I'm new to this area, and I just got my Z 3 weeks ago. I've always had a radar detector in my previous cars, and now, having a Z, I wouldn't want it to be any exception. I have seen that people are trying to get the ban on radar detectors dropped, and that's all fine and good. I'm sure some/many of you already have and use radar detectors in VA, so I was wondering, has anyone here been caught with one? Was it off or on? Does that matter? What happened? I know they can take it if they want to, but I've read so far that they usually don't. Is it just some crazy fee they throw at you for having it or what? And do they pull you over just if they see it, or if they detect it with their guns? (I know many modern RD's are invisible to VG2, but I think that stalker system or whatever it is can detect anything)

I've been thinking about mounting mine in the upper corner of the driver's side of the windshield. I had it there in my integra, and loved the location. Made it hard to see from the outside of the car, and even the inside. I think having it there would help hide it from an officer, even if they walked up to the car, but I have not tried yet. Curious to hear real experiences.

Thanks!

 

I got caught in VA with one once. He pulled me over for something else. It wasn't even on. He took it, wrote down the serial number or something, and gave it back to me. I also got a ticket for it, but I don't remember how much it was. I don't think it was very much, less than $100. I also got caught in Canada with one. Apparently they're illegal in that country. They took it and gave me a huge ticket that I never paid. Oh well...

 

They are illegal in all provinces except Alberta....
My trick is to keep two of them in the car. (An expensive good one, and a less expensive cheaper one)
I use the good one all the time, and if I get stopped, no worries, I'll give them the cheep one. The only problem with that is that if the piggy is smart, he'll wounder why its cold!!!lol
Two other tricks....
1)Unplug it when it first goes off, and wait a good 15miles before turning it back on
2)Dont slam on the breaks if it goes off!!! Thats how one cop knew I had one!!!
Best of luck,

 

I wonder if the fine is different/heavier if you have VA license plates vs out-of-state. But that's interesting, they don't seem to care too much then. Just a fine, but I'd rather pay that then a speeding ticket + years of insurance rates.

 

Don't most of the newer, better quality detectors have some kind of masking/blocking so the cops can't detect it with r-d-d's

I'm currently in the market for an radar detector...any suggestions on which unit to get? I'm leaning toward the Escort 8500/50 but sure would like to find a cheaper unit that's close to the 8500 in quality.

 

KenWH-

That's VG/2 which yes, most newer RDDs can detect, and then they basically turn off until it's gone, then return to normal. However, there is a new radar gun the po-po have, i think it's called the Stalker, which can detect anything. They are expensive, and not in use in very many places yet, but they exist.

These are some good sites to read up on.
http://www.radartest.com/index.asp
http://radardetector.net/


I have the escort 8500 x50, which is one of the best out there, however I think the Bell X65 or whatever it is, is currently the top of the line. Don't believe people who go spouting off on how the Valentine1 is the greatest. It USED to be, but they havent updated it in so long, it's fallen behind, and only still sells in droves due to its previous popularity.

Good luck man.

 

I think the new rdd's are called Specter or something like that. I think the new Bell 65 you mentioned is one of the few that can already read that new rdd. The only bad thing I've read on the Bel...is it's prone to overheating.

 

Yes, Spectre that's it, sorry. I haven't heard that about the Bell, but it would make sense since my last RD did get quite hot and sometimes turn off on it's own. However that was usually only on very hot days or extended drives. One could modify the Bell if there were so inclined by cutting a hole in the casing of it, and installing a heatsink on the largest chips, which would help it to cool off much faster, and keep that nasty heat away from the board itself. Of course this would void any warranty, and also make it slightly larger, and less appealing to the eye, but it would be effective.

 

I'm confused. Obviously when it goes off I don't slam the brakes so hard the tires are smoking but I definitely hit the brakes and slow down, try to drop 10 or 15 mph. What do you do when it goes off?

 

1) Let off the gas
2) Unplug the fuzzbuster
3) Hope for the best

In my case It had nothing to do with 'smoking' the tires. The cop just figured that at the same time he 'clocked' me, I suddenly slowed down.....It could have just been a fluke, but some of those piggys are smarter than your average bear!!!!

 

Both times for me, they never detected it. It wasn't even on. They just saw it in my window. The guy in Canada was on a motorcycle and was driving past me. He pulled me over just for that. Weird place that is. I got pulled over in Toronto for no front tag. I have Maryland tags! He didn't even give me a warning or anything. I guess he just wanted to harrass me. Weird.

 

ic, thanks for the clarifications cessna. Well, so far my Passport 8500 has saved my butt (and the posteriors of a few others) about 8 times. If it goes off I slow down. Also, my detector is mounted behind the rear view mirror so the sensor is just below the blue tint line. Looking at the car from the outside, you can't even see it unless you know to look for it.

 

Can you send pics......
How do you hide the power line?

 

I've seen a forum on this site about how to run the wires through the mirror area... I guess do a search to find it maybe. I'll still go for the side mount I think, since most ppl put theirs in the middle they would be less likely to see it in somewhere different I'm thinking. Plus if I am stuck behind a car, having it in the upper driver side corner can help it to see around traffic. Not that I'm speeding, but I just like to know

 

It's actually very easy. You run it just under the headliner, through the A-pillar, down the side, and under the floor mats.

I just looked and I can't find the pics that I had posted like a year ago. I'll take some new ones and try to show you. I had it posted on g35driver.com but I hosted the pics on an old comcast account that is now closed so I'd imagine it's dead. I'll try to post this weekend.

What kind of detector do you have? The reason it works with my Passport 8500 is that it uses a regular telephone jack as the power cord. So all I needed was an 8 ft. telephone cord and a coupler.

 

I use a Valentine, and a Beltronics.......

 

Cant remember the model number.....Will have to take a look...

 

Another thing you can do is have an envelope addressed to yourself and stuff the radar detector in it before they get to your window. Mail is federal property and they can't touch it!

 

Thats a great idea! Had never thaught of that one.....

 

The Valentine One is the least detectable by all RDD's.

Check these tests:

http://radardetector.net/viewtopic.p...&highlight=rdd

The Beltronics STi is the newest radar detector that is completely immune to all RDD's and it is made of magnesium just like the V1 but it isn't for sale yet:

http://radardetector.net/BREAKING-NE...e%21-5263t.php