Does a Radar Detector Really Save You From Tickets?
03-02-2009, 08:40 AM
#61
I didn't get a V1, I got a Beltronics RX65PRO or whatever its called. I do believe its identical to the Escort 8500.
Plenty of notice, and yes it has saved me plenty of times. I have probably been hit by last 8 times, 7 of them I would have gotten nailed had I been speeding more than I was. Not good for a laser -- thats more of a "just pull over now 'cuz you are getting a ticket" warning.
For radar though, awesome. Curves and hills don't dwindle performance enough where its worth it -- plenty of performance in those situations.
Plenty of notice, and yes it has saved me plenty of times. I have probably been hit by last 8 times, 7 of them I would have gotten nailed had I been speeding more than I was. Not good for a laser -- thats more of a "just pull over now 'cuz you are getting a ticket" warning.
For radar though, awesome. Curves and hills don't dwindle performance enough where its worth it -- plenty of performance in those situations.
03-02-2009, 09:58 AM
#63
I would suspect that if the cop all of a sudden sees his radar/laser get jammed, hes probably going to pull you over anyways and flip out, knowing you have a jammer.
The only thing I could think of where it would help is if you had to go to court, you could say that the speed was never recorded. But by that point your already at court and no one wants to be there in the first place.
The only thing I could think of where it would help is if you had to go to court, you could say that the speed was never recorded. But by that point your already at court and no one wants to be there in the first place.
Laser jammers simply work by emitting light pulses that make the laser receiver have difficulty getting a speed reading. From the officers standpoint, they are aiming the laser at the cars license plate or headlight, but not getting a reading. There could be a number of reasons for this. In the mean time, the laser jammer is notifying the driver that it is being hit by a laser. The response is to first slow down to the posted speed limit, and then turn off the laser jammer. Then the officer can get a reading, and it is a reading that is at or below the posted speed limit.
The officer can still decide to pull you over, but it would have to be for a different reason than a speed reading on the laser. They can estimate your speed, but that is very hard to defend in court if you have an attorney represent you.
I'm planning on getting a laser jammer for my Z. I don't drive all that fast, but if traffic is going 70 in a 55, the Z is the car that the State Patrol will choose to shoot. Around here, the State Patrol uses lasers extensively. I have seen a lot of motorcycle officers on overpasses shooting cars. Car mounted radar units alert the officer that a car is going over the speed limit, then they have to determine which one. With the laser however, the officer first chooses the car that they want to check.
03-02-2009, 10:21 AM
#64
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Keep in mind that a radar jammer and laser jammer are too entirely different things.
Laser jammers simply work by emitting light pulses that make the laser receiver have difficulty getting a speed reading. From the officers standpoint, they are aiming the laser at the cars license plate or headlight, but not getting a reading. There could be a number of reasons for this. In the mean time, the laser jammer is notifying the driver that it is being hit by a laser. The response is to first slow down to the posted speed limit, and then turn off the laser jammer. Then the officer can get a reading, and it is a reading that is at or below the posted speed limit.
The officer can still decide to pull you over, but it would have to be for a different reason than a speed reading on the laser. They can estimate your speed, but that is very hard to defend in court if you have an attorney represent you.
I'm planning on getting a laser jammer for my Z. I don't drive all that fast, but if traffic is going 70 in a 55, the Z is the car that the State Patrol will choose to shoot. Around here, the State Patrol uses lasers extensively. I have seen a lot of motorcycle officers on overpasses shooting cars. Car mounted radar units alert the officer that a car is going over the speed limit, then they have to determine which one. With the laser however, the officer first chooses the car that they want to check.
Laser jammers simply work by emitting light pulses that make the laser receiver have difficulty getting a speed reading. From the officers standpoint, they are aiming the laser at the cars license plate or headlight, but not getting a reading. There could be a number of reasons for this. In the mean time, the laser jammer is notifying the driver that it is being hit by a laser. The response is to first slow down to the posted speed limit, and then turn off the laser jammer. Then the officer can get a reading, and it is a reading that is at or below the posted speed limit.
The officer can still decide to pull you over, but it would have to be for a different reason than a speed reading on the laser. They can estimate your speed, but that is very hard to defend in court if you have an attorney represent you.
I'm planning on getting a laser jammer for my Z. I don't drive all that fast, but if traffic is going 70 in a 55, the Z is the car that the State Patrol will choose to shoot. Around here, the State Patrol uses lasers extensively. I have seen a lot of motorcycle officers on overpasses shooting cars. Car mounted radar units alert the officer that a car is going over the speed limit, then they have to determine which one. With the laser however, the officer first chooses the car that they want to check.
