Radar detector

[RPrice]

Escort Red Line...That's the one I settled on... Why? Because in town I rely on local knowledge and I don't speed "that" much.. Well, not unless I know it's safe! I was going to turn off X band, but alas, X band is in fairly wide use in Idaho and in Nevada. I don't worry about false positives in town, because I use my eyes and there are a lot of cars to shield me. There is always one or more cagers that want to lead the pack, so I let 'em. Out in the countryside, not so many shopping malls, etc. so rarely a false positive on X, or any band. Laser is deadly, but must be stationary so I feel the risk in the "outback" is limited. Once again I rely on my eyes! I once had a fellow truck driver tell me, "I make sure I'm not the fastest vehicle on the road." Experience and tactics...along with tools all help. Oh, btw as a ham operator, I discovered in CA the repeater between the CHP cruiser/motorcycle and the officers handy talkie was on a fixed frequency, the same all across the state.. The air officers and ground units used this HT frequency to communicate and to point out which vehicle to pull over... My scanner/2 meter HT received this frequency quite nicely... I always could hear the setup, well before I arrived on scene... (Same thing applies to laser or any speed trap using chase cars.) Local knowledge

Full disclosure, Our trucks were "governed" to 62 mph, so speeding tickets were hard to come by, except going down hill.

+1, You summed it up real well!!

 

[festar]

+1 for the Adaptiv TPX 2

Saved my bacon more than once and certainly paid for itself.

Waterproof, comes with very bright LED dash lights, easy to mount, wiring harness a snack to install.

 

[Geezer]

What are some of the best ways to mount a radar detector? Is there a pre-existing thread on this topic?

I have a dash shelf and mounted my RD on that with a large piece of velcro. Then I made a clear plastic garage that fits over it and I used screws and a metal strip to hold it down so it is not easy to remove the RD when I am parked.

A more common method is to use one of the RAM mounts. I would be vary wary of using only velcro, or even the magnetic RAM system without nothing else holding the RD. I had mine held on by only velcro at one time and the velcro glue let loose on a very cold morning and the RD dropped off. Luckily the power cord held it from hitting the ground.

This picture shows my RD mounted on the shelf, and in the foreground is a RAM mount. In my case the RAM is holding a SPOT device.

 

[spankyaf]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="bigjohnsd" data-cid="1163355" data-time="1405982117"><p>

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="ionbeam" data-cid="1163331" data-time="1405975941"><p><br />

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="bigjohnsd" data-cid="1163319"><p><br />

The answer for LASER may be Adaptives integrated LASER Jammer, an add on to their 2.0 Detector.</p></blockquote> Strangely, but with a good reason LASER falls under the FDA and not the FCC. For this reason it isn't illegal<sup class='bbc'>(1)</sup> to jam LASER --but-- some laser guns tell the officer that it is unable to lock a speed for a reason or the officer figures out he can't lock a speed. So, the officer knows he is being jammed, how does that make him feel and what might he do next? <sup class='bbc'>(1)</sup> It is currently illegal to jam LASER in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington D.C.</p></blockquote>

It is also "illegal" to speed. For those serious about their speeding.......running the risk of using the jammer may be worth it to them in their calculus. I neither advocate or defend speeding or jamming but I have been guilty of the former. I do think it would be interesting to be in the car with an officer that "knew" someone was speeding but couldn't get a lock or a reading on his suspect.</p></blockquote>

Smart users minimize their jam time till they have slowed down to reasonable speed ...Jam to Kill

Speed of acquisition varies by vehicle , weather and the cops ability to aim steady. In my jurisdiction I doubt most cops have ever been jammed and wouldn't recognize it if done properly.

It's a risky activity and not for everybody

 

[ionbeam]

It is currently illegal to jam LASER

...It is also "illegal" to speed...

Speeding is misdemeanor reckless endangerment up to a point then it is felonious reckless endangerment. In the eye of the law, the severity of speeding verses illegal jamming of frequencies is not equal or of the same legal class of infraction. Radar jamming is illegal because it violates FCC laws, LASER is regulated by the FDA because of the health risks to the eyes and body. This is different than speeding which is a public safety issue.

LASER jamming is not Federally illegal so states can make it illegal if they can find an angle. Passive LASER devices like LASER dispersing or absorbing material is OK as long as it doesn't cover the license plate (this varies by state). What is of concern is active LASER jamming. Active LASER jammers emit an infrared light or beam back in the direction of the LASER source. The officer aiming the gun may/could/would be susceptible to eye damage from looking into bright LEDs or laser diodes being fired back at them. The police LASER gun is certified to be eye safe, the jammers aren't.

...I do think it would be interesting to be in the car with an officer that "knew" someone was speeding but couldn't get a lock or a reading on his suspect

LASER can't be used from a moving vehicle. However, I have ridden in my brother's cruiser when he was a patrol officer. Let me tell ya, an experienced patrol officer can tell by eye within a couple of mph how fast a vehicle is going, triggering the radar gun only serves to provide documentation of speed for the courts.

