radar detectors useless!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: alpha NJ
radar detectors useless!
i searched the forum and did some online research on the radar detectors ended up getting the valentine v1. used for about a week and passed about 8 different troopers with not one peep from the v1.
my brother-in-law is a trooper and i asked him about it, he said they only use the instant on and the laser. they wait until they observe you speeding and zap you by then it's too late so i sent it back. i live in NJ and drive most of the major highways everyday. normally in my work car i am doing 70 and everyone is flying by me so if i do 80-90 in the vette i am just keeping up with the flow of traffic shouldn't be a problem.
my brother-in-law is a trooper and i asked him about it, he said they only use the instant on and the laser. they wait until they observe you speeding and zap you by then it's too late so i sent it back. i live in NJ and drive most of the major highways everyday. normally in my work car i am doing 70 and everyone is flying by me so if i do 80-90 in the vette i am just keeping up with the flow of traffic shouldn't be a problem.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 10
From: Simi Valley CA
1. always try and make sure there are other cars in front of you. the "instant on" radar will hit them and your detector will sense it.
2. laser is spot on. If your detector sees it, you're had.
2. laser is spot on. If your detector sees it, you're had.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 170
From: oregon
depends on the state. the detector does just what it says. it detects. if there is nothing to detect you won't get a peep
if your state only uses instant on they do have less value but will pick up a speed track when an officer is sitting there shooting people
if your state only uses instant on they do have less value but will pick up a speed track when an officer is sitting there shooting people
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Yes; To collect fines. The country's interstate system was designed in the 1930s for a sustained travel limit of 80 MPH. And that was based on that era's technology.
The irony is that for all the fines collected, the state's law enforcement system is costlier to tax payers, than revenue received. Of course, there's lots of lawyers, and state jobs involved with their attendant union.
The irony is that for all the fines collected, the state's law enforcement system is costlier to tax payers, than revenue received. Of course, there's lots of lawyers, and state jobs involved with their attendant union.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: NC
Not necessarily true. I catch cops running with their radar on all the time along 70. My V1 has caught someone running radar a mile back on one of the long stretches, as well as a few times where I've caught them getting somebody infront of me. I certainly wouldn't call it useless, it just won't prevent stupidity from getting you a ticket.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 925
Likes: 4
From: EXTON PA
i searched the forum and did some online research on the radar detectors ended up getting the valentine v1. used for about a week and passed about 8 different troopers with not one peep from the v1.
my brother-in-law is a trooper and i asked him about it, he said they only use the instant on and the laser. they wait until they observe you speeding and zap you by then it's too late so i sent it back. i live in NJ and drive most of the major highways everyday. normally in my work car i am doing 70 and everyone is flying by me so if i do 80-90 in the vette i am just keeping up with the flow of traffic shouldn't be a problem.
my brother-in-law is a trooper and i asked him about it, he said they only use the instant on and the laser. they wait until they observe you speeding and zap you by then it's too late so i sent it back. i live in NJ and drive most of the major highways everyday. normally in my work car i am doing 70 and everyone is flying by me so if i do 80-90 in the vette i am just keeping up with the flow of traffic shouldn't be a problem.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 100
Likes: 0
From: alpha NJ
for me i found it useless, just my opinion. if it works for you great. like i said i passed 8 different troopers on different highways (rt 80, rt 78, rt 287 and garden state prkwy)
some parked on the side watching the drivers go by and some driving and not once did it go off. and as far as the speed limits maybe you should tell that to the moms passing me doing 80+mph in the mini vans with their kids in the back seat. i am not saying i need to do 100 all day long but it's nice to give it a little gas from time to time. when i am driving my work verhicle i stay around 70 and no more then 75 once in a while and that's just to try and keep up with traffic.
