Radar Detector...really worth it?

[YesterdayAgain]

I would agree with you when going when Point A and Point B are that close. I have done the trip from Dallas to Minneapolis a few times though, and driving the speed limit means that the trip would have to be done in two days instead of one. In the process, I'm paying for a hotel between here and there and the again on the way back. Speeding (not insanely speeding, but over the speed limit none the less) allows me to accomplish the trip in one day. In my case, it saves me about $200.00 in Hotel rooms to speed.

Yes, long trips are one of the only reasons I could see to speed. Even if you only go 5-10 over, you can save several hours on a longer road trip.

But then you have to be extra careful since you're in unfamiliar territory.

 

[jean]

All the radar detector are 30 days refundable.With a CC you can try all different detector.I choose the Pass x 50.

 

[Lawman85]

WOW is this guy serious? What a stupid ass comment. Putting speeders and rapists in the same category, if I were a rapist I would want you to beat my ass, but if I’m going 5 over in a 55 on a 2 lane road late at night let it GO. Get a life, don’t ever mention rapists and speeders in the same sentence again, I know I won’t. One is a felony crime that could carry a life sentence and a misdemeanor that carry’s maybe a large fine.

Rapists and speeders.

The actual order of importance for me is child molesters, murders, rapists, DUI's and then speeders.

 

[Crazycarl]

I don't blame cops for pullin peopleover because where i live its always the kidsw who have their V-tech's with a cold air kit and exhuast and thinkl they are in the Fast n the Furious. I myself do not speed anymore, it is just not worth dealing witht he law anymore especialkly after 2 underage consumptions charges and being on a 180 day suspended sentence. The only gripe i have against cops is why they insist to turn on their lights for 3 seconds just to run red lights. Cops all over Cleveland do it and i have seen many people almost hit them becuase they wait tillt he middle of an intersection to turn on the lights. I just do not find it fair that the police can break the law and get away with it. Other than that cops are ok in my book.

 

[flyn high again]

Radar detectors do help prevent speeding tickets when used properly in conjunction with an intelligent outlook on when to speed. If you are the only car in sight, instant on or laser has a much greater chance of nabbing you before you can slow. If you are moving much faster than other traffic or weaving in and out of traffic, you become more noticeable to a radaring LEO. Speed trap recognition is important. Hills, Curves, overpasses are all favorite hiding spots. In my town there is a stretch of road that is 55 mph, 40 mph for a mile, and then 55 mph again. That stretch is a known speed trap and nabs a lot of revenue from out of towners. I slow to 45 through this stretch of road and have people tailgate or pass me nearly every day.

In my opinion, the Valentine 1 is one of the best if not the best detectors to have. The directional arrows are the V-1's strong point. Knowing which way the radar source is coming from is a huge help in figuring out what's going on around you. The V-1 also has good false alert discrimination preventing many false signals from store doors or burglar alarms from registering. I have owned many detectors over the years including an Escort and the V-1 is my favorite.

I'm a little bothered by the minority of LEOs who talk about how bad speeding is and how they are so happy to write tickets to speeders, especially speeders with detectors. Grow up. You are playing games. If you have never broken the speed laws, I apologize for that last statement. If you have, you are being hypocritical.

As mentioned before, the speed limit is less of a problem than the inability to control their vehicles properly at higher speeds that so many people exhibit. I work on the Tollways occasionally and it's really unbelievable how poor some drivers are. License testing should be toughened up ten fold. Instead of giving out a license to anyone who can show they can barely operate a vehicle under ideal conditions, make the test difficult enough to actually force people to learn how to drive. Why do those of us who have had training in operating our vehicles under difficult or high speed conditions have to dumb ourselves down to the levels of the worst drivers on the roads? This leads us to speed or to become so bored that we don't pay as much attention as we should. BTW, the LEO who lost control of his car at 120mph on public roads is a case of someone driving beyond their abilities. No offense... I'm glad there wasn't a more serious result to that incident.

Laser shifters are available on some detectors at the moment. Municipalities all over are making laser shifting illegal, however, so they won't be available forever. Active radar jamming is illegal nearly everywhere. I believe passive radar detectors are illegal in only one or two States and the D.O.C. [and Canada].

