I'm just curious from any of you who have used radar detectors:

-I'm guessing that if you manage to get pulled over with a radar detector in full view that the officer is less likely to give you a break or a warning, and is more inclined to be hostile, issue a ticket with points, and to appear in court if you choose to fight the ticket (because he figures you have a 'tude and wants to make sure that you pay for it). Do you find this to be the case, or do you find their to be no appreciable difference, i.e. the cop may be a bit more brusque with a detector than without, but would have given you a ticket, regardless.

-Overall, do you believe that radar detectors have ultimately spared you from fines and court appearances, or did you end up with largely the same results that you would have had without one? (For example, perhaps there are enough agencies using aircraft, instant-on radar, pacing, VASCAR, etc. that you end up getting tickets, anyway, or you may be adept enough at spotting cops by other means so that you end up avoiding tickets without a detector just about as well as you would with one. I'm also wondering whether they provide a false sense of security that might cause you to get sloppy and end up getting cited by other means.)

I pose these questions because I'm thinking of getting a radar detector, even though I haven't had a ticket in years. (And yes, I routinely exceed the limit on freeways, so I am a good candidate for getting one.) But between the cost, agitating the cops (I have managed to talk my way out of tickets before) and the increased likelihood of a car break-in if I leave it in full view while parked, I'm hesitant to take the plunge.

Your thoughts would be appreciated. TIA.

Most local police leave the radar on so it is easy for the V1 to spot them far in advance. In NY State, the troopers use instant-on KA band from the oncoming lane. Even with the V1 alert, my reaction time was too slow (or speed far too high to slow down to the speed limit) resulting in a ticket. When I saw him speed up and head for the U-turn path, I quickly put the V1 & cord away before he caught up to me. Here in Massachusetts and also in Connecticut you have to watch for laser. By the time the V1 beeps, you're clocked. Watch for a parked cruiser with an open window. Laser only works from a parked car and can't go through glass.

Have Valentine1s hardwired into each of our three cars: '04 TT3.2Q; '04 Jetta TDI; '03 allroad. Love them! Have not been pulled over in 20 years. They save our bacon every day. If you drive smoothly and do not follow too close, the added margin provided by the Valentine1 is all you need. I especially like the location arrows and radar count features.

Doubt that times I've been pulled over detector inclusion or non-existence made any difference. I've been polite to them, they've been polite to me, but in general ticket was issued largely because speed I was clocked at was locked-into their radars.

My V1 is mounted above my rear view mirror, cannot be seen from the outside looking in.

first off to answer your questions in order...
1. ive been pulled over 3 times with my detector (never got the ticket and its in plain sight)... also none were for speeding

2. a radar detector is only half the battle... if you aren't safe from laser (i.e. laser jammer) than you just have a false sense of security...

that being said since getting my passport 8500 x50 i have no tickets for speeding... when i easily could have had many...

so to answer your question ... its saved me many times, but don't get a false sense of security from it, because it won't keep you safe from laser

good luck!

Though I am quite good at spotting cops I want to be backed up with a detector that just says theres cops around. Nothin that jams their signals.

I find that with the A4 speeding becomes a serious issue ;)

get no leniancy (sp) on the speed. however, that is waht lawyers are for. you have to be very careful with laser (get a lidatek for that), and also they can do instant on radar and still get you. So you can easily still get tickets with a radar detector.

I use a v1, cops know its the best, but it doesn't mean you won't get a ticket.

I've thought about it, but I don't really drive too crazily. And if I do, I make sure the road is deserted and I am constantly looking for police. Frankly the risk in driving really fast isn't worth it. From potential fines, increased insurance premiums, and safety...eh, I can keep it in check. I know I can control my car, it's other people I am worried about. It's just easier and more relaxing to move with the traffic, rather than trying to pass everyone on the road, just because you can. Of course I am 35, which seems to be quite a bit older than most of the people who post here. If I am going to drive aggressively, usually it will be getting up to the speed limit.

I haven't had a speeding ticket in probably 15 years. Frankly with as bad as traffic is around here (Seattle area) I rarely have an opportunity to get up much over 70 anyway. Also, compared to the D.C.-Baltimore area where I used to live, there are FAR less traffic patrols out here. I almost never see police.

