BruceBowker Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I would guess this has been asked before. Do detectors really work? Seems to me by the time they detect you have been caught! Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scannon Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 A radar detector is the only reason I have been able to keep a driver's license over the years. Instant on radar can get you but if there is any traffic you will pick up on it painting them before you get there for your turn. Good detectors can pick up radar long before the signal is strong enough for them to get a lock on you. I would guess it saves me 4 - 5 tickets a month. Like the American Express card people say, I don't leave home without it. Do they use radar on Bonaire? Last time I was there the roads were so bad you couldn't speed if you wanted to. Great place to dive but a horrible place for a gearhead. Skip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinnyG Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I haven't had a ticket in all the years I stopped speeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MNlotus Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 i have a Valentine 1 radar detector and love it. it has paid for itself a couple times, saving me from speeding tickets. sometime it picks up radar a half mile away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiBirkin Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) I had a Belltronics STI radar detector which is about as good as they come along with the Valentine V1 with radar detectors you get what you pay for the cheaper it is the worst the detection is. My STI saved me hundreds of $$$ in fines and paid for it self within the first 6 months, however it also taught me to slow down to the speed limit as I was all ways more weary of my speed with the detector in the car too the point where i didn't need it any more so sold it on, its only now with owning a seven im thinking of getting one again not because I want to speed past the 100kmh speed limit in NZ but I just want to know where the cops are when I have that urge to drag a boy racer at the light Edited July 5, 2009 by KiwiBirkin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I'll reaffirm a few of the points above: - if you can't afford a really good detector, save your money for the tickets you will get anyway :-) - instant on is pretty much unavoidable, unless as someone else said above, there is traffic ahead of you; I gave the NY Troopers over a $grand in one month alone :-( oh, and for you guys in the areas where detectors are still illegal (Canada, Virginia?, and ??) I can confirm that those mythical "radar detector detectors" the cops were rumored to have DO exist, and DO work. I had mine confiscated, smashed, and fined, and he showed me how they work as a final insult :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Used to have them when I was in college, and a couple of years after. Haven't had one since, and I think I've only gotten 3 or 4 tickets in the last 15 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) They do work but you get what you pay for. A good site for info on good radars and how they work is http://www.radarbusters.com/. Another site that has good info is http://www.speedzones.com/ He doesnt sell Valentine but I have friends that have them and they love them. Edited July 5, 2009 by WestTexasS2K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 (edited) Yes they work. My Valentine 1 detected a cop, parked and using instant on radar, at 4 miles in Nebraska last week. Note that it was really flat in Nebraska at that point. I was getting occasional small hits for several minutes, so by driving at the speed limit, I was able to cruise by him with no problems. I have been nailed by instant on in the past, where it was hilly, or the cop was was smart and only shot occasionally. There is no defense when you come around a corner and there he is. That happened to me in California last year, shot from behind as I came around a curve, and under a railroad track. He was sitting in the grass, up on the slope of the underpass, and nailed me from behind. He asked me if I had a detector, because he saw my brake lights the instant he pulled the trigger. I told him yes, and he said " Keep it turned on, it may save you next time":driving: Side note. I was able to go to California traffic school via the internet, and keep the points off the license, and no reporting to my home state. Inquire about this is you ever get a ticket.:smash: I'll throw my 2 cents in for the Valentine 1 directional arrows. When it beeps, you instantly know where he is, in front, or behind you. I only wish it had an auto mute, and the gps system to remember the radar locations like the upscale Beltronics. But given the choice, I would buy another if I needed one. I have two, one shuffles between my Tahoe and my Ultralite. Side note: Skinnyg's approach is a good one, I find that I tend to drive slower now, it is not near so tense as constantly watching for the cops. Edited July 5, 2009 by powderbrake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Side note: Skinnyg's approach is a good one, I find that I tend to drive slower now, it is not near so tense as constantly watching for the cops. I to find that I do drive slower now and usually keep my speed to within 7 miles per hour of the posted speed limit when out on the highways. Must be old age and just being cheap and not wanting to give my money to the state or the insurance company due to higher premiums and such. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I have a Valentine. Some times it helps, some times it doesn't. Instant on is deadly. If you stop scanning visually and trusting your detector completely, you will eventually get nailed. Also the false sense of confidence can cause you to speed up some, making the ticket more painful when it comes. Slowing up has helped. I typically go 75 mph in 65 mph zones on Interstates and so far, so good. Hard to go much faster in a Seven anyhow due to noise, etc. And, I always had trouble explaining to my 3 boys when they were young, why I was using a radar detector. What a hypocrite. I was trying to get them to follow the rules at home and at school and there I was doing all I could to get away with violating the law. I recall getting stopped once by instant on and my youngest saying:"This is so humiliating." He was maybe 7. So I slowed way up after that (most of the time:)). