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I've never had one or used one. Safest way to avoid a ticket? Don't drive like a loon. They're not legal in every state either. If a cop sees it, you won't be doing yourself any favors either.
It's only Virginia and DC that they're illegal. I think there used to be another state.. Either that or there IS another one that i'm forgetting.
Virginia, it's a $25 ticket for first offense.. They record the serial number of the device.. Fines go up if it's caught again.
I actually got nailed driving through VA with one.. Had it on the visor, but the cable unplugged.. Didn't matter. He gave me a warning for speeding, but the $25 ticket for the detector because the cord and detector were in the passenger compartment. This was back in 2004 or so.
I had one years ago but now that the speed limit is up on most interstates (as opposed to 55 mph) I don't bother with one as I am rarely driving at more that 5 over the posted limit and I no longer drive attention generating vehicles.
It's only Virginia and DC that they're illegal. I think there used to be another state.. Either that or there IS another one that i'm forgetting.
Virginia, it's a $25 ticket for first offense.. They record the serial number of the device.. Fines go up if it's caught again.
I actually got nailed driving through VA with one.. Had it on the visor, but the cable unplugged.. Didn't matter. He gave me a warning for speeding, but the $25 ticket for the detector because the cord and detector were in the passenger compartment. This was back in 2004 or so.
That was 14 years ago. It's now about $100. Then there's the ding on you for a ticket. Might impact points on your license or insurance depending on your state.
NYPD and NYST are using laser. They sit in their cars and point it at the side view mirror and it reflects back into traffic.
As another pointed out, this isn't how a laser works. It has to be aimed directly at the vehicle. Not only can it not bounce or reflect, it can't be used from a moving vehicle. (Well, it can, but the courts will throw it out.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by HouseBuilder328
I do use one - a Valentine V1 and it does detect Ka bands from VERY far -over a mile. Plenty of warning! However, the V1 has so many false alarms.
A suggestion. I was getting more & more falses, and finally called Valentine, thinking it had gone bad. Turns out the lane aware radars (the ones that keep you in your lane) in new cars match that band. They have a secret setting you can activate in your V1 that eliminates that problem. Check out the web site, it has it posted.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ss20ts
Safest way to avoid a ticket? Don't drive like a loon.
I knew someone would post this. I guess it's good news that it took 19 posts before someone said it.
We don't drive like a "loon". I would venture a guess that many of us drive safer than average, because we're driving faster than average and are paying far more attention that the average driver. Heck, drive at 55 and text and you're more dangerous than we are. Sure there are lots of idiots driving at unsafe speed. But that's not what this thread is about.
Go yell at some kids playing in your yard. We have better things to discuss over here.
I knew someone would post this. I guess it's good news that it took 19 posts before someone said it.
We don't drive like a "loon". I would venture a guess that many of us drive safer than average, because we're driving faster than average and are paying far more attention that the average driver. Heck, drive at 55 and text and you're more dangerous than we are. Sure there are lots of idiots driving at unsafe speed. But that's not what this thread is about.
Go yell at some kids playing in your yard. We have better things to discuss over here.
You're not safer because you're driving faster than everyone else. If you really believe you are, back it up with data. No one said anything about texting and driving. Texting and driving at any speed is just a bad idea. This thread isn't about texting and driving.
You go enjoy the kids in the yard. I'm not yelling at anyone. It's true that the best way to avoid a speeding ticket is not to speed. Common sense right there....hurts your little brain, doesn't it?
I've never had one or used one. Safest way to avoid a ticket? Don't drive like a loon. They're not legal in every state either. If a cop sees it, you won't be doing yourself any favors either.
So they say. I was riding shotgun several years ago while my (now ex) wife was driving her Porsche. A Vette passed us at a pretty good clip (100 mph or so), so she decided she wanted to pass him back. Which she did. And just as she passed him our radar detector sounded. It sounded kinda like "you're toast."
So the HP pulls up behind us, she pulls over, he gets out and walks up to her window. (All the while I'm kinda giggly because she never gets tickets and it's her turn!) She rolls her window down and he starts to speak. Just then the radar detector goes off again, ("you're toast, you're toast, you're toast") and I bust out laughing, just can't hold it in. My laughing prompted her laughing, which in turn prompted the cop to start laughing.
As was normally the case, she got off with a warning. I think the cop enjoyed the laugh.
I don't use them any longer. Our highway speed limits in Wyoming are all between 70 and 80, which is fast enough anyway. I usually drive a couple mph over the limit, just because that's the speed of traffic. For those of you from states where you typically drive 10 over, DON'T DO IT IN WYOMING! We're constantly reading in the paper about guys getting picked up for driving 4-5 mph over the limit and having drugs in their cars. EXPENSIVE "speeding" tickets!!!!! Being on I-90, most of them are coming from Oregon or Washington headed back east and have a good stash of pot to last them for a year or two.
The last story I read a few days ago reported that the patrolman asked the guy what he was doing with all the pot. "Going to jail, man." At least he was smart enough to know that. Too bad he wasn't smart enough to drive the speed limit.
PATRICK WOOLLEY! I know him ! He got mine reduced to equipment failure instead of reckless driving, 80 in a 70 zone, a registrable misdemeanor not just a ticket. Magistrates are Serious about speeding in VA. See previous post. "How do I know? I Just Do."
How many of you guys use radar detector on high ways and long road trips? is it worth the money?
I use the Rabbit method.
You know, like greyhounds chasing the mechanical rabbit around the track.
I drive the speed limit until somebody passes me. Then I speed up and follow him at a safe following distance.
When a group of cars are speeding, I've found that cops in patrol cars almost always pull over the first guy in the line. Everybody else slows down immediately, of course. After the patrol cop is done with the first guy, some cops will come blazing back up and pull over the second guy, etc.
By then I've taken the next exit.
I've never gotten a ticket while using that method.
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