I have long since said I haven't needed a radar detector since the highway speed limits went back up from the old 55 mph nonsense but Montgomery County (in MD) is installing permanent photo radar sites everywhere on surface streets. Many are placed where the speed limit drops 10 mph for no apparent reason so going "5 over" in a 40 might get you into a ticket when the limit drops to 30 at the photo radar site. This is causing me to reevaluate.
Some of the new detectors are very cool, including GPS capability and updatable databases of photo radar locations (Escort 9500xi) . They often have a button so you can add a new photo radar site manually. This is important because it is likely that the databases will lag realtime. The GPS tie-in gives you an alert when you approach any of the photo radar locations before you are even in range of the radar. I also found one unit that just does the GPS photo radar alerts w/o having an actual radar detector. Maybe another good use for a blendmount.
Only have experience with a standard radar detector. Very pleased with my beltronics 955. Very receptive unit. Worth every penny and then some. Make sure you hardwire it. Nothing more annoying then a giant coiled cord stretched across the windshield. And battery operated units are nowhere near as good as wired ones.
Last edited by Stringer99; 01-02-2009 at 08:09 AM.
Don't have a radar detector, but I've had far too much experience with those damn speed traps and red light cameras. I share your frustration. They're all over Chattanooga, but luckily Birmingham (where I go to school) doesn't have any yet. It's unconstitutional as it violates the presumption of innocence and the tickets are not even criminal charges because cops can't charge you without seeing you so when you get a ticket it's a 'civil matter'. What it is is extortion.
At least we're not in London, though. They are at every intersection there. I heard once of a group of people going around in London and shooting the cameras so that the number of tickets wouldn't outweigh the cost of new cameras. Of course, that just led to more cameras to catch the shooters.
Big Brother is watching you.
__________________
'06, PreRunner, V6, SR5, TRD Sport, Access Cab
It's better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.
Tom Jackson - Birmingham, AL
Many are placed where the speed limit drops 10 mph for no apparent reason so going "5 over" in a 40 might get you into a ticket when the limit drops to 30 at the photo radar site.
I hate when police do that crap! If you ask me that is a form of entrapment. Can you say speed trap?
I don't have nor will I buy a radar detector. I have not had a ticket (speeding or otherwise) for more than 35 years. If you drive responsibly and within limits you don't have a problem. (Yes, I do tend to drive at times a little over the posted limits.) In Arizona the photo radar are set to flash when you exceed the posted by more than 10mph. There is plenty of lee way. I don't like speed traps either, but if you pay attention they are not an issue. Definitely check state/country laws before you buy. I may be wrong, but I thought Canada (parts of?) outlawed the use of detectors years ago. Not sure about States, maybe Montana, Hawaii?
__________________
2006 TRD Sport 4x4 Access Cab, Silver, auto
/\ Exactly. I have not had nor needed a detector since the speed limits on the highways were made reasonable again with the demise of the stupid 55 limit. And there is generally little enforcement around here (I think there actually needs to be more) so driving reasonably was enough. But these sneaky photo radar installations are a problem, at least until you learn where they are.... And easy to forget and be just a little late in decelerating and you're hosed.
There's one small town in Chattanooga that has ludicrously low speed limits (35 mph on a road where you could comfortably drive 60 - 4 wide lanes in a perfectly straight line) and has a van that can be parked on the side of the road that will take your picture if you're going too fast.
I'm okay with the cameras if they're used to slow people down in areas with a long history of bad wrecks, but I know of only one such place. (Speed limit is 40, which is fine, and road gets really slick and people drive 80mph through the curves. There have been at least a dozen deaths in the last 10 years, so those cameras I'm okay with.) Every other place they have these cameras it is not for safety, it is for profit.
The police are supposed to protect and serve, not harass and annoy. Most of these cameras aren't protecting or serving anyone (except for the pockets of our notoriously greedy local governments).
__________________
'06, PreRunner, V6, SR5, TRD Sport, Access Cab
It's better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.
Tom Jackson - Birmingham, AL
Well I am not sure about the MD traffic laws but there will most likely be a grace period when the speed limit changes, etc so many feet. They will most likely put the camera far enough away that you have plenty of time to notice the speed change and change your speed. I could not see them putting it at the speed limit sign itself. The judge would not even pay attention to it. They will most likely take a picture of any vehicle that is going over the posted speed limit but you will most likely not get a ticket unless you are using excessive speeds, probably 10+. I would not even worry about a radar detector. It may work for the cameras but it will not work for patrol cars, fyi. Just obey the traffic laws.
I travel thru Montgomery Co for work. My radar detector is about 5-7 years old and it picks up the signal from the camera radar just fine. Not much time to react, but it does work.
It has been my "personal experience" that the speed cameras usually give you a 10 mph grace. I got nabbed oin one a few weeks ago doing 43 in a 30, and I know I travel above 30 thru the same zone every day.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
. Just obey the traffic laws.
Linear Mode
