Do you use radar/laser detectors?

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
They have photocop in my small town. I rode with someone who had a detector and it picked it up pretty good. So for that, it might be worthwhile. I think its not like it used to be where a good detector would be like a license to speed.

Anyway, I used to drive 30K per year during the 55 mph speed limit era. I had a particular 280 mile trip that I did over and over again. My best time? 5:15--in a Chevy Chevette. I couldn't go much over 55 mph , and I didn't stop for gas. I realized that minimizing your time at "zero" mph was key. It takes a heckuva lot of speeding to make up for five minutes dawdling around the gas station.

In a small town, there effectively is almost no practical benefit to speeding. So why bother?


that's true. but I drive 60 miles per day, 5 days a week. So for work alone, that's about 16k a year. I add about an additional 10k for personal use. We'll use the 16k here though. Assuming average 75mph, that's 213 hours. If I drove the speed limit, average 60mph, then that is 266 hours. That's a lot of time that I'd rather be spending doing other things.

 

[apwillard1986]

The recent return of many jurisdictions to a reasonably high speed limit has eliminated most folks need to own one. My state has raised the speed limit on some of the interstate corridors to 80 or even 85 and that’s as fast as most people want to go it seems. Much above that and fuel consumption becomes a deterrent.

I have never had much desire to speed in town and 80 out on the interstate on a trip between towns is plenty fast.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Just don't go more than 8MPH over the limit and you will probably be fine.

Easier said than done on local roads where the speed limit can go from 25 to 40, back to 25, up to 30 mph, etc.

All it takes is a speed trap, cop in the bushes set up, a moment of inattention and your day is ruined as states hungry for revenue have jacked fines way up over the years.

That said, a low profile vehicle helps quite a bit, I can't remember the last time I saw a soccer mom in a minivan pulled over getting hassled.

 

[Malo83]

Max speed in Cali is 70, CHP will give you 5mph over, crazy though, doing 75 you still get passed like your standing still

 

[KrisZ]

In Ontario the radar would also have to sweep the sky, as cops use small planes to watch for speeders.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: KrisZ
In Ontario the radar would also have to sweep the sky, as cops use small planes to watch for speeders.


Though I have seen the signs, I have never once seen a speed-enforcement copter.

I thought some cops just sat on the side of the road, then radioed to a unit ahead if the saw a speeder so THEY could pick them up??

Also, in Ohio, no radar is needed to cite for speeding.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Rock_Hudstone
Originally Posted By: zzyzzx
Just don't go more than 8MPH over the limit and you will probably be fine.

Easier said than done on local roads where the speed limit can go from 25 to 40, back to 25, up to 30 mph, etc.

All it takes is a speed trap, cop in the bushes set up,


Sure can, BUT your trained driver's eye can usually tell when a Crown Victoria is off to the side of the road, as there is some sort of clearing for him to pull out and get you.

But yeah, local towns can be THE WORST (East Orange NJ)

*Also: I would NEVER live in a town, famous for tales and lore of just how many tickets its PD wrote, or just how petty the LEOs were. Never. So, Union NJ and East Orange NJ are off the list.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Originally Posted By: Malo83
Max speed in Cali is 70, CHP will give you 5mph over, crazy though, doing 75 you still get passed like your standing still

I remember on "Speeders" with CHP following a Lexus LX470 doing 90MPH like nobody was behind him.

That is also the show where cops got all excited abut out of state plates..

 

[BubbaFL]

Originally Posted By: jimbrewer
In a small town, there effectively is almost no practical benefit to speeding. So why bother?


Depends on the town.

My daily commute is about four miles round trip, all in small town city limits. I drive through a speed trap almost every day. City is full of roads built for 35 to 45mph, with 25mph limits. Local PD has to pay for their chrome bling Harleys somehow!

[censored] that run the next town over lobbied to get a major, four-lane, grass median state road run through their town - then tried to lower the speed limit from 50mph to 35mph so they could ticket the [censored] out of all of the commuters who passed through.

 

[bladecutter]

My fiance and I both have Valentine 1's in both of our cars.
The first one was bought back in 2008 for her as an X-Mas gift, shortly after she got her Chrysler Crossfire. It has long since paid for itself in the fact that she hasn't received a single speeding ticket since getting it.

She bought one for me several months later after I picked up my '98 Porsche Boxster.
I received 2 tickets since getting it. The first was on my Motorcycle, so I didn't have it that day, so it doesn't count. The second was instant on Ka fixed unit mounted to the front of a Crown Vic that belonged to the New Mexico State Patrol last September that was driving on the highway, going the opposite direction that I was, in my RX-8.

I knew there were other cops on the road from other previous experiences with instant on radar in the miles before my altercation with the officer. I had my cruise control locked at 77 mph, and it was a 75 mph zone.

