I am not a speeder, but I am speechless when I see so many comments like, don't speed, then you won't get a ticket. I don't want a ticket and I don't like to speed. If the highway speed limit is 65. I keep my speed at 65+/-2. But recently I got one ticket. I was on the road that I was not so familiar with and it is wide open and I was following traffic and was pulled over and was told the speed limit was 25, I was speeding. I don't understand why the limit was 25 the first place, as the the road that I turned from was much narrow but with a speed limit of 45, and there is no sign at the turn telling me this one has the limit of 25. My impression is that place is a trap for the township to pull in the cash.

jnorts wrote:show me a post that I made that says I'm under 30.

You have proven my point

xiaoqt wrote:I am not a speeder, but I am speechless when I see so many comments like, don't speed, then you won't get a ticket. I don't want a ticket and I don't like to speed. If the highway speed limit is 65. I keep my speed at 65+/-2. But recently I got one ticket. I was on the road that I was not so familiar with and it is wide open and I was following traffic and was pulled over and was told the speed limit was 25, I was speeding. I don't understand why the limit was 25 the first place, as the the road that I turned from was much narrow but with a speed limit of 45, and there is no sign at the turn telling me this one has the limit of 25. My impression is that place is a trap for the township to pull in the cash.

I agree with you about the painfully obvious comments that say, "don't speed". That goes without saying, so why say it? People like to say that speed kills, when really it's reckless driving that kills. If I'm basically all alone on a freeway and drive the speed limit all night just so I won't get a ticket, I'm a schmuck. Period.

as for your ticket, fight that one in court!

e39krazy wrote:eww carp, save your money and get an escort. I picked up a copper shooting ka band over 2 miles away with my 8500 x50! cant beat that, and i do alot of highway driving 90mph+ and have never been trapped.

e39krazy is exactly correct. IME, the cheapos just won't do it. I just got back to N. TX from near Brownsville. Going to and from, along the King Ranch area, I ran into (7) law enforcement vehicles, all running Ka band radar. My 8500 Escort gave me a mile or so notice.

Then, going up the interstate toward San Antonio, I was in a group of vehicles hitting ~100. We had plenty of time to slow when a trooper using Ka hit us.....but, he got some poor guy about a half mile behind us. I thought, "Do ya feel lucky punk?", and dropped out of the convoy to a more reasonable 80 or so. Of course, with laser, you mostly are just plain out of luck.

bought this radar detector... works great!!! but please use with wisdom and pay attention when it goes off!

norm401 wrote:You have proven my point

how does my being WAY over 30 prove your point?

footfall99 wrote:Not illegal in California, learn the laws where you live. JESUS.

Jesus? Where?

This thing is a piece of koi. I ordered it on Buy.com and it came in yesterday. I told my wife all day that I hope we pass a cop to see how it does. Well, I got what I asked for. The sad thing is I didn't realize it until I saw the blue lights from the police car. The whistler didn't make a sound...nothing...complete silence. Luckily, I wasn't intentionally speeding, so the ticket wasn't for a lot, but I learned one important thing. This thing is a P.O.S. You've been warned.

I don't mean to thread koi, but I have an Escort Passport after going through many radars. I can only say IT IS WORTH THE PRICE. It has caught cops many times and I have yet to be pulled over in my 350Z. GLTA who buys this product.

caffeine_dude wrote:I believe we, as American citizens have a right to receive all singles through the airwaves, seems odd that some states can prohibit this. Last I remember that is a federal law and i'm too, lets say, out of it to look it up.

The constitutionality of VA's anti-detector law has been upheld by the federal district court here and affirmed by the US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. I'm a VA lawyer since 1972 and I know.
This looks like a good deal on a cheap detector and since I can't find my trusty Escort at the moment, I'll see if they'll sell me one. And no, I do NOT use detectors in VA or DC; I travel a lot and rarely exceed limit +10. I just like to know where They are.

This looks like a good price for a decent radar detector. Too bad all the cops on the NYS Thruway are using pure Laser now and almost nothing catches that until you've been tagged.

briko35 wrote:This thing is a piece of koi. I ordered it on Buy.com and it came in yesterday. I told my wife all day that I hope we pass a cop to see how it does. Well, I got what I asked for. The sad thing is I didn't realize it until I saw the blue lights from the police car. The whistler didn't make a sound...nothing...complete silence. Luckily, I wasn't intentionally speeding, so the ticket wasn't for a lot, but I learned one important thing. This thing is a P.O.S. You've been warned.

Not to turn all "Spock" on your ass, but are you saying that this $39 unit will not detect any X, K, or Ka radar signals? Or are you saying that in your specific instance on one day, a specific officer's equipment(which we don't know the specifics of) did not cause this unit to sound an alarm?

I live in Arizona where there are cameras everywhere. Anyone know if it picks those up?

