Are radar detectors worth it?

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Saturn_Fan
Recently, the police in our community (pop. 8000) relocated a 45mph sign two weeks ago smack dab in the middle point on the downhill side of an 8% grade. The speed goes from 55 at the start of the hill to 45 suddenly in the middle of the grade. I still don't believe in radars, but what I detailed is an obvious money grab plain and simple.


There more pointless and ridiculous a speed limit number and location is, the more likely it's a revenue zone. Be extra careful if a speed limit doesn't make sense.

 

[steve20]

"If your driving fast enough to need a radar detector, you deserve a ticket"


JOHNNY et al it's past your bedtime, go to bed

Steve

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk

Oldman:

Let's be real now, I think we know what I meant through my use of the term "game". Obviously, driving a car is serious business. I was referring, of course, to the manner in which law enforcement use the guise of traffic safety enforcement as nothing more than a system for collecting revenue. Would you suggest that issuing an expensive citation for doing 2-3 mph over the limit is essential for the preservation of safety?

I'm sorry, but I'll have some more respect for the "system" when it starts to show us, the people it's supposed to serve, a tad bit of respect.


Actually no I didn't know what you "meant". I went on what you said!
"Would you suggest that issuing an expensive citation for doing 2-3 mph over the limit is essential for the preservation of safety?"
Nope, I didn't say that, nor did I imply it! Frankly I have NEVER seen anyone get a ticket for 2-3 MPH over the limit. Now I'm not saying it hasn't or couldn't happen. I have heard of stuff like that happening but don't know of anyone personally. On the other hand, that's why I always take it easy in small towns - especially out of state.

The last ticket I had was about 30 years ago. I wasn't purposely speeding, I just wasn't paying attention to my speed and was going about 68 in a 55. I didn't fight the ticket, I paid the court fees, and went to traffic school so it wouldn't go on my record.

At traffic school the instructor started the class by asking all 30 of us what we got a ticket for. About 28 of us got it for speeding and everyone was at least 10 MPH over. The other 2 people got tickets for running a red light.

This was in southern ca. YMMV!

I'm not saying that all "speed traps" are right. But if you know what the speed limit is and/or it is clearly posted and you purposely exceed it, you deserve a ticket. END OF STORY!

 

[kingrob]

In all my years of driving, both professionally and otherwise, I didn't get a ticket until a few months back. It was through a known speed trap that I've succesfully navigated before, but on this morning I let my guard down and breezed by a cop doing 58 in a 35. The speed limit is 55 all the way through town, a good ten mile stretch. On the southbound lane there's a 55mph sign on the corner, then a gas station, then behind the gas station's curbside sign there's a barely noticable 35mph sign. Seriously, if you weren't looking expressly for it you'd miss it. So I got caught a half a yard from the 35mph sign going 58. Even with a lawyer and a spotless record it was only reduced to a 44 in a 35 in court. I know 9 over is better than nothing in that it doesn't affect my insurance, but I have a Class A CDL that has never been tarnished, something very rare in the world of professional driving and something I've always been proud of.

Small towns like this with known speed traps are a disgrace. It sucks for people like me that keep it 3-5 over the speed limit and on the open highway no more than 10 over. I don't fault anyone that wants a radar detector to help avoid situations like this. If you want one because your an @$$ that can't keep his foot off the throttle then I say quit driving.

FWIW I had a cab that was equipped with a K-40 radar jammer. I got pulled over once and the cop said I was doing 72 in a 45, total lie. I was doing no more than 50. I asked him why on Earth my K-40 didn't go off when he "gunned" me and jam his signal. Turns out he didn't have laser or radar, he just guesstimated my speed. When it went to court it was thrown out. The judge didn't care that I had a K40, the officer just lost all credibility when trying to explain how he "reasonably" estimated my speed to be exactly 72mph with out a detector.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc


Actually no I didn't know what you "meant". I went on what you said!
Oh come now. Obviously, neither traffic safety, nor enforcement are "games" in a literal sense. Reading my entire post, it's pretty obvious I was commenting upon traffic enforcement when it crosses from fair over to inequitable.
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
"Would you suggest that issuing an expensive citation for doing 2-3 mph over the limit is essential for the preservation of safety?"
Nope, I didn't say that, nor did I imply it!
And exactly where did I say that you said this? I didn't. I asked you a question that again related to my overall concern, inequitable enforcement that serves no purpose other than revenue collection.
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc

