Radar detectors

[OwnedbyDuncan]

And dont forget in the Commonwealth of VA you can be charged with Aggressive Driving by exercising your Consitutional rights by giving someone the finger. Again a Class 1 misdemeanor.

[OwnedbyDuncan]

Fairfax County does especailly in the area around Rt 29 and Rt 7100. I got pulled over back in January when I passed on RT 29 underneath 7100. Was doing about 50mph in 45 at about 200pm. I knew that they hang out there. Was I surprised when Officer Stupid pointed me over since I wasn't going fast enough for a speeding ticket. Officer asked how fast I was going. Yeah right Officer I am going to admit to speeding. I said I dont wish to say. He gave me some line of BS. And finally stated he wasn't going to charge me. I said approx 50mph. He said the laser showed 85mph. I said right. Told him I knew that he and his unit hung out there and I wasn't going to drive fast enough for him to write me a ticket. Suggested he recalibrate. I left. Still wander about this.

They use laser also on 7100 both east and west bound about two miles North of the light at Burke Center Parkway. Laser and radar is used extensively in the town of Clifton especially during rush hour and on Saturday and Sunday morning they sit in spur for Clifton Elementary School off Clifton Rd nailing people on Clifton Rd.

[Pinecone]

Another choice is the Escort SRX which is a combo built in unit, or the add on unit for laser "shifting" only.

I have an SRX in the E46 M3 and it works very well.

[Sigfod]

I like the Valentine One. Technically it is Illegal for VA to not allow Radar and Laser Detectors. FCC has a mandate allowing any US citizen to have knowledge of any frequency broadcast in the US. This was fought once and won. I don't know the specific case, and have not had time to find it, but if you do please let us know.

[charlesstiles]

The law is pretty clear on radar detectors in VA, their illegal and you can be ticketed for having one on either of two conditions: 1) if it is powered and receiving current or 2) if it is within reach of the driver. The ticket is $40 as I recall but they cannot confiscate the radar detector permanently. If the officer feels it si going to go to court, they can take the radar detector until your court date to prove you had one, but that is all. The charge, carries with it, no points.

With that in mind, I'm not concerned with the legality of the radar detector and three or four of those tickets will undoubtedly be cheaper than any speeding ticket let alone the time I lose if I get stopped. I don't drive like a maniac and I haven't had a ticket in 15 years with the exception of a friendly Delaware State Police Officer that said I was going too fast through a toll lane. None-the-less, the advance warning may provide some added piece of mind. With a remote unit you could probably argue that the detector itself was out of reach and as long as it was turned off by the time the officer gets to your car you can argue that it isn't on.

The unit I have chosen is a Beltronics Radar/Laser detector with voice notification and silence feature. Not only does it have an impressive radar antennae, but it has three laser transceivers (two for the front and one for the rear) that prevent laser detection. Once it detects lasers though, you have to hammer the brake and turn on the silence feature as the police will receive a 0 reading while the unit is running- Get down to posted speed and turn it off. DO NOT USE A RADAR JAMMER there is a $50K penalty along with up to five years in jail. Laser jammers carry the same $40 penalty as radar detectors. Additionally, this unit provides voice warnings of the type of detection, frequency and strength. It also uses the radar band intended for emergency vehicle notifications, construction areas and draw bridge openings. This provides a heads up when a fire truck or ambulance is approaching and you need to get out of the way or a drawbridge is opening and you don't feel like using it for a ramp :-) .

Getting this thing installed looks to be a real chore so I am going to turn to the guys at Myer Emco and hope they do a class job. I'll post on my experience. Until then (Wednesday) I'll just putt putt around in my Z4.

-Charles

[ca1242]

I live in MD. Laser is used a lot in MD, I see mostly laser used by state police in VA, Laser in DC by MP and Laser/radar by park police.

I have a V1 detector and Escort ZR3 laser jammer in my own car. Both concealed (no concerns about someone noticing them) and both have saved me many times. There are many ways to hide radar/laser detectors.

[RJHOLLAS]

I've ordered a Belltronic STi due to these insane $3000+ VA tickets fines. However, I need to fine a good shop or DIY to conceal the detector. Any good shops in MD?

[Timothy Sullivan]

Thanks.
I already did that.
I guess what I am asking is for feedback from those of you who drive in the area every day: do the cops use laser often, does it work in your experience.

No big deal though. I will probably just see what I think after driving around for a month or so.

Drive in Maryland mostly interstate 270 and 70. Police are always using Lidar or VASCAR (timing point to point). Do not own any detection devices just heads up driving. I have a two friends who have one of the integrated radar, laser detector, laser jammer K40 systems. They both have stories of going through laser speed traps with the police unable to get a speed. They will not help with VASCAR but reduces your exposure.

Maryland does not have immediate reckless driving for 20mph over limit. They leave that up to the officer to decide if you are reckless.

