Radar detectors, worth it if I usually just go over 10mph above speed limit?

[benlaz88]

I have one myself. However, i always tell people that radar detector does not save you from speeding if the officer is not using their radar gun. If you decide to get one, don't rely on it but still keep your eye open and drive smart. If i remember correctly, only Maryland and Washington DC is illegal to have it.

[BRZnut]

Originally Posted by l0aded

IMO it's not really about whether you go only 10mph over or not. I bought mine because I was going 15mph over by ACCIDENT when I got my ticket; it's always beneficial to know when the cops are around even if you are not trying to speed.

Same reason I have mine (mounted & hard wired on the left comer of the dash behind the inspection sticker) just to be aware of what is going on around me.

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

I think people should also realize they have a whole slew of different methods of gauging speed, vascar, enradd, pacing etc.

[codesplice]

Originally Posted by benlaz88

If i remember correctly, only Maryland and Washington DC is illegal to have it.

Virginia and DC.

[calic]

If you get the valentine one you can set it up to ignore most false and junk band alerts. There is a couple great forums with all kinds of tips and instructions on making the most out of your radar detector.

Haven't had a speeding ticket with my radar detector since I purchased it. It has been over 7 years now.

[Bg8780]

I run an Escort Passport Max along with Waze. The V1 is a great detector as well. Get one that has GPS features to get rid of false positives. I had an 8500 Escort before I upgraded. It was a great unit but I found myself often hitting mute and ignoring the warning because of the "boy who cried wolf" syndrome.

As for the people saying know where you are driving and where the cops sit. They are absolutely right, however I am often driving in a lot of areas I have never been and my RD has saved me countless times. They ARE illegal in DC and Virginia.

In terms of LIDAR or Laser. A RD will not help you. You'll just be alerted that you've been hit with laser. There are laser jamming solutions available that in MOST states a legal grey area, so do your research.

All in all, spending around $500 for a good RD has been one of the best decisions I've made. A tool like this coupled with being an alert driver can save you a lot of money. I will say the radar detector saves me from K and KA band troopers. I'll pick them up before they can "clock" me. I still have received two tickets from LIDAR speed traps but these aren't too common in my area (GA).

To the people saying to keep up with traffic (that are also speeding) I can tell you that EVERY time I have been pulled over instead of the blue Crown Victoria or white Cruze simply because I have a "sports car". I have been BEHIND these cars going about 12 over the limit and I get picked off and cited. I'm not sure if cops assume I have money and will just pay the ticket online or if they want to teach Mr. Speed Racer a lesson. Either way they WILL pick the sporty looking cars of the pack. If they only knew this car was under $30k and their wife's Camry has more power.

If you have further questions feel free to PM me.

EDIT: Just got a ticket yesterday driving through Atlanta. Motorcycle cop hit me LIDAR. Confessed to him I was just keeping up with traffic. He agreed and said the grey SUV next to me in the HOV lane was speeding as well but he decided to pull me over. Just to reaffirm a RD will not save you from LIDAR (laser). He was hiding on the right side of the highway I was unable to spot him since the traffic was dense and a motorcycle is much smaller than a cruiser. My RD did alert of laser but it's too late at this point. Also, between a sports car and an SUV going the same speed, the sports car will get pulled over. It is what it is.

As previous posters have said, being an attentive driver is the best route to go but my RD definitely saved me from two other tickets on my trip that were from KA band. Or just go the speed limit but even that doesn't always work out. I take a lot of long trips, there are PLENTY of small shit kicker towns I have to travel through that have blatant speed traps and the speed limit isn't always obvious. These are the instances and detector have paid off the most.

[CJBRZ]

Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I was just following traffic when a cop on a motorcycle pulled out. We all pulled over but me being in the "fancy sports car" got the ticket. Do you think I have any chance of winning if I take it to court? You seem like you have more experience with this.

[Akari]

Originally Posted by CJBRZ

Same thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I was just following traffic when a cop on a motorcycle pulled out. We all pulled over but me being in the "fancy sports car" got the ticket. Do you think I have any chance of winning if I take it to court? You seem like you have more experience with this.

Did he radar or lidar you specifically? -If not you can likely get out of it.

In a lot of cases cops will radar the first car in a pack then pick out who they want to pull over. In most cases unless they specifically got you on radar it's easy to get thrown out.

Either way, find yourself a good traffic lawyer if you wish to fight it.

[retoocs]

Get a CCW, most cops don't ticket people that carry, if you are required to identify you are carrying. My coworker has gotten out of two speeding tickets in the last couple months because of that.

[Bg8780]

Originally Posted by Akari

Did he radar or lidar you specifically? -If not you can likely get out of it.

In a lot of cases cops will radar the first car in a pack then pick out who they want to pull over. In most cases unless they specifically got you on radar it's easy to get thrown out.

Either way, find yourself a good traffic lawyer if you wish to fight it.

^True. Laser (LIDAR) is harder to refute. I have to drive 2 hours to go to court for this ticket. I usually call the clerk and ask what I can do about the points. I play the active duty military card and ask if there's a way to pay the fine with no points. I don't like to be a douche and play the mil shit but if it keeps my insurance from going up then whatever. Even if you don't have the military/first responder what have you card I'd still say its worth it to call and ask. Try telling the clerk you've recently taken a defensive driving course or something.

This has worked the past two times. I just faxed her a copy of my ID and paid the fine online like normal. The fine sucks but a clean driving record is more important.

[lonborghini]

A top quality radar detector is more than worth the investment even if you never exceed the posted speed limit, but even then you'd be the only driver on the planet who never exceeds the posted speed limit. The first time i received speeding ticket, radar was utilized, and i was not speeding. The officer knew better than to show up at traffic court. I walked and have used the best radar detectors available ever since. That was about forty-five years ago now.
Currently i do a weekly four hundred mile round trip commute, mostly on interstates, and my car is equipped with Passport IQ radar detector, a police scanner and a CB radio. I make it a practice to cruise at twenty percent over the posted limit. I slowed down after getting tagged last May, my first in thirteen years. It was an officer using stationary radar on an entrance ramp shooting folks from behind. Now I always click off the cruise control as i approach that location till i see that the ramp behind me is unoccupied. BTW, Pennsylvania state police are not permitted to use moving radar and are not required to perform a visual speed estimate prior to verifying with their radar equipment. Visual estimates are required in most states and of course, certifications notwithstanding, no one can accurately and reliably visually estimate the speed of an approaching vehicle. In New York the state police can use moving radar and normally leave their radar units on all the time. A good radar detector will pick up the signal well before the police cruiser comes into view. Of course a trooper never bothers with a visual estimate but will always testify that he did as it is a required element of the prosecution.
My advice: Stay alert, use the best radar detector you can buy, a CB is very useful when sharing the road with truckers and turn off the tunes. Fast, efficient driving requires concentration and lots of practice.

[Dennison]

For navigation I certainly suggest you to go for Waze app: https://androidcrew.com/app/com.waze

[8RZ]

The WAZE app has saved me from more tickets than a radar gun ever did.

[ZionsWrath]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I am waiting on a court date for a ticket. I passed an unmarked car that was driving on the highway. The ticket says radar but the notation at the bottom indicates pace/observation. Will see how it turns out.

If you really only go 10 over don't worry about it.

Old post but since it's bumped thought I would say I paid a lawyer to go to court for me and this ticket was dismissed.