Frankly I have NEVER seen anyone get a ticket for 2-3 MPH over the limit. Now I'm not saying it hasn't or couldn't happen. I have heard of stuff like that happening but don't know of anyone personally. On the other hand, that's why I always take it easy in small towns - especially out of state.
Alas, I have. I don't do traffic defense as a mainline of my practice, but I've gone there dozens of times over the years on matters related to cases, doing favors for friends, and so forth. You'd be amazed at some of the nonsense that ends up there. Sometimes it's plainly revenuing in action, sometimes it's just plain old "contempt of cop". Of course, I realize that most LEOs are fine professionals, but sadly, there are a bunch who aren't (or who see themselves as tax collectors).

Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
The last ticket I had was about 30 years ago. I wasn't purposely speeding, I just wasn't paying attention to my speed and was going about 68 in a 55. I didn't fight the ticket, I paid the court fees, and went to traffic school so it wouldn't go on my record.
I've had a couple like that over the years, and paid them for the same reason. It's also one of the reasons I like having a detector -- it helps remind you to maintain speed appropriate to the conditions.
...
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
I'm not saying that all "speed traps" are right. But if you know what the speed limit is and/or it is clearly posted and you purposely exceed it, you deserve a ticket. END OF STORY!
And again, I don't see it as such a clear question. When the speed limit is set with the sole intent of creating situations where otherwise law abiding drivers get trapped, for the sole purpose of emptying their wallets, they DON'T deserve a ticket. When you crest a hill on a country highway, and the speed limit suddenly drops for no discernable reason, and there happen to always be radar cops on location, do the targets deserve tickets?

 

[tonycarguy]

Well, few people actually answered my questions. The one no one answered is, does placing the radar detector on the center console (below the windshield level) work? Or does it need to "see" out the windshield (for laser)?

 

[kingrob]

Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Well, few people actually answered my questions. The one no one answered is, does placing the radar detector on the center console (below the windshield level) work? Or does it need to "see" out the windshield (for laser)?



It depends on the model. If the positioning is a concern of yours, you should check the specs on whatever model you're considering.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: tonycarguy
Well, few people actually answered my questions. The one no one answered is, does placing the radar detector on the center console (below the windshield level) work? Or does it need to "see" out the windshield (for laser)?



It is absolutely essential that the unit have an unobstructed view of the road ahead and behind. Here's the pertinent language from the V1 manual:
Originally Posted By: direct from the V1 Owner's Manual
Where to mount
Valentine One works best when mounted high in the
windshield, and toward the center between the windshield
pillars. Use your choice of windshield or visor mounts.
• When properly mounted, the front antenna will look
forward through the glass. It must have an unobstructed
view. Don’t put it behind the parked windshield wipers,
or directly behind an in-glass antenna. Don’t position it
so that it "looks" into the rearview mirror.
• The rear antenna will look rearward, between
passengers and out the rear glass. It, too, must have an
unobstructed view.
• Detector performance is enhanced by a high mounting
position. Two reasons. For radar, a longer sight line to
the horizon always helps. For laser, moving away from
the hood and its sun reflections helps a lot.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
When you crest a hill on a country highway, and the speed limit suddenly drops for no discernable reason, and there happen to always be radar cops on location, do the targets deserve tickets?


I'm just curious how YOU figure out there is "no discernable reason" How do you know what the local officials are thinking? Ever consider there might be some reason other than to inconvenience you? Or to take your money?

FWIW, You come on now. I took your flippant remarks and didn't read anything into them. I'd go into detail here, but it's late, and it's really not worth it.

Point of the matter is - if you speed you should pay. I broke the law, I paid for it. I didn't whine, didn't say it wasn't fair, or the city was just trying to get my money, the cop was hiding in the bushes, the speed limit should have been higher . . . etc. etc. etc.
It's called responsibility for your actions, and as I said before maturity. Anything else you care to add is all moot as far as I'm concerned.
If it makes you feel better using a radar detector then go for it. Personally I think Washington D.C. and Virgina has it right.
Good luck!