I wouldn't recommend Whistler radar to anyone. I currently have a model similar to this one. The only thing it picks up is shopping stores. I had a 50 dollar cobra for 6 years that worked much better than the 100 dollar Whistler that I have now. That is my recommendation.

JohnnyLemonhead wrote:they are not at all illegal in CA. not at all. VA and DC are the only illegal places.

Seems rather unsporting (of the VA,DC police) now doesn't it?

lanareyf28 wrote:I live in Arizona where there are cameras everywhere. Anyone know if it picks those up?

even if it did pick it up, it would seem that it would have picked up the speeding issue at the same time as the camera snaps your plate. so....too late?

JohnnyLemonhead wrote:It was 75 or 80, I can't remember which. Whatever it was I had plenty of time to see that going a few miles above the limit was causing me to lose at least 5 miles per gallon fuel economy (i have a fuel computer in my car) so I just went the limit. Also there are not many cars out there. As others have said I don't feel as much need to speed when there aren't cars and trucks I have to get around all the time and speed up to make up the difference.

West Texas I-10 is moved up to 80 now as well.

jnorts wrote:can't you just conceal it somehow? tissue box or whatnot?

I could, but the penalties if they find it are pretty severe. I'll just stick to speeding when I know it's safe - er, I mean, not speeding. At all.,

Freakazoid84 wrote:blah, $10 bucks less than it was a month ago when I bought it...

Yeah, that's a bit of a drag as I did the same thing. But it seems to work. Radar detectors are legal in CA. It's the mounting part that's illegal. I used a black, silicon pot holder on my dash and laid the device on that. It keeps the heat off the dash (and those things do heat up) and more importantly, it keeps it from slipping off the dash (during high speed escape maneuvers ). It's not mounted, just laying there, nice and quiet.

mevige wrote:The main strategy I use keep people safe on the highway is to stay in the left lane and drive at or below the speed limit.

The Maryland Driver’s handbook section on “How to avoid being hit from the rear,” suggests:
“Keep pace with traffic. If a vehicle follows too closely, slow down and let it pass. You should keep to the right, except when your vehicle is about to pass another vehicle…”

But these are only suggestions! It’s my God given right – well at least the MD state legislature given right- to drive the speed limit in whatever lane I want. I’m more than willing to risk my life to save another!

Once I’m safely in the left lane,sometimes I adjust my mirrors so I can’t be distracted by traffic behind me. Then I turn on some classical music or meditate. I have no stress, blissfully traveling with my cruise control set at 55, happy knowing I’m saving more lives.

Sometimes I like to make a phone call, have a bowl of soup, do the crossword puzzle, shave, or clip my nails. At 55 MPH, I can pretty much do anything and still save lives.

Other times I count how many cars are lined up behind me – I’ve gotten as high as 300! This relieves boredom and helps fight driving fatigue.

Sometimes I put on right turn signal to make the people behind me think I’m about to pull over to let them pass– that sure slows them down!

If there’s another car going 55 in the right lane beside me, we can form a rolling roadblock, just like the State Troopers sometimes do. I always wanted to be a State Trooper. This way I can enforce the speed limit without all the extensive training and testing required.

Some people call me a pompous ass, a control freak, a moron, or much worse! I say there’s no reason to speed just leave earlier!

I have been cursed at by drivers and their passengers as young as 3. I have had people throw coffee, cigarettes, sodas, beer cans, shoes, chewing gum, and pacifiers thrown at me. I don’t care, I’m saving their lives!

Some traffic engineers say that if everybody drove 55MPH or less on the DC beltway, it would handle thousands of fewer cars each day than it does now. I say build more lanes!

Ah you say, but what if someone has a good reason to go a little faster?
What if they have to go to the bathroom? I say Cut down on fluids!

What if they’re a diabetic who needs to get something to eat to increase their blood sugar – I say plan ahead. They should have brought along some crackers!

Say they’re in labor, or have uncontrolled bleeding- well, I say they should have called an ambulance!

How about a brain surgeon rushing to the hospital for emergency surgery? I say move closer to work!

What about a priest rushing to meet a dying person in order to save their immortal soul? Set up a conference call!

You see, if you plan ahead, there’s no reason to go any faster then 55.

Now is the time to act. Many people are dying on the highway as I speak. They need our help today. So let’s all join me and make a solemn oath to move over to the left lane as soon as possible, drive at or below the speed limit, and stay there. There’s no telling how many lives we can save.

What? The speed limit is 65 or 70 MPH in Maryland highways. What would you do if someone drive 45 MPH in front of you? On I-95 or highways(in MD), there are 4 lanes. Driver should drive 65 MPH on right lane, 70 MPH next lane, 75 MPH 3rd lane, and 80 MPH 4th lane.