some parked on the side watching the drivers go by and some driving and not once did it go off. and as far as the speed limits maybe you should tell that to the moms passing me doing 80+mph in the mini vans with their kids in the back seat. i am not saying i need to do 100 all day long but it's nice to give it a little gas from time to time. when i am driving my work verhicle i stay around 70 and no more then 75 once in a while and that's just to try and keep up with traffic.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 597
Likes: 9
From: near Newburypot MA
Old News - VERY old news - about 30 years
detectors - they do what they can - for highway use
they work well when coming into small towns (new to you) and the speed limit drops quickly, where the local cops are just waiting for a new sucker
just slow down in small towns & neighborhoods - ya don't want to run over some little kid playin in the street, like we all once did ...
detectors - they do what they can - for highway use
they work well when coming into small towns (new to you) and the speed limit drops quickly, where the local cops are just waiting for a new sucker
just slow down in small towns & neighborhoods - ya don't want to run over some little kid playin in the street, like we all once did ...
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,341
Likes: 8
From: Hopatcong New Jersey
for me i found it useless, just my opinion. if it works for you great. like i said i passed 8 different troopers on different highways (rt 80, rt 78, rt 287 and garden state prkwy)
some parked on the side watching the drivers go by and some driving and not once did it go off. and as far as the speed limits maybe you should tell that to the moms passing me doing 80+mph in the mini vans with their kids in the back seat. i am not saying i need to do 100 all day long but it's nice to give it a little gas from time to time. when i am driving my work verhicle i stay around 70 and no more then 75 once in a while and that's just to try and keep up with traffic.
some parked on the side watching the drivers go by and some driving and not once did it go off. and as far as the speed limits maybe you should tell that to the moms passing me doing 80+mph in the mini vans with their kids in the back seat. i am not saying i need to do 100 all day long but it's nice to give it a little gas from time to time. when i am driving my work verhicle i stay around 70 and no more then 75 once in a while and that's just to try and keep up with traffic.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 565
Likes: 0
From: Broussard Louisiana
Speed limits are nothing more than a revenue tool for the state county and city. If you believe otherwise your fooling yourself and you should use your head for something besides a hat rack. If the Governor or the state legislature decides a certain highway or street speed limit should be lowered or raised it is done....and they have no training or expertice in speed safety but all the sudden where 55 was the only safe speed on that particular stretch of Hwy.. Now 65 is safe or 70. It all depends on how many people complain and how much revenue the government having Juristiction can pry out of your hands before enough people start complaining. end of story
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 146
From: Houston Republic of Texas
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14, '16
The best is observation and common sense, I watch the road ahead and watch for brake lights coming on. 9x out of 10 cars will brake when seeing a cop regardless how fast their going, this has saved me tons of times. I do have a radar detector and defuser and they work well for what I use them for,plus they're on all the time and you can't see them unless you know what your looking for. In Texas, if your not doing 80mph,your getting run over! L8R ZFLASH
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,296
Likes: 1,531
From: Oviedo Florida
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Well it sounds like your V-1 did it's job --the cops did not have
their radar on.
their radar on.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,616
Likes: 11
From: Newport, RI
Yeah, this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
No sense complaining that your radar detector is useless. It's still a tool that gives you a fighting chance to avoid a ticket. Of course, the very best way to avoid all tickets is to actually be a cop yourself, LOL. I've known many cops and it's extremely rare that one cop would ticket a fellow brother.
So, go join the police force and you'll never need a radar detector!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 5,037
Likes: 846
From: Rotonda West, FL 2015 Z51 M7 3LT
Oldtimer
Don't have a detector, never have. I typically run SL+10 and the LEO's sunning in the middle don't even give me a second look. Ya have to pick your places to play and be willing to pay the piper if the deification collides with the oscillating blades... 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 352
From: Carson City Nevada
Speed limits are nothing more than a revenue tool for the state county and city. If you believe otherwise your fooling yourself and you should use your head for something besides a hat rack. If the Governor or the state legislature decides a certain highway or street speed limit should be lowered or raised it is done....and they have no training or expertice in speed safety but all the sudden where 55 was the only safe speed on that particular stretch of Hwy.. Now 65 is safe or 70. It all depends on how many people complain and how much revenue the government having Juristiction can pry out of your hands before enough people start complaining. end of story