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
Originally Posted By: ekpolk
When you crest a hill on a country highway, and the speed limit suddenly drops for no discernable reason, and there happen to always be radar cops on location, do the targets deserve tickets?


I'm just curious how YOU figure out there is "no discernable reason" How do you know what the local officials are thinking? Ever consider there might be some reason other than to inconvenience you? Or to take your money?

...


When you either live in the area or travel through enough to know what's there and what's not, that gives you a real good idea. I can pretty much tell when a speed limit posting is safety related (as in you're coming into town, up to an intersection, or what have you). And there are plenty of instances where the limit drops ONLY to try to take money from your wallet. For this reason, I can't agree with your absolutist view that anyone who "speeds" should pay.

Look, I'm not a crazy leadfoot. In 25 mph residential neighborhoods, I do 25 or less, and don't need a detector (but I still like the awareness factor). If I have a doubt about safety (or the possible presence of revenue collectors...), I just slow down. By contrast, on dry, low-traffic interstates, I'm quite satisfied that at any speed between 70-80 mph, I'm perfectly safe. Comfortable too, since I'm aware of when innocent looking bushes are concealing radar...

 

[kaboom10]

Originally Posted By: steve20
"If your driving fast enough to need a radar detector, you deserve a ticket"


Look here first: http://www.speedtrap.org/

 

[ekpolk]

Tony:

Apologies for our digressions. At any rate, here's a second-rate photo of my V1 install, next to my Magellan unit. I really don't like all the cords, but so far, I haven't had the time to do a cleaner setup. I have it just high enough (in my estimation) to get a good view fore and aft, but low enough that it does not get into my driving field of vision. Some like them way up by the mirror or on a visor. I don't as it makes the display very hard to read (unless you do the remote display option). The end of the unit rests on the glass, positioning the unit very securely. It does not move.

 

[Kestas]

When I used my radar detector I custom hard-wired the setup with its own fuse through the interior windshield trim. I wired it to a hot lead that was switched on by the ignition. It made for a clean setup.

 

[Jimmy9190]

I agree some towns have ridiculous speed limits and speed zones designed to do one thing-raise money. Not far from where I live there are 2 such small towns that have such a bad reputation that AAA has posted huge billboards on the main highway leading into and out of each town warning the next town is a speed trap. The 2 towns are Lawtey, Florida and Waldo, Florida. The highway is US Hwy 301. In both places they have the ridiculous speed zones where it drops from 55 to 35 in a half-mile distance. The police there WILL write you a ticket for going 1 or 2 MPH over the limit, and they do employ some deceptive practices to clock you. Anybody coming down this way needs to watch it on 301 through Bradford and Alachua counties in central Florida.

Having said that, radar detectors do work, but they won't provide as much of a fighting chance against instant-on laser as a person might like. I don't intentionally go over the speed limit, and I just use my detector to avoid the speed traps. I travel through Lawtey and Waldo about 6 times a year going up to visit family in Georgia. There are some infamous speed trap towns in Georgia too, one that comes to mind is Metter, GA which is on another well-traveled road in south Georgia leading into Florida. The GA-FLA highway in southwestern Georgia is another highway you had best set the cruise to a few MPH under the posted limit. The Georgia state legislature last year passed a law enabling their State Patrol to write legitimate tickets to people going 3 MPH over the limit on their interstates, so the old "5 or 10 MPH over is OK" no longer applies there.

Bottom line is the economy is bad and I would bet money the local governments will soon start writing a lot more tickets to make up for what they are losing from their own budgets. I am perfectly willing to pay my own fines without complaining if I break the speed limit intentionally, run a red light, fail to stop at a stop sign or for some other legitimate offense. After all, it's nobody's fault but mine. But the towns with the extemely lucrative and nonsensical speed enforcement practices have been around for decades, and will not ever stop writing their tickets. They have to pay the mayor and the poice force somehow.

This is just my 2 cents worth here.

