Marc Gelefsky

I know there are many V1 owners out there, have you had issues with the laser warnings freaking out?

I suspect the cause is new cars with "Adaptive Cruise control" causing it from behind.
Happens usually on the highway.

Anyone agree with my theory?

Magown

I have noticed false laser hits from cars with the new really bright LED brake lights. Every time I get behind a Chevy Trail Blazer the V1 goes off.

Marc Gelefsky

I get that as well, the new caddy's really make it freak.

But what I am seeing can last for a while and seems to actually have a timed interval between alerts.

AndyK

In my insurance policy, it says somewhere that if you are in an accident and a radar detector is found in the car, they wont pay. That's why I don't get a detector. That, and silly false alarms!

Marc Gelefsky

Andy,

The V1 has saved me so many times it's paid for itself without question.
What evil insurance company do you have?

AndyK

Actually it was Geico's policy with the no-detector clause. I now have Allstate...but I assume the insurance companies frown on using the detectors.

So the V1 has actually detected a laser in time for you to slow down? Or does it detect laser hits up ahead?

Magown

AndyK, the only time a laser detector will work is when the beam contacts the unit. This is how all laser detectors work. I could go into detail but it would be easyer to send you to the Valentine 1 site. Mike V. had done an excellent job describing how laser works. Check out http://www.valentine1.com/laserhowto/ for more info.

AndyK

Yeah, but as soon as the beam hits your car (and the detector), it's too late, no?

Marc Gelefsky

Andy,

In a word, yes.
It's great for Radar but when it comes to laser I rely on my eyeballs and caution, not the V1

AndyK

Right. That's what I was thinking.

After my speeding ticket last year, I'm opting to save the money on a radar detector, and just keep it under 80 in a 65!

John Welch.

Laser has to be reflected off of a flat surface, so you actually might have a chance even in a direct shot. (at least from the front).

I've been getting false laser alarms in the rain when passing by some of the lighted highway signs (yellow bulbs).

I had one REALLY annoying series of laser false alerts for about 30 miles outside of Flagstaff, AZ on I-40. It was towards sunset, and it was a little hazy, but I couldn't find the source. Its not like I was following the same vehicles that whole time. It seemd to be about every 1.5 minutes.

dme

I've been saved several times by my old Passport from laser. It has alerted me when cars up ahead have been beamed. I don't know whether I'm getting reflected beams or a difused beam but I'll swear by it.

DerSchlechtSpecht

You better slow down tex!

-Christian

turbo944

Laser spreads out....I forget the exact amount that traffic lasers spread, but it's a good 3 ft wide beam within several hundred feet. If it hits another car ahead of you and the beam is able to continue from its arc and hit your detector, you'll know it then. That said, there must be enough reflected energy (as someone mentioned) to give a reading. Some tests have shown that it doesn't work until you are fairly close to the gun if you don't have anything like bright chrome or a nice white license plate to reflect from. In fact, headlights on can actually confuse them enough to let you slow down some according to some of these tests.

The V1 picks up certain frequencies, often emitted by LEDs as well as the regular light you see that they emit, dropping into infrared where many of these lasers actually operate. Same would be true with parking detection lasers, etc.

Dal Heger

Yea, I get false alerts from the V1 laser. Reading the V1 site it says that the new LED or neon(?) brake lights can cause falsing. Not a big deal, I'm in an area that no-one uses laser anyway.

The laser can "see" the laser beam from the gun to another car being hit, that's what causes it to go off and theoretically save you a ticket. You don't have to be targeted to get a warning, there is enough dust/pollution in the air to scatter the beam enough to make it visible to the detector. The V1 laser page posted earlier does a great job of explaining....

Dal.