Ahhh I see. thanks for explaining that. It seems that cops don't necessarily always get a reading even if you dont have a jammer, due to the lighting situation and how the laser reflects back to the gun. I figured that the laser always worked and the cop would immediatly know you were using a jammer if they didn't get a reading.
03-02-2009, 10:54 AM
#65
Ahhh I see. thanks for explaining that. It seems that cops don't necessarily always get a reading even if you dont have a jammer, due to the lighting situation and how the laser reflects back to the gun. I figured that the laser always worked and the cop would immediatly know you were using a jammer if they didn't get a reading.
My choice will be a jammer and a plate cover. All I need is time and money.
03-02-2009, 12:21 PM
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If he's got the gun on you in the first place there is probably a good chance you are speeding, and they can pull you over on judgement regardless of known speed.
Sure you can fight it but that still involves taking a day to go to court
I think that a cop that knows your using some type of technology to hamper their ability will just make them angry, regardless if it is legal or not, and may give you a hard time.
And there are tons of obscure laws that they can bust your ***** for.
Just the other day I found out that you are techniclly not supposed to have a license plate frame as thick as the "Z" or Nismo ones that Nissan sells in their shop are actually illegal, and they will not give you an inspection sticker.
The mechanic said to me, if you get pulled over you put the frames on after we inspected it.
Sure you can fight it but that still involves taking a day to go to court
I think that a cop that knows your using some type of technology to hamper their ability will just make them angry, regardless if it is legal or not, and may give you a hard time.
And there are tons of obscure laws that they can bust your ***** for.
Just the other day I found out that you are techniclly not supposed to have a license plate frame as thick as the "Z" or Nismo ones that Nissan sells in their shop are actually illegal, and they will not give you an inspection sticker.
The mechanic said to me, if you get pulled over you put the frames on after we inspected it.
However, speeding tickets today are extremely expensive. I'd rather have a top-end laser jammer installed in my car and if a cop gets pissed that I am LEGALLY making his job harder, decides to pull me over, and ticket me for some bogus infractions I'll happily take a day to go to court because I know they'll get dropped.
Last edited by Goin' Sidewayz!; 03-02-2009 at 12:24 PM.
03-02-2009, 12:43 PM
#68
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Ya I know that a cop can pull you over on judgement, however, he cannot issue you a speeding ticket if he wasn't able to clock your speed. I've heard that on average there are at least 5 infractions that a cop can ticket you, but they almost never do (your example of the license plate frames was a perfect example). Of course anything that you do to make a cops job harder will only frusterate him regardless of the legality of what you're doing.
However, speeding tickets today are extremely expensive. I'd rather have a top-end laser jammer installed in my car and if a cop gets pissed that I am LEGALLY making his job harder, decides to pull me over, and ticket me for some bogus infractions I'll happily take a day to go to court because I know they'll get dropped.
However, speeding tickets today are extremely expensive. I'd rather have a top-end laser jammer installed in my car and if a cop gets pissed that I am LEGALLY making his job harder, decides to pull me over, and ticket me for some bogus infractions I'll happily take a day to go to court because I know they'll get dropped.
Its another story if the ticket is outragous and incorrect, but I don't have the benifit of taking a day off to go to court. Its such a pain in the a$$
I feel like everytime you talk to someone who has gotten a ticket they immediatly tell you how they got out of it and what not, but I really dobt thats the reality of it, because it seems like when I ask what their insurance is for the year its always higher than mine
Also if you have a decient job you probably make about $200 a day. If you take that day to go to court you might get off a $250 ticket but you have forgone the $200 you would have made and probably the gas and parking at the court. So you about break even.
I guess what I am trying to say is everyone says they got an angle... but do they really. I want to get a radar detector to eliminate the threat before I even get pulled over in the first place. Once you have to deal with any of that beauracray you want to shoot yourself in the head.
Ever been in an accident and had to fight about it for weeks with the insurance company, all while you have nothing to drive around.... alright thats the end of my rant
03-02-2009, 12:56 PM
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Maybe I'm in the small minority, but I feel like if a cop came up and gave me a ticket for speeding, even if he didn't show me the gun, and I knew I was speeding and the ticket was estimated about the speed I was going, there is no way in hell I am going to argue with the cop, because I really can't think of it doing any good.
Also if you have a decient job you probably make about $200 a day. If you take that day to go to court you might get off a $250 ticket but you have forgone the $200 you would have made and probably the gas and parking at the court. So you about break even.
Also if you have a decient job you probably make about $200 a day. If you take that day to go to court you might get off a $250 ticket but you have forgone the $200 you would have made and probably the gas and parking at the court. So you about break even.
