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Post by Baldie on Sept 19, 2004 11:27:44 GMT -5
I live in CA in the Freso area and there tends to be alot of CHP on the highways and freeways out there so I went out and bought a radar detector, before I did any research on it. Well I figure they arent illegal otherwise they wouldnt sell them, but do these detectors help alot? Can I get a ticket for having one?
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Post by CerOf on Sept 21, 2004 9:52:07 GMT -5
I am pretty sure they are legal in CA. Just don't use them in DC or Virginia and I think there may be one other state that has outlawed them.
On the flip side, if the radar detector goes off, you *MAY* have half a second to drop your speed and you'll at least be able to lower the cost of the ticket because you might be able to slow 5mph.
Most of the time though, all a radar detector is good for is to tell you when you have a ticket and when you don't.
That being said, I wouldn't give mine up for anything!
On long flat stretches of road they are great for finding that police officer who is just sitting there with his radar on non-stop.
The instant on type radar just tells you when you have a ticket.
If this is the case, all you can do to avoid the ticket is to take the IMMEDIATE exit and make a few other turns.
This works, but is not recommended. (against the law to run from a cop)
But who is to say you even saw them or knew?
I got hit with radar (instant on) while on an interstate. I was doing 85mph and the cop was stopped perfectly still.
By the time he flipped around (saw him flip around from being stopped and flip on his lights) I was easily a mile on down the road.
I took an exit and went left. I didn't speed, but I didn't slow down. He never motioned for me to stop when I went by, so he could have been after someone else (was my justification anyways)
I saw him at one point WAY WAY WAY behind me, about 12 miles. Was going down a farm road.
At that point I did accelerate a bit to try and put some distance. I turned back north on another farm road and never saw him.
In that situation my radar detector helped, with some good fortune.
Mainly, I set the cruise on 4mph over the speed limit and just cruise. I have found that saving 15 minutes on a 300 mile trip is not worth the price of a $100 ticket. I haven't had a speeding ticket in about 4 years.
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Post by boricua83 on Sept 23, 2004 9:43:53 GMT -5
The radar is an addicting option I can no longer see myself without. I have been saved many a times by my trusty little friend. You have to get to know it because there are faulty alarms, but once you get a hang of it there good. There was one time when I had turned the volume down on it I had an 02 galant at this time, and I did not see the lights flashing telling me the cop was up there so I got a pretty ticket for 26 miles over the limit. But agian everyone has their view and opinions I personally can not drive with out one.
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Post by Stod on Oct 9, 2004 19:58:37 GMT -5
Radar detectors are like a religious mantra to me. I do not drive without one...and I've been using them since the 1970s! Do they work?...I've NEVER had a radar ticket...and I've probably been zapped by x-band, k-band, or ka-band well over 100,000 times!
In my "experienced opinion", the top three brands are Escort (my favorite), Valentine, and BEL. With any other brand your "luck factor" needs to be really high to avoid getting nailed. Uniden also gets a favorable nod.
You do need to learn how to drive with a detector. Even the best detector will pick up extraneous (especially x-band - mall/retail door openers and communications) signals, but eventually you kind of learn when it's giving a false signal and how to react quickly to a real warning. Most police departments (unless they are so budget constraint that they are using 20-year old x-bands) use k-band or ka-band - CHP uses ka-band. A note to Oregonians: the Oregon Highway Patrol is now using Laser north of Eugene on I-5. My Escort Passport 8500 alerted me to that...and I must have reacted fast enough...once again NO ticket!
Bottom line: THEY WORK! Uhh, did I mention that I've NEVER had a radar ticket! Oh yeah, and I NEVER drive the speed limit on the highway!
Also, one of the most important tools to use is your eyes! Always be alert. Using the "pack mentality" also works well by travelling with a group of cars going about the same speed. A good defense against the instant on radars is to find a "rabbit" car to follow...you know, there's always some driver that's going faster than you. Follow about a quarter mile behind and let him take the initial radar blast!! That gives you plenty of warning with the instant ons.
Cheers,
Stod
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Post by brewster on Oct 11, 2004 2:06:57 GMT -5
Since I got my Cobra I haven't got a ticket. You get a few seconds worth of warning with radar, but if they're using the instant on laser there's nothing you can do but accept the ticket.
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Post by akramedog on Nov 2, 2004 22:23:29 GMT -5
I dont think that radar detectors are illegal in any states unless you are using them in a big rig or a vehicle of comparable weight so i wouldnt worry about getting a ticket while using one in any state..
AK
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Post by CerOf on Nov 3, 2004 22:40:34 GMT -5
They are for sure illegal in Virginia.
And also one or two other states I think.
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Post by Zmilin on Nov 14, 2004 23:23:50 GMT -5
Yeah...I wont give up my Escort 8500...unless I was to buy a Valentine. I found that after I bought mine it made me more aware of the threat and has allowed me to be more concious about my speed. I get pretty good warning time (usually enough to look down and see how badly I am breaking the law, then realize I need to slow down, and actually slow down.). LASER is a B!% h though. Laser pretty much goes off when you are so close to the officer you can read their name tag. Be aware of laser! |
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Post by JAY97 on Nov 22, 2004 14:16:59 GMT -5
After 5 different radar detectors...from Whistler to Passport, nothing compares to Valentine One. Pricey, but worth every penny.  Jay |
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