saltydawg

In my area of the country, the predominant method of speed detection is laser. We all know that these laser speed detectors function as an instant on device. Once the driver detects the laser it is way too late to slow down. Additionally, I suspect these lasers function in a fairly precise pinpoint fashion such that there is very little or no laser scatter to assist in detecting these devices. The detector manufacturers want you to believe that their devices are still useful. They do still detect traditional radar guns but these are increasingly more rare. Are laser detectors useless and obsolete?

boolala

I guess it depends where you live and what they use. In my parts the police overwhelmingly use radar.

limey940

I have laser blocking, the Blinder system which has saved me a couple of times.

KeninBlaine

My old passport 8500 detector tells me when I'm being hit by lasers, but as you say, by that time it is too late due to the instant measurement being provided. The laser shifter systems provide more protection by returning a false reading and allowing you to slow down immediately and then disabling the shifter so that a proper reading can be obtained (otherwise they know you have a jammer). I still keep my 8500 on, since radar is still used more in my part of the world, especially by the CHP.
I have a new Passport SR7 shifter system for sale if anyone is interested.

InTheAir

The best option (without getting into the "value" of running radar/laser detection/jamming) is to use a system that combats both general types (including all of the subtypes (i.e. K, Ka, X).

In my opinion, the best "detector" out there is the Valentine 1. Couple this with a laser jammer, and you have a pretty comprehensive system. The jammer will help to prevent the initial speed reading on the laser gun, although eventually almost all jammers get to a point where they can't respond to the laser gun quick enough (aka "breaking through").

If you run both, you increase your odds of combating the gun.

With all that said, I chose not to EVER speed. (insert geeky smile here and point to the V1 and Escort jammer)

allegretto

many HP types are switching to laser but most locals still ues radar (finances), so at least around me the Valentine 1 or 8500 makes much sense.

ADias

The V1 laser detector will not save you from a direct hit, but it may warn you when others are hit first.

RED HORSE

My experience with the Valentine 1 is that when driving in moderate to heavy traffic I normally do get a laser warning when the tax collectors shoot vehicles ahead of me. When running in light traffic it doesn't help much.

boolala

Lots of reports (right here on RL) of people getting nailed by laser while their V1 is giving them a belated warning.

Have yet to hear of a single case of someone with a k40 and jammer getting a ticket. I've passed cops doing 75 mph on I294 with my laser alarm blaring and no police stops.

You are totally wasting your time and money with the V1.

ADias

That's what I meant.

brendo

if you're going to speed, you need a laser shifter and radar protection. with radar, cop vs car, one on one, cop wins every time. not necessarily so with the laser though.

but with the radar, you go get dispersion and will get warnings.

in my local community, we have a plague of radar-equipped speed limit signs. they really desensitize you and drive my crazy with the warnings (I know i need the new gps-equipped version). local cops will sit just past them with lasers and tag you - 40mph in a 25. you have to be very careful. they're not dumb.

surfer

Yep. Out here popo uses laser exclusively.

Eric - Plug Guy

Got nailed last year with V-1 in the Lexus SUV in highway throng of 15 cars, not leading, tagged at well over the limit. V1 never went off. Not sure what they were using, but the hemi dodge was parked in the median of the hwy (4 lanes each side) and the pack was moving altogether. I got stopped 5 mins later by a bike cop sent by the dodge.

The key with any of this technology is NEVER LEAD the pack. I was not leading, it was just my unlucky freaking day.

Oh, and the V1 never made a peep....or lit up. I emailed Mike Valentine on it, and they can verify what equipment is being used by state, but he figured it was standard Pop Radar, though my unit was up to date. Who knows? Sucks for me. Funded a nice attorney and some aggravation. I was wrong. Lesson learned.

MJones

Ever see the show
SPEEDERS

Almost all LIDAR

nyca

To user laser, the police need line of sight to the target. If they can see you, you can see them so long as you learn to lift your field of view a little when you drive, don't just look at the road/car directly in front of you. And keep some traffic ahead of you.