Radar Detectors merged threadfest

[oldbike54]

 Dunno about other states , but the Lidar used by Okie troopers just keeps reading after a target hits the brakes , then displays the highest speed recorded . The reason for not getting pulled over afterwards is because the LEO either decides to give the offender a break , or he/she is more interested in another target . It is interesting to watch the reading decrease rapidly for a couple of seconds , the level off . Was sitting with my bud on US 69 in a construction zone , clearly marked with flashing lights , reduced speed ahead signs , arrows , maybe even a giant holding a yellow flag . He pulled over several cars that evening , only wrote warnings . Some of the excuses were funny . "I am lost , didn't notice the signs" , "my girlfriend is waiting in Dallas for me to get home so she can get something to eat" , or my favorite , from a college age girl in a Mustang , " My dad said to vary speed
until my new car is broken in" She was doing about 90 MPH in a 55 MPH zone and teared up a bit , Greg gave her a stern talking to and sent her down the road 

 Dusty

[Tom]

Sounds reasonable to me.

[lucian]

Didn't want to hijack the tickets thread so i thought i would keep this separate. After getting a warning last summer on the griso for 25 over ( thank you leo), I have been wondering about the worth of modern radar detectors. I know little to nothing about them and don't even know if the're legal in my state, but I sure know that speeding isn't. Does anyone here have any personal experience with one of these devises on a mc? My first thought is that they are probably a huge false sense of security and could lead to worse problems than a speeding ticket, but on the other hand, the concept is interesting and worth at least some  consideration,, no? 

[Spuddy]

Beltronics used to make a portable that, with an attached deflector, fit in the top pocket of a riding jacket. I kinda liked it. Wonder if they still do...

Spud

[PJPR01]

There is another thread already on detectors, but here's the same info:

If you want a battery powered one (no wires)...you can get an Escort Solo S3 - that's what I am running on a RAM mount on the Guzzi...gives me a visual and a sound indicator...

If you want to go the wired route, in my cars, I have Beltronics RX-65, new model is called a 500.  Excellent machine - here's a link - covers X, K, Ka and Laser. 

https://www.beltronics.com/store/product.php?productid=16212&cat=25

Other folks also like the Valentine as it gives "directional" indicators of where the radar is coming from (front, back, side to side).

They are by no means a false sense of security - no tickets since installing them (just don't have it mounted when going thru Virginia - illegal there).  You can augment the warning mechanisms by adding an LED indicator or by installing an eye piece in your helmet if you like.

Depends on how much you drive or want to risk on tickets vs. the cost of a detector...I figure it's saved me a LOT of tickets as it gives a long range preview of where there is radar or specifically where you might not even suspect someone is waiting vs. known speed traps.  I also drive a lot per year on long distance trips.  I also see for example in some city settings, local streets have very aggressive policing on radar in 30 mph zones...and frequently folks getting pulled over for doing 35-40.  City off ramps into Houston drop fast from 50 to 30 mph from parkways onto downtown streets very quickly, an innocuous setting and one where you would not expect it ...but every day someone is nailed there.

Good luck!

[charlie b]

Funny story.  A friend liked to drive really fast.  His preference was BMW M series cars.  He had a 'stack' of stuff he hung on the passenger side.  Two radar detectors (one pointed forward, one back), laser detector, and a "passive radar jammer".  He was usually one ticket away from having his license pulled.

His car had a bad differential on one trip so he walked into the showroom and bought a new one (yep, he had money).  Hung his electronics suite up in the new car and took off.  30 miles down the road he gets pulled over for over >100 in a 65.  He was ticked.  Luckily his license was not revoked and he wasn't hauled in by the cop.  Goes home and checks his electronics and they all work.  Then he points his radar gun at the car (yes, he owned one) and the detectors did not go off.  So, he goes out and reads the owners manual.  BMW started putting a coating on the windshields for UV and other 'protection'.  They stated in the manual that some radar and laser detectors would not work with this coating.  When he went on about this I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair.  To top it all off the guy had a PhD in physics and later worked as a scientist at Sandia Labs.

[PJPR01]

He was usually one ticket away from having his license pulled.

....which means he had probably been stopped and ticketed at least 2 times...so apparently he was pushing his luck even armed to the teeth with detectors.

Pity about the film on the window...big oops!

[charlie b]

Yep, big oops, but funny, at least to me.

Yep, despite all the gadgets he'd still get stopped every now and then.  Many times he'd get off with a warning.  Don't know how as I never was in the car with him when he got caught.

