heiser@cca.UUCP (Bill Heiser) (08/25/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** i see there is a current conversation going on in this newsgroup conconcerning the legality y of radar detectors. can i would like to broaden this "discussion" by asking a rlrelelated question: how effective are these units? has anyone out there gotten a speeding ticket while using a radar detector? are they generally regarded as worthwhile? p.s. personal mail usually doesn't make it out from this system, so if people would like replies to their responses, i will post a followup to this message, or elese just reply to this group. thanks in advance for any helpful hints, comments, suggestions, ideas, etc. -- Network: decvax!cca!heiser USPS: Bill Heiser, PO Box 3202, Peabody, MA 01961-3202
john@gcc-bill.ARPA (John Allred) (08/27/85)
[munch, munch] In my experience, radar detectors are extremely useful. I know of 7 tickets (all of which would have been for >75 in a 55) that I missed, courtesy of an Escort (I might add that this driving was done in the middle of nowhere in Texas, not in a city.) -- John Allred General Computer Company uucp: seismo!harvard!gcc-bill!john
review@drutx.UUCP (MillhamBD) (08/27/85)
> this "discussion" by asking a rlrelelated question: how effective are these > units? has anyone out there gotten a speeding ticket while using a radar > detector? are they generally regarded as worthwhile? I own a K40 Remote mount detector. I have had the unit for 1 year. I have never had a speeding ticket since installing it. The K40 comes with a very unique guarantee: (quoted from the K40 manual) "Guaranteed fully against the cost of radar speeding tickets for the first twelve months. No exclusions, and no linit to the speed of your ticket!" Now I'm not the type that likes to get stopped, so when I get a warning, I slow down. On a 500 mile drive, the detector alarmed 3 times. I saw all 3 cops shortly thereafter. It missed one, apparently he wasn't using radar. I can strongly recommend the K40. (No, I don't work for K40 Electronics) -------------------------------------------- Brian Millham AT & T Information Systems Denver, Co. ...!inhp4!drutx!review
mis@mtunh.UUCP (Meyer Steinberg) (08/28/85)
My escort works all the time. The only times I got stopped for speeding were when the police tailed me from behind, and I didn't notice them. Once I was on the NJ turnpike near exit 11 doing about 75. Finally I noticed in the truck lanes (part of the NJ turnpike has 3 car only lanes and 3 lanes for trucks and buses with a dividor in the middle) a patrol car. It was too late, at the next gate of the dividor, he came to the car lanes and stopped me. Another problem is the instant on radar the police use. They turn the radar on right when the see a car approaching. The detector goes off when its too late. I know some who was stopped with one of these devices. I also find that police like to start up with out of town drivers. I once rented a car in New York and when I drove on the turnpike between 65-70 a patrol car stopped me again from behind. He asked me if I knew I was speeding. I told him "really, I didn't know!". (Meantime the detector is right in front of him). He asked me what year my car was, I told him I didn't know because it was a rented car and showed him the rental papers, and told him I live in New Jersey. I gave him my New jersey Drivers license. After a few minutes he came back and just gave me a warning, no points no fine. I believe the speed limit should be raised slightly because it would help rush hour traffic move better. Meyer Steinberg
mikec@petsd.UUCP (Mike Condict) (09/06/85)
I've discovered experimentally that the range of speeds for which a
super-het detector is effective (in typical conditions) is something
like 110 to 115 mph in a 55 mph zone. Any faster and you don't have
time to get it down to quasi-legal (~70 mph) from the time you take the
first radar hit till he can see you. Of course, if he is around a curve
and you have a good detector you have the advantage that he can't visually
spot which car is going faster than the others till you round the curve.
On the other hand, if you are the only car in sight this works against
you because you have less response time from the detector when his gun is
not in direct line of sight. Same with coming over the crest of a hill.
The bottom line is that you should respond much more quickly to alarms
when travelling alone on the road, as opposed to when there are lots of
cars around you (in which case the guy with the most expensive looking
sports car will take the heat :-)).
-- Poster requested anonymity to protect his insurance rates.
P.S. Anyone with information about a Porsche 930 for sale, any year, any
condition, (under $25,000) please reply by mail -- finder's fee, if
purchased.