heinrich

Today for the third time, my laser detector saved both me and my biker friend. I'm repeatedly told how you shouldn't bother with a laser detector because laser is so fast and hits you with such a small beam. Well, here I am, 3 times way over, get a warning, mash the pedal, cruise by and breathe..... THEY WORK.

Chad B.

Heinrich- What type?

2V4V

Chad,

Not sure about Heinrich, but I have a Valentine One and it has saved my bacon more than once from a laser attack. Could they have clocked me? Sure. Did they let me slide because I slowed down, or just didn't didn't get a 'solid' read? Never stopped to ask...

Greg

John Struthers

V1 in my opinion is the way to go...
UNLESS...
You actually want to jam the laser emitter/cops.
Then the only way to go is the Passport high-end series.
It is illegal to jam radar in just about every state but as far as I know Texas is the only state working on outlawing Laser jammers. The laser detector/jammer and regular radar detector is identified by the same equipment that Virginia uses.
Keep in mind the plug-in Laser Jammer is going to add an additional
$3-400.00 to the tab. As laser is becoming more popular with traffic enforcement folks you might want to give that puppy some consideration. Last test I read showed the Passport to be better at picking up instant on/pop radar. Still I like the V1

ViribusUnits

There is basicly no way to pick up instant on radar at the first shot.

The best youc an do is have the cop hit somebody else, and then pick up the reflected radio energy. However, unless your working in a place with minimal radio interference, thats going to be really hard to do, no matter what radar detector you've got.

With LIDAR you can't beat the gun with a detector. If he hits you with the beam, your a gonner. However, you can beat the officer. If the officer hits the ground infrout of you, or the car besides you BEFORE he hits you, the detector can pick up the scattered energy, and you"ll get a warning BEFORE he hits you. Alought depends on the officer, and how stable his hand is. If your up aginst a sharp shooter, your screwed. However, we all know how well officers shoot!

Thom1

Of course, radar detectors are worth it. It was funny that I got hit with some x or k band for a long continuous time, then the laser excited my detector into a fury.

Valentine has the best range, and points to the source.

Depend on radar detectors, and you are doomed,… I say, DOOMED.

Here is something from my last post:

I had a medium level radar detector. Never rely on a radar detector. The Valentine certainly is the way to go,… but, instant on and cell phone citizens will cancel out that advantage. I have passed some citizens with respect on double line mountain roads. That is in clearly safe conditions with fire breathing under control beautiful sports cars. Do it with respect and safety, and they just might not report you.

If you know you have a road worthy fire breathin’ 928, hit every curve you can find heading for the barn.

Another thread opinion:
Hmmm… if I am a police officer, why isn’t my instant on radar impossible to defeat when used only when I see someone that seems to be speeding? Answer: No radar detector on the planet will save a speeder if I only use instant on at 4-minute intervals. BTW, I can only ticket a handful of people an hour anyhow.

Hypothetically… If instant on radar… BTW, comes with every new police radar unit now… is not enough, what else is up the revered cop’s sleeve? Some police officer gave interesting advice. Hmmm… Have fast drivers to flash their lights. That way I can zap em’ with instant on when they tell me they are speeding.

And,…
Strange as it may seem the invaluable assets to us all are PEACEFUL MENTAL DISCIPLINE on the road, our neck muscles, eyes, ears, and the quick reflexes transmitted from our brains to the brake pedal, steering wheel, and total vehicle management. This means to anticipate any contingency. Be aware and vigilantly cautious. Do everything you can to be courteous and put other drivers at ease.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Chad B.

Bought a V1 when I got my shark. How could I have lived without the arrows?? Love the V1 but it does pick up allot of false readings even with the filter applied.

heinrich

I have a Passport SR-1 in the S4 and it has saved me once from Laser and several times from Ka and K. It has very few false warnings and those are very easily detectable by the tone and length. Today I was in the 911 with the top off, and using my portable, a very inexpensive Whistler 1730 - its second Laser save. Incidentally my bike buddy has a top-of-the-line expensive Cobra which didn't warn him. He slowed because I had.

I do not buy into appeasing officers, or the psychology of what they perceive. At least around these parts, it's whether they see you speeding or not. I depend on my detector, at least in a big way, for this. Very simple. Get a warning, brake. Works for me :-)

Ron_H

OK, here I go again.

