Radar

[The Great KJ]

Had an Escort for 10 years in my IROC, didn't get a single speeding ticket. Would still have it if it was so darn heavy

[ZYAL8R]

OK, they exist. I learned something today.

But I don't think it's fair in any way. A person ought to have the right to run radar if they want to w/o fear of having their car torn apart.

Personally, I do not own a radar dectector and I drive fast most of the time. I rely on my senses to do my "detecting". While most are looking at the car or two ahead of them, I'm looking wayyyy down the road for John Law. And I'm sweeping the on ramps and beyond. Like Kid Rock says, "I can smell a pig a mile away!" Am I lucky? You d**n right I am. The last speeding ticket I had was in 1991, and I had a radar detector then I promptly took that detector back and got my money back and paid my ticket with the proceeds.

However, it should not be against the law to own a r/d. If the cops want to play that sneaky sneaky, back up in the bushes, shoot you from behind, standing behind a power pole with laser gun in hand, placing radar in a broken-down "Good-Times" van on the side of the road, gestapo-like radar game, then By God, you should be able to own and use a r/d. That would make it fair. rant over.

[donutdanny]

Originally Posted by NeedMyFix

I personally WOULD recommend the Valentine One. This radar detector has saved me like 100 times over the last ten years or so. And yes, you can update the V1, when one is available they will contact you for the upgrade(it will cost you money of course!) It is one of the best performers, if not the best in most categories on any given radar detector test.

Also, traffic radar is a very tricky thing to understand. "Instant on" radar is almost impossible to beat with any detector, especially if you are the only car around. You must first read about traffic radar and understand how it works. Understanding radar and how police use it in conjunction with a good detector is your best weapon against a speeding ticket. Although, the only foolproof method is just to obey the posted speed limit!!

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by ZYAL8R

OK, they exist. I learned something today.

But I don't think it's fair in any way. A person ought to have the right to run radar if they want to w/o fear of having their car torn apart.

Personally, I do not own a radar dectector and I drive fast most of the time. I rely on my senses to do my "detecting". While most are looking at the car or two ahead of them, I'm looking wayyyy down the road for John Law. And I'm sweeping the on ramps and beyond. Like Kid Rock says, "I can smell a pig a mile away!" Am I lucky? You d**n right I am. The last speeding ticket I had was in 1991, and I had a radar detector then I promptly took that detector back and got my money back and paid my ticket with the proceeds.

However, it should not be against the law to own a r/d. If the cops want to play that sneaky sneaky, back up in the bushes, shoot you from behind, standing behind a power pole with laser gun in hand, placing radar in a broken-down "Good-Times" van on the side of the road, gestapo-like radar game, then By God, you should be able to own and use a r/d. That would make it fair. rant over.

Wait, you are suggesting that it should not be illegal to possess a device that makes it more difficult for cops to catch you breaking the law? Because the cops can hide? We shouldn't speed just because we think we can get away with it. Its breaking the law regardless of if we get caught. And then you claim that its unfair that the cops are trying to do their job?

If you don't want cops to catch you speeding, then don't speed. Otherwise be prepared to get caught. Speeding is a game of Russian Roulette. Getting caught is merely finding a blank round, you're stunned but the effects wear off soon enough. Keep pushing our luck though and eventually we'll face real consequences.

[garfin]

Originally Posted by ZYAL8R

OK, they exist. I learned something today.

But I don't think it's fair in any way. A person ought to have the right to run radar if they want to w/o fear of having their car torn apart.

If you want to flaunt the law in Ontario without risking your car being torn apart, just leave it on top of the dash rather than hardwire it in! That way, all you have to do is hand it over when the cop pulls you over!
... and FWIW, there are lots of things in Ontario's traffic laws that many people feel are unfair.

Best regardSS,

Elie

[shadowed_Stranger]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Wait, you are suggesting that it should not be illegal to possess a device that makes it more difficult for cops to catch you breaking the law?

People hide pot growing operations in attics and basements so that cops and others don't see them through the window.

When people rob stores they wear things on their face so that it is harder for cops to catch them.

Many people that rob houses at night wear black so they can hide if they run from someone.

