[SRT8outtaLA]

I just purchased a Uniden R7 radar detector. First radar detector, still waiting for it to come in. I will eventually order the blend mount when it is no longer sold out and hardwiring it to the battery. The installer said doing a rear mirror tap may void the warranty. Not sure if it's true. I've never had a ticket in my 13+ years of driving, knock on wood. I just usually have a rabbit I follow behind otherwise I never drive over 80mph.

I'm worried if just driving the same way I currently do would cause me more trouble than not having one if police officers see the radar detector driving in front, behind, or the side of me. I don't know if just by the fact I have one that they will ticket me for going 10mph over the limit or something even less just because of the radar. Basically if they do pull me over i'm guessing they won't be as forgiving. I'm just wondering if they would pick on me just for the fact I have one attached on the rear mirror. I could dim it so only one red flashing light would appear. Not sure if it would be obvious at night or in the day time. Part of me feels like i'll have more of a target on my back and i'll be doing the opposite of what I intended, to avoid tickets. Any thoughts on radar detectors? Who runs one? In California? What's your experience?

I don't know how obvious the radar detector would be if I use the blendmount that mounts it on the rear view mirror as you can't mount on window in California. My windows aren't tinted either. I don't want to give any excuses to be pulled over, I also have front plates. The point of the detector is just to avoid sleep traps that change speed limits suddenly or just to be more alert. My driving style would probably still be safe as it's worked out for me in avoiding tickets.

 

[coobie]

Good luck my uniden R3 is TOTAL JUNK.Speaker lasted a whole 4 weeks sent it back to uniden 5 week turn around time.Now the led lights are fading out.Back to my valentine 1..

 

[landoawd]

Use Waze.

 

[Rockster]

I just purchased a Uniden R7 radar detector. First radar detector, still waiting for it to come in. I will eventually order the blend mount when it is no longer sold out and hardwiring it to the battery. The installer said doing a rear mirror tap may void the warranty. Not sure if it's true. I've never had a ticket in my 13+ years of driving, knock on wood. I just usually have a rabbit I follow behind otherwise I never drive over 80mph.

I'm worried if just driving the same way I currently do would cause me more trouble than not having one if police officers see the radar detector driving in front, behind, or the side of me. I don't know if just by the fact I have one that they will ticket me for going 10mph over the limit or something even less just because of the radar. Basically if they do pull me over i'm guessing they won't be as forgiving. I'm just wondering if they would pick on me just for the fact I have one attached on the rear mirror. I could dim it so only one red flashing light would appear. Not sure if it would be obvious at night or in the day time. Part of me feels like i'll have more of a target on my back and i'll be doing the opposite of what I intended, to avoid tickets. Any thoughts on radar detectors? Who runs one? In California? What's your experience?

I don't know how obvious the radar detector would be if I use the blendmount that mounts it on the rear view mirror as you can't mount on window in California. My windows aren't tinted either. I don't want to give any excuses to be pulled over, I also have front plates. The point of the detector is just to avoid sleep traps that change speed limits suddenly or just to be more alert. My driving style would probably still be safe as it's worked out for me in avoiding tickets.

Drove for years with a V1 in one of my cars. Most of the time in the higher performance car. When time for a road trip I'd be sure to move the V1 to the car I was going to use.

Was pulled over a few times and never received any static about the presence of the V1, except one time. An AZ state trooper pulled me over -- I was in my Porsche 996 Turbo -- for failure to signal. (I was so tired I think I was trying to signal using the on-board computer stalk on the left side of the wheel instead of the turn signal stalk above it.) Anyhow, he pointed out the V1 and NAV unit suction cupped to the windshield violated vehicle code in AZ and after a bit of discussion I took both units down and left them down until I was out of AZ.

If I ever got some serious static about the V1 I'd just tell the officer it is there to give me an early warning active traffic enforcement is going on in the area and to be aware that a LEO could appear at anytime in pursuit of a violator or I could come upon a LEO with a violator pulled over and thus help make the LEO's job a safer one.

The V1 also helped remind me to be situationally aware which helped me be a safer driver. I was certainly more on alert for signs of radar/laser activity but I also more observant as I drove.

Since getting rid of my Porsche cars and even though I now drive a Hellcat -- and a JCW -- I have not bothered to install the V1 in either car. I have not had a chance to take either car on an extended road trip. My usage of either car has been for my work commute or around town errands or a short (~ 60 mile) drive to visit a family member over in the central valley. Since I'm very familiar with the area in which I drive I don't need the V1. Basically because I'm either in town or even on the freeway and traffic is so heavy to reduce my exposure to having an accident I just drive the limit and of course am careful to obey all traffic laws. (Really, because traffic is so heavy even if I wanted to speed it would be only for brief stretches until I had to slow again.)

When I head out on a long road trip that will probably have me driving outside of the more heavily congested areas of CA and outside of CA I'll be sure to take the V1 along.

 

[Jimmy N.]