A LASER gun is just another tool to document the speed. An officer that uses his speed recording devices correctly waits until he observes a clear infraction (an experienced patrol officer can tell by eye within a couple of mph how fast a vehicle is going) then he/she triggers the radar/LASER. As soon as your radar detector goes off the officer already has your speed locked and recorded. You are officially phucked at this point unless you found a very generous officer. Fortunately most patrolling officers leave the radar gun ON all the time, be it because it minimizes work load or they are lazy. This is the only type of radar that your detector will help with.

If someone were speeding or doing something unsafe the officer can make a safety stop even if they can't document the speed with either LASER or radar so a jammed speed measuring device won't prevent a traffic stop and a safety infraction ticket (as opposed to a speeding ticket).


Barf: Radar about to be "jammed."

Wait, sir! The radar, sir! It appears to be... jammed!

 

[spankyaf]

Those quotes aren't mine .... and I can only speak from experience

 

[juniorfjr]

Back in the day, when running radar we had an off switch, didn't run the radar constantly. Just a quick bump on and off, long enough to see the vehicles speed. When using the V1, I am constantly aware of the occasional blip that shows up in the middle of nowhere. some county mountie or local LEO spotting possible violaters. I turn the volume off in the city, too much other things picked up.

Funny though, going down to Sparks and back I noticed a lot of state police leaving the radar on. Just watching everyone. Lazieness or monotony possibly.

Ionbeam is right, an experienced officer can tell speed at a glance. We used to have contests as to who can guess it best. And he doesn't need to lock it in to show the "customer" his speed. Oh, and if I did get one with a detector in sight, it was an automatic ticket. You play, you pay.

 

[Geezer]

If the LEO are running radar specifically to catch speeders and write tickets then they generally use the instant on radar feature. On the other hand, if their goal is simply to slow people down in an effort to increase safety, they leave it on constantly and it does slow people down, in particular people with detectors. I have seen many LEO cars parked with their radar running and no one in the car.

It is generally the younger, newer officer who uses instant on. While the officers who ride around with the radar on generally only stop the drivers who are not paying attention as they speed. They don't have a detector and they do not focus on driving well enough to even notice the LEO car.

 

[Hudson]

WA state has a legal standard for establishing speed, as I suspect most states do. Any speed measurement technique/device has to be demonstrated to yield accurate results. That means radar and LASER guns have to be tested and regularly calibrated, and speed techniques not involving radar (e.g. measuring speed by reference to objects such as lines on the highway) are also subject to the same standard, which is why they have to be pre-measured for distance.

Point being, if an officer "estimates" speed without the use of a radar, Laser, or other measured device or process, capable and tested of yielding accurate results, then his "guesstimate" (however experienced he may be) is inadmissible.

That's why it is usually advisable not to answer the question always posed: "do you know how fast you were going?" That question is irrelevant. The relevant question is whether the officer knows, via a verified process or device. Your answer is merely an admission of how fast you "think" you were going. My KTM is off by up to 10% and my FJR varies from 5-8% from displayed speed. So the correct answer is always no, unless I have a GPS.

 

[Twigg]

. Oh, and if I did get one with a detector in sight, it was an automatic ticket. You play, you pay.

I've always been completely ambivalent about radar detectors. On the one hand, I am an experienced motorcyclist who prepares well and rides within his limits. I am well-placed to judge an appropriate speed, and if there are unexpected hazards ahead there is usually a sign warning you. I ALWAYS slow in any speed restricted area, because that's where the people are and they are unpredictable. It's also where most of the small-town cops are raising revenue for their little town.

That brings me to "the other hand" ... Speed limits seem to be not only arbitrary, but applied to raise money when their only justifiable purpose should be to increase road safety. There is simply zero excuse for taxing motorists because you are too damned idealogically biased to raise revenue any other way.

If motorcyclists use a radar detector with the hope that dangerous riding will escape punishment, then I have little sympathy. But if it is used to avoid the tax levied by the small-minded, then I would support that unreservedly. Speed doesn't kill, bad driving kills and I always thought that speed alone shouldn't be enough for a citation, it should be an aggravating factor in another moving traffic offense.

Are you saying, however, that you would show leniency to those without a radar detector, but considered those with one to be "caught" trying to beat the system?

I have no real dog in this hunt as I've never used a radar detector, and have no plans to buy one.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Hmmmmmmmmm...

Lesse, LASERS used for traffic enforcement are in no way damaging to they eyes or body. Their beam is less damaging than the normal television's remote control. Obviously, very few people here know how they measure speed, so believe jammers work. They do not. They are a marketing gimmick like deer whistles.

We do not have to show anyone the displayed speed in our cars, and in order to become RADAR certified, we had to assess oncoming vehicles' speeds +/- 2mph. Most of us are very good at it, and just the observation that, "the vehicle was traveling faster than the posted speed limit" is enough for quality convictions.

Those ******** attorney groups that try to constantly continue cases lose way more than they win, as most judges will not stand for those shenanagins. As a matter of fact, the last time some ******* attorney tried the continuance ****, it was obvious because his out of state client was noT present. After the second one, the judge called ******** and told him his client had to show up or she was gonna issue a warrant. The attorney plead straight up to the charges 10 minutes later. There were bunches of points attached to those.