 

[kaboom10]

When I took my CCW class one of the subjects was economics and the police. If you live in a large town such as I that when you call the police they may be writing tickets to improve cash flow so you have to fend for yourself till they arrive. If you live in a smaller town or community where the liklyhood of crime is low the extra time can't be spent in the coffee shop so be sneaky and trap the speeders. I drive around town with my cruise control on most of the time and am recording the speed on my laptop generally.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
I don't think anyone gave a "lecture". We are merely pointing out the obvious point of - if you don't go over the speed limit you don't need a radar detector.

That point, no matter how obvious, is a non-sequitur. The question is about whether they work well enough to justify their price. If you asked whether steak has nutritional value, and someone told you soy protein is good, would you take that as an answer to your question? I would hope not.

Besides, not all the comments were "merely pointing out the obvious point," as the second half of your post clearly demonstrates:


Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
If you or the OP or anyone else wants to risk their insurance rates, driver's license, life and property by speeding - then that is their business. We are simply offering our opinions.

This, like so many other posts here, is definitely a lecture. You wouldn't say something like this if you didn't feel it was your obligation to teach or impose values you think others lack. You don't even know the OP's driving habits or motivation for asking the question, much less is it your place to judge them.

Discuss the matter at hand or move on.

 

[oldmaninsc]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
I don't think anyone gave a "lecture". We are merely pointing out the obvious point of - if you don't go over the speed limit you don't need a radar detector.

That point, no matter how obvious, is a non-sequitur. The question is about whether they work well enough to justify their price. If you asked whether steak has nutritional value, and someone told you soy protein is good, would you take that as an answer to your question? I would hope not.

Besides, not all the comments were "merely pointing out the obvious point," as the second half of your post clearly demonstrates:


Originally Posted By: oldmaninsc
If you or the OP or anyone else wants to risk their insurance rates, driver's license, life and property by speeding - then that is their business. We are simply offering our opinions.

This, like so many other posts here, is definitely a lecture. You wouldn't say something like this if you didn't feel it was your obligation to teach or impose values you think others lack. You don't even know the OP's driving habits or motivation for asking the question, much less is it your place to judge them.

Discuss the matter at hand or move on.


None of what you said is true. Since when is someone stating their opinion a "lecture" Maybe you need to look it up in the dictionary. I even said "IT IS THEIR BUSINESS." Did you miss that part? We could argue the semantics until the cows came home - but what does it benefit us?
This is a case of an older mature person stating his opinion. Nothing MORE, NOTHING LESS. If you read more into than that, it is YOUR problem.

You have NO RIGHT to tell anyone to "Discuss the matter at hand or move on". If anything you are the one that is so FAR off topic.
Usually when people react such as you did, it means their "toes" have been stepped on - so to speak.

I'll make this very simple. The O/P asked "Are radar detectors worth it"?
My answer is "NO" I don't speed so I don't need one. If the O/P or anyone else thinks it will save them from a speeding ticket, then by all means - go for it.

Next time I should follow the wisdom of Johnny. He stated his opinion, knew he would probably get flamed, and then quit! Even us old guys can learn a lesson or two.

 

[benjamming]

kingrob,

In AL that speed reduction magnitude is illegal. They can go no more than 10 mph per speed change & no more than 6 speed revisions per mile. Many small towns around here violate that. I've never invoked it in court yet & hope to not be in the situation requiring that!

Also in AL, you can receive a speeding ticket for driving under the speed limit, at least in AL. Finally in AL, radar guns never have to be used to issue a speeding ticket. I would imagine most of this is true in many parts of the US.

Bill,

Speed reduction warning signs ahead?! But, that would tip folks off & not allow the cop to catch the law violators to be caught like they should be.

As ekpolk, referred to, when those signs are up it's usually not a radar trap area. Many times those signs are not up.

 

[d00df00d]

oldmaninsc: Being old doesn't make you mature. It makes you old. Just sayin'.

I do like your newly revised answer, though. If only everyone had been that concise...

 

[sciphi]

I'd say yes, they are worth it. If nothing else, for peace of mind.

While I do not personally own one (yet), a maxim of how much you spend on the unit is the cost of the ticket it will save you from seems to be the case.