radar detector
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Jeff Kleb
New member
Radar Detector
I don't know where you live, but radar detectors are illegal in Virginia, DC and one or two other states. Sure, it can definitely help you avoid speeding tickets......but don't let it lull you into a false sense of security.
You also must be aware that other types of equipment are used to measure vehicle speeds; some of which do not transmit a signal that is able to be received by any type of detection device (VASCAR, E.S.P., VisiCalc, etc.). In most places, police vehicles - even unmarked ones - can "pace" you from behind and issue a ticket based upon following you for a certain distance in a car that has a 'certified calibration' speedometer. More than a few agencies use cars besides the tried-and-true Crown Vic and these vehicles (Tahoes, Camaros and Impalas, etc.) are harder to distinguish.
Other departments, including some in VA, use lidar (laser) to check speeds. While it does transmit a signal, it is hard to receive it with your detector until you are in the 'crosshairs' because the beam is still only a few feet wide at 1/4 mile away from the police car. Lidar can also distinguish your car from other cars if you are trying to hide in a pack.
As someone with a rather heavy right foot and who drives for a living, I would recommend more than just a radar detector (if you even use one at all). A good CB radio is worth its weight in gold. Channel 19 can be your best friend - if you can stomach all of that static and profanity.
^^ 2006 Dodge Charger Pursuit Vehicle Prototype ^^
^^ 2006 Dodge Charger Pursuit Vehicle (with decals) ^^
I don't know where you live, but radar detectors are illegal in Virginia, DC and one or two other states. Sure, it can definitely help you avoid speeding tickets......but don't let it lull you into a false sense of security.
You also must be aware that other types of equipment are used to measure vehicle speeds; some of which do not transmit a signal that is able to be received by any type of detection device (VASCAR, E.S.P., VisiCalc, etc.). In most places, police vehicles - even unmarked ones - can "pace" you from behind and issue a ticket based upon following you for a certain distance in a car that has a 'certified calibration' speedometer. More than a few agencies use cars besides the tried-and-true Crown Vic and these vehicles (Tahoes, Camaros and Impalas, etc.) are harder to distinguish.
Other departments, including some in VA, use lidar (laser) to check speeds. While it does transmit a signal, it is hard to receive it with your detector until you are in the 'crosshairs' because the beam is still only a few feet wide at 1/4 mile away from the police car. Lidar can also distinguish your car from other cars if you are trying to hide in a pack.
As someone with a rather heavy right foot and who drives for a living, I would recommend more than just a radar detector (if you even use one at all). A good CB radio is worth its weight in gold. Channel 19 can be your best friend - if you can stomach all of that static and profanity.
^^ 2006 Dodge Charger Pursuit Vehicle Prototype ^^
^^ 2006 Dodge Charger Pursuit Vehicle (with decals) ^^
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Here's another vote for the Valentine 1. After eleven years with my original, I upgraded to the current model this fall.
My rationale for recommending Valentine 1:
- It's a quality piece that'll look right at home in your Benz.
- The unique directional arrows are invaluable for interpreting what the detector is telling you.
- Its range is incredible. For K or Ka bands, when the detector first alarms you can simply take your foot off the gas and coast down to legal speed at your leisure. No need to brake.
- Valentine Research's support is the best in the industry. After 11 years of ownership, my original detector still was eligible for the upgrade at a $150 savings over the regular price. And repair prices are very reasonable ($40 flat fee in most cases).
You should be aware, though, that even the best detector won't make you ticket-proof. My last ticket (70 in a 55 zone) came on a rural highway when a sheriff's car crested a hill in front of me and pulled the trigger of his instant-on. The Valentine immediately lit off with a full-scale warning, but it was too late. In this situation you're simply had; no detector can save you.
Good luck - drive safely!
My rationale for recommending Valentine 1:
- It's a quality piece that'll look right at home in your Benz.
- The unique directional arrows are invaluable for interpreting what the detector is telling you.
- Its range is incredible. For K or Ka bands, when the detector first alarms you can simply take your foot off the gas and coast down to legal speed at your leisure. No need to brake.