Should attics, basements, black clothes, and bandanas be illegal?

Not advocating either side of this argument, but that did not seem like a valid argument to me.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Wait, you are suggesting that it should not be illegal to possess a device that makes it more difficult for cops to catch you breaking the law? Because the cops can hide? We shouldn't speed just because we think we can get away with it. Its breaking the law regardless of if we get caught. And then you claim that its unfair that the cops are trying to do their job?

If you don't want cops to catch you speeding, then don't speed. Otherwise be prepared to get caught. Speeding is a game of Russian Roulette. Getting caught is merely finding a blank round, you're stunned but the effects wear off soon enough. Keep pushing our luck though and eventually we'll face real consequences.

Everyone misses the point when it comes to the law. People focus carefully on who gets in trouble and who is bringing, or enforcing, the trouble. The emphasis is always on the driver and the cop.

That's now how the law works.

The vast majority of drivers do not religiously obey traffic laws in the US. Many of those disobedient drivers speed on highways, if not on city roads, as well.

In a democratic society, this should reflect pluralistically that most citizens would like the limits raised. The truth about the law is that we control the law, and we, therefore, should have the laws enacted as we choose them. Since an overwhelming number of people are caught for speeding, not because they are reckless but rather because an arbitrary number is decidedly safer than a single digit higher or lower, we should be able to change the law.

Defensive driving, while a good practice, also leads to accidents. Accidents are unavoidable. I'm not advocating aggressive driving, but I am advocating driving safely. What happens when you can safely drive from here to there at 65 mph instead of 70 mph? Perhaps you should do that. What happens when the guy behind you wants to drive 70 mph in a 75 mph zone? They should pass on the left. What happens when 80% of Americans read the sign that mandates no speed lower than 40 mph and no speed higher than 65 mph? The ones in the right lane go at 70 mph and the ones in the left lane go 85 mph. Every single day, we drive behind that old lady going 25 mph in a 35 mph zone, and she waves her fist as we drive too fast. She legally can go that slow, even though it is dangerous for her to do it. Going 10 under is somehow safer than going 5 over the speed "limit" because someone elected to office decided to get behind a podium and tell a sob story about how they made it their mission to change speed limits to make Americans safer.

It isn't the speed that is killing people. It is the recklessness of the American driver. Maybe we should all be allowed to drive faster so long as we are all better drivers. Maybe we should be electing people who do what we want instead of what they want. Maybe we should go to our DMVs taking the tests and bullshit they make us sign seriously. We, as a nation, don't take it seriously because it isn't important to us. That's why some fool tore through a red light with his mother in the passenger seat and destroyed my last car. Imagine the collegiate driver safely obeying the law as he gets his new Cobalt impacted by a reckless Accord driver. Imagine that those of us who obey the law suffer at the expense of those who don't, only to be blamed by their insurance company for being younger or their elders for being less experienced.

Now, imagine being rewarded for driving safely at your license exam with low insurance, higher speed limits, and less crazy people on the roads. Imagine more people not being allowed to drive because they simply can't handle it. Maybe the problem isn't the speed limit being too high or people speeding at all. Maybe the problem is our judgement. We'd rather bitch and moan about speed limits being too low, cops handing out tickets, and elected officials being crooked than electing people who actually do what we want. What we clearly want is better drivers on the roads and higher speed limits. Maybe we should make something happen here.

Let's think about this. What can we do in a democratic system to get what we want? I know! Let's vote! Let's vote for people who raise driving test standards and raise speed limits.

It's not that hard people. Contact your elected officials and tell them that you want higher speed limits. Do it every week until it happens. It will make a difference. It's called a democracy, and you get out of it what you put into it. Start putting something into it.

[ZYAL8R]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Wait, you are suggesting that it should not be illegal to possess a device that makes it more difficult for cops to catch you breaking the law? Because the cops can hide? We shouldn't speed just because we think we can get away with it. Its breaking the law regardless of if we get caught. And then you claim that its unfair that the cops are trying to do their job?

