Radar Detectors - do they work?

[Scoobie]

I've got a small dark colored sports car with the 9500ci. It has saved me countless times in the past three years, especially driving through Waskom. It works best on long stretches of highway. It has warned me of speed traps well in advance.

I did get tagged coming back from Houston to Shreveport last year, but the gentleman in the patrol car was nice enough to flash his headlights as a warning after I crested the hill. He was using instant on but facing the opposite direction to catch the traffic coming the other way.

There are countermeasures vs Lidar. They work well enough if your car is the correct color (ie, dark) and mounted at the proper locations. I got hit with laser for the first time last month in Shreveport.

That being said, if you don't want a speeding ticket, slow down. I drive over 30k a year, having the top of the line radar detector is worth it for me.

 

[LACamper]

Ill only answer one cop hater question in a day, this is it . It is not advised to step into traffic and flag cars for safety. There is no written rule against it though. Have I done it? Yes. It's the quickest way to write tickets and saves wear and tear on the police cars your taxes pay for.


MOTOR51

Motor51, not to dispute you, but being an insurance agent that occasionally writes workers comp I have to comment. While I appreciate the sentiment of saving tax payers money on wear and tear, one officer hit by jumping out will surpass that savings ten fold in med bills, rehab, disability payments, insurance rate increases, not to mention having the department down a man. I had an NOPD officer jump in front of me years ago. He knew I was doing 55 in a 35. I left skid marks right up to the point where he jumped out the way. Scared me so bad those probably weren't the only skid marks I left! If I had hit the gas instead of the brake the average IQ of the department would have increased... idiot. Do us a favor and don't pull people over on foot. Its not worth it.

 

[MOTOR51]

Motor51, not to dispute you, but being an insurance agent that occasionally writes workers comp I have to comment. While I appreciate the sentiment of saving tax payers money on wear and tear, one officer hit by jumping out will surpass that savings ten fold in med bills, rehab, disability payments, insurance rate increases, not to mention having the department down a man. I had an NOPD officer jump in front of me years ago. He knew I was doing 55 in a 35. I left skid marks right up to the point where he jumped out the way. Scared me so bad those probably weren't the only skid marks I left! If I had hit the gas instead of the brake the average IQ of the department would have increased... idiot. Do us a favor and don't pull people over on foot. Its not worth it.

Thanks for the advice. I would think the 20 over the speed limit would be pretty dangerous also. Flagging cars can be done safely and efficiently. I was kinda joking about the wear and tear but in all honesty I love the police unit I have now and it does actually put a lot if wear and tear on a car jumping from 0-90mph all day. And once again, police don't flag over people for doing the speed limit


MOTOR51

 

[JR1572]

Motor51, not to dispute you, but being an insurance agent that occasionally writes workers comp I have to comment. While I appreciate the sentiment of saving tax payers money on wear and tear, one officer hit by jumping out will surpass that savings ten fold in med bills, rehab, disability payments, insurance rate increases, not to mention having the department down a man. I had an NOPD officer jump in front of me years ago. He knew I was doing 55 in a 35. I left skid marks right up to the point where he jumped out the way. Scared me so bad those probably weren't the only skid marks I left! If I had hit the gas instead of the brake the average IQ of the department would have increased... idiot. Do us a favor and don't pull people over on foot. Its not worth it.

Two wrongs don't make a right, but you were going 55 in a 35...

JR1572


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[MOTOR51]

I forgot to add - quit being a cop hater lol


MOTOR51

 

[AustinBR]

Thanks for the advice. I would think the 20 over the speed limit would be pretty dangerous also. Flagging cars can be done safely and efficiently. I was kinda joking about the wear and tear but in all honesty I love the police unit I have now and it does actually put a lot if wear and tear on a car jumping from 0-90mph all day. And once again, police don't flag over people for doing the speed limit


MOTOR51

I don't advocate going twenty over the speed limit, but I can certainly say that there are places in the South where going 20 over the speed limit is not dangerous at all. I personally think that many of the speed limits in this country are arbitrary and outdated.

I've got a small dark colored sports car with the 9500ci. It has saved me countless times in the past three years, especially driving through Waskom. It works best on long stretches of highway. It has warned me of speed traps well in advance.

I did get tagged coming back from Houston to Shreveport last year, but the gentleman in the patrol car was nice enough to flash his headlights as a warning after I crested the hill. He was using instant on but facing the opposite direction to catch the traffic coming the other way.

There are countermeasures vs Lidar. They work well enough if your car is the correct color (ie, dark) and mounted at the proper locations. I got hit with laser for the first time last month in Shreveport.

That being said, if you don't want a speeding ticket, slow down. I drive over 30k a year, having the top of the line radar detector is worth it for me.

I know a guy with an Audi R8 and he has an active jamming system in it. I don't really know much about them besides the fact that they are expensive and are illegal in most states. His is supposed to mess up LIDAR too, but I don't know if I actually believe that.

 

[JWG223]

Thanks for the advice. I would think the 20 over the speed limit would be pretty dangerous also. Flagging cars can be done safely and efficiently. I was kinda joking about the wear and tear but in all honesty I love the police unit I have now and it does actually put a lot if wear and tear on a car jumping from 0-90mph all day. And once again, police don't flag over people for doing the speed limit


MOTOR51

That's it? When I was up in Arkansas, those troopers DROVE those Chargers. 100-120 all day long on those winding beautiful roads.