Finally, anyone who says detectors are a waste at preventing tickets is incorrect. I would assume that these viewpoints come from people who have not used a good detector themselves for any length of time. Also, detectors can actually slow down a driver by making the driver more aware of their speed. Some of the better detectors also have alerts for emergency vehicles that let you know when a fire truck or ambulance or police car on an emergency call is in the vicinity. This is still an underused but useful technological advance.

 

[Dominick32]

Wow, just finished reading this entire thread.

I agree with most of what Lawman is saying except for the one thing he said "take it to the track"

Dont get me wrong, I am no way a street racer and I do maintain safe speeds on public highways. But we own supercharged modular engines FROM THE FACTORY(the terminator guys anyway). Everyone on this website owns some form of performance vehicle that was meant to be driven hard on the street. Every once in a while when there is no one around I will punch my car in 1st, 2nd, and a little of 3rd gear on the street. I would be speeding for a little less than 5 to 10 seconds then shut down back to the legal limits.

If you are an officer of the law and a member of this board I cant seem to tell myself that you never get on your car and speed a little when off duty. As stated before you own a performance vehicle. How do you keep it below 55 mph and never punch it at all on the streets. It doesnt make sense to me. Especially as you are member on this board.

As stated in one of my previous threads I have various members of my family and friends in Local and Federal Officer positions so I am in no way arguing with an officer of the law.

Dom

 

[Lawman85]

Wow, just finished reading this entire thread.

I agree with most of what Lawman is saying except for the one thing he said "take it to the track"

Dont get me wrong, I am no way a street racer and I do maintain safe speeds on public highways. But we own supercharged modular engines FROM THE FACTORY(the terminator guys anyway). Everyone on this website owns some form of performance vehicle that was meant to be driven hard on the street. Every once in a while when there is no one around I will punch my car in 1st, 2nd, and a little of 3rd gear on the street. I would be speeding for a little less than 5 to 10 seconds then shut down back to the legal limits.

If you are an officer of the law and a member of this board I cant seem to tell myself that you never get on your car and speed a little when off duty. As stated before you own a performance vehicle. How do you keep it below 55 mph and never punch it at all on the streets. It doesnt make sense to me. Especially as you are member on this board.

As stated in one of my previous threads I have various members of my family and friends in Local and Federal Officer positions so I am in no way arguing with an officer of the law.

Dom

Here is why I don't race, or haul ass all over the place when I'm off duty. I work too many wrecks and have seen how easy it is to destroy your car. Off duty I don't drive any faster than I would write someone a ticket for. After you take a few advanced accident investigation courses, you understand how devastating the speed + mass is. I've had my share of wrecks on duty as well. They were from pursuits, and they were not fun. I lost control of my car at 120mph in one pursuit and hit the medain wall on the interstate. If you ever have to notify a family that their daughter/son/father/mother, was killed in a car accident, it will change your perception of driving too.

I joined the SVTOA so when I want to drive fast I save it for the track events. We do both drag racing and road courses. I have usually found that the ones who speed and race all the time on the street are usually the ones without skills. I know a guy that lives in my jurisdiction who drives a pretty bad a$$ 85 GT that runs 9's. He drives it to a from the strip. I have stopped to talk to him a few times and gave him a warning about putting his exhaust back on before leaving the strip. I have never caught him speeding and I know people have challenged him.

 

[Dominick32]

Here is why I don't race, or haul ass all over the place when I'm off duty. I work too many wrecks and have seen how easy it is to destroy your car. Off duty I don't drive any faster than I would write someone a ticket for. After you take a few advanced accident investigation courses, you understand how devastating the speed + mass is. I've had my share of wrecks on duty as well. They were from pursuits, and they were not fun. I lost control of my car at 120mph in one pursuit and hit the medain wall on the interstate. If you ever have to notify a family that their daughter/son/father/mother, was killed in a car accident, it will change your perception of driving too.

I joined the SVTOA so when I want to drive fast I save it for the track events. We do both drag racing and road courses. I have usually found that the ones who speed and race all the time on the street are usually the ones without skills. I know a guy that lives in my jurisdiction who drives a pretty bad a$$ 85 GT that runs 9's. He drives it to a from the strip. I have stopped to talk to him a few times and gave him a warning about putting his exhaust back on before leaving the strip. I have never caught him speeding and I know people have challenged him.