- Valentine Research's support is the best in the industry. After 11 years of ownership, my original detector still was eligible for the upgrade at a $150 savings over the regular price. And repair prices are very reasonable ($40 flat fee in most cases).
You should be aware, though, that even the best detector won't make you ticket-proof. My last ticket (70 in a 55 zone) came on a rural highway when a sheriff's car crested a hill in front of me and pulled the trigger of his instant-on. The Valentine immediately lit off with a full-scale warning, but it was too late. In this situation you're simply had; no detector can save you.
Good luck - drive safely!
Re: Radar Detector
I usually use a portable CB radio on long trips -- really helps to warn of road problems, bad weather, etc. in addition to radar traps. But the best advice is to follow the speed limits -- not fun, but the best defense against tickets.
:iagree:Jeff Kleb said:
I usually use a portable CB radio on long trips -- really helps to warn of road problems, bad weather, etc. in addition to radar traps. But the best advice is to follow the speed limits -- not fun, but the best defense against tickets.
RL4673
New member
Spend your money elsewhere. I stop people all the time that have radar detectors on their dashboards and windshields. That is a guaranteed ticket with with me and nearly every police officer. A skilled radar / lidar operator will win the speed fight almost every time. Good luck!!
RL4673 said:Spend your money elsewhere. I stop people all the time that have radar detectors on their dashboards and windshields. That is a guaranteed ticket with with me and nearly every police officer. A skilled radar / lidar operator will win the speed fight almost every time. Good luck!!
OOOHHHH we have an officer on the forum. If you don't mind telling me, is there any rule of thumb on not getting tickets other than the obvious of obeying the limit. I dont like to speed but I travel a lot and somtimes interstate traffic just flows fast. I usually wont go over 80 in a 70, but sometimes if traffic is going faster I will join in. Any advice? Are there any buzzwords to mention to get off with a warning???
RL4673
New member
Nope. Just be polite and don't put the blame on the police officer that's only doing his or her job. It really depends on the individual officer. I, personally don't even stop a car unless it's going 15 mph or more over the speed limit. In most cases I don't write citations unless they are going 20 mph over. It all depends. Some of my co-workers stop people at 10 mph. It's all discretionary. Of course the best advice is not to speed, but if you're going to, be willing to take your medicine if you get caught. I've never heard a phrase that got someone out of a ticket, but I have heard a bunch that GOT someone a ticket when they ordinarily would have gotten a warning.
Drive safely and wear your seatbelts!!
Drive safely and wear your seatbelts!!
otterball21
New member
dear people that want radar detectors
FIRST it is NOT A CLOAKING DEVICE! your 4runner and Benz is not shielded in some invisible cloaking that would repel radar or make you invincible to cops radar.
B A radar detector is a extra cautionary device, sometimes useful, Not a right to speed a million miles per hour.
now that's said and I'm glad an officer has said his point
The top brands are the Bell
Escort x50
Valentine 1
If you are buying a cheaper radar detector, you want one that does pop and lidar.
If you get hit with pop and lidar... your pretty much screwed in the pooch.
Vascar.. yes there is vascar, no stopping that.
Most cops hide pretty well and they are getting smarter about it.
TO make the radar detector work effectively, you must have someone speeding ahead of you or just decently fast that the police officer gives them a blast with radar to check their speed.
You can not be mr. Speed racer leading the head of the pack.
Cops know this also, and they also give it a moment before blasting someone in the middle of the pack, or they have a couple police cruisers sitting a a popular spot of speeders and pick them off.
With that said.... Now your looking for a good range,
escort x50 I have... and I really like.. great range and doesn't give me false readings
Valentine 1 also has good range, however the difference between valentine 1 and the escort x50, the valentine 1 does give you direction. as in which direction was the radar emitted
The escort x-50 also has the capability of getting a data cable and updating the motorola chip inside it if it ever needs to be.
but the direction is Excellent help when trying to look for that sneaky guy that hides in the bushes.