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 And, I always had trouble explaining to my 3 boys when they were young, why I was using a radar detector. What a hypocrite. I was trying to get them to follow the rules at home and at school and there I was doing all I could to get away with violating the law. I recall getting stopped once by instant on and my youngest saying:"This is so humiliating." He was maybe 7. So I slowed way up after that (most of the time:)). I have the same issue with my 9 yo. So I have slowed down as well usually no more than 6 over. It does come in handy when you are driving thru small towns that have radar traps. There are alot of the smaller towns that have very quick reducing speed rates and have cops monitoring them all the time and will write tickets for as little as 3 mph over the limit. Since the judge is usually in on the racket there isnt much luck in fighting them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBowker Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Skip - I think Bonaire had a detector once. Probably broke and got tossed. Some roads are fixed up, others still bad. Diving is still great though. After reading all the replies I'll stick with what I have - driving the speed limit. I have not had a ticket in 45 years - knock on wood now that said that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I've screwed on a permanent bracket to the windshield post for mounting my radar detector. The S.E. Michigan Detroit area is number one in speed traps in the nation. The local goverments are so broke that it is the only way they can raise money is by changing the speed limits very block so they can hand out tickets. Dave W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pureadrenalin Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I've got a Cobra, don't know the model, but it's saved my ass many, many times. And not always because I'm speeding intentionally, but because the cops around me are sticklers for speeders. I got dinged for a 43 in a 40 a few years ago..so..I like to be safe. It is a fairly good one, I usually pick up cops and the radar boxes at about 2mi+, it's a pretty normal range. The problem is, LIDAR is becoming very popular around here and that's much harder to defeat, and speed traps are games for the cops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaz Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 (edited) I sent in my V1 for an update a few weeks ago on a Friday, that Sat I was busted for 5 over, 30 in a 25 and got a ticket for $95.00. We were in the family 4 door in northern MI, super small town. I could not belive it. Yes, I was speeding, but give me a break. I was super nice to the cop and still was given a ticket. He knew I would not drive the 3 hours to fight the ticket. To answer your question YES!!! I would buy another Valentine again. And that is why I sent in my to get it upgraded. Edited July 13, 2009 by Spaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I use an Escort with the GPS option. I have used them for years, and have been saved many times. I object to speed traps and use all tools I have to avoid paying the speed tax. The main tool is learning the type of places that they like and keeping a sharp eye out. If law enforcement would spend as much fighting real crime as they do trying to collect from drivers it would be much safer of all. As all of the governments loose the tax base, they look to easy fish to shoot. Orson Welles photo enforcement traps as well. There is a place for reasonable speed control, not speed traps just to collect $$ form drivers. Anyone remember the 1970’s & 55 MPH on roads designed for much higher speeds, too much government control. Now I have stirred the pot, and will hold on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 There is a place for reasonable speed control, not speed traps just to collect $$ form drivers. Anyone remember the 1970’s & 55 MPH on roads designed for much higher speeds, too much government control. Now I have stirred the pot, and will hold on! I don't think you have stirred the pot at all and yes I do remember the 70's I think (they came after the 60's did they not). You are just expressing a known fact that some people just do not want to accept as they live in denial that their local governments would do that to its populous, just like the fed is doing to the entire country by bailing out corporations that are greedy and mismanaged due to that greed. Just my opinion and belief so now I have stirred the pot and am now holding on.:leaving: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjslutz Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I once had a Cobra CSX3300, it got me too many tickets back then. It was only a little less crude than the 7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7evin Posted September 3, 2009 Share Posted September 3, 2009 (edited) " Now I have stirred the pot, and will hold on! " Whew..... I won't even get started on how I agree with both you and MHKflyer on this subject.... And I find those who are there to enforce it all are the worst offenders. Any time I can keep money out of their pockets its like xmas for me.... We spend 60k to 80k (miles) behind the wheel of something, so I have all the hardware that I think will make it xmas as often as possable. BearTracker scanner: Warning System - Alerts you to activity on Highway Patrol link frequencies to let you know if there is activity within about 3 miles of your location. Another great tool is Trapster: its a FREE service that allows users to share the location of police speed traps using mobile phones and other types of devices. http://www.trapster.com. Radar Detector Escort 9500ci... It was worth every penny I paid for it. It jams laser both front and rear..... And it works... I have been hit with laser over 15 times and no takers.... It is so funny to see the cop holding the gun on you... He will just keep holding on you till you blow by... Then they lower the gun and give you this weird look like... WTF ... I laugh every time... Some times I even wave at them... I Love It... I thank Santa Claus every time In the Charger and the Corvette we ran the Blinder unit http://www.blinder.net/ 2 years in a row in the Fireball Run http://www.fireballrun.com (won it last year) My wife got hit with laser in excess of 100 mph (Bad Girl) She never even let off..... (bigger balls then me) Mojito will get the Blinder Extreme. Can't say enough about their unit. All of that being said.... I am not one to drive like an idiot in traffic... But if I'm on the highway in the middle of no where I see NO harm with making good time. and letting it roll. As long as it does not impose on others. My $0.02 worth Cheers 7evin Edited September 3, 2009 by 7evin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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