Unfortunately for me that day, there was a silver Toyota 4 Runner behind me, playing catchup, that also had Colorado plates. Cop crested the hill, mashed his instant on button, and his reading was 86 mph, which wasn't the speed I was doing. I also had a GPS on my window, so I know for a fact that I was doing 77 when he tagged me. GPS and car speedo perfectly matched in the RX-8.

So, I told him.
He still gave me the ticket, and I had to choose between court date or that I would promise to pay the ticket, right there on the spot. I told him to pull up the court date, and I would see him then.

Then, on the court date, I got down there, and was in the court, waiting for my chance to have my say. I handed my ticket to the clerk, and when she went looking through the system for my ticket, it didn't exist. So the court sent me to the Trooper office up the road, and he was actually there that day. He looked over my ticket, and then said that after I left, he tore it up, and said that he was giving me a break.

It would have been nice had he actually sent me a letter stating that he was tearing up the ticket, however, so I wouldn't have to drive all the way back there. I'm guessing he was just testing to see if I would show up for the court date, and if I didn't, he probably would have then submitted it.

So, no actual tickets in the car with the detector in it.
Only pulled over the one time.

Here in Colorado, most of the officers (local, city, and state) use Ka, and are lazy (leave it on the whole time). That gives me plenty of warning, and I can adjust speed if I need to. It also allows me to screw over someone else if they have been bugging me in traffic, like tailgating me. If I see the Ka go off, I will flash my headlights at the cop, and when I pass him, I point my arm out the window at the car behind me. More often than not, the cop pulls out, and pulls the guy behind me over for a chat.

BC.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

Originally Posted By: TechnoLoGs

J, Union NJ and East Orange NJ are off the list.

Anyone with sense in N.J. stays out of East Orange at all costs, regardless of how many tickets they write.

As a matter of fact there was something in the news recently; one of their own cops accused the PD of having ticket quotas.

 

[Errtt]

Valentine 1 (V1) out on open roads. Arrows, counter, rear sensitivity.

Escort 9500ix in town. Voice, red light cameras (weekly online updates), learn feature.

^ The only 2 I use. It's the V1 95+% of the time.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

I just drive the speed limit (weather permitting) and I don't need to worry about all the gadgets. Nearly 40 ticket free driving years helps keep my insurance rates extremely low. Even though there are areas where I'll agree that the speed limit is lower than needed, I won't become another scofflaw.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Someone please change Pop_Rivit's screen name to Jesus.

 

[ddrumman2004]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
I go the speed limit ..


Me too! Set the cruise control and roll.

I don't get in a hurry anymore.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Someone please change Pop_Rivit's screen name to Jesus.




pfffffffft!

 

[Virtuoso]

I don't use one and try to do the speed limit (or eventually under, when going up hills) when possible.

How fast you can go over depends on where you live too. Around here in rural Nebraska, up to 5 over and you're okay. 6-10 over gives you a rough 30-50% chance of getting pulled over and 10+ is guaranteed.

 

[MCompact]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Someone please change Pop_Rivit's screen name to Jesus.

 

[MCompact]

I used the original Escort and a CB back when the moronic NMSL was in effect. At that time I usual drove 80 mph on any rural interstate. I upgraded to a V1 as soon as it came out. Now that most rural interstates have a 70 mph limit or better I drive... 80 mph. I seldom use my V1 anymore unless I want to make serious time. That said, A radar detector is only as good as the person using it. You still have to employ above average situational awareness to avoid paying a velocity tax. I have been ticketed twice in the last 25 years and each time it was because I wasn't paying attention to the environment and what the detector was telling me.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Quattro Pete- $75 for the old V1 if you can find it.

V1 used everyday. Picked up random laser tonight on way to work (with no infiniti driving other way). Got 2 more random laser in quick time. Slowed down and stayed in middle lane behind another car. Crested hill and LEO was in median with laser. Seeing them almost daily lately LASER INTERCEPTOR might be next on list.

V1 saved more times than can count on ski trips etc. Definitely helps to have a general awareness of areas and where they might hide. Combine with not going excessive speed and you luck out most of the time.

V1 replaced a malfunctioning Passport 4500. Got lucky and LEO let me off coming back from skiing. Didn't slow fast enough coming into town. My friend had gotten a ticket for same speed and limit in different area, cost him $300 for ticket and "fees" plus his insurance went up. That meant I had that much to spend on a new one. Couldn't decide between new escort 8500 or V1 so bought both. 2 days later on way to family for Easter both sounded within a second, came around corner and cop was there. Guy next to me also had escort 9500 on window. Past the cop and started to speed up. Both detectors still beeping. V1 beeped again showed 2 and front arrow flashing, Escort just showed strength. I slowed down, guy with 9500 didn't. Next corner full out speed trap. He got pulled over, I continued on my trip. Escort sent back next day.

V1 VERY noisy many times especially around town but I'll take that for the added highway benefit. Also have a Speed Cheetah C50 in the car. Many redlight cameras around me and more popping up. Also like the speed readout on C50 as an added check.