Radar Detectors - Whats your throughts?

[fuzzer]

I would like to know everyones oppinion on these devices ? I know some of you might slate me for this post and im sure ill get the " if you don't speed you won't get caught " reply . Im talking on the level of the police using them as a cash machine . If they are are only in "accident blackspots" then the device can only alert you to these very dangerous places and give you prior warning to this. I would like to know everyones oppinion on this and think about what i have said before you reply with a moral judgement .

Thanks..

 

[dave elcome]

Radar Detectors

The Police don't get the cash, it goes to the money grabbers in Whitehall............call it silent taxation!!

 

[Merc]

Radar Detectors

Hi

Yea, the same bunch of b******s who'll put the LPG up should everyone convert,well seen they dont pay for their fuel personaly,like the rest of us!!.
Thats all I'm saying before I get really angry!.

regards

 

[steveperry]

Radar Detectors

Hi Jason,

I've always been sceptical as to whether these things work. I hear stories that even cash registers set the things off, I guess it's the scanning lasers. I've also heard that if you're caught speeding and that you're found using a "radar detecting device" then you're more likely to get harsher punishments... hehe that being said these rumours could just be urban myths.

S.

 

[fuzzer]

Radar Detectors

The range on them is amasing , approaching a Gatso at the side of the road at 30 mph you get about at least 10 seconds warning with the beeps getting closer and closer together . The expencive ones are good .. They are undetectable by anything the police have . The only way ur going to get caught is by waking up an officer at the traffic lights with this thing on your windscreen. There are a lot of false alarms , but the more expencive ones allow you to minimise these by switching off some bands. It all depends on how valuable your licence is to you ..

 

[steveperry]

Radar Detectors

Jason,

So are they fairly accurate devices then? I've read about units that can scan various bands of radar and laser too.

S.

 

[fuzzer]

Radar Detectors

Only the expencive ones .. the cheap ones are a waste of money . Bel make good ones. They are as accurate at the device that is being pointed to it . Although , with laser , by the time it pickes up the laser you are most prob caught . This is because there is not a lot of spread on a ray of light . with radar as used in the gatso gameras and by most hand held guns , it has a wide spread and is easy to pick up ... if you want , email me and i got a good like to learn more about this stuff . I like to keep on top of issues like this , there is too many rumours about ..

 

[steveperry]

Radar Detectors

Cheers Jason

Thanks,

S.

 

[Matt Crooke]

Radar Detectors

One thing to add to this, as we all know, entrapment is totally illegal in the UK, hence some motoring activist a few months ago put it to the police that the way they hide their grey "cash machines" behind trees, bushes, signposts etc is going to have to come to an end. Also all new ones going up, and existing ones as well, are going to have to be re-painted in bright colours so they can be easily seen in all weathers. this has started to happen already on the M11 roadworks near Stanstead Airport. It has been a 40 mph for ages going through the works. All the cameras are now bright reflective yellow, rather than the cunning grey they used to use.

i have also heard that the detectors that are currently available only pick up the older style Gatso cameras, although i may be wrong there.

cheers

 

[R10RGT]

Radar Detectors

Matt -

Entrapment has to do with inciting people to commit offences that they would not otherwise have committed - so not a valid arguement against hidden cameras!

In answer to the original question, I understand the Morphus Geodsey (do an Internet search to find a stockist!) is well regarded. A GPS system rather than a detector, expensive, but apparently does the job.

There have to be some questions to ask about radar detectors etc before you buy? eg what is it you actually want one for? "We all drive too fast sometimes" is one thing, but is a detector the answer?

I would have thought it might be worth asking "Who are the real experts in speed detection?" - I don't think its the bloke trying to sell you a BellXYZ Radar Detector, but the Cops! - What do they use? Or rather, why don't they bother with such things in their own cars? (and it's not because they are illegal to possess - they're not!).

The irony has to be that when covert methods are used to catch other law-breakers, we applaud, when we think we might get caught committing the only offence we are involved in (ie speeding!) we blame the Police for wasting time and money (3000+ died on the roads in this country last year - and we have some of the safest roads in Europe...).