If you want to save gas by driving 55 MPH, you should be on right lane. Otherwise, you will be under 18 wheelers. If you are slow, some guys will slam on the break and you will hit him or fly off the road. Remember a truck driver got shot and killed by driving too slow. Remember you are in DC areas, and people are crazy.

My first woot!

kc0iet wrote:My first woot!

Nicely done! You'll never be the same again!

jnorts wrote:I really do believe that speed limits are unconstitutional. I also firmly feel that people driving slowly have caused as many accidents as those driving quickly. That is to say, stupidity is not confined to one's traveling speed. Period.

Remember driving is not your RIGHT. It is a Priv.

thomascj wrote:Also -- the argument that a radar detector only has one sole purpose (to break the law) is carp.

Cops pull people over all the time using uncalibrated equipment, and while hiding in unfair locations. Every cop I have ever talked to tells me that speed traps really were never meant to give out all sorts of tickets, but rather to scare folks into driving more responsibly in that area (for whatever reason.. school, high pedestrian traffic, etc..). In fact -- the police never used to "HIDE" when doing speed traps, but rather they would sit where they KNEW they'd be seen, as doing so gets you more visibility (quite literally), if you're sitting blatantly on the side of the road, hundreds of people will see you and slow down, if you're hiding in some brush, or behind a snowbank, the only person you're teaching a lesson is the person you're pulling over. Unfortunately, times have changed -- cops are using dirty tactics to catch folks speeding, as it's a huge source of revenue.

If I drive by the same place and see a cop there over and over... Generally I make a mental note not to speed through that area. Likewise, If I'm using a detector and it detects an officer in the same place every day (hiding so well I wouldn't otherwise notice him), I'd make that same mental note.

I have been a Federal Police Officer for the last 4 years. I agree that detectors are valid for things other than violating the speed limit.

I love seeing folks who are intoxicated (drugs and/or alcohol) get ticketed.

Text messaging while driving needs to be outlawed as well. I'm thankful I was not one of the 1st responders to a head-on involving an 18-wheeler and a car being driven by an 18 year-old who was texting. Five females,17 and 18 years old all died. They all had just gaduated the previous week. Post mortem tests revealed the driver was 'clean'; No Alcohol and No Drugs.

I disagree with your term "dirty tactics". Why would not being visibly parked with the patrol car be classified by you as "dirty"?
I know of no local agency in our area (upstate NY and VT) that make money from the issuance of speeding tickets. Also, our equipment is calibrated on a regular basis as per the manufacturers maintenance schedule.

If you feel that you have been issued a driving citation unfairly, it is your choice to 'fight' the ticket in court. Most judges will give a good ear to someone who comes in with argumentive points that have some validity.

The US Constitution as well as state constitutions do not give you the 'right' to drive. It is a privilege that can be taken away from those who endanger themselves and others.

And yes, I was ticketed and paid the fine for missing a poorly placed stop sign in a town I had never been to before. I did not show the patrol officer my badge to worm my way out.

An earlier posting or two had the usual rant of "I hate cops". Yes, I have made mistakes while on duty. If you feel 'wronged', you can go to court w/o a lawyer. I'm willing to bet that you would like life a lot less w/o us imperfect police.

PLEASE DO NOT TEXT AND DRIVE. I thank you, my wife thanks you and my sons thank you.

it's cheaper at BlaineKyle.Net!
Not really. It's actually $64.99 at Amazon and Newegg, and those are the best prices out there. This is a major bargain. Of course, Amazon offers free shipping...

xiaoqt wrote:I am not a speeder, but I am speechless when I see so many comments like, don't speed, then you won't get a ticket. I don't want a ticket and I don't like to speed. If the highway speed limit is 65. I keep my speed at 65+/-2. But recently I got one ticket. I was on the road that I was not so familiar with and it is wide open and I was following traffic and was pulled over and was told the speed limit was 25, I was speeding. I don't understand why the limit was 25 the first place, as the the road that I turned from was much narrow but with a speed limit of 45, and there is no sign at the turn telling me this one has the limit of 25. My impression is that place is a trap for the township to pull in the cash.

It's me, the officer again. You might have talked a judge into tossing the ticket. However, there is a default speed limit in most every state of 25mph in a residential area. Was it a residential area?

I have a Bell, and it is a great radar detector. However, at this price point, I'm going to give this one a try. The Bell and Valentine are two of the best that I know of. In fact, Bell is the same co. that makes the radar guns for most law enforcement across the country, and who better to make a detector than the guys making the equipment to catch speeders. I suppose the Escort would be third in line behind the Valentine and Bell which appear to run about equal. A friend and I just took a road trip to the Dragon a while back. He ran a Valentine, and I ran the Bell. We had communication between the cars, and both radar detectors went off at the same time anytime we came into contact with a LEO. The only difference would be that the Val would tell him which direction it was coming from.