If you don't want cops to catch you speeding, then don't speed. Otherwise be prepared to get caught. Speeding is a game of Russian Roulette. Getting caught is merely finding a blank round, you're stunned but the effects wear off soon enough. Keep pushing our luck though and eventually we'll face real consequences.

Yes, it shouldn't be illegal. We're not talking about burglary devices or guns. We're talking radar detectors and about exceeding the speed limit. Not talking about race-track speeds either. Speeding isn't a big deal. Against the law.....yes! But don't act like you don't speed. We all do it, (of course w/ some exceptions).

I wasn't saying it was unfair for the police to enforce the laws or doing their job, I'm just saying that as long as they "hide" and shoot you in the back with radar, then that's not fair. Fair would be sitting in the median and if you radar me before I slow down....my prize is a ticket. BUT if I see you first and slow down before the radar gets me....well I should win that one. That's fair.

Did I mention that I don't run a detector? However, as long as there will be "sneaky" in the bushes radar tactics, there will be radar detectors. And that's absolutely fine with me.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by The_Blur

Everyone misses the point when it comes to the law. People focus carefully on who gets in trouble and who is bringing, or enforcing, the trouble. The emphasis is always on the driver and the cop.

[edited for space]

It's not that hard people. Contact your elected officials and tell them that you want higher speed limits. Do it every week until it happens. It will make a difference. It's called a democracy, and you get out of it what you put into it. Start putting something into it.

I just wanted to agree with your post and cite my opinion in attachment.

IMO Speed does not kill. What does kill is the atitude of the American driver and that attitude cause high and low speed accidents that should not happen.

The great examples are those that drive far under the speed limit. I'm not saying that if the road limit is 35 mph you should set that as a target. But people need to realize there are others that do not want to drive FAR under the speed limit. The atitude however is this is MY piece of road and I want to go 15 under so F U. Same with the jackasses in the left lane, going 56 mph. Thats their piece of road and they are going just over the speed limit they believe its their God given right and screw those behind him. Meanwhile theres someone behind them laying on their horn and flashing their lights and cursing their existence. Neither one is right, but in the end the law says the left lane is for passing, so whatever the guy behind you is doing, its his problem, so get out of the way. Generally the speeder is an agressive driver, so he/she will find a way around you anyway, why make it a dangerous problem where he is weaving through traffic to get by you?

In Europe speed limits are higher, you even have the autobahn (admittedly there are requirements to run your car at top speed up and down that), but the basic idea is that people adhere to the traffic laws and realize they are NOT the only ones on the road. There are less accidents, and especially less high speed ones.

If people want to disobey traffic laws, thats their problem not yours, get out of they way and let them do it, enforcing the law is the Cops job, not yours.

[Thwick]

Just a reply to the radar detector detectors, and the detectors that are "invisible". They may be invisible to detectors, but you can still get caught with it fairly easily. What i've seen happen near where i live, is a cop will stand on an overpass and blip their radar gun. if they see you hit the brakes right afterwards, they'll get a cop further down to pull you over.

[ZYAL8R]

That's even more sneaky. And ruthless. It's

[liquidfire350]

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

Obey all speed limits. Speeding kills.

speeding doesnt kill, the 2 ton chunk of steel with wheels is what kills

[JMAN311]

Originally Posted by SSOOCH

Obey all speed limits. Speeding kills.

Morons that have had too much to drink and still get behind the wheel can kill

Chicks that put on their makeup instead of watching the road can kill

Idiots texting and surfing the web on their phones while they drive can kill

Young people trying to show off for their friends down a busy street can kill

I don't blame the speed, I blame the people driving the cars.

[hw]

I found this on the Escort site.


Are radar detectors legal?
Yes! Radar and laser detectors
are legal in non-commercial vehicles
in 49 states (all except Virginia and
Washington D.C.).
You have the right to use a radar
and laser detector. In fact, in a ruling
defending the right of motorists to
use radar detectors, a Superior Court
judge wrote, “If government seeks to
use clandestine and furtive methods to
monitor citizen actions, it can ill afford
to complain should the citizen insist on
a method to effect his right to know he is
under such surveillance.”
In other words, if the government is
going to monitor you with radar, you
have the right to use a radar detector to
know when they are monitoring you.