Radar Detectors

I always use one in my plane. 

I would get one, but since I'm lookin for a Wrangler and I have intentions to speed in one of those, it would be pointless.

I used to have a couple. In fact, it was my first purchase after getting my license.

Back in the day, it saved my butt many a times.

I did not use the suction cup mounts provided with it. Used velcro on the dash. So if I passed a cop, or had one near/behind me... I'd simply grab it and drop it to the floor.

I have been pulled over with it, but because I removed it prior to pulling to the side of the road, it was never an issue... since as far as the cop was concerned, it didn't exist.


I still have a radar/laser detector somewhere.
I haven't used it in years, for two reasons:

1. I live in Virginia, and daily commute thru DC, where they are illegal.
2. Most places I drive thru (only exception being NJ) use Laser now. Making the detector worthless.

Most of my highway driving takes me from VA to NJ. Ever since cops in MD/DE started using laser, I've ditched the detector altogether. The only good a laser detector does... is inform you you've already been tagged and should start pulling over. It does not provide a "warning" like radar did. When the beam hits the detector, you're already done.
NJ State Police still use radar, so it'd probably still be effective there... but not worth the effort.

I rely on my eyes to warn me of speedtraps. And thus far, I've been relatively effective in knowing where the spots are.


If you want a hidden one, and are not concerned with RDDs (most detectors claim VG-2 proof, but most agencies are now using Spectre)... look for a "remote" detector.

The first radar detector I bought... you would hardwire the receiver into the front grill of the car, and then hardwire the warning display anywhere you wanted inside your car. Pretty neat system, but only effective for radar coming from in front of you. It was replaced within a year, and for a while, I would upgrade my detector every two years to keep up with the technology.
Not any more. Even my dad, who would get my hand-me-down detectors as I upgraded, has decided not to use them anymore.

I still typically cruise in the 75-85mph range on a daily basis, traffic permitting. But take my chances without the detector.

Yea USAF, my dad is a retired cop (Durham) and I'm well aware that this thing (which I just took out of my dad's glove compartment) won't do much to help me avoid getting caught.  Still is pretty awesome to have voice in your car that says "LASER" or "K BAND", even if it doesn't do much.

ive got one, havent had it for about a week because i left it in my sisteres truck. i think it works pretty good.

I used to have a Escort 8500x and it worked great. As for all you laser nay-sayers it picked up on that as well. It really all depends on what brand you buy. Cobra sucks, I don't care what 'success' stories you have. Just go to Google and type in Radar Detector Tests and you will see what I'm talking about. Whistlers are decent if you just want radar protection.

If you want a legal laser 'deflector' you can spring for the Lidatek system. There is no display on the unit, the only warning you can see is that your E-brake light will flash when you are hit with laser. What it does is rather than jamming the signal, it just sends it off in a different direction than it came from. One of my fellow installers put it on a guys Ferrari because the guy wanted to go over 180MPH. We didn't know if he'd actually find a stretch of road to accomplish this but a week later he came back in with a picture of his speedometer going 186MPH.

Or you can get Escorts ZR3+Shifters and be fully protected in the same way you would with the Lidatek system, but this would also protect you against radar.

Snipa69 wrote: As for all you laser nay-sayers it picked up on that as well.

Oh my detector picked up on it... but think about what the laser system is. It's a point-sight device. It's only on when a cop is viewing you thru a magnified scope with crosshairs built into the device. So essentially... if your detector registers it, a cop is already staring you down.

I never, ever, considered a jamming system of any kind. To me, a system such as that would almost guarantee a set of flashing lights in your rearview. When I'm driving my fastest, I'm all alone on the road... I don't drive within the pack, I go out of my way to break away from any cluster of vehicles. So if Smokey all of a sudden has his equipment blip out, just as lonely ol' me drives by... guess who probably isn't getting any leniency?

Was never willing to shell out for a new Escort. Had a couple Bels that I was happy with. I think towards the end of my RD-career, I was just going with Whistlers. Not quite as good as Bels, but as time went on, was less and less willing to shell out big bucks.

Never used a radar detector, never pulled over for speeding. Been driving with a license for 5 years now.

After working at a hospital a few months, I've slowed down a little. I've seen too many dead bodies.

I'm glad I live a small town of 2,000 where our cops really could care less. Honestly if I know who is on duty I can get away with speeding quite easily.