I have a few relatives who are (or were) state troopers. They all say that if they give a warning rather than a ticket, the primary factor is how likely the speeder is to "learn their lesson" from the warning. Young guy, fast car, touch of an attitude is going to get a ticket in almost all cases. They view their job as preventing speeding, and the only time they will give a warning is if they feel it will effectively prevent that driver from speeding in the future. Take that for what it is worth. And slow down you crazy kids! <shakes cane> :-p

When my passengers see a cop car and my detector doesn't beep, they ask me why it didn't detect that? Duh! Or, they bash the V1 and say it's not doing it's job.

For crying out loud, it's a radar detector. Not a cop car detector. It doesn't scan the area for miles and take pictures of cars analyzing which are cop cars and which aren't. Jeez.

How many people have gotten comments from passengers like these?

most people who get in my car are like that think is a big piece.... a cop just drove by...

i was like you understand the concept of radar detection right?

it drives me crazy... then i know people who are like i don't need a detector i just know how to avoid them... i can't wait for them to get tickets (secretly of course :) )

its like hmmm... i know about the radar more than a mile in advance and im able to get down to normal speed without so much as the brake lights coming on once... those people see cops and rail on the brakes...

also people have the misconception that if a cop isn't radaring he wont pull you over...

when they pull people over doing speed match all the time

finding cop cars won't help you when they have your speed before you can see them sometimes

its that on city roads with speed limits of 40-45 its easy to be driving a controlled and not crazy minimum of 60... and so a 15-20 mph over ticket is huge

also on the highways they are sometimes hard to spot....

i mix in half radar detector, half me constantly scanning and looking around... especially now with the surplus of unmarked cops everywhere its become a challenge to say the least... and then mix it i don't have laser jammers it makes the matter even more difficult

p.s. i have noticed getting a detector has made me become a much more catious and aware driver (if that makes sense)... rather than using it for a false sense of security... im constantly making mental notes of where cops hide and things like that

When I was younger I had one. It saved me from a few tickets. It also got me a big one in Virginia (where they are illegal) because my wife was driving and hit the brakes hard doing 70 in a 55 at night, pretty much announcing to the trooper, that she was speeding AND had a detector.

In the end, I just decided for myself to pay attention and drive a little slower.

*KNOCK ON WOOD* I haven't had a ticket in years and I drive ALOT.

I'm not knocking detectors at all. They're a tool that, when understood and used properly (and legally) can save you a few tickets.

They can also, possibly, cost you one from time to time.

if I was in a state where they were illegal id have that with a stealhy mounting location maybe on the visor... and in the event i was pulled over i'd just take it down really quick

I can tell you that after i got the V1, i never got a ticket. It has saved me many times and i find it was very worth the money. Some people say its a waste of the extra 50-100 dollars but i dont think so, its nice to know where the cop is, and its just amazing to know your protected. I got it about 5 months and it has saved me numerous times which in the long run has pretty much cost less money to buy the protector than pay the tickets i would have gotten. good luck!

I've "cruzed" past quite a few MA storm troopers - they have advanced technology. I get feed back from the detector when I'm in towns. My detector tells me which "band" is active. There seems to be alot of X and K bands in parking lots...

So far, no new tickets... (with detector) whewwww - ;)

its the sliding doors in shopping plazas...

i have X-band turned off...

and with my passport i use the mode showing multiple bogeys ...

because i drive by areas that will commonly give k-band falses with sliding doors... so i am more likely to tell is a cop is hiding in a location where you are likely to dismiss k-band

As has been said, any question of consideration by the officer is gone. And they can do a lot - a warning instead of a ticket, a ticket for a lesser speed, etc. Having a detector means (to most I'll bet) maximum ticket(s).

When the interstate speed limit was 55 was one thing. Now there are reasonable posted speeds and that's fine for me. Around town there are too many false alarms to make it useful, IMHO.

the top 3 detectors....
v1, passport 8500 x50, bel pro rx65, and others...

have bogey counters...

the passport has of the 3 the best filters (not that the others have bad filters)

in other words between bogey counters and pretty good false filters... its pretty unmistakable whether its a cop or not.

