they work or not, the fuzz does not like them.

And yes, you pay for the rest, just not directly 8)

 

[Pradeep]

A radar detector was one of the first purchases I made in the USA, in most states of Australia if the cops find you with one, they'll suspend your license, confiscate your detector and give you a hefty fine.

I believe it was a cheap Bel model. Hopefully you don't have too many officers using laser, because by the time that goes off (if at all), they already have you registered. Lots of them in use on the Thruway here in NY. I tend not to speed at all, given that insurance goes up with the number/severity of tickets, something they don't do in Aus.

 

[Pradeep]

The only place radar detectors are illegal in the USA:

Military bases
State of Virginia, and Washington D.C.
If you are driving a commercial vehicle, over 10,000lbs (Federal law).

 

[Pradeep]

http://www.laserveil.com/en/ultimate-radar-detector-review-05/introduction/

The Valentine is considered quite out of date nowadays.

 

[ddrueding]

http://www.laserveil.com/en/ultimate-radar-detector-review-05/introduction/

The Valentine is considered quite out of date nowadays.

Not according to the review you linked to. They said that the appearance was dated, and that the controls were less intuitive, but that it had the best performance. Interesting

 

[Santilli]

David:
Got mine at Costco, for about 80 bucks, and it works fine.
Also does laser.
They work great, since most radar traps in your area, there are no other sources to speak of, and, the guys just sit there with their guns on. I find when mine goes off, it's instant off the gas, and, this may help you be a bit aware. Keep in mind, over 20 miles an hour over the posted speed limit, they can, and may, take you to jail. So, most of the time, I stay under 85, unless I'm on Hgy 5, and the limit is 70. Never been nailed for any of the really flagrant, 145-150 I've done, or constant 125 on runs down highway one, to LA, at night, thanks to always having a radar detector. A friend, with a similar super hot mustang got busted 3 times, big fines, for running hard on highway 35,
Skyline, in the La Honda area, lost his license.

Detector always got me down enough to not get pulled over, except, in Hawaii, where they would lie, and use the reading from a prior violation, still on the gun, and never even turn it on.
Greg

 

[Clocker]

Most of the cops around here use laser guns now so, even if your radar detector does pick up something, it's way too late anyway. My bother-in-laws are cops and 'get' people with detectors all the time. Don't waste your money. Spend your time understanding where cops will hide and be smart about your driving.

 

[sechs]

Just a little physics... if your detector detects a laser beam, then it has already hit and bounced off of your car. The cops will know your speed once it gets back to the gun. The speed of light being so fast, they can measure your speed several times before you can react to the detector.

Unlike radar guns, laser guns don't spray signal everywhere that can be picked-up well before you hit the trap. And that's part of their advantage.

 

[ddrueding]

I'm familiar with laser tech, and fortunatly we don't have them here. They're enough people without such tech that the cops tend to leave their older radar guns on all the time.

 

[sechs]

Maybe have radar detector dectors, as well?

 

[ddrueding]

Maybe have radar detector dectors, as well?

That's fine, they aren't illegal. And while I take the point that cops don't like them, and if they know you have one they won't give you break; I've never had any slack anyway.

 

[sechs]

That's what you get for being a danger to society.

 

[Santilli]

For what it's worth, your choice of cars has a lot to do with it.
Color should be white. You can get your insurance company to give you a study of colors vs. tickets.

My old toyota, with a stick, gives me plenty of shifting, before I get to illegal speeds. My sin is having surfracks on it. But, so far, the police have pulled up, looked at me, and kept going. The very short hair may help;=)

Greg