You just made me realize that since I got my first Valentine One, I've never been stopped in a vehicle that had a detector in it
I've been followed, for many miles, with the lights blinking frantically and definitely visible through the rear window, but...

 

[tim s]

"If I ever got some serious static about the V1 I'd just tell the officer it is there to give me an early warning active traffic enforcement is going on in the area and to be aware that a LEO could appear at anytime in pursuit of a violator or I could come upon a LEO with a violator pulled over and thus help make the LEO's job a safer one."

Hard to tell in English... but do you mean 'I did' or 'I suppose I will'.
My BS detector when off HARD as I read this, I bet a cop would just get p*ssed and look for more reasons to write THIS guy up.
Way too thick a layer of BS!

 

[Parrott_350]

,,,"are radar detectors a ticket magnet ? "

Yeah, it would be for me. The 'Commissar & politburo' in Richmond VA, have forbid the use of radar detectors to 'dear-peasant residents' in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is illegal to operate radar detectors on the states highways.
In addition, you also have to have a front license plate, car inspected every year and your windshield wipers on when it rains. ( Rain-x be damned)
They are looking out for me,

 

[landoawd]

Everything is verbotten in the republik of VA.

 

[BigRoach]

Dunno if it's a ticket magnet or not, and I can say that with mine I haven't gotten any speeding tickets, but it also goes off quite a bit these days due to so many cars with proximity sensors - so false alarms abound, though I guess that's not the worst thing in the world...

 

[praiseV8]

I never got a ticket because of it. I don't know that it ever saved me from a ticket either. Really only useful on long trips.

I have an Escort radar detector.

 

[Rockster]

"If I ever got some serious static about the V1 I'd just tell the officer it is there to give me an early warning active traffic enforcement is going on in the area and to be aware that a LEO could appear at anytime in pursuit of a violator or I could come upon a LEO with a violator pulled over and thus help make the LEO's job a safer one."

Hard to tell in English... but do you mean 'I did' or 'I suppose I will'.
My BS detector when off HARD as I read this, I bet a cop would just get p*ssed and look for more reasons to write THIS guy up.
Way too thick a layer of BS!

Let me assure you if the situation where I was directly challenged by an LEO regarding the detector as some device to allow me to avoid detection as I engaged in speeding ever came up I would respond that way. And I could respond as I indicated with sincerity. I really appreciate the situation LEOs find themselves in out on patrol (my father in law was a police officer prior to when I started dating his oldest daughter) and make it a habit -- I picked up from big rig drivers long before it was the "law" -- to whenever possible move over/slow down if a LEO has someone pulled over. And the V1 does really give one some notice there's an active speed enforcement radar in the area and that means a LEO or even a bunch are around and who knows what's going down.

But the situation never has come up except as I believe I touched upon the one AZ state trooper who got a mite testy about its presence. Not so much as a tool to evade detection for speeding just its presence on the windshield along with a NAV unit.

When one gets pulled over, really the cop is focused on the driver of the car, any passengers in the car, and he'd better be aware of passing traffic. He's not going to go all crazy about some radar detector. In the case I mentioned above we were off the freeway on a surface road and there was no traffic and I know how to behave when pulled over so the officer was about as relaxed as he could be. Which is why he made a big deal, a drama really, out of having me test the turn signals and then took the time to give me some lecture about the V1/NAV units on the glass. He didn't object to the radar detector being a radar detector so much it was just how it was mounted.

Oh, one time a cop mentioned my V1 after handing me the ticket. Sort of funny but I had forgotten to turn it on as I left the hotel and I pointed out it wasn't even on. (I didn't tell him I wished I had turned it on and if I had I would have avoided this encounter with him. Normally on the open road it would be on but I had been sick the night before and was still quite sick when I left the hotel and just forgot.)

I've even used the presence of the radar detector a couple of times when I was pulled over by mistake to argue that with the V1 I knew there was a radar trap ahead and had slowed down to under the limit. In one case not only did I bring up the V1, but the fact I had a hand held CB radio and knew from the big rig radio traffic where the officer was and I even got out my GPS and showed him the max speed for hundreds of miles was under the max. night time limit in effect there (in Texas) at the time. Must have had some effect for the officer wrote me a warning instead of a ticket.

 

[Jimmy N.]

Dunno if it's a ticket magnet or not, and I can say that with mine I haven't gotten any speeding tickets, but it also goes off quite a bit these days due to so many cars with proximity sensors - so false alarms abound, though I guess that's not the worst thing in the world...

That's where the current Valentine One really works well - few if any reactions to modern cars spewing radar signals.

I don't know that it ever saved me from a ticket either. Really only useful on long trips.

I must've avoided many dozen tickets, but don't understand what difference it makes if I'm on a long trip or not.
In my mind it doesn't matter if I'm going too fast one mile from home or 1,000.

 

[Jimmy N.]

