So you are on your way to work running late for an important meeting when you take a turn around a bend in the road and when you straighten out again you see lights flashing and a siren behind you. You were caught speeding, and now not only are you going to have to pay an expensive speeding ticket but your insurance is also going to get more expensive. All of this could have been avoided with one simple tool, one simple piece of equipment, a radar detector.
First, we need to learn how a radar gun works before we can understand how a radar detector functions. Most radar guns work by transmitting radio waves and bouncing them off objects (your vehicle) and then receiving them again. A radar detector however detects the radio waves the radar gun is transmitting before it can reflect off your vehicle. So by being able to pick up these waves you are able know when someone is measuring your speed, most specifically police officers.
Radar detectors come in 3 main types cordless, corded and remote mounted units. Corded units are usually the cheapest and the plug right into your car's cigarette lighter and they typically have better range. One corded radar detector unit we looked at was the Escort 8500. It was very easy to install and detected radars 10/10 times we tested it. The only drawback is the high price tag of $300, but when you think about the money it will save you on speeding tickets, it is well worth it!
Cordless units lack in many areas. They need to have batteries replaced constantly and have more limited range and functionality tan corded counter-parts. The upside however, is that you have no cords and your cigarette lighter is free to be used for other such things. There are only a few high quality cordless models one of them is Escort's Solo 2. It has surprisingly good range despite other cordless models but it is still not up to par with a corded detector.
The final type of radar detectors are remote mounted units. These detectors are typically more concealed than other detectors but are more expensive and not very easy to remove. These should always be professionally installed.
Radar detectors are legal in most U.S. states excluding Virginia and Washington D.C. Radar detectors are also illegal on or near military bases or camps. Commercial trucks that exceed 10,000 pounds are not permitted to have radar detectors in them. Police use special technology that can detect when a radar is being used and track it's location down as well.
A radar detector is a necessity for any automobile driver that may get a little heavy-footed. Although no radar detector will work 100% of the time, they might save you from pesky speeding tickets once in a while. They can be expensive but if they save you from paying tickets and higher insurance costs it is well worth it.
First, we need to learn how a radar gun works before we can understand how a radar detector functions. Most radar guns work by transmitting radio waves and bouncing them off objects (your vehicle) and then receiving them again. A radar detector however detects the radio waves the radar gun is transmitting before it can reflect off your vehicle. So by being able to pick up these waves you are able know when someone is measuring your speed, most specifically police officers.
Radar detectors come in 3 main types cordless, corded and remote mounted units. Corded units are usually the cheapest and the plug right into your car's cigarette lighter and they typically have better range. One corded radar detector unit we looked at was the Escort 8500. It was very easy to install and detected radars 10/10 times we tested it. The only drawback is the high price tag of $300, but when you think about the money it will save you on speeding tickets, it is well worth it!
Cordless units lack in many areas. They need to have batteries replaced constantly and have more limited range and functionality tan corded counter-parts. The upside however, is that you have no cords and your cigarette lighter is free to be used for other such things. There are only a few high quality cordless models one of them is Escort's Solo 2. It has surprisingly good range despite other cordless models but it is still not up to par with a corded detector.
The final type of radar detectors are remote mounted units. These detectors are typically more concealed than other detectors but are more expensive and not very easy to remove. These should always be professionally installed.
Radar detectors are legal in most U.S. states excluding Virginia and Washington D.C. Radar detectors are also illegal on or near military bases or camps. Commercial trucks that exceed 10,000 pounds are not permitted to have radar detectors in them. Police use special technology that can detect when a radar is being used and track it's location down as well.
A radar detector is a necessity for any automobile driver that may get a little heavy-footed. Although no radar detector will work 100% of the time, they might save you from pesky speeding tickets once in a while. They can be expensive but if they save you from paying tickets and higher insurance costs it is well worth it.
Published by Kevin Hofer
I like to write stuff cause its fun and entertaining. I write about all sorts of things and I enjoy it a lot. View profile
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- Corded detectors generally have better range.
- No radar detector is 100% accurate all of the time.
- Cordless detectors are very weak and problem-prone.
Speeding more than 15 miles over the speed limit in California is a felony,



3 Comments
Post a CommentAs you may know, Virginia is the only state that bans the use and sale of detectors. There is no evidence that the detector ban increases highway safety. Our nation’s fatality rates have fallen consistently for almost two decades. Virginia’s fatality rate has also fallen, but not any more dramatically than it has nationwide. Research has even shown that radar detector owners have a lower accident rate than motorists who do not own a detector.
Maintaining the ban is not in the best interest of Virginians or visitors to the state. I know and know of people that will not drive in Virginia due to this ban. Unjust enforcement practices are not unheard of, and radar detectors can keep safe motorists from being exploited by abusive speed traps. Likewise, the ban has a negative impact on Virginia’s business community. Electronic distributors lose business to neighboring states and Virginia misses out on valuable sales tax revenue.
Radar detector bans do not work. Research and experie
Well I guess nearly everyone is a felon in California then. Obviously, you have never driven on a California freeway because if you had, you would know this. I chalk it up to "check the facts"....
No way is it a felony if you go more than 15 mph over the speed limit in California. That law, coupled with the three strikes and you're out, would mean if you get caught going 71 in a 55 three times, you go to jail for life.