Anyone have a radar detector?

[FlyingDumbo]

What kind do you have and what do you think about it?

I have a very long commute and have noticed that they have been ticketing for going 5 miles over the speed limit now, and even with cruise control when driving in the mountains the up and downs effect my speed. Several coworkers have gotten tickets. I know I should just drive slow, but I have sucgh a long commute I try to stay right around the speed limit unless its bad weather. Being on the road more, I think it is just a matter of time.

 

[dakcp2001]

I do not have one, but they are definately getting tighter with the tickets. I got one for going 8 miles over the speed limit, and the speed limit on that roads goes back and forth betweeen 65 & 70 every few miles. I was going 73 per the ticket, and was in the 65 zone. I used to think it was ok to stay under 10 mph over the limit but that does not seem true anymore. My little brother has suggested getting an Escort brand but they are so expensive!

 

[LA PIG]

We have one (not sure of the brand). On a trip to Kansas for a wedding last summer, I got a speeding ticket despite having the radar detector. It actually beeped after we passed the police car. Not much of a help after the fact.

 

[LilyWDW]

What kind do you have and what do you think about it?

I have a very long commute and have noticed that they have been ticketing for going 5 miles over the speed limit now, and even with cruise control when driving in the mountains the up and downs effect my speed. Several coworkers have gotten tickets. I know I should just drive slow, but I have sucgh a long commute I try to stay right around the speed limit unless its bad weather. Being on the road more, I think it is just a matter of time.

Just realize, there are areas where using a radar detector is considered a ticketable offense. If they catch you will one, you will be ticketed and assessed a fine.

They also don't work well enough to make them worth while.

 

[ToyStory Fan]

Just realize, there are areas where using a radar detector is considered a ticketable offense. If they catch you will one, you will be ticketed and assessed a fine.

They also don't work well enough to make them worth while.

I'm pretty sure they are only illegal in Virginia and Canada - so as far as being a ticketable offense those would be the only concerns. It also states it very explicitly on the WELCOME to our state/country signage. If you find a radar detector that doesn't work - it's probably because you bought the wrong one.

There are probably only 2 radar detectors worth mentioning - The Valentine 1 or V-1 and the Passport 9500. Both of them are considered the top of the line when it comes to radar detection...a radar detector however is only as good as you allow it to be...Mounting location and angle are critical...I've seen people mount them on a sloped dashboard pointing into the hood or up a the sky and then complain that their detector is no good...really? it's the detector?

For LASER detection - it's pretty much irrelevant - you get tagged with laser you are getting pulled over.

I personally use a V-1 - and have had it for over 10 years...it is in my opinion the best radar detector on the market...the Passport 9500 will give you an equivalent amount of radar detecting notification/range, however the V-1 has directional indicators as well as a "bogey" counter. So anyone who has used a radar detector before is aware of false alarms due to certain store alarm systems or other "dirty" radar detectors...if this is on your standard commute, the V-1 alerts you to the fact that there is 1 radar source ahead...however if that happens to be the day that a speed trap is set up - it will now tell you there are 2 sources and that what you are seeing may be a clever ploy by police to trick those with radar detoctors who have been conditioned to ignore their "false alarm" on a particular stretch of road.

The Passport has some other feautres like a traffic or speed trap notification system but that's only as good as it can be real time...and it does not know your particular route of travel.

There are alot of radar detectors out there...most are junk...which is why they haven't had the longeivty and success of the V-1 and the Passport.

 

[disney junky]

A friend of mine who is a state cop says they are worthless, because once your radar detector has detected the radar, it has detected your speed. That's actually how they work. Your detector detects the beam that is detecting your speed. If that makes any sense at all.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

No.

There was a stint when I got 3 tickets within 18 months, and my license was revoked for 45 days. Since then I've toned down my driving.

I'm getting closer to giving up speeding all together after an accident that almost killed a close friend of my daughter. That accident more had to do with texting while driving than speeding, so I've quit monkeying with my phone, too (which for me involves playing music, not texting).