For anyone about to spend money on a Radar Detector, consider what £300 gets you in terms of advanced driver training with, say, IAM.

Also, that the forward facing cameras now becoming popular use detectors in the road and NO radar.

By the time you know you are in range, it is often too late.

There are alot of spurious signals, particularly in built-up areas, which is why they tend to get turned off (and what good are they then??!!).

Drug dealers complain that the Cops are always doing busts on their homes and violating their Human Rights. Tobacco smugglers claim to continuing a long tradition of serving the public with cheap goods (and then claim the dole money from our taxes!).
5 murder suspects get released because the Cops bugged their exercise yard to hear them concoct thier story, and this was "unfair" in the eyes of the judge.

OK, some way from painting speed cameras yellow (but if cameras mean more Cops can be released for Crime rather than Traffic duties, I'm happy!) but there you go!

I've seen what happens when an innocent driver is hit by someone who was speeding. And then the offender spends a fortune on lawyers to suggest it was the fault of the council, the government, his car manufacturer, the Police...      ...anyone but himself!!!

 

[Guy]

Radar Detectors

Interesting debate...I should declare an interest, I use these devices, but not a laser jammer, as I reckon they are illegal.
Radar detectors are not, and neither are the GPS based trap alerts.
An interesting site for any of you considering a purchase, or just wanting to know more is at -

http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/frames.htm

On the topic of painting cameras yellow, etc, checkout the section on Truvelo (forward facing) cameras, and particularly Specs...

 

[fuzzer]

Radar Detectors

Laser Jammers are not illegal . There are no laws to stop you bending light about ... its what u are doing while using it . Its perverting the course of justice. To get the protection needed nowadays . You need a Radar detector and a GPS location spotter and maybe a laser Jammer. All in all the best part of £1200 . A lot of money , but a lot of kit ..

 

[Guy]

Radar Detectors

So do we agree, using a laser jammer is illegal?

(Wouldn't buy one if you weren't going to use it would you? That's what I meant by they are illegal)

 

[fuzzer]

Radar Detectors

ehhh ... They are not illegal to have fitted , and they are not illegal to use , they only become illegal when you use them to pervert the course of justice and make the gun lock up if you are speeding ..... yes , technicalitys aside , they could be seen by some as illegal.

 

[Guy]

Radar Detectors

There is a scam (definitely not recommended) where they can be mocked up to double as a garage door opener. I agree, perverting the course of Justice is how some (the Officer and the Magistrates?) would be likely to see it.
And espacially so if the device was fitted so as to pretend to be something its not, don't you think?

 

[steveperry]

Radar Detectors

How about adding to this debate

What do people think about special numberplates that are supposedly impossible/difficult to photograph if the old radar detector has spotted you?

Personally, I doubt I'd sh*ll
out for any of the equipment previously discussed. I find the best tool in my arsenal for dodging cops on the motorway is my cruise control

S.

(Edited by steveperry at 1:22 am on Feb. 22, 2002)


(Edited by steveperry at 1:24 am on Feb. 22, 2002)

 

[Guy]

Radar Detectors

I'd like to know which motorway! I'm forever knocking mine on and off because of the amount of traffic and the variations in speed.
The Speed limiter is the best tool, if your car has it.

As to number plates, I wouldn't touch them. Seems to me there's a big difference between a device that alerts you to the presence of some kind of speed trap, ( radar or GPS) and a device that is deliberately designed to frustrate its operation ( like laser jammer or reflective plates).

I think the latter are potentially going to get you into a lot more trouble if you are caught using them.

Just my opinion...

 

[Matt Crooke]

Radar Detectors

I was reading an article on a plate manufacturers website the other day, the are possible to make, but are totally illegal as we know. What i found funny is that the website claims to be able to make un-photographable plates, and can get away with it!

 

[Merc]

Radar Detectors

I'm intruiged,(not sure of spelling),Whats the site,can you tell!!!

regards

 

[Matt Crooke]

Radar Detectors

Merc,

http://www.regplate.demon.co.uk/cvg-plates.html

take a look!!!

scroll down the page till you get to the Camera Shy bit