Interesting to see a few comments from law enforcement on the other side of the radar/laser gun.

Just curious, I see some officers in the freeway turnarounds in michigan with their radar on that look like they're reading or something. Is there a threshold setting on some of the radar devices, where an alarm just goes off when it detects someone going 11mph over the limit or something?

That's exactly what I'm saying. I didn't know that I made it hard to understand, but I apologize. All I know is a cop was on the side of the road...didn't hear a thing and he pinpointed my speed. BTW, it was late at night, so I'm guessing it wasn't an airplane.

I bought this exact model from woot just before Christmas. I have encountered "the man" going home several times where he/she was parked just off the exit and I have actually seen a radar type gun pointed at me all the way past the car. AT NO TIME WAS I ALERTED! When I got close to home the radar detector would sound off due to the hospital and related alarms, so the thing works, just not very well. I read that police use a new type of laser gun that clocks your speed even before the radar detector knows it was hit. The solution I am about to get is something called a "laser shifter". I suggest that those of you who want this detector due to the cool factor and the cheap price to save your money and get what I just put into quotes. I never knew a shifter existed until I went reading about detectors not living up to their promise. I didnt buy this thing so I could speed, I just need to be alerted when I need to put more focus into how fast I'm going cause sometimes you get caught up in "driving the crowd" which can get you into trouble.

JohnnyLemonhead wrote:they are not at all illegal in CA. not at all. VA and DC are the only illegal places.

PA as well, and I believe NY and possibly NJ

Columbia21045 wrote:What? The speed limit is 65 or 70 MPH in Maryland highways. What would you do if someone drive 45 MPH in front of you? On I-95 or highways(in MD), there are 4 lanes. Driver should drive 65 MPH on right lane, 70 MPH next lane, 75 MPH 3rd lane, and 80 MPH 4th lane.

If you want to save gas by driving 55 MPH, you should be on right lane. Otherwise, you will be under 18 wheelers. If you are slow, some guys will slam on the break and you will hit him or fly off the road. Remember a truck driver got shot and killed by driving too slow. Remember you are in DC areas, and people are crazy.

Recalibrate your sarcasm detector.

i'm getting a little confused by the posts....does it detect laser (as indicated in the product title) or not?

lanareyf28 wrote:I live in Arizona where there are cameras everywhere. Anyone know if it picks those up?

Arizona uses two very different systems for their speed cameras.

The sneaky white vans that they park on the side of the road under underpasses use radar. This would probably pick those up, if it picks up anything at all (See earlier posts.)

The "Permanent" cameras on the 60, I10, 101 & elsewhere use pressure sensors buried in the road, so they emit no radar. This detector wouldn't even know they are there. With all the signs they put up 1/2 mile ahead, it's pretty tough to get snapped by those anyway, unless you're just plain oblivious and badly in need of a ticket.

JohnnyLemonhead wrote:they are not at all illegal in CA. not at all. VA and DC are the only illegal places.

...and in Connecticut.

bardic wrote:I have to agree with a previous poster that likes to mess with speeders (mostly small city driving, but sometimes on the freeway).

If I see someone in my rear view mirror weaving through traffic to get ahead, I like to find a car on the lane beside me that is going just a touch below the speed limit. Then I pull ahead until they switch to my lane, let off the gas a little until they change to the other lane, and repeat. I try not to use my brakes because that would look too obvious.

There was one guy who was tailgating cars and weaving back and forth. After messing with him a few times he slammed on his brakes and squealed his tires, then he shaped up and started driving like a normal person.

Why you choose to enforce laws when no1 asked you is beyond me. If you feel so strongly about speeders and law breakers why don't you do something about all the crack, meth dealers, prostitutes in your area? You Know why you don't? Because being in your car gives you that feeling of anonimity and you know majority of people speeding need to get somewhere instead of wasting it on getting even with you. Go try to stop that carck dealer so we can see your face on the evening news. Have you stopped to think that maybe the person speeding is really late for the meeting of their life, or about to lose their flight? I really hope you don't find he kind of pissed of driver that will follow you and hurt you.

I'm not the kind of person who speeds intentionally but I have a $109 ticket on my desk at this very moment for going 35 in a 25 down hill right before the speed limit turns to 40.

So now I don't see why I shouldn't get a radar detector and go as fast as I flipping want.

EDIT: I'd like to add that I was never pulled over or involved with the law in any way before this incident. Nothing chaps my ass more than oppressive law.

webyourstuff wrote:Question:
My cigarette lighter doesn't work. Anyone know, does this work on batteries?

No, but i think you can buy a hardware kit to make it run from the cars fuse box.

Trigger pulled. Thanks woot.

Do they make a GPS with radar dector built in? any brand any model.