You guys please keep believing your Internet drivel. It makes my job that much easier, and it's funny when it gets spewed by people in an open court room in front of God and everybody.

 

[juniorfjr]

. Oh, and if I did get one with a detector in sight, it was an automatic ticket. You play, you pay.

I've always been completely ambivalent about radar detectors. On the one hand, I am an experienced motorcyclist who prepares well and rides within his limits. I am well-placed to judge an appropriate speed, and if there are unexpected hazards ahead there is usually a sign warning you. I ALWAYS slow in any speed restricted area, because that's where the people are and they are unpredictable. It's also where most of the small-town cops are raising revenue for their little town.

That brings me to "the other hand" ... Speed limits seem to be not only arbitrary, but applied to raise money when their only justifiable purpose should be to increase road safety. There is simply zero excuse for taxing motorists because you are too damned idealogically biased to raise revenue any other way.

If motorcyclists use a radar detector with the hope that dangerous riding will escape punishment, then I have little sympathy. But if it is used to avoid the tax levied by the small-minded, then I would support that unreservedly. Speed doesn't kill, bad driving kills and I always thought that speed alone shouldn't be enough for a citation, it should be an aggravating factor in another moving traffic offense.

Are you saying, however, that you would show leniency to those without a radar detector, but considered those with one to be "caught" trying to beat the system?

I have no real dog in this hunt as I've never used a radar detector, and have no plans to buy one.

I think every LEO has their leniency limit. Its been a long time, but 10 to 15 over was largly determined by attitude and recent record. Over 15 was almost automatic. The state police were usually 7 to 10 over.

The affidavit would start. I saw the vehicle and it appeared to be moving too fast. The audio from the radar verified that and then I saw the speed on the radar display. You also tested the calibration before and after with the units specific tuning forks. I'm sure its changed a lot.

 

[Geezer]

I have been pulled over a few times, and I always have the radar detector exposed and I don't try to hide it, and the LEO always notices it since being observant is a major part of his job. I don't believe the detector ever influenced whether I got a ticket.

The first thing I do when pulled over is take my helmet off. The LEO is often surprised to see an old geezer standing there, hat (helmet) in hand. That and my polite confident demeanor has had more influence than the radar detector.

 

[bigjohnsd]

I have been pulled over a few times, and I always have the radar detector exposed and I don't try to hide it, and the LEO always notices it since being observant is a major part of his job. I don't believe the detector ever influenced whether I got a ticket.
The first thing I do when pulled over is take my helmet off. The LEO is often surprised to see an old geezer standing there, hat (helmet) in hand. That and my polite confident demeanor has had more influence than the radar detector.

This has been my experience as well. Both in Car and on Bike.

I like Festar's approach "Sorry Mate, I was just lost in the moment, enjoying the day and got a little too enthusiastic i guess"

I believe he is 0 for 4 as in No Award after 4 stops in Estados Unidos.

 

[festar]

As a former HWP officer DownUnder I can confirm that observations of a target vehicle and an estimation of its speed is a prerequisite for the use of a speed measuring device ie. radar or Lidar. In our training we had to be competent within +/- 2kph. Speed estimates were sufficient without radar etc to obtain a conviction. The speed monitoring device merely supports the case.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Haha...Festar is a cheater. Most LEO's won't issue a citation to a foreign visitor. "Welcome to our country. Here's a citation to remember us by. Do you want to come back for court?" That's a little douchey, and everyone knows it.

I have never written a cit to someone who is visiting from another country. Due to our proximity to Mexico, lots of people from there get citations, but so far, no one who is here on a visitor visa just trying to get around.

Guys with gray hair get breaks sometimes too. Traffic enforcement is supposed to be about "voluntary compliance" so if I think asking someone to correct their driving will work, they get a warning. Others get a citation. I still don't get the idea that traffic cites are helping some place's economy, but maybe some eastern dorks are trying to use that as a boost. It wouldn't work out here, but then maybe that's just another fun 'Internet fact.'

 

[JamesW]

X band in national parks last I knew. Ticket in park is paid in park, goes no further.

 

[Twigg]

There are at least two towns in Oklahoma that have been forbidden from writing speeding tickets.

They were getting 75% of their town's revenue from traffic citations. Here is one of them:

https://newsok.com/watts-looks-to-future-without-police-town-has-nothing-to-show-for-fines/article/2761174

One of the Bonus Locations on one of my first rallies was the Post Office in this town ... I went in and out very slowly

 

[Pepperell]

Question: How fast were you going?

Correct answer: I was driving at a speed that was reasonable and proper for the conditions that prevailed.

 

[TomInPA]

X band in national parks last I knew. Ticket in park is paid in park, goes no further.

Good luck with that! A ticket in a National Park is a Federal offense and is either cleared through the Central Violations Bureau for minor citations or may require a mandatory visit to US District Court. It's about the worst ticket you can get. Skyline drive...the best road you can't "drive".