Best/Most efficient radar detector for California/West Coast
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Anybody have an idea of that? I know that there are radars, radar detectors, radar detector-detectors, and many more other different combinations for these "performance" accessories. I was just thinking that not all police organizations would use the same type of speed detection, some might use radar while others might generally use lasers, etc... Is there a radar/(laser?) detector that is the best for use in the state of California? Or maybe someone can just suggest the best radar detector they have used or know of, not necessarily for California?
I've also looked a little bit into the new speed camera/pit GPS mapping/POI stuff. It looks good and looks like it works but I would just like something a little more passive for those times when I'm out in the boonies and want to just rip it.
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Signed - Trying to keep insurance payments to a minimum
I've also looked a little bit into the new speed camera/pit GPS mapping/POI stuff. It looks good and looks like it works but I would just like something a little more passive for those times when I'm out in the boonies and want to just rip it.
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Thanks!
Signed - Trying to keep insurance payments to a minimum
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They use LIDAR in CA. If you detect it, it's too late. They also use planes that time you, which you can't beat without some wit.
BEST defense is iPhone app called TrapMaster. When people see cop/sting operations, they enter where it is and you are texted. Maybe a little overused, but it gets the job done.
BEST defense is iPhone app called TrapMaster. When people see cop/sting operations, they enter where it is and you are texted. Maybe a little overused, but it gets the job done.
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The majority of CA is still using RADAR but CHP and an ever increasing amount of other agencies are switching to LIDAR. LIDAR is impossible to detect until it has already locked onto you because it is such a focused beam, doesn't scatter off of cars ahead and warn you like with RADAR.
I won't bore everyone with it but pm me if you want more info on this stuff.
I won't bore everyone with it but pm me if you want more info on this stuff.
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The majority of CA is still using RADAR but CHP and an ever increasing amount of other agencies are switching to LIDAR. LIDAR is impossible to detect until it has already locked onto you because it is such a focused beam, doesn't scatter off of cars ahead and warn you like with RADAR.
I won't bore everyone with it but pm me if you want more info on this stuff.
I won't bore everyone with it but pm me if you want more info on this stuff.
If you look a few threads down you can find a thread of my radar detector and laser jammer installation.
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Jammers are absolutely not legal in California. It's illegal to operate a RADAR jammer in the USA, but not all states have adopted the same for LIDAR jammers yet because it's fairly new technology. It's not a very severe citation though since it's an equipment and not a moving violation. Jammers aren't 100% effective but most people have had success using them. The only problem is that if an officer tries to hit you with LASER and can't get a reading, and sees the jammer/detector on your dash they're able to articulate that to probable cause for the stop.
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I've got a Beltronics that I really like, not sure which model but it was $330 a couple years ago. I've picked up stand-by radar from police cruisers miles away so you get plenty of warning in that area. It also picks up laser well but in nearly all cases, once you've been alerted of laser, they already have your speed. Unless the cop isn't very good at using it... I had a cop try to tag me from way too far away and I was able to slow down before he got a solid hit.
Best thing though of course is to just not speed. Most all of us do it from time to time, some more-so than others... my last few tickets were because I was being stupid and speeding passed traffic, or just crusing along relaxed but not paying attention to my speed... all of which the cop 'paced' me and never used radar/laser. So it really comes down to common sense, great situational awareness, and using caution when necessary. Radar/Laser is a small percentage of speeding tickets, more than half the time I see a cop car they don't even have the unit on. They catch you by observing you.
Best thing though of course is to just not speed. Most all of us do it from time to time, some more-so than others... my last few tickets were because I was being stupid and speeding passed traffic, or just crusing along relaxed but not paying attention to my speed... all of which the cop 'paced' me and never used radar/laser. So it really comes down to common sense, great situational awareness, and using caution when necessary. Radar/Laser is a small percentage of speeding tickets, more than half the time I see a cop car they don't even have the unit on. They catch you by observing you.
Last edited by gregom; 07-30-2009 at 07:09 PM.
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