I personally would love to try out a valentine 1 one day, but due to my retail job I got to get a escort x50 at a great price. It does the job I want it to. and it's saved me twice on the road and made me a more cautious and less speeding driver.
the end
FIRST it is NOT A CLOAKING DEVICE! your 4runner and Benz is not shielded in some invisible cloaking that would repel radar or make you invincible to cops radar.
B A radar detector is a extra cautionary device, sometimes useful, Not a right to speed a million miles per hour.
now that's said and I'm glad an officer has said his point
The top brands are the Bell
Escort x50
Valentine 1
If you are buying a cheaper radar detector, you want one that does pop and lidar.
If you get hit with pop and lidar... your pretty much screwed in the pooch.
Vascar.. yes there is vascar, no stopping that.
Most cops hide pretty well and they are getting smarter about it.
TO make the radar detector work effectively, you must have someone speeding ahead of you or just decently fast that the police officer gives them a blast with radar to check their speed.
You can not be mr. Speed racer leading the head of the pack.
Cops know this also, and they also give it a moment before blasting someone in the middle of the pack, or they have a couple police cruisers sitting a a popular spot of speeders and pick them off.
With that said.... Now your looking for a good range,
escort x50 I have... and I really like.. great range and doesn't give me false readings
Valentine 1 also has good range, however the difference between valentine 1 and the escort x50, the valentine 1 does give you direction. as in which direction was the radar emitted
The escort x-50 also has the capability of getting a data cable and updating the motorola chip inside it if it ever needs to be.
but the direction is Excellent help when trying to look for that sneaky guy that hides in the bushes.
I personally would love to try out a valentine 1 one day, but due to my retail job I got to get a escort x50 at a great price. It does the job I want it to. and it's saved me twice on the road and made me a more cautious and less speeding driver.
the end
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just curious, have you ever stopped or had a colleague that stopped anyone that was stopped at a stop light? actually two people that were stopped at a stop light? by two people, i mean two diferent cars.. and when pulled them over, claimed they were speeding?RL4673 said:Nope. Just be polite and don't put the blame on the police officer that's only doing his or her job. It really depends on the individual officer. I, personally don't even stop a car unless it's going 15 mph or more over the speed limit. In most cases I don't write citations unless they are going 20 mph over. It all depends. Some of my co-workers stop people at 10 mph. It's all discretionary. Of course the best advice is not to speed, but if you're going to, be willing to take your medicine if you get caught. I've never heard a phrase that got someone out of a ticket, but I have heard a bunch that GOT someone a ticket when they ordinarily would have gotten a warning.
Drive safely and wear your seatbelts!!
trd_style
New member
I heard the Passport is better than Valetine One? Not sure but i use an old cheap Cobra. Personally, i think any radar would work. Just as long it's not a VERY cheap one. Cobra is decent enough. But don't let radar detectors make you speed. It doesn't perfectly help alot but at least it help detect cops around you. The only way to avoid cops is identifying them. I have learn several ways to identify a cop and yes i never had a ticket in my life. *knock on wood* and i plan to keep it that way. 
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msanta
New member
I have a Passport Solo 2, wireless, very convenient, and reliable. I obey speed limits 90% of the time, for the 10% of the time when I need to get to my final destination quickly and go over the speed limit 10 mph, I use the radar detector. It gives me a little peace of mind and also when I know I am over the speed limit it helps me by not having to look at the speedometer so frequently, you should also look into radar jamming devices and websites that tell you how to avoid speed traps, etc....
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otterball21
New member
jammers are illegal... very illegal
US electronics have to absorb interference
The escort does have a better distance over the valentine one.
But these tests are all under ideal conditions, straight aways etc etc.
US electronics have to absorb interference
The escort does have a better distance over the valentine one.
But these tests are all under ideal conditions, straight aways etc etc.
trd_style
New member
otterball21 said:jammers are illegal... very illegal
US electronics have to absorb interference
The escort does have a better distance over the valentine one.
But these tests are all under ideal conditions, straight aways etc etc.
yes they are illegal but how would they know?
: the only jammers i heard about is jamming the radar for only few seconds. meaning police radar can't recognize the speed until few minutes later? other than that, i barely know anything about the jammers.
