Radar Detectors

[KatoKato]

Hello,

I live in Canada where radar detectors are illegal.
Many times I've thought about buying one but I've heard a couple of urban myths that keep me from doing so. Since they are legal in the US I figure some of you will know the truth when it comes to these babies.

1. I've heard that the police have "radar detector - detectors". Is there such a thing? Or is it just the keen observation of the police officer that results in a car being pulled over for having a radar detector? ... and then confiscated and possible fine.

2. Lasers - We have these up here and apparently there is no way to detect them. Of the ads for detectors I've seen, some say they detect the laser. Is this possible? ... If so how good are they at it?

Any input would be appreciated,
Thanks in advance,

[Blanco]

Kato,

The truth is that there is a radar detector- detector.

There is plenty of good info at www.valentine1.com which is by far the best detector out there.

Alex

[KatoKato]

D'Oh!

Perhaps I'll stay detector free...and just dream about the possibility.

Thanks,
Kato

Originally posted by Blanco
Kato,

The truth is that there is a radar detector- detector.

There is plenty of good info at www.valentine1.com which is by far the best detector out there.

Alex

[howiee]

I live in Ottawa and have a few cop conections here.

1st. They do sell radar detector -detectors but they cost alot of $. Ottawa has a few but the budget isn't there for the whole fleet to have some.

We also have laser here, but just like every other type of instant on radar if you are all alone on the road and you get an instant scream from the detector, you've been hit. Ain't nothing you can do about it. If there is lots of traffic movement around you, you will get the refections from the other cars to warn you. If you get stopped, unplug the unit right away and shove it down your crotch, they can search your car but not you. Also, the law in Ontario is it's illegal to use a detector but not to own one. If they do see the detector most cops will ask you to prove that it doesn't work.......ie step out of your car and accidently smash it on the road. Then they can't prove it worked.

If you do want to buy one they are legal in Alberta. Go on line and check out Futureshop in Calgary, they sell them all.

Good luck.

[IceBlueSC]

Originally posted by KatoKato
I live in Canada where radar detectors are illegal.

Actually, radar detectors are legal in a few provinces such as British Columbia.

For me, my Valentine One has saved my butt a few times!

Cheers,
(from the rest of Canada)

Michael

[KatoKato]

Originally posted by howiee
radar detector - detectors ..... they cost alot of $. Ottawa has a few but the budget isn't there for the whole fleet to have some .... the law in Ontario is it's illegal to use a detector but not to own one. If they do see the detector most cops will ask you to prove that it doesn't work.......ie step out of your car and accidently smash it on the road. Then they can't prove it worked.

If you do want to buy one they are legal in Alberta. Go on line and check out Futureshop in Calgary, they sell them all.

Very interesting. So since they are legal to own I could purchase from Alberta, B.C., or from the US?

As far as hiding the unit if pulled over ... sounds like the only option after spending $500 or so on the unit.

Perhaps I'll think more about it.

Cheers,
Kato

[KatoKato]

Originally posted by howiee
...Go on line and check out Futureshop in Calgary, they sell them all...

I checked out future shop online and it seems they have them hidden somewhere.

What search parameters bring them up?

I tried radar, radar detector, radar locator, valentine one, valentine, etc...

nothing???

[RickM]

Actually they're not legal in every state in the US. I believe in Conneticut it was legal to own a detector and have it in your car but not legal to have it turned on.

[howiee]

Sorry about that.
You have to call them. Also they do not ship them out of province. I paid for it over the phone and had a friend in Calgary pick it up and ship it to me. They don't sell the valintine but carry Escort, Cobra and the cheaper models.

So the worse case sinario is you loose your detector and you have a pissed off cop who will now give you the full ticket. ( no reduction) But if you play with speed quite a bit it will probably save you $$$$$$$$ before this happens.

[Dantilla]

A cop friend of mine has his own detector detector system.

He'll come up behind a group of cars going too fast, and blip his radar on for a second. The cars that hit the brakes instantly have detectors.

The result is the entire group slows down, and the cop feels he has done his job without writing any tickets.