[Ethan Blank]

Any thoughts/suggestions on radar/laser?

My wife's MDX was broken into in our driveway the other night, my Valentine 1 was in her car and stolen (along with the Sirius radio set up).

Our deductible is too high on our insurance to make it worth reporting the theft, but I am going to replace the V1.

I bought the V1 about 5 years ago, so I haven't done any research in quite a while. Should I replace it with another V1, or is there another unit that has improved on the V1 technology and features? I never really thought about a laser jammer, but is that worth looking into?

I live in MD, so I'm not concerned with the VA law on radar. The V1 has saved me a bunch of times, I think I need some protection!

Thanks for any suggestions.

[woodym3]

I don't own a detector, but done close to 40,000 miles with a Valentine on six One Lap of Americas. I love their ability to show the direction and number of radar signals being received.

[pseto]

V1 only for me, although i'll admit i'm not up-to-date with radar detector technology nowadays.

[Ethan Blank]

I was very happy with the V1, it's worked well for me.

I recall some club members saying that they use detectors other than the V1, I figured since the criminal element in Howard County forced me to be a consumer again, I should revisist the market to see what's changed in 5 years.

One of the BMW parts magazines I get (can't recall which at the moment) has a shield that you put over the license plate, allegedly this prevents the laser beam from registering. Anyone bought that? I think I saw it on a truck at a parking lot, it distorts the license plate but you can still read it up close.

The one ticket I got with the V1 was a laser ticket. Of course, all the V1 is good for then is letting you know you are getting the ticket! I love the V1 for radar, it is virtually useless for laser (as is any laser detector other than a jammer or the license plate thing; I know of no other way to defeat the laser beam).

[pseto]

I was very happy with the V1, it's worked well for me.

I recall some club members saying that they use detectors other than the V1, I figured since the criminal element in Howard County forced me to be a consumer again, I should revisist the market to see what's changed in 5 years.

One of the BMW parts magazines I get (can't recall which at the moment) has a shield that you put over the license plate, allegedly this prevents the laser beam from registering. Anyone bought that? I think I saw it on a truck at a parking lot, it distorts the license plate but you can still read it up close.

The one ticket I got with the V1 was a laser ticket. Of course, all the V1 is good for then is letting you know you are getting the ticket! I love the V1 for radar, it is virtually useless for laser (as is any laser detector other than a jammer or the license plate thing; I know of no other way to defeat the laser beam).

did they breakin while your car was parked outside your house? hopefully the criminals will stay away from me.

i've seen that license plate cover before and i'm pretty sure its illegal. not that its gonna stop you from getting one

i dont think many cops around here use laser, most use older technology. i just end rolling the dice with laser since a jammer can get quite expensive

[Ethan Blank]

I would never break the law (says a lawyer....) ..... (so as to get caught).

The MDX was broken into overnight in our driveway. I was the last one to use it, and I locked and armed the alarm (I do that every time out of habit, having lived and parked in NYC). No sign of damage to the car, so I can't figure out how they got in.

The scary part is that once in the car, they can open the garage door!

[ldsbeaker]

I bought a Escort 9500i last year, and it paid for itself within a couple months. (I was delivering pizza at the time)
In fact, I liked it so much, I bought ANOTHER one (9500ix), and gave the old one to my wife.
This thing is AWESOME. X, K, Ka, Laser, you name it. The 9500ix is GPS enabled, and has a database of 90% of the red light cameras in use (updateable, for $$) , plus you can mark speed traps, and block out non-bogey signals. That is so awesome. I know when it goes off (in an area I'm familiar with) that I'm getting pinged by a bad guy. AND I use this thing as a speedometer, since my stretched tires don't quite keep the speedometer correct. Everytime it alerts me, there he is. Hasn't been wrong yet.
In expert mode, you can see if you're being pinged by multiple bogeys.
No, this thing doesn't have arrows. I've come to realize that I don't need them. All I need to know is that there's an emitter around. If you have one, you know... You can pretty much figure out where he is by how the signal ramps up, or comes and goes, etc.. It's a fun game that both my wife and I enjoy. Nine times out of 10, I pick up a signal LONG before I see them, but there have been some close calls. I don't drive much in VA, but I used to run it on the passenger seat, and it still picked up stuff, but not as well. I run mine way up in the windshield, so I just run it in VA now. Screw 'em if they can't take a joke.

A radar detector does not substitute for common sense/paying attention/instincts.
Just today, I was first in line at a light, and I had just gotten up to speed. I was about to start really jamming, but looked in my rear view mirror, and noticed a slick top in the other lane behind a couple other cars. No signal. That could have been bad.

So this is my review of the Escort 9500i. 5 stars, two thumbs up, no tix, however you slice it, it's AWESOME.
(In fact, after running one for over a year, I wonder how people can do it. How they can drive so fast with no awareness of what's around them... I call it driving "naked", and that's exactly how I feel without a radar detector now)