Radar Detectors

[jage]

Originally Posted by NRL

They now have a social network alert system that uses your phone to let others know, Escort Live.

I threw a bunch of data points on my wife's Garmin: red light cameras and police speed traps. It's freaky to be driving and have the Garmin go "Wrrrirrr POLICE SPEED TRAP AHEAD" but about 60% of the time within 2 miles someone's on the side getting ticketed.

Speed traps don't bother me half as much as red light cameras and speed cameras... not that you can talk to every cop, I've had them come up with the ticket all but completed and realized there was no chance for discussion. Small town cops have just had the "department is funded by tickets" mentality longer, only now it's getting mechanized.

The nasty thing being that more and more all of it is targeting not enforcement but revenue- the cops who showed up at my house that day talked about how they'd just been in a seminar about the relative revenue of enforcing various laws, to wit: handicapped spot violations net them $330, implying that these were a good payoff in effort vs revenue. So they're being trained to consider the value of the ticket not the offense... and on top of that the relative effort (traffic stop 1/2 hour, hc ticket 5 min) in order to fund the enterprise that teaches them the profitability of the ticket over other reasons for enforcement.

But lest I sound crazy I'll stop before going into my observations on how the red lights in and around Northglenn are timed to create red light camera violations instead of ease the flow of traffic... creating revenue to fund the red light camera company (and resulting in increased rear end collisions I might add...)

[ANZAC]

I use the Valentine V1 in my other cars, I usually can't be bothered to throw one in the van.

[dhally]

I used to speed all the time and use a radar detector. Now I stay at the speed limit, especially in the van. It's fun to watch all the young people try to pass me (like I used to do). I just leave 5 or 10 minutes earlier, and arrive much more relaxed. My passengers like it too.

[Ketcham]

When traveling through Oregon...yellow light means RED. IE if you enter a intersection on a yellow, you just ran a RED light. This law is designed for revenue, not safety. The point of the Yellow is to clear the intersection safely. Now, either you risk a ticket or risk a rear-end collision. I choose the ticket. I was pulled over once in my van for this. I said my van does not stop on a dime. The officer agreed and let me go.

The point of my post was not to break the law. However, I feel as a law-abiding citizen, I deal with less than forthright police. Interaction with police may be a life-threatening situation, and unnecessary.

[bratworst]

Don't always blame the cops. It's unethical politicians that we elect at all levels that set policy. Government is supposed to protect our freedom, privacy, and property but instead we elect power hungry politicians that have no honor or integrity.

[daveb]

Originally Posted by bratworst

Don't always blame the cops. It's unethical politicians that we elect at all levels that set policy. Government is supposed to protect our freedom, privacy, and property but instead we elect power hungry politicians that have no honor or integrity.

I agree.
I don't like stupid laws or corruption, but just think how it would be W/O law enforcement. Jerks make up a large portion of society. 80% of my jobs are in rural areas and see people running stop signs all the time because they know they probably won’t get caught.
W/O laws and LE watching, property damage and injuries including deaths would probably skyrocket.

Back on topic; one of the things I hate about my detector is the X-band going off all the time. Even my high dollar Bell unit would not allow me to mute that band. Do any of them actually allow you to turn off specific bands?

[86Scotty]

I rarely speed in the van, same as a few above have stated, but i like all the info i can get. I want to know where they are, and if they're shooting radar. I drive older BMWs and do enjoy a spirited drive when i can, and i'm also a truck driver (as in Class A). I can't have tickets, it just doesn't pay the bills, so that said, I use a Valentine One. Read about 'em. They're the best.