DavidDeco

Well, you made conflicting statements.

Yes, I was saved twice in the recent months from laser by my V1 (lucky situations because it IS difficult and happens fast). But on the other hand, since I have a V1 you don't want to hear about it.

WHO

What I meant about my second statement is I'm looking to see if a detector will help me even in laser situation. I know I'm not getting a V1, but it's not because I wouldn't like to boguey/arrow system, it's just that up here all police forces use Spectre to detect detectors and the V1 is simply not answering that need. Therefore I,m not looking for suggestions on models, just to know if it's worth getting one, if it'll save me from tickets.

BATMAN

My Bel 985 laser detector has gone off 4 times around the Campbell residential area.

So I guess it has saved my *** 4 times with Laser.

ptrhahn

iTrader: (9)

Dude, did you just mail this ticket in? Theres no way "estimated from the side of the road" holds up in court. They either have to have your speed on a detector that has been calibrated within x amount of time, or have paced you for x miles.

Lemme guess, they "did you a favor" by checking the box that lets you just send in your money, or "reduced" the charge to something nebulous like 'disobeying a highway sign".

I think you got hosed.... the V1 WOULD have protected you from a LEGAL bust.

WHO

You didn't get nailed? What I meant/thought is that, usually, once the laser detector goes off, it means the cop pointed you with his laser gun and at that point it's too late

BATMAN

no, he was pointing at others...

WHO

ahhhh... I see. So, you got lucky the cop was clueless about using a laser properly
thanks for the story though!

Well, I guess it's probably worth it... although I'd like more input from others too, anyone?

PVerdieck

Yes and no. I have had no experience with lasers, but from what I have read, they are usually fast and short range in comparison to radar, and harder to detect.

There will be scatter, so your conclusion about the cop is wrong. He could easily have been beaning people in front of Batman.

Batman has an additional advantage. A black car. Black reflects light the least/absorbs it the most.

No laser detection will be 100%, but it would help. It depends on the circumstances.

Hyperite

Hey guy with the V1 on the passenger visor clip....doesn't that nearly entirely defeat every feature of the radar detector that the enthusiests find useful? It's gonna be hard as hell to see those arrows from the driver's seat.
~Tom

WHO

From what I read, a laser beam will still be merely 16 inches wide at 1000 feet.
If the cop uses it properly, and points the front license plate of the car he is taking a reading on, in that case no device in the area should be able to detect it because of doesn't reflect. If he points it at the winshield then yes for sure the radar detector could pick it up... but that's a case of a dumbass cop lol.

But, you see, that's what I *read*... and what I'm trying to confirm or prove wrong. So what I'm looking for is people who have had experience where they could tell me that the detector did save them from laser tickets.
I've got one for now, but it really looks like he got lucky.

TwinTurbo93

I got one ever since they came out like 4 years ago and that socker saved me from lots of speeding tickets, I still got 1 or 2 estimated tickets when the V 1 didn't even make a sound but hey 95% of the times you safer with it than with any other one...
They do cost alot of money but it's worth every penny.

PVerdieck

From a weekend of hard running, I have to say those that poo-poo directional arrows:

1) haven't had access to them
2) are trying to defend non-Valentines
3) are not in the say Universe as the concept of "right"

Nothing beats the ability to know where the radar is. You get the reading in front. Slow down. See the reading change from front to side. See the police as you pass and know they are behind you and you can continue to roll.

In regard to laser, I too am in the same boat about evaluating written statements.

jcina7

does any one have a radar jammer???

PVerdieck

So, what makes you think it is easy to point a laser gun directly at the license plate of a moving vehicle?

Said vehicles have metal bumpers, chrome trim, and other associated pieces which will reflect and scatter the laser at various angles.

WHO

What makes me think that is that a laser can be used at the last moment, it's hand-held therefore the cop can wait until you're about 100 meters away and point it and you're caught.

A smart cop doesn't point everyone on the road with it, just THE car that is obviously speeding.

Of course, I'm talking about city driving here.

PVerdieck

City driving is different. Not what I was thinking about. I'll be more worried about laser when I get my first ticket from it. I have only seen 2 brief warnings from it on my V1, and I never did see the possible/probable operator later.

Frankly, I don't consider city speeding to be an issue. With the traffic here, it isn't worth the time, and just too stupid to bother (IMHO).

WHO

The laser issue also varies on the area.
As I stated before, in my area/state, cops almost all use ONLY lasers. So it's a bigger issue for me...

Also, since radar detectors are illegal, they use a lot of Spectre detectors so that's why my other issue is having a Spectre protected unit, which the V1 isn't at this time and that's why I was looking for input on more than just the V1...

Hyperite

Bel-985 cloaks itself....get it. You'll not be disappointed.
~Tom

BATMAN

I know, I was happy that the cops didn't notice them

PVerdieck

This looks like a fairly objective site for reviewing detectors/jammers/etc.

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...ts/default.asp

WHO

I think some people wouldn't agree... but yeah I did read them

Just yesterday I turned the corner of my street and BAMM 2 cops were waiting for me with a laser. Why I didn't get a ticket? I wasn't speeding (too much)
I think that's the best way

PVerdieck

Crap, after 4 pages I'm not going to re-read. Does Canada have anti-laser jammer laws?

BLKTOPTRVL

My opinion is that is does not make that much difference what detector you are using. Most name brand detectors perform well enough that they will spot a cop before he spots you, especially in traffic.

All those "bogey counters", "direction indicators" and stuff like that are not necessary if you are aware of your situation and modify your driving appropriately when they go off.

I use a whistler -- I don't even know what model -- it is around 4 years old. When it goes off, I can tell by the sound it makes and the frequency of the beeps if the cop is stationary, coming toward me or moving away.

I also find that many people will hear the detector, slow for a few seconds and then go right back to speed. My feeling is that when the detector goes off and you recognize the signal as a real cop and not a radio shack, then you should back off speed for a few minutes until you visually identify the cop, or enough time has passed that you have probably cleared him.

tookwik

I have always thought that radar detectors give you the confidence to go faster and therefor you put yourself at a higher risk to getting pulled. It will be that one cop that you pass that will bust your ***.

Flyrx7

iTrader: (1)

Yep, good point, but nonetheless, I'd rather have a radar detector because I'm goint to speed anyway. If you have an RX and don't speed then maybe you need a different car, like a Hyundai.
BTW, the latest edition of Maxim had a poll on these very same radars, V1 came out on top there too. Now there is a definitive, objective source I'd stake my reputation on I might just go buy another one!

Frank