 

[declansdad]

NOt legal in this part of Canada.

My cruise control does a very good job at maintaining the set speed, regardless of hills. Could you have a problem with your cruise control?

 

[sunnyday123]

In my 25 years of driving, I've only received one speeding ticket.

It was with my radar detector.

Going 10-15 miles over the speed limit doesn't make a big enough difference to speed in terms of getting anywhere quicker. Just watch that guy who darts in out of lanes and ends up at the same red light that you do. Speeding isn't worth the risk to me. Leave 5 minutes earlier.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Going 10-15 miles over the speed limit doesn't make a big enough difference to speed in terms of getting anywhere quicker. Just watch that guy who darts in out of lanes and ends up at the same red light that you do. Speeding isn't worth the risk to me. Leave 5 minutes earlier.

Same here. Speeding wasn't getting me there that much faster and I risked having to pay a ticket as well as higher insurance rates every time I did it. Now I just plan accordingly.

Of course, if I'm stuck in a herd going 75-80, I'll go 75-80 until I can get out of the herd.

 

[Free4Life11]

Yikes, a ticket for 5 MPH over? Clearly they are a desperate for $$$$. I don't have any recommendations for a radar detector, but I know what you mean about the cruise control and hills.

 

[livie1205]

They only go off when the radar is on...they turn it off and on when they get you with it so it wont work until they already have you,if it goes off and they do not pull you do not think it is because it worked, it is because they are not going to pull you because they got another call or not really doing traffic at that time...dh gave alot of tickets to people with radar detectors lol

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Someone else pointed it out, but many states, counties and localities are now using laser for gauging speed, and there is ZERO radar detector that will protect you from it, the only chance you have is that there is a pack of cars going roughly the same speed and they tag someone ahead of you first and it happens to see the laser that didn't tag you.

In short, slow down and pay attention to your speed or accept the consequences. I know that cruise can be a little off in downhills (depending on the hill - there is one not far from me on a major state route that cruise will not compensate for going downhill, so it is possible for cruise not to be able to maintain your speed), but that's where paying attention is so important.

 

[ratherbeatdisney]

A friend of mine who is a state cop says they are worthless, because once your radar detector has detected the radar, it has detected your speed. That's actually how they work. Your detector detects the beam that is detecting your speed. If that makes any sense at all.

WRONG ! if you are the ONLY car on the entire road then yes, but if there are other cars way up in front of you that the cop is checking, you will get some of that radar, your device will Signal, and then you know that you need to slow down up ahead because there is a cop ahead. They havent been making them for 30 years because they dont work, while some cheap junk ones may not, like the other person said, if you buy a top of the line one they do work. are they 100% ?? nope, but its far better than Nothing if you are person who likes to drive a little faster than the law allows for.

 

[mhsjax]

Just realize, there are areas where using a radar detector is considered a ticketable offense. If they catch you will one, you will be ticketed and assessed a fine.

They also don't work well enough to make them worth while.

Oh yes they do, if you get the right kind.

 

[disney junky]

WRONG ! if you are the ONLY car on the entire road then yes, but if there are other cars way up in front of you that the cop is checking, you will get some of that radar, your device will Signal, and then you know that you need to slow down up ahead because there is a cop ahead. They havent been making them for 30 years because they dont work, while some cheap junk ones may not, like the other person said, if you buy a top of the line one they do work. are they 100% ?? nope, but its far better than Nothing if you are person who likes to drive a little faster than the law allows for.

Interesting.
You say I'm wrong but then you say I'm right.
Whatever.
He also said radar doesn't work in traffic because there is no way of knowing what car is speeding.
A lot of things have been made for 30 years and don't work, but people buy them because they think they do....