Very well said.
I guess I cant ever put myself in your shoes and understand fully the effect these experiences have on your life. I appreciate the response. :beer:

Dom

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I'm guessing if you were a rapist you would want me to leave you alone and go arrest all those speeders.... can't please everybody...

Have you ever received a speeding ticket lawman?

 

[Lawman85]

Have you ever received a speeding ticket lawman?

Yes, 60 in a 45, and my wife's radar detector was mounted on the windshield. I didn't have it on because I don't use them, but he got me with laser anyway. I think it was like $125. I ended up taking a class with the guy a few years later and gave him a hard time about it. In Ga you can't write someone a ticket for less that 10mph over the speed limit if you are using radar or laser. If you pace them, you can wriet them for 1mph over. Here you don't get any points on your license until 15mph over. That is why we always give everyone 15mph before stopping them or writing a ticket.

 

[soonerjoe]

Here is why I don't race, or haul ass all over the place when I'm off duty. I work too many wrecks and have seen how easy it is to destroy your car. Off duty I don't drive any faster than I would write someone a ticket for. After you take a few advanced accident investigation courses, you understand how devastating the speed + mass is. I've had my share of wrecks on duty as well. They were from pursuits, and they were not fun. I lost control of my car at 120mph in one pursuit and hit the medain wall on the interstate. If you ever have to notify a family that their daughter/son/father/mother, was killed in a car accident, it will change your perception of driving too.

I joined the SVTOA so when I want to drive fast I save it for the track events. We do both drag racing and road courses. I have usually found that the ones who speed and race all the time on the street are usually the ones without skills. I know a guy that lives in my jurisdiction who drives a pretty bad a$$ 85 GT that runs 9's. He drives it to a from the strip. I have stopped to talk to him a few times and gave him a warning about putting his exhaust back on before leaving the strip. I have never caught him speeding and I know people have challenged him.

Wow, that’s the first intelligent post I have ever seen you make on this board. Usually, I think that you personify the bad Cops I know. Whereas most the other cops on here are the good (majority) of cops that don't have that holier than thou syndrome.

 

[gnxs]

Wow, that’s the first intelligent post I have ever seen you make on this board. Usually, I think that you personify the bad Cops I know. Whereas most the other cops on here are the good (majority) of cops that don't have that holier than thou syndrome.

I agree with you 100%. I've had Lawman85 pegged as the definition of a D*** cop, but after that last post I have changed my opinion somewhat.

15mph over is MORE than enough leeway to account for artificially low speed limits, hills, etc., etc. If that's really his policy, then it sounds like if he writes you a ticket, you deserved it.

 

[Lawman85]

Wow, that’s the first intelligent post I have ever seen you make on this board. Usually, I think that you personify the bad Cops I know. Whereas most the other cops on here are the good (majority) of cops that don't have that holier than thou syndrome.

So here is a question I asked in another thread and no one can answer it, or they haven't yet. What is your definition of a "good" cop and a "bad" cop. From everything I have read people refer to officers who don't write them tickets as "good" cops and those that do issue tickets as "bad" cops.
I think the problem is everyone wants to be able to do whatever they want and not have to accept responsibility. When someone gets caught doing something that they are not suppose to be doing, it's always my fault. Someone hits their wife and I lock them up? Yep, my fault. Someone gets sloshed and tries to drive home and I catch them? Yep, my fault. I here it all night long from every perp you can imagine. If you guys actually rode with a few officers and experienced this you would think that there are no guilty people in the world. It's all the bad cops fault.

 

[Lawman85]

I agree with you 100%. I've had Lawman85 pegged as the definition of a D*** cop, but after that last post I have changed my opinion somewhat.

15mph over is MORE than enough leeway to account for artificially low speed limits, hills, etc., etc. If that's really his policy, then it sounds like if he writes you a ticket, you deserved it.

The 15 over isn't my policy, it's a general department policy. It's a waiste of time to write a ticket for 11 over if it doesn't result in any action. We have enough people here driving 20+ over that we stay busy with them all day.

 

[FordSVTFan]

Closed!

I will remind non LEO posters once again, flaming of Law Enforcement is not tolerated in this forum. Please refrain from doing so in this forum. Feel free to do that in Smack Down.