As far as "breaking even" is concerned you have to remember that the more tickets you have on record the higher the amount you pay for insurance. So really, in the long run, you're probably saving yourself money by taking a day off of work to go to court and get the ticket dismissed.
To each his own though. If you don't feel the need to drop a large amount of money for a laser jammer (that actually performs good) and if a radar detector will suit your needs perfect than invest in a radar detector rather than a laser jammer. For me personally, I'd rather have both for ultimate ticket protection.
03-02-2009, 01:17 PM
#70
Maybe I'm in the small minority, but I feel like if a cop came up and gave me a ticket for speeding, even if he didn't show me the gun, and I knew I was speeding and the ticket was estimated about the speed I was going, there is no way in hell I am going to argue with the cop, because I really can't think of it doing any good. I'd probably just pay it and kick myself for going that fast when I really didn't have to be, and think about the 30 cheeseburgers I could have bought instead.
Its another story if the ticket is outragous and incorrect, but I don't have the benifit of taking a day off to go to court. Its such a pain in the a$$
I feel like everytime you talk to someone who has gotten a ticket they immediatly tell you how they got out of it and what not, but I really dobt thats the reality of it, because it seems like when I ask what their insurance is for the year its always higher than mine
I feel like everytime you talk to someone who has gotten a ticket they immediatly tell you how they got out of it and what not, but I really dobt thats the reality of it, because it seems like when I ask what their insurance is for the year its always higher than mine
The key there is that a non-moving violation does not affect insurance rates. One ticket can raise my annual rates $300 and that lasts for 3 years. For him, being young, the insurance costs on the ticket would be much higher. The cost of the attorney was a bargain. He still had to pay a fine as well as the attorney, so from a deterrent standpoint, he still felt the pinch as an 18 year old kid.
03-03-2009, 01:10 PM
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Isn't that like er..dangerous. They are 25 for a reason. Thats what pisses me off about drivers here no gives a toss about speed limits, I saw someone doing estimated 70 or 80 in a 35 the other day, and Im the 'bad one' for only doing 5+
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
03-03-2009, 01:18 PM
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Isn't that like er..dangerous. They are 25 for a reason. Thats what pisses me off about drivers here no gives a toss about speed limits, I saw someone doing estimated 70 or 80 in a 35 the other day, and Im the 'bad one' for only doing 5+
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
03-03-2009, 06:37 PM
#73
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I own both.
The V1 is the most sensitive windshield-mount detector on the market at the moment. On the hwy it's great. Of all the radar detectors I have ever owned, nothing has ever beat my V1 for over-the-hill-around-the-curve-forward-facing-sneaky-cop-radar detection. It is also the only radar detector that has a chance at picking up laser when someone else is shot. My V1 has done it twice. The sensitivity and the arrows help you determine where the signal is coming from, and let you know when youe are "done" with an alert. In the city, the V1's sensitivity can be a problem when it is alerting to every door sensor within a mile. (It is programable, and it has some filters that work well, but not as well as the 9500i or ix...
The 9500i, ix, and ci have the best filtering in radar detector history. They all use GPS to ignore known false alarms in your area and, once they know all the falses, only make noise when police are shooting radar. *I have had two times when police radar was not alerted to because the ix couldn't tell the difference between the police K-band radar and a K-band door opener that it was ignoring. -This is rare.* I use the ix in my work vehicle and it is great for this type of driving. The ix is also very good at detecting radar, but not quite as good as the V1. Also the V1 will not alert to speed cameras or red-light cameras, that use sensors in the ground. If it is not transmiting radar, the V1 will not alert. The ix on the other hand, has a database that can be updated over the internet, and alerts to all fixed-position cameras in the US.
Cliffs notes;
Hwy driving = V1
City driving = 9500ix
The V1 is the most sensitive windshield-mount detector on the market at the moment. On the hwy it's great. Of all the radar detectors I have ever owned, nothing has ever beat my V1 for over-the-hill-around-the-curve-forward-facing-sneaky-cop-radar detection. It is also the only radar detector that has a chance at picking up laser when someone else is shot. My V1 has done it twice. The sensitivity and the arrows help you determine where the signal is coming from, and let you know when youe are "done" with an alert. In the city, the V1's sensitivity can be a problem when it is alerting to every door sensor within a mile. (It is programable, and it has some filters that work well, but not as well as the 9500i or ix...
