Austin997.2

I have a Passport Max 2 works great. The newer one is even better, it has directional arrows like the Valentine.

vern1

Are radar detectors legal everywhere in the US?

goofballdeluxe

Not everywhere, but most states allow it

GoldenGorilla

No. They are illegal in VA and they do ticket for them.

sandwedge

I've had an Escort Passport 9500 IX for I think 3 years now. Has saved me a number of times. No tickets since installed. Clearly more effective than the old Valentine it replaced. Maybe I didn't do all the updates on time that the Valentine requires. Picture attached is the current Passport with a metal rear view mirror mount and the wiring run the short distance to the home link/interior light cluster just above.

Petza914

That's why they work so well in VA. Because they're illegal, about half the time the police drive around with their radars on constantly so you know from a mile away they're coming. If you're in VA get one that has VG2 shielding that allows a full dark mode and a concealed display or a phone app that can act as a concealed display. VG2 is what the police use to detect the super heterodyne circuitry used in radar detectors - so it's a detector detector so to speak. The fine is way cheaper than the ticket and insurance premium increases and they can no longer confiscate or destroy them like they used to 30 years ago.

I have a detector in each of my cars. A couple of Passport 9500s (wife's 997 and my truck), a really old escort with panning lcd display in the 914 that needs to be replaced, a V1 with up to date software and Junk filter mode active in my 928, a built in Calibre k40 in my 997 (was there when I bought it), and an Escort Max360 in the Cayenne Turbo. The Escort with directional arrows and GPS false lockout in the Cayenne is by far the best of the bunch and there's a newer version of that one out now.

All but the 914 and built in use the mirror post mounting kits which is the best way to mount a detector. Rear sensor gets a pretty clear shot out the back of the vehicle and they don't keep falling of the windshield like the suction cup mounts do. But in that position it will be very visible to the cop behind you when he trips it with his gun, and the reason for the all dark mode and remote display as mentioned earlier, especially in VA.

BTW, they're illegal in Canada too if you ever get up that way and I believe that fine is a big one.

dpwolk99

golftime

The size of the police officer's vehicle will have nothing to do with which vehicle is picked up by radar (assuming radar was being used). However when more than one vehicle is within the zone of the radar beam, radar will tend to pick up on the vehicle with the larger frontal area, all else being equal. In short speak, it is very possible he was getting a readout on the truck and not you. If he was properly trained and experienced in use of radar, he would have recognized that.

vern1

Yes illegal here but i am doing a cross US trip this winter and spending a couple of months in CA. Was wondering if i should pick one up for the trip.

dpwolk99

I'm no speed demon (although the car does have a mind of its own...)
however the Uniden R3 (R1 is the same without GPS) has saved me driving locally and many times highways.
I use it with Waze and feel pretty well informed about what's going on.
I do like it but, on the other hand, this is my first radar unit and have had no experience with other units...
I just took a 2500 mile road trip and loved every minute, Good luck with yours.

gasongasoff

The word on the street is that if a LEO pulls you over and he/she happens to see a radar detector, you've basically blown your chances of getting off with a warning (if it was ever an option). Something to consider when mounting the detector in plain view.

Austin997.2

I sold one of my cars to a State Trooper and he said this was definitely the case. For stealth mode I have mine on a blendmount with the rearview mirror and plastidipped it all black so it isn't obvious.

Petza914

Yup, I always take it down from the mirror as he's pulling out to follow me before he's close enough to see me do it and why I run it in full dark mode at night in case he comes up behind me and could see through the rear window.

They don't often let me go though, so given the choice of advanced warning and possibly not getting pulled over at all or getting pulled over and let go, I'll take the former.

Austin997.2

The last 3 times I've been pulled over, once with radar out, I've gotten off. I am just very polite, apologize profusely, and make my self sound somewhat pathetic and really dumb and I think they feel bad for me. Works like a charm

doclouie