[Vagrant]

Absolutely typical BMW. build a car that almost requires you to speed then ad something nobody wanted or needed and make it so you get a ticket where you wouldn't in a Chevy or Toyota.

[lucian]

Thanks for all the info. . Apologize for not searching the topic first, was unaware that this had already been discussed at length previously. Somehow I don't think the detector will be of much help to me as the root problem seems to be with my right wrists. 

[Tom]

They say that if you're speeding, a detector will let you know that you're going to get a ticket. 

[atavar]

They say that if you're speeding, a detector will let you know that you're going to get a ticket. 

This is especially true in open states like North Dakota and Montana where the radar can see to the horizon and there are few cars on the road.  Up there if it goes off you might as well just pull over. 

[PJPR01]

How many of you who are saying that a detector won't work are actually running one?  Either you've got a very poor one, or you just not paying attention to it.  They work...flat out!  Spend money on a good one and you save 1 to 2 tickets easily...after that you're running free.

On a wide open plain, flat to the horizon, the view of the detector is plenty fine to give you a tinkle that radar is in action somewhere up there a mile or so away, long before you get into sight of the police...that's what it does...it detects it, so you get a signal and start to slow down.  At the first tinkling of the radar...off goes the throttle...

And you don't even have to be the one who's getting tagged...someone else up in front of you may be the "beneficiary" of the radar gun. 

Try it...they work.

[leafman60]

How many of you who are saying that a detector won't work are actually running one?  Either you've got a very poor one, or you just not paying attention to it.  They work...flat out!  Spend money on a good one and you save 1 to 2 tickets easily...after that you're running free.

On a wide open plain, flat to the horizon, the view of the detector is plenty fine to give you a tinkle that radar is in action somewhere up there a mile or so away, long before you get into sight of the police...that's what it does...it detects it, so you get a signal and start to slow down.  At the first tinkling of the radar...off goes the throttle...

And you don't even have to be the one who's getting tagged...someone else up in front of you may be the "beneficiary" of the radar gun. 

Try it...they work.

Ditto Ditto Ditto

Of course, they work. They've saved my bacon countless times. Again, nowadays the most risky situation is not going supersonic speeds on a freeway but innocently going through an area marked 35 while doing 45-50 and thinking you're being a good boy.

Let's be politically correct for a moment. Look at them as an aid for speed enforcement. They serve as an alert to speed limit changes, like an electronic signpost. Maybe the government should subsidize their purchase or mandate new vehicles have them built-in.

.

[charlie b]

In wide open areas out here with no traffic is where they don't work for me.  The radar isn't triggered on until the car sees you, then it's too late.

They work better when there are other cars around.  The detector sees the radar as it looks at other cars ahead of you.

Both lasers and radar are getting better and cheaper.

Then there are the air patrols.  I think only CA is using them anymore, but, when they set up a trap you have no warning.  The only clue is if you see several people pulled over on the other side of the road.

[Desmo]

WAZE app on phone is awesome! Tells you (with voice commands!) where the cops are. Free app Gives directions.

[atavar]

The folks around San Diego are sneaky.  Last time I was down there they had put up dummy low power radar transmitters on every speed limit sign on the highways.  I assume they did this so the detectors would alert constantly making the detectors useless.  I never got a mail citation so I don't think they had hundreds of photo radar sites.

[Gliderjohn]

Kansas still uses air patrol some but not near what they use to. In the late 80s a patrolman showed me the Cessna 172 and the clocking set up. The pilot could fly the plane and clock up to six vehicles at once.
GliderJohn

[Tom]

There's a section of highway on Oahu near the MCBH (Marine Corp. Base Hawaii) that has a sign saying that "Speed enforcement by VASCAR".  I chuckle whenever I see it.  They never had it set up and there is no aviation division for enforcement.  Almost all drivers have no idea what VASCAR is.  Only the transferred Marines from other stateside bases would know.   

[charlie b]

Yep, back when CA didn't use radar they used VASCAR.

NM had air patrol that was quite active at one time.  I know they paid for one of their planes in less than a year's worth of citations.  Don't think they've usee it much now that they have the newer radars and lasers.  Some of the signs are still out there on the roads.

[Tom]

One other thing that I forgot to put it.  The airspace is restricted around the base because the Navy does air ops. out of there.  Don't know if a Cessna floating around there would be a wise thing with C130's, P3 Orions and assorted Marine and Navy fighters flying in and out.  The P3's go up to the Bering Strait and Pacific sub patrol.  The fighters do touch and go's plus whatever else they do for flight training.