The 9500i, ix, and ci have the best filtering in radar detector history. They all use GPS to ignore known false alarms in your area and, once they know all the falses, only make noise when police are shooting radar. *I have had two times when police radar was not alerted to because the ix couldn't tell the difference between the police K-band radar and a K-band door opener that it was ignoring. -This is rare.* I use the ix in my work vehicle and it is great for this type of driving. The ix is also very good at detecting radar, but not quite as good as the V1. Also the V1 will not alert to speed cameras or red-light cameras, that use sensors in the ground. If it is not transmiting radar, the V1 will not alert. The ix on the other hand, has a database that can be updated over the internet, and alerts to all fixed-position cameras in the US.
Cliffs notes;
Hwy driving = V1
City driving = 9500ix
Hwy driving = V1
City driving = 9500i
As a note, my 9500i had to be returned for service 2 times in the first year of ownership. Both repairs were covered under warranty, except shipping one way.
For those who swear by jammers, even if the jammers work as you hope, cops can pull you over and issue you a ticket for reckless driving without any speed reading. They would be happy to do that if they know you were speeding and suspect you have a jammer.
03-03-2009, 07:04 PM
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Sure, you can get a ticket for reckless driving when they don't know your speed. They can also smash your tail-light out and ticket you for that. That doesn't mean they will.
I have never been ticketed for reckless driving because of a jammer. If you have, then it's probably because you were being an *** to the cop, or you were driving like a total *** doing 120+ mph weaving through rush hour traffic....
To each their own.
I have never been ticketed for reckless driving because of a jammer. If you have, then it's probably because you were being an *** to the cop, or you were driving like a total *** doing 120+ mph weaving through rush hour traffic....
To each their own.
03-03-2009, 07:08 PM
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That doesn't make any sense. Unless you are weaving in and out of lanes, launching off the line, slamming on the brakes, or anything else like that I don't see how a cop could ticket you for reckless driving. If you're driving on the highway where the speed limit is 65 and you're doing 75 80, yet you are not swerving, you're not weaving in and out of lanes or any other reckless behavior and a cop attempts to get your speed via laser gun but can't because you have a jammer, yes the cop can still pull you over, but he can't hit you with reckless driving.
03-04-2009, 05:36 AM
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Isn't that like er..dangerous. They are 25 for a reason. Thats what pisses me off about drivers here no gives a toss about speed limits, I saw someone doing estimated 70 or 80 in a 35 the other day, and Im the 'bad one' for only doing 5+
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
However many cars are capable of of manuvering, and braking much better than the speed limit suggests
I'm a true believer that as long as you are in control of your car, going at speeds that other drivers can react to (like when someone looks left, right, and then left again to pull out, you dont appear as a flash between both looks left)
Sort of like skiing where you go as fast as you feel you will be in control without endangering others. I mean there will always be stupid people that will drive recklessly, but even their Civics have a fail safe, which is a fart can that can be heard 2 miles away.
When I'm king thats the way it will be...
03-04-2009, 03:10 PM
#79
Isn't that like er..dangerous. They are 25 for a reason. Thats what pisses me off about drivers here no gives a toss about speed limits, I saw someone doing estimated 70 or 80 in a 35 the other day, and Im the 'bad one' for only doing 5+
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
Are people here clueless or just-dont-care about getting tickets? Its insanity on surface streets here..
(from one of my other old posts)
"The problem is that so many government agencies have cried "wolf" too many times. There is a stretch of road in Naples Florida that has 6 lanes, a divider, great visibility, and maybe 2 access points in a mile or two. Speed limit?...35mph. The cops are out there running laser quite often and generating a lot of revenue for the city/county government.
The speed limit gets decreed by the wizard of oz for all we citizens know. Yet we are all supposed to assume that the "government" picks the speed limit based on road conditions and safety concerns by "experts."
Speed limits have become similar to warning labels. They are often so ridiculous, ("do not use while bathing" on my wife’s blow dryer for instance, or "remove before driving" on the sun shades that cover the entire windshield of a car,) that nobody really puts much stock in them anymore. They drive the speed limit strictly to obey the government mandates and avoid the financial wrath of said government's. -not because they think another 10mph would put them or anyone else in jeopardy.
There are still traffic limits that are set in a thoughtful manner but they get lost in the noise of all the other nonsense out there.
My favorite example is the "advisory" signs for curves. In Florida, a "35mph" advisory sign means you can safely negotiate the turn in the rain, on four corded tires, through an oil slick, at say 45mph. Absolutely useless advisory speed signs in Florida. In WV though, I was surprised to find that their signs make sense. 35mph advisory means 45mph will make your tires sing and palms sweaty -under perfect conditions. IIRC the tail of the dragon's advisory signs are ok also.
With so many speed limits set artificially low, few people give them much credence. The only difference between most speed limits and the tag on my mattress that reads “DO NOT REMOVE UNDER PENALTY OF LAW” is that people don’t have to worry about getting a ticket on their mattress. "