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Old 09-17-2013, 08:57 PM
 
Location: Blah
4,153 posts, read 9,234,201 times
Reputation: 3086

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Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano View Post
That's silly. Where do you drive?
Interstate I-20 in between Midland & Dallas. I used to could set the cruise at 80mph and only slow down around Abilene. Now I can't drive 10-20 miles without seeing a Trooper or Deputy. Luckily they recently raised the limit to 75 mph and I'm able to get away with 77-78mph.

Quote:
Originally Posted by hoffdano View Post
Radar detectors are useful to me even in city driving. Just knowing that there is radar ahead (or behind) is good to know.
City driving isn't an issues here in Dallas. The traffic tends to flow 5-10 mph over the limit an the police rarely run traffic. The only action I see is police on the side streets looking for people speeding in school zones which isn't an issue for me.

Radar detectors only work when the officer lights you up, which is generally too late. They also work on line of sight, this doesn't help much with troops hiding behind over-passes or at the bottom of an over pass on the opposite side. Newer Radar equipment also uses smaller more focused and lightning fast beams making it slightly more difficult to detect.

As for which detector, go with one that offers GPS and can communicate with fellow same bran detectors. This way, if say someone is alerted to a radar, it will notify anyone else in the area using the same radar detector.
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Old 09-17-2013, 09:03 PM
 
Location: NJ
17,574 posts, read 46,004,591 times
Reputation: 16271
You might want to consider an app like Waze. It has people giving real time alerts to cops. And red light cameras.
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Old 09-17-2013, 09:17 PM
 
Location: Prosper
6,255 posts, read 16,997,507 times
Reputation: 9501
Quote:
Originally Posted by SVTRay View Post
Radar detectors only work when the officer lights you up, which is generally too late. They also work on line of sight, this doesn't help much with troops hiding behind over-passes or at the bottom of an over pass on the opposite side.
Not true. If the cop tags the guy driving a few seconds ahead of you, your radar detector should pick it up and give you ample time to slow down. If it doesn't then your detector is crap. As far as line of sight goes, my detector can pick up the ricochet of a radar signal, bouncing off another car that has been tagged, so it's not always line of sight with the cop that matters. It won't work with laser though.
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Old 09-18-2013, 07:28 AM
 
Location: Central Texas
13,715 posts, read 31,031,321 times
Reputation: 9270
Quote:
Originally Posted by SVTRay View Post
Interstate I-20 in between Midland & Dallas. I used to could set the cruise at 80mph and only slow down around Abilene. Now I can't drive 10-20 miles without seeing a Trooper or Deputy. Luckily they recently raised the limit to 75 mph and I'm able to get away with 77-78mph.



City driving isn't an issues here in Dallas. The traffic tends to flow 5-10 mph over the limit an the police rarely run traffic. The only action I see is police on the side streets looking for people speeding in school zones which isn't an issue for me.

Radar detectors only work when the officer lights you up, which is generally too late. They also work on line of sight, this doesn't help much with troops hiding behind over-passes or at the bottom of an over pass on the opposite side. Newer Radar equipment also uses smaller more focused and lightning fast beams making it slightly more difficult to detect.

As for which detector, go with one that offers GPS and can communicate with fellow same bran detectors. This way, if say someone is alerted to a radar, it will notify anyone else in the area using the same radar detector.
What you say is only true if you are the only car on the road or the front car of a group of traffic. But lots of radar is not used in instant on mode. The cop is sampling traffic and I can pick it up with my V1 over 3/4 mile away. Even if used in instant on mode - my V1 will pick up the signal bounced off the vehicles in front of me.

Radar detectors do not rely on line of sight. The radar gun sends out a cone shaped signal. The common analogy is a flashlight. You can see a flashlight turned on far away from you, but they cannot see you unless they have it aimed directly at you. There is a lot of "scatter."