The officer must do a visual estimation before he hits you with the gun. He must see you and you can see him. And if he is hiding, and uses instant on, he must read it for a "reasonable time". And he must show you the reading. If he doesn't have it on the gun, you walk. Period. Every citizen has the right to see and examine and question the evidence used against him/her. No reading=no conviction. But don't flaunt that in his face; just say"Thank you officer" and tell it to the judge after he admits it in court. While the gun is on, you will get scatter and reflection, unless he is locked dead on to you. Some things to remember. Recently, I parked next to a cop while he was hiding in a driveway in the woods and shooting cars coming around a corner. My object was to ask anyone he nailed what speed he had on the ticket. If I found more than one with the same speed, he was busted. He got angry and left for a different place. I have found situations wherein the gun is set to a certain speed obtained earlier and left there flashing. Nice guys aren't they.

Remember too that certain tail lights and also some signs will set off laser detectors. They do my V1. Those aren't legitimate hits, but bogeys. Laser jammers send back a signal to the laser gun that confuses it FOR 3 to 5 SECONDS ONLY, and then SHUTS DOWN so it won't be detected. If you get a laser hit and have a jammer, drop anchor immediately and you can save yourself. Never mind that the Smokey didn't get a reading and suspects something. Pull the handbrake and the front of the car won't drop. Practice first.

Happy jamming.

Old & New

There truly is a big problem with the traffic enforcement system here in New England, but that is beyond the scope of this thread. For instance...

Not in these parts. There isn't much an cop "must" do here. I've asked to see the gun; they get angry and write you up with an even higher fine. In court, there isn't any opportunity at the hearing to explain. If you want to plea not guilty and continue the case, you had better hire a lawyer and have a bulletproof case. Here, they side with the cops case unless the cop directs the court to let it go. Also, the radar gun is frequently of the permanently installed variety, and the cop will not let you leave your vehicle while you are being processed by him.

Here, a cop would be more than happy to arrest you for obstructing justice, disobeying a policeman's orders, etc. and haul you downtown.

heinrich

Old/New, same here in the Republik of Washington. You do not argue with them, and you do not pi$$ them off or they absolutely will arrest you. Just nod and take the ticket, and hire a lawyer. I have discovered that if you have no lawyer you will absolutely be found guilty. If you have a lawyer it is almost certain that you will not. Period. Nothing to explain, argue or discuss, just win or lose, your choice. And tickets are thrown out, not argued before the judge. Technicalities, that is the only way.

Ron_H

In any criminal case, a citizen has the right to view the evidence the state plans to use against him/her in order to build a defense. A moving traffic citation is a criminal charge. The evidence is the reading on the radar gun. The condition and certification of the gun, the training of the officer, the conditions at the site, the state of mind of the officer, are all subject to question in a defense to such a criminal case. Remember the burden of proof is on the state. An attorney would do the same thing in court. No reading on the gun = no case. Asking the officer nicely for the reading is not arguing. He will escort you to the cruiser or motorcycle and show you the reading if he is honest or if he has pre-set it on the gun. What has he got to fear? Just as in any criminal case, the state has nothing to fear for revealing their evidentiary basis for the charge. You may make a verbal or written motion in court immediately to have the charges dropped for failure by the officer to show you the evidence or for failure by the prosecutor to comply with discovery motions to disclose evidence, and the judge should dismiss the case. If not, appeal and win. Who is running this country? The Queen of England? or us?

Old and New:

I was not obstructing justice but merely parked nearby waiting for him to bust someone. He knew I was there. But I did nothing to obstruct his "work" or the consumption of his lunch of donuts at all. And he knew that as well. Again: who is running this country? the Queen of England? or us?

Old & New

Errr, I believe it is a "civil" case, not a criminal case. Totally different.

If you were merely parked nearby, then why do you assume he moved on account of you? There must certainly be a world of difference between "your" cops and "my" cops. If I got him angry by doing anything - be it hanging around when he didn't want me there, or demanding to inspect his radar equipment - he would confront me directly and with great prejudice!!!

As I said, there truly is a big problem with the traffic enforcement system here in New England - ask anyone up here.

Ron_H

First, I wouldn't demand to inspect anything but merely to exercise my right to inspect the evidence and would do it politely. And if he didn't show it to me, I would certainly raise that objection in court. I already have won on that point alone. In a CRIMINAL case, I have the right to view evidence and examine witnesses used against me. There is an obscure document called the US Constitution and Bill of Rights that guarantees me that right.
The reading on the gun is the only evidence the cop will claim he has. I want to be sure he has it. And so will the judge, particulary the appeals judge. And they will want to know that he used that gun properly and legally. Or you walk.

As for the cop I was watching, he and I had met previously. I have the right to park by the side of the road and watch who is watching me, so long as I do not interfere with his legally performed actions in any way, like wave a sign at oncoming motorists. He knew me, and I knew what he was doing and didn't like it. Remember that I pay his salary. He works for me. He is a public employee and his actions are subject to public review, like any other public employee in this great nation of the United States of America. Yea USA!!

BC

I knew there was a reason I liked you Ron.