 

[MOTOR51]

That's it? When I was up in Arkansas, those troopers DROVE those Chargers. 100-120 all day long on those winding beautiful roads.

I was talking about catching speeders not coming home or going to the doughnut shop.


MOTOR51

 

[Suburbazine]

I have an 8500 x50 and it works very well. I can't say it has saved me from any tickets though, once i figured out some units actually have skill I quit trusting the detector. That and the super sneaky short-range K-band I found some troopers using one day...

Just because my truck is stupid fast doesn't mean I must speed. I can do 0-90 off a shoulder quite easily though


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[LNSvince]

Well once again, I didnt feel like reading all 6 pages.


Ditch the radar detector.
Iphone app called WAZE. There are thousands of subscribers. Its your regular GPS driving map with directions. and When you see a cop, road hazard, Godzilla?
you tag it, and everyone on the app can see.
Pretty simple, never fails. If your on a back road, and you do not see any other members, then DONT SPEED.
You can even chat with other members.
People MILES ahead of you ----- coast is clear --- time to Skin it back !

 

[mcinfantry]

i read all 6 pages.

i drove 560 miles from denham to ocean springs friday night. i have waze and a radar. ill take the radar

 

[Suburbazine]

Oh, and I have Escort Live. Usually people don't report K as a threat though so sometimes K speedtraps fall through the net.

Beats the hell out of WAZE even though there seem to be less users. And I would HIGHLY recommend not skinning it back on someone else's report that there is not a speedtrap ahead. For instance, try that with Mississippi Highway Patrol...their method of speed enforcement is to fight fire with fire: You're doing 90...Trooper is doing 120 and he's behind you running silent. I've seen quite a few awesome captures performed like that lol.

 

[mcinfantry]

Oh, and I have Escort Live. Usually people don't report K as a threat though so sometimes K speedtraps fall through the net.

Beats the hell out of WAZE even though there seem to be less users. And I would HIGHLY recommend not skinning it back on someone else's report that there is not a speedtrap ahead. For instance, try that with Mississippi Highway Patrol...their method of speed enforcement is to fight fire with fire: You're doing 90...Trooper is doing 120 and he's behind you running silent. I've seen quite a few awesome captures performed like that lol.

which is what i also did as a cop and why the direction arrows of a valentine are priceless

 

[LNSvince]

Well hell, I was skeptical of waze when it came out. but here lately [ 6-8 months ] Its been excellent.

If your gonna run up behind me, better be doing 150+.................... Id tell you the real number, but no one would believe me.
I probably should add the radar too. [ Valentine ?]
Realistically, the damn traffic has been extremely bad, YOU CAN'T "Make time". Best is getting a 2-3 mile stretch before the Idiots lock down their left lane caravans.
Went to Lake Charles last week. Freakin traffic both ways. Miserable when someone gets in the left lane and their cruise set on 73.................
Forget even talking about BR.

 

[JWG223]

Well once again, I didnt feel like reading all 6 pages.


Ditch the radar detector.
Iphone app called WAZE. There are thousands of subscribers. Its your regular GPS driving map with directions. and When you see a cop, road hazard, Godzilla?
you tag it, and everyone on the app can see.
Pretty simple, never fails. If your on a back road, and you do not see any other members, then DONT SPEED.
You can even chat with other members.
People MILES ahead of you ----- coast is clear --- time to Skin it back !

If I am driving spiritedly, I am not going to be tagging things or looking at my phone.

 

[JWG223]

which is what i also did as a cop and why the direction arrows of a valentine are priceless

Yep, I used to pick up LSP running 90mph radar guns blazing up 49.

 

[sportsbud]

See, just like I said. I'm only a RADAR/LIDAR instructor so what would I know.


MOTOR51

Well like was said before it only works on Lazy officers... well its LA, look at some of the officers, and dont say there are not alot of lazy officers!!!

 

[Suburbazine]

which is what i also did as a cop and why the direction arrows of a valentine are priceless

Most of the units I've seen don't give the speeder time to use the detector. They don't trigger RF Hold until they're within about 500'... at which point you're toast, Cincinnati Microwave-style.


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[JWG223]

Most of the units I've seen don't give the speeder time to use the detector. They don't trigger RF Hold until they're within about 500'... at which point you're toast, Cincinnati Microwave-style.


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I usually pick up Ka hitting cars 1-2 miles ahead of me in "blips". It works just fine.

 

[LACamper]

I don't advocate going twenty over the speed limit, but I can certainly say that there are places in the South where going 20 over the speed limit is not dangerous at all. I personally think that many of the speed limits in this country are arbitrary and outdated.
.

This. I was on Bullard close to Chef Hwy in NO east when it was a new road (25 years ago?). It was 3 lanes across with only 2 marked. There was grass on both sides followed by swamp. No intersections for over a mile and light traffic. There were like 6 officers working the speed trap because no one followed the ridiculously low speed limit there. Now that the are built up the limit makes slightly more sense (could be a 45 without any problems though).
Did I deserve the ticket? Yep.

One other comment. I find that as I've gotten older I get fewer tickets. My driving habits haven't changed that much. I guess I'm less of a target now that I'm out of my 20's (and 30's...).