"lightning fast beams?" All radar "beams" travel at the same speed, near the speed of light.
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Old 09-18-2013, 07:44 AM
 
8,074 posts, read 10,003,189 times
Reputation: 22607
You want a device which detects laser, and multi band radar. I have an older Beltronics which continues to be a reliable unit.

As for the cops 'understanding' you if you have a detector, I would think it would be just the opposite: In spite of your attempts to thwart me, I got you. Have a nice day.

Some states...Virginia, for instance, ban detectors, and will give you a ticket (they have a way to monitor your unit's beam) if they catch you using one.

Yes, there are more cops behind every bush and berm these days. If I understand it correctly the local departments have told their cops that if they want to keep their jobs, the better write enough tickets to pay for their costs. It is VERY annoying and does nothing to ingratiate motorists and police, which is already a strained relationship.
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Old 09-18-2013, 09:14 AM
 
Location: U.S.A.
3,306 posts, read 12,163,426 times
Reputation: 2966
With speed detection devices moving in the direction of LASER being the mainstream, these detectors are becoming nothing more than expensive prize bells to let you know when you've won your speeding award.

The best way to avoid a speeding ticket is to let someone else get it for you. I drive fast but there is always someone trying to outdo me... perfect. Let these drivers get ahead and then pace them a good length back, far enough to the point where there is enough time for them to be tagged and the cop is already on the move. If I have no bait to use then I simply keep it under 15 over unless I have an open straightway... at that point my eyes are good for about a half mile or I just use pre-existing knowledge of speed traps and hiding spots.
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Old 09-18-2013, 09:28 AM
 
8,074 posts, read 10,003,189 times
Reputation: 22607
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lux Hauler View Post
I drive fast but there is always someone trying to outdo me... perfect. Let these drivers get ahead and then pace them a good length back, far enough to the point where there is enough time for them to be tagged and the cop is already on the move. If I have no bait to use....

Rolling down the NY Thruway one evening....85 or so...lots of "brave' souls doing exactly what you suggest. Let me be the rabbit, and they will ride my coattails.

I go flying through a radar trap (no detector)...oh $hit, I am dead meat.

The cop pulled out and grabbed the two people at then end of the line. They were, I am sure, certain that I would be nailed and they would sail past and thumb their nose at me for being such an idjit. Didn't exactly work out that way.

Led me to believe that cops are human beings, and they understand all of the behaviors like that which you suggest. In this case they let me go for being the brave one, and nailed the wussies who thought they were getting a free ride, at my expense.
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Old 09-18-2013, 09:48 AM
 
Location: U.S.A.
3,306 posts, read 12,163,426 times
Reputation: 2966
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Bear View Post
Rolling down the NY Thruway one evening....85 or so...lots of "brave' souls doing exactly what you suggest ... ride my coattails
I pace about 20 car lengths back if traffic allows or "far enough to the point where there is enough time for them to be tagged and the cop is already on the move". So no, that was not what I suggested.
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Old 09-18-2013, 10:13 AM
 
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2,869 posts, read 4,427,488 times
Reputation: 8286
Just a short warning, in Ontario, Canada, radar detectors are illegal, for "everyone " .

The fine is $500, the device is seized at the roadside, and anyone from outside of the Province is given this alternative........... You can skip the fine, and the seizure, by putting the device on the road, and DRIVING OVER IT.

Solves the problem, every time. I love creative justice.

Jim B.

Toronto.
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Old 09-18-2013, 10:56 AM
 
1,373 posts, read 1,361,185 times
Reputation: 2654
i have been running escort/passport brand since they started as cincinnati microwave, that was decades ago. i have been very satisfied with the detection they provide. they detect x, k, ka and laser on the newer models. i drive a lot and multi-state. the key to avoiding speeding tickets is a combination of the driving habits mentioned above and the use of a good detector. my detector really helps in the small towns and speed traps where they are leaving the radar on or constantly shooting the traffic.

it also helps to be very nice when you do get stopped, as these guys are just doing their job. also, i mount my detectors on the top of the windshield and hard wire them in, so i always turn them off when the officer comes up to the car.
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