I've even used the presence of the radar detector a couple of times when I was pulled over by mistake to argue that with the V1 I knew there was a radar trap ahead and had slowed down to under the limit. In one case not only did I bring up the V1, but the fact I had a hand held CB radio and knew from the big rig radio traffic where the officer was and I even got out my GPS and showed him the max speed for hundreds of miles was under the max. night time limit in effect there (in Texas) at the time. Must have had some effect for the officer wrote me a warning instead of a ticket.

Admittedly, I'm easily confused, but why would you get even a warning after being pulled over by mistake, especially if able to show that you weren't speeding?!?

 

[SRT8outtaLA]

Would these detectors work if I keep them low like my cup holder level low to avoid it being visibly seen. I arent' technically suppose to mount it on the windshield. I guess even high up near the side of the rear view mirror isn't allowed. So if I want to be legit I would have to use the blendmount.

 

[Solidman]

I just purchased a Uniden R7 radar detector. First radar detector, still waiting for it to come in. I will eventually order the blend mount when it is no longer sold out and hardwiring it to the battery. The installer said doing a rear mirror tap may void the warranty. Not sure if it's true. I've never had a ticket in my 13+ years of driving, knock on wood. I just usually have a rabbit I follow behind otherwise I never drive over 80mph.

I'm worried if just driving the same way I currently do would cause me more trouble than not having one if police officers see the radar detector driving in front, behind, or the side of me. I don't know if just by the fact I have one that they will ticket me for going 10mph over the limit or something even less just because of the radar. Basically if they do pull me over i'm guessing they won't be as forgiving. I'm just wondering if they would pick on me just for the fact I have one attached on the rear mirror. I could dim it so only one red flashing light would appear. Not sure if it would be obvious at night or in the day time. Part of me feels like i'll have more of a target on my back and i'll be doing the opposite of what I intended, to avoid tickets. Any thoughts on radar detectors? Who runs one? In California? What's your experience?

I don't know how obvious the radar detector would be if I use the blendmount that mounts it on the rear view mirror as you can't mount on window in California. My windows aren't tinted either. I don't want to give any excuses to be pulled over, I also have front plates. The point of the detector is just to avoid sleep traps that change speed limits suddenly or just to be more alert. My driving style would probably still be safe as it's worked out for me in avoiding tickets.

I have been driving with a Radar Detector for about 35 years now. If not....I would have lost my license 34 years ago! lol Honestly, it has saved my butt more times than I can possibly remember. I currently have a Passport Escort on a Blend mount in my Challenger. I just did a trip last week to NC from FLA. My detector saved me and a few others at least 5 times last week alone! My Escort will sniff em out 4 miles away. Learn it's alerts. Pay attention to it. A single beep that gets stronger over time is an "instant on" radar that is waiting for you. I cruised by MANY people getting tickets because they were unprotected. I averaged 95-100 mph because of my protection the whole trip. I would NOT drive without one.

 

[hardwired]

I've used a radar detector for decades and been pulled over twice in all that time for speeding, not for having a radar detector. The detector lit up too late to do anything about it. Both times the cop asked if the detector lit up and I truthfully told them yes, too late to do anything about it.

One of them snickered and told me the cheap detector I had at the time was no good and gave people a false sense of security. That was 15 or so years ago and since I've been using Passport detectors I've had no more problems. I've also gotten older and smarter about speeding so that helps, too. And now that I've bragged about no tickets in 15 years I'll probably get one tomorrow.

 

[praiseV8]

That's where the current Valentine One really works well - few if any reactions to modern cars spewing radar signals.



I must've avoided many dozen tickets, but don't understand what difference it makes if I'm on a long trip or not.
In my mind it doesn't matter if I'm going too fast one mile from home or 1,000.

Because only on long stretches or road does it ever become useful. Here in Houston it's completely useless, you either don't have the space to speed, or the cops don't need to get you a mile out because there's a building they can hide behind way closer than that.

 

[Golfnut]

I used radar detectors for years. The sad thing is, they won't warn you enough ahead of time when the radar is activated as the officer is upon you and decides to shoot you. I've been "got" several times. I haven't used one for probably 20 years. I generally drive on the highway between 6 and 10 over. In town I refuse to speed. When on the highway, I doubt a person would get a ticket for 9 over or less. If I'm going more than 10 over and get a ticket, so be it. For the one I got, I probably deserved a thousand more.

 

[Solidman]

Local areas we learn the Traffic speed traps. Long trips we are clueless to where they hide and need help finding them. Also.....when I go on a long trip vs local.....I am HAULING BUTT!!

 

[hemi4us]

OP, not sure if they are ticket magnets. I think the old myth that if a cop sees a detector in car, he/she is automatically giving you a ticket. I know plenty of people (myself included) that have gotten speeding tickets without a detector in thier car and plenty of people that got off without being cited, with one. depnds on the cop, the day, the violation, etc.
Mine reminds me to drive better actually. If you speed, your bound to get busted sooner or later. Its that simple. My detector has absolutely saved me at least twice however from what surely would have been a rather large $$ hit to my wallet and time sitting in front of blue lights on the side of the road, so in that regard, its already paid for itself.