Not to mention Ka-band is a cop 99.9% of the time (atleast i've never experienced Ka not being a cop)

K-band is 50/50 ... but when its a false it becomes routine and with the bogey counter you can eliminate the falses

anyway what I'm getting at is... its absolutely very helpful and as for the ticket part... i have been pulled over 3 times since having the detector (none for speeding)... i didn't pull the detector from the windshield and i got away with a warning each time...

now if it concerned you why wouldn't you simply just take the detector down before the cop came up to you

The top radar detectors WILL tell you what bands it scans in the area. One radar detector will point what band and in what direction. Around town it's useful for me. I don't want to go above the limit, but it helps me check my speed because a good, solid car will make you forget how fast you may be going. I don't want my eye constantly on the speedometer and be up on my toes as I drive. As I keep my eye on the road, the audio assistance from the detector will help keep me alert - a simple audible beep will make me check the band, the direction and my speed - all in less than a second.

I don't know why there's this notion that getting caught with a detector is a no-no. Prior to my detector, I've received 2 speeding tickets.

With the detector, one cop that caught me speeding toward the HOV Lane (Carpool). I was entering the freeway and rushing towards the left-most to avoid the oncoming traffic. While avoiding the slow cars, I barely missed the carpool lane and nicked the solid lane. The cop rushed from behind, told me to pull over by going to the next exit. My V1 NEVER alerted me of anything. So unless he was using some high tech band that we the detectors don't know of, it's not his day. When we stopped I put my window down and asked why he pulled me over (that's a tip for you guys, always ask what he pulls you over with. Never assume and be the first to give away to show guilt. Ever heard of the statement "anything you say can and will be used against you").

He told me I was "speeding toward the HOV lane." I told him I was not speeding while pointing to my detector above my rear-view mirror. He immediately replied he wasn't pulling me over for speeding. He said I crossed the solid yellow lane. I said it was not intentional, but he issued the ticket and I told him right there I will contest this in court. I did. He never showed up.

My other incident (my second speeding ticket) prior to having a detector, this cop pulled me and another car along I-5 North around Bakersfield area. He clocked me at 98 MPH, but I was being extra friendly and asked in a nice way why he chose us two which was the last of the pack of 5 cars. He said he couldn't get all of us. At the end of the conversation, he said he'll just put 80 MPH on the ticket so I can take driving school. This was with my previous record in my license which already had another 98 MPH ticket on a 65 MPH zone (still along I-5 in the Ventura area), which made me ineligible for driving school for that incident.

Anyway, having a radar detector or not having anything at all doesn't make one innocent or guilty. If you deal with a $hitty cop, then there's nothing you can do. If the cop is having a good day, then his attitude can rub on your luck.

A detector is not the end-all, ultimate device to save your ass. But if you use it the right way, then you can have the odds in your favor.

Of course, for those who don't speed then it's a moot point.
The best way not to get a ticket is to not speed. But for the rest of us leadfoots, there's a device that can keep us in check.

but we don't have to argue. I don't speed much and I have a good lawyer. I can't freaking stand extra noise either, esp high-pitched tones. And it may sound silly, but I respect that the speed limit was raised back to where it should have been all along. If you were driving back when the national speed limit was 55, you'll understand... :-)

I appreciate your input, and the discussion was helpful.

I may just get a V-1 at this rate (in California, detectors are legal, and I don't believe that the cops have detector detectors, so there's no need to get a fully stealth unit), I'll just have to figure out a good place to mount it.

if that is a concern go for the Bel Sti that just came out, its supposed to be undetectable...

i wouldn't bother with a stealth mount... id hardwire it to the fuse box, run the wire up the a-pillar, in the headliner, and down right behind the rear view mirror... thats where i have mine, so it sits just below the rear view which is the perfect location... too low down and you get interefence with sun off your hood... too high could hurt rear detection...

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39591/hardwired_passport_rs6.jpg">

i no longer have x-band on, but you get the idea
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/39591/hardwired_passport_k_x.jpg">