radar/laser

[canadianrcist]

whats a good radar/laser detector?

i got a ticket yesterday, and cant afford to get another. whats a good one?

[bluecb7]

If you have the money the best one on the market IMO and a lot of others is the Valentine 1. But avoid the cheap ones, I got one by Cobra for like $40 on sale (regularly $80) and my eyes make a better detector. But I do know that the local garden store has an alarm system lol, you'll pick those up a lot but you learn to disregard them.

[Shadow1]

i watch cops in my area. learn their routes. learn their times when they're most active. and i remember where they normally sit and make their little radar traps. dont rely too much on a radar detector. mosgt if not all cops now use "instant on" where it wont turn on until it clocks you. by then its too late.

unless your on a road where theres ALWAYS some traffic in front of you then it would be kind of useless. what i do when im in traffic is watch to see if theres a certin point(mainly on hills and around corners) where i see more than 2 cars brake. if i see brake lights on more than 2 cars then i know theres a cop around that corner.

[NAiL05]

The best radar is common sense...V1 is the best out there but it wont save you all the time. The radar detector doesnt work unless the cop has his on.

[canadianrcist]

i know its all common sense, but this cop was there and ive never had one waiting there.

just wanted to know whats the best on the market to be safer than i already am.

[MadSpleen85]

Like mentioned above, the Valentine 1 has been tried and tested numerous times by magazines like Car and Driver. It has always shown a huge improvement over the competition. However, like also mentioned above, they are VERY expensive compared to other detectors.

I have a cheapo $50 Whistler detector. I have not had any problems with it. It is very good about giving fair warning of a hidden patrol car.

The faster you are going the less time to react you are going to have when either you or your detector spot a patrol vehicle.


Any more there are 3 MAIN techniques that Police and Traffic Control Agencies use.

Radar: The most commonly used method of measuring the speed of other vehicles is Doppler Traffic Radar (Radio Detection And Ranging). Radar units used by PROPERLY TRAINED PERSONELL are capable of tracking the speed of vehicles while the Patrol Vehicle is in motion or stationary along the roadway. In addition, the radar unit is capable of measuring the speed of cars, trucks, and motorcycles traveling the same direction as the patrol car and those traveling in the opposite direction.



Time/Distance: Using stopwatches and VASCAR devices, members of Law Enforcement measure the time it takes a vehicle to travel a known distance (such as a marked 1/8-mile speed enforcement lane). Patrol aircraft also use this method to assist ground units in stopping speeding and aggressive drivers. The above mentioned markings are the white boxes or X's that you see on the Highways, usually this method is used more in generally rural areas.



LIDAR: The newest device used by Agencies to measure the speed of vehicles is Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR). LIDAR units give Patrol Officers the ability to pick individual violators out of traffic by directing an infrared, eye-safe, laser beam onto the individual vehicle. LIDAR units are especially useful in areas with congested traffic and in highway construction zones. LIDAR also uses instant on/off technology, meaning the unit's operator lines the vehicle in question up in the sight, pushes a button and before you or your detctor know it you have already been clocked and locked in. There is no standby time for the reading to register or for the use of the LIDAR to be detected..


Later

[NAiL05]

YEa most new radars if you get hit by the laser you might as well pull over (unless you are running something good). I have been hit with it a few times. Once did I get hit by it doing 125 in my old car. Stopped didnt see anyone and proceeded my ways. The laser shoots a more narrow beam and is more exact. We played with one in physics class boy was that fun.

[JohnD1079]

i have a Belltronics 995. Its worked for me, Saved me lots of times, Especially in NY and VA. Ever since i got it, i havent gotten a speeding ticket, and my average speed is like 85-90, so, its worked for me

[Losiracer2]

Idk if its the best but theres a new one out, might top the V1, its the Escort Passport 9500i, its got a built in GPS chip inside that tells you your actual speed and you can use it to mark known speed traps, grocery stores CVS pharmacies lol. It can even distinguish between those marked traps and a new threat that wouldn't normally be there and alert you. since it uses GPS technology, it also alerts you by how many feet away from those traps you are and counts down and counts up (while driving away). So its safe to say that its probably the best model out there. I did TONS of research before i got mine, Escort Passport 8500 X50i (blue). I bought this before the 9500i came out though and didn't exactly have the 450-500 dollars this costs at the time. Oh and if you do get a V1, Escort 8500i or 9500i, or any other well established detector, be sure to read the manual so you can tailor it to your driving habits.

[canadianrcist]

thanks guys. i generally only go 10-15 over the limit, just sunday evening, coming home, police man waiting there, i didnt notice him till to late, slowed down, but he got me earlier aprently.