Radar Detectors

[tapakeg]

I am looking to purchase a radar detector for around $120

Does anyone still use these anymore?

Do the laser detectors give you any advance warning of a speedtrap or do they pretty much tell you that you just got pinged.

Are any brands duds? worth the money? What should I look for when buying?

any advice appreciated, all except drive the speed limit.


Tap

[texasmom]

any advice appreciated, all except drive the speed limit. Tap

[BlueJ1]

Ive never had one. But I do suggest you install a hidden kill switch close by to your drivers seat. Some states like VA its illegal to use a radar detector.

[REP0MAN]

I was a police officer in Oklahoma for a time. I was in a small town and we ran radar, A LOT.

I had both the moving radar on my front and rear dash and a hand held unit for stationary use. When I wasn't pinging a vehicle to see their speed, the radar unit was turned off or, not emitting any indication of it's presence. When I was pinging a vehicle to see their speed, the unit was on and could be detected. Ladar and Laser are used the same way. The only real benefit you may get from a radar/laser detector is if you move in a large pack of cars and you are not the first or last vehicle. In a pack, your radar detector will alert you to the presence of radar with less of a risk that radar signal is pointed at you.

Bottom line, save that 120 bucks to go towards traffic school -or- (you guessed it) stay close to the speed limit.

[BlueJ1]

I was a police officer in Oklahoma for a time. I was in a small town and we ran radar, A LOT.

I had both the moving radar on my front and rear dash and a hand held unit for stationary use. When I wasn't pinging a vehicle to see their speed, the radar unit was turned off or, not emitting any indication of it's presence. When I was pinging a vehicle to see their speed, the unit was on and could be detected. Ladar and Laser are used the same way. The only real benefit you may get from a radar/laser detector is if you move in a large pack of cars and you are not the first or last vehicle. In a pack, your radar detector will alert you to the presence of radar with less of a risk that radar signal is pointed at you.

Bottom line, save that 120 bucks to go towards traffic school -or- (you guessed it) stay close to the speed limit.

Is 5 over still a general safe mark?

I know 5 over dosnt apply here in Norfolk. If your not doing atleast 10 over on the highway your getting passed standing still and endanger yourself.

[Pooh21]

Save more and get a Valentine 1. It has a bogey counter and arrows, Its a little RWR for your car. Though if you are expecting a detector to save you from laser you would have to be really lucky. Thats why I am getting laser countermeasures for my car. The counter on the v1 is a useful tool. a 120 buck detector will warn you of the store with door openers on the side of the freeway everytime, eventually you will tune that spot out. The V1 will tell you how many electronic sources there are, then one day some WSP thought he'd be cute and hide in the spot there. My counter was up by one, so no donut for him 

Anyways dont be at the front nor the back, and you can go as fast as you want. The only time in the last 10 years I got a ticket was when I was running without one and it was laser.

[REP0MAN]

I always used 9-11 depending on the profile of the car. 1 over is probable cause to stop. If your 68 VW van has smoke coming from the windows, 1 over is all you get.

I think unless you are driving across rural areas and very small towns, under 10 will probably be safe.

[Maverick]

I talked to quite a few folks with radar detectors while writing them a ticket. All it did was tell them they had already been clocked.

If you can't be adult enough to drive within the statutes perhaps you should let someone else drive. Otherwise man up and pay your tickets.

[Neubob]

I've used various Escort (Now Valentine) Models since getting my license at 16, about (gasp) 14 years ago. I drive about 15,000 miles a year, through city and country alike, speed pathologically, and have never gotten a speeding ticket while driving my own car.

They're so confident in their product that up to a certain speed above the limit, they'll even pay you the price of your ticket if you get one.

A new one will run about $400, but I'm sure you can get a slightly older model for much cheaper.


Just don't be like this guy:

"In May 2003, on the San Francisco to Miami Gumball 3000 Rally, the first CCR in the United States received the biggest speeding ticket (in terms of speed) in the world; 242 mph (389 km/h) in a 75 mph (121 km/h) zone somewhere in west Texas."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koenigsegg

[EskimoJoe]

I talked to quite a few folks with radar detectors while writing them a ticket. All it did was tell them they had already been clocked.

If you can't be adult enough to drive within the statutes perhaps you should let someone else drive. Otherwise man up and pay your tickets.

QFT 

[DREDIOCK]

Find yourself a big rig.
Stay in pace with it but about 1/4 mile behind.
When he slows down. so do you.

Truckers tend to make great radar detectors.

Another trick is to let someone go speeding by you. them let them get ahead a ways and follow them.
Let them get the ticket..
Your only real danger is the cruiser that comes up behind you.

Or as someone else mentioned. get in the middle of a pack of cars.

On countless trips up and down the east coast. Twice I've had speeding tickets.
Both times I was the lone car

[tapakeg]

If you can't be adult enough to drive within the statutes perhaps you should let someone else drive. Otherwise man up and pay your tickets.

Wow, cop attitude anyone?

[Neubob]

Wow, cop attitude anyone?

Don't take it personally, Keg, those speeding tickets paid for his mustache comb.

[ROC]

Wow, cop attitude anyone?

Not cop attitude at all, it's basic common sense.

I am 45 years old.  I haven't had so much as a parking ticket since I was 16.

I race, I drag, I build cars.  I love to drive my new stang.

But, not in my neighborhood where my daughter and her friends play.

Get it?

[Neubob]

Your neighborhood's in the middle of an interstate--where radar detectors are generally most useful?

You should look into moving closer to a residential area.