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

[codesplice]

As others have mentioned, the answer to the "should I get a RD?" question usually has a lot to do with the type of enforcement you're likely to encounter in your area as well as your driving style. So that's a call that you need to make on your own - though resources like rdforum.org can definitely help evaluate the first part of that question for you!

By far the best thing you can do to avoid a ticket is to just pay attention. You should generally be able to spot a stationary cop before he could visually isolate you (and your speed) from the rest of the pack. Also watch for brake lights from traffic in front of you - which brings me to the second best thing: don't speed alone. Speeding alone makes you stand out as an easy target.

If you're only doing PSL+10, chances are that you're just keeping up with at least some of the traffic around you. Don't feel compelled to get out in front. Wait for some other poor schmuck to go flying past (a rabbit) and then tail them about a quarter-mile back.

[continuecrushing]

I've got one.

If it saves you even once, its paid for itself.

[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.

[Sh944]

V-1 all the way. Best money I have *ever* spent on myself and automobiles, in 38 years of driving. I've driven with one in my car for the last ten years, and can say absolutely its THE best.


I drive about 120,000 mile per year, and do not have the most "safety conscious" driving habits, yet I have a perfectly clean driving record. The V-1 is the reason for this, imo.


I have been pulled over twice with the V-1 in the car (due to me not turning it on when I started driving) and neither time did the LEO give me a bad time about it or make any indication on the ticket about it. In fact, one of the times, the cop actually chided me for not turning it on and we had a bit of a laugh about it while he was writing me up. I was able to plead both tickets down to non-moving violations by paying double the fine.

[codesplice]

As a follow-up to my previous post ("blah blah, you can speed without needing countermeasures, blah")...

Originally Posted by Shutter

I've got one.

If it saves you even once, its paid for itself.

^^^ this. Even a high-end unit like the V1 or Redline is cheap compared to a ticket or two plus the increased insurance rates.

I wouldn't recommend just going out and buying a cheap detector just to have it - some are truly worse than no protection due to the false sense of security they may impart - but a good unit is definitely a worthwhile investment that can easily pay for itself over time.

[phrosty]

If you're in an area with red light or speeding cameras, the Escort GPS models are a godsend.

[codesplice]

Originally Posted by phrosty

If you're in an area with red light or speeding cameras, the Escort GPS models are a godsend.

Waze too

[DrewM]

Originally Posted by bfsnail

They could hand you a ticket for "looking like you were going fast" but it would never hold up in court. But then you would have to go to court in order to show that the officer has nothing on you.

This isn't really true anymore, in many places officers have to get themselves certified that they can eyeball speed, and then they use the radar/laser gun as backup on top of that. Both of those will hold up in court just fine.

And yes, having a detector may pay for itself if it saves you just once. But on the flip side of that, having a detector may cost you as well. In the decade since I've ditched my detector I've gotten far more warnings than tickets, if I had a detector in all of those cases it wouldn't have mattered (all were hit with laser or judgement) and I likely would have gotten a ticket in every one of those situations as despite some one-offs a detector will mean a ticket about 99% of the time.

[phrosty]

Counting myself lucky to be in an area where LIDAR is extremely rare

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

The ultimate defense is a bit of self control and moderation. You don't go speeding up a highway without knowing where the police usually hide out, refrain from speeding on "wide" roads, pace a group etc. If you do have a radar detector make sure it's well hidden though

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by cnk

Here's a good page that shows where things are legal and illegal: http://www.rdforum.org/wiki/index.ph...aphical_Survey

Legality would be the first thing to check


I bought one in Michigan and brought it back over to Ontario
was so pumped, cost around 400 (beltronics I think)


had it for approx. 14 hours before getting pulled over by an unmarked
he took it and wrote me a ticket for 280 bucks








....can't wait to buy another one

[cnk]

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Legality would be the first thing to check


I bought one in Michigan and brought it back over to Ontario
was so pumped, cost around 400 (beltronics I think)


had it for approx. 14 hours before getting pulled over by an unmarked
he took it and wrote me a ticket for 280 bucks








....can't wait to buy another one

Lol. . .well that's because they're illegal in Canada. May have better luck with one that is undetectable like a Escort Redline. I've heard of some folks keeping a cheap detector in the car so if they get pulled over they hand that over instead of the more expensive unit. The Leo's have RDD's that can locate detectors.

[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by cnk

Lol. . .well that's because they're illegal in Canada. May have better luck with one that is undetectable like a Escort Redline. I've heard of some folks keeping a cheap detector in the car so if they get pulled over they hand that over instead of the more expensive unit. The Leo's have RDD's that can locate detectors.

Ya I heard about keeping a cheaper one in the glove box, next time

[FRSBRZGT86FAN]

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Legality would be the first thing to check


I bought one in Michigan and brought it back over to Ontario
was so pumped, cost around 400 (beltronics I think)


had it for approx. 14 hours before getting pulled over by an unmarked
he took it and wrote me a ticket for 280 bucks

....can't wait to buy another one

Originally Posted by cnk

Lol. . .well that's because they're illegal in Canada. May have better luck with one that is undetectable like a Escort Redline. I've heard of some folks keeping a cheap detector in the car so if they get pulled over they hand that over instead of the more expensive unit. The Leo's have RDD's that can locate detectors.

Originally Posted by BlueSky

Ya I heard about keeping a cheaper one in the glove box, next time

I'd recommend the installed stealth ones...