 

[Guy Incognito]

they do work, to a point.... if you're driving on the highway with plenty of other cars around, and a police car is set up with a radar trap, most likely it will just be turned on and left on to scan everyone passing by. In that case, a detector will pick up the radar a fair distance away. The one I have ranks the radar from 1-9 (1 being the weakest signal, 9 being you are right next to it). Typically a signal of 1 is just a stray signal from something other than a police radar. If it starts to climb up to a 2, 3, etc; that can mean you are closing in on a radar trap (and should slow down if exceeding the speed limit). I'd have to say the detector I have has saved me many times, so it's more than paid for itself.


of course, if traffic is sparse and/or you are the only car coming down the road, there's no reason the police can't just do an "instant-on" type scan and pop you when you are in his range. No detector can save you from that.

 

[Squirlz]

they do work, to a point.... if you're driving on the highway with plenty of other cars around, and a police car is set up with a radar trap, most likely it will just be turned on and left on to scan everyone passing by. In that case, a detector will pick up the radar a fair distance away. The one I have ranks the radar from 1-9 (1 being the weakest signal, 9 being you are right next to it). Typically a signal of 1 is just a stray signal from something other than a police radar. If it starts to climb up to a 2, 3, etc; that can mean you are closing in on a radar trap (and should slow down if exceeding the speed limit). I'd have to say the detector I have has saved me many times, so it's more than paid for itself.


of course, if traffic is sparse and/or you are the only car coming down the road, there's no reason the police can't just do an "instant-on" type scan and pop you when you are in his range. No detector can save you from that.

But your handbrake can! Sudden deceleration confuses the radar. Using the handbrake ensures no brake lights or brake dive to tip them off visually. This has saved me many times as well as the bleed over warning me of a trap ahead.

I have NEVER been stopped because of radar since I started using Cincinnati Microwave products in the '80s.

 

[goofy4prez]

I don't use a radar, have no desire to use a radar, and I don't find saving five minutes on a two hour trip worth risking my life or others because I have no regard to the safety of others around me. You have the need to speed, take it to a track.

Sorry I come on strong here, but loose a close family member like I have to someone who feels they are a "safe" speeder "only" going 15 miles over the posted speed on the highway. This person who killed my cousin 7 years ago was not drunk, was not high, but was using a cell phone, and had a radar detector mounted on their window so they would not get caught speeding. Instead of getting caught by the police their car clipped my cousins and killed her. What was the drivers sentence? 45 DAYS in jail and a suspended license for two years. In return my cousin had a husband of 16 years and two children aged 6 & 11 at the time now without a wife and mother.

There's a reason we have posted speed limits. Driving is not your right, it is a privilege,and with any privilege it should be treated with respect.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

I don't use a radar, have no desire to use a radar, and I don't find saving five minutes on a two hour trip worth risking my life or others because I have no regard to the safety of others around me. You have the need to speed, take it to a track.

Sorry I come on strong here, but loose a close family member like I have to someone who feels they are a "safe" speeder "only" going 15 miles over the posted speed on the highway. This person who killed my cousin 7 years ago was not drunk, was not high, but was using a cell phone, and had a radar detector mounted on their window so they would not get caught speeding. Instead of getting caught by the police their car clipped my cousins and killed her. What was the drivers sentence? 45 DAYS in jail and a suspended license for two years. In return my cousin had a husband of 16 years and two children aged 6 & 11 at the time now without a wife and mother.

There's a reason we have posted speed limits. Driving is not your right, it is a privilege,and with any privilege it should be treated with respect.

Did you read my OP because it seems to me like you skipped right over it? Sorry for your loss. Don't lump me into the unsafe driver category. I am not a "speeder" and if you read my op you will see why I need a radar detector. I am on the road for 3-4 hours EVERY single day. I work 5-6 days a week so I drive a lot. My risk of getting a ticket it very high, just for going 5mph over the limit which can happen in a mountainous region with the ups and downs. I even use cruise control, but that is not perfect. No one is perfect, except here on the disboards of course.

Still looking for brand suggestions, please. Not so I can go track racing on the highway.