[84porsche]

I have a radar detector in my car - Bel 980. It is an older model but I use when I know I am blatantly going to drive fast or drive in an area that I don't know. Otherwise I really don't use it because I know my driving route, I know where possible speed traps are and can slow down enough before I reach those points. Radar detectors will not save you from a ticket if you are doing 120 in a 55 and fly by the officer, keep your eyes open and moving and watch for common signals like everyone else hitting their brakes. Don't hit your brakes but lift your foot of the gas. Those those hit the brakes can cause someone at the end of the line to hit and cause a chain reaction that leads to 5-10 car pile ups. Their are so many techniques to effective and safe driving if you are going to go over the speed limit.

[pwd72s]

Valentine ONLY sells direct...no middlemen

[Emission]

Originally posted by Blanco
There is plenty of good info at www.valentine1.com which is by far the best detector out there.

Subjective comment.

I bought both the Valentine One and Escort 8500. I returned the Valentine and bought a second Escort 8500.

The directional arrows on the V1 were "cool" (and helpful) but they also slowed my reaction time (I would hear the alert, look at the display for a second to determine where my hit was coming from - traveling another 100 feet or so - then slow down. With the Escort, I hear the alerts and slow immediately).

I have never received a radar ticket when driving with the Escorts.

Both are excellent units - if you know how to use them.

[Hendog]

"The West is the Best". Radar Detectors are quite legal in Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC. Not that I care much for them. I own one only because it came with the car.

[Hladun]

I have a Bel 880 and live in Alberta (legal). The killer here is photo radar and with the 911 it's SO EASY to be 10 to 15 mph over the limit. These are not big tickets, but they add up.

Does it work? Without it in one year I was half way to losing my license and with it I haven't gotten a ticket in 3 years. Might be just luck, but I've noticed two factors in my favour. One, radar is so easy for the police they can write their quota of tickets without being tricky. Usually they just leave their radar on all the time and go for the real juicy tickets. Two, you learn were they are and what they look like so you actually adjust your driving habits.

I would never drive a sports car without it.

[FrayAdjacent911]

You could do what a guy I know did, although I don't know how it would work out in a p-car. He got a unit with a remote sensor and remote display/controls. He mounted the sensors behind the front bumper, and wired up the display/controls in his ash tray in the cabin. Nice stealth type radar detector.

Unfortunately, I don't know what make/model detector he got.

[Purrybonker]

I would heavily caution you against using a radar detector in Ont or any other jurisdiction where they are illegal. You will lose it; think about it this way...

Your chances of getting a ticket driving without a detector are pretty remote. I know it seems like cops are out to get us - but really, it almost has to be a "perfect storm" before we get nailed, right? Cops might be looking for you - but only when you speed.

Now if you drive with an illegal detector, you've just raised the bar about hundred notches on the scale of probability that you'll get caught. Cops are always looking for you (at least passively) whether you're speeding or not. And when they find you - they will not be happy campers. And when they find you; your sins will cost you much more dearly than simply the wages of speeding.

Without detector: you speed you might get caught.

With detector: you drive you might get caught - with much larger consequences.

...you decide.

I got 5 miles across the Sask/Man border (into Man) before I got nailed with mine. I just forgot (honestly) to turn it off. Nice RCMP let me keep it. Nailed again in Ontario - nice OPP let me keep it. Everyone loves an Albertan - you ain't so lucky.

Laser jammers are legal everywhere (afaik) and are pretty much undetectable. Escort unit works like a charm. Valentine useless against laser. Go for it...

[84porsche]

A good way to test your laser radar detectors is too drive near an airport. They use the laser radar for planes on approach. My detector always goes insane near LAX or JWA.

[KatoKato]

Agreed on the following use. That's how most survive without them.
Thanks for all of the great responses!

Kato

Originally posted by 84porsche
... I use when I know I am blatantly going to drive fast or drive in an area that I don't know. Otherwise I really don't use it because I know my driving route, I know where possible speed traps are and can slow down enough before I reach those points....

[Bill Verburg]

They use the laser radar for planes on approach. My detector always goes insane near LAX or JWA.

That explains it

I thought that the local gendarms had a permanent laser speed trap by the airport

Thanks for explaining that little mystery!