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OT: Radar detectors

JHop6714

Well-Known Member
Oct 31, 2016
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Texas
Question for anyone older than me around here...growing up in Texas in the 80s and early 90s, I remember being in SEVERAL cars of friends, family, etc.. who had radar detectors in their cars. I was thinking about the novelty of such an item the other day and realized I haven't seen them in forever. Just curious if anyone has any thoughts or knowledge about why not? What has changed that makes all the people who wanted radar detectors no longer want them? Smart phones haven't replaced their capability in any way, but it seems for some reason like it was a trend for a certain time period only.
 
Many cops have switched from radar to laser. Back in the day when radar guns came out (40 years ago) it was easy to detect the broad band that a cop's radar gun emitted. Then the po po got a upgrade in the form of laser guns. The radar detector was rendered useless. Now you have to have a directional jammer. It jams the laser and gives you enough time to slow your roll. Some states have outlawed them.

Pro tip--- leave 5 minutes earlier and you won't need to speed.
 
I haven't had a speeding ticket in over 20 years.... the speeding ticket I did get was for 47 in a 40, 20 years ago. I typically keep it to no more than 7 over posted speed.
 
Wow, I haven't even thought about radar detectors in ages. Weird, since I was one that always had an escort on my dash in late 80s/early 90s. Thing is, I don't remember ever making a decision not to use them anymore. I guess they just faded from my mind at some point, and never thought about them again. Strange. Dammit, now I gotta try find a Radio Shack. Lol

Btw, are we freakin bored or what? We got threads about recessions, Mexican elections, radar detectors, and people doing dumb sh*t. All topics greater than kickball. Keep up the good work.
 
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Wow, I haven't even thought about radar detectors in ages. Weird, since I was one that always had an escort on my dash in late 80s/early 90s. Thing is, I don't remember ever making a decision not to use them anymore. I guess they just faded from my mind at some point, and never thought about them again. Strange. Dammit, now I gotta try find a Radio Shack. Lol

I drive fast on the highways (85 to 90), so there's that. They still work and have saved me $$$ over the years. Cool thing is, now they're much smaller and more sophisticated than the older models.
 
MM, are you saying I wouldn't have to worry about that small suitcase sized Escort blocking my view? Lol.
 
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Who needs a stinkin radar detector?



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Hook'em
 
I used to run radar on our trucks. I had the same radar that most PD's used at that time.If I had known then what I know now I doubt I would have ever paid a ticket.

Times radar just will not work:
* in the rain( a hard rain)
*while driving next to a moving train

Surprising times it DOES work:
* right through those chain link fences on top of those barriers dividing freeway lanes

Radar tends to lock on to the fastest moving and /or biggest vehicle coming toward it. It holds onto it until it reaches the 180 degree mark. That is the only definite way you know which vehicle you are reading. Very hard for police to say with absolute certainty which target they caught.

I suspect Laser takes care of these issues. Also.....it is totally irrelevent whether you are guilty or not. The ONLY thing that matters is how the judge decides. That is not a cliche, it is life.
 
Thing is about law enforcement and moving violations, DWI's, etc., is its all about the money. I call them mobile revenue generating stations. City and county law enforcement doesn't give a damn about "making the roads safer". Its all about generating revenue for the city and county under the guise of "law enforcement". Just a legal way to steal money from people. :rolleyes:
 
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%110 El facto

Thing is about law enforcement and moving violations, DWI's, etc., is its all about the money. I call them mobile revenue generating stations. City and county law enforcement doesn't give a damn about "making the roads safer". Its all about generating revenue for the city and county under the guise of "law enforcement". Just a legal way to steal money from people. :rolleyes:
 
I agree with the city just wanting revenue. Just look at what they have budgeted every year in $$$ from tickets handed out.
 
Thing is about law enforcement and moving violations, DWI's, etc., is its all about the money. I call them mobile revenue generating stations. City and county law enforcement doesn't give a damn about "making the roads safer". Its all about generating revenue for the city and county under the guise of "law enforcement". Just a legal way to steal money from people. :rolleyes:

MM...I love ya man, but this is wrong on so many levels I cant even begin to comment.
I do understand that there have been and still are "speed traps" operated by crooked local officials, but these tend to be shut down in time. City Police and State DPS simply are enforcing the law. To say they are stealing simply is not correct.
 
MM...I love ya man, but this is wrong on so many levels I cant even begin to comment.
I do understand that there have been and still are "speed traps" operated by crooked local officials, but these tend to be shut down in time. City Police and State DPS simply are enforcing the law. To say they are stealing simply is not correct.
Selma......... that's all I'm going to say. Selma Texas was the WORST.
 
Experienced Selma firsthand. Sum itches. The old city building that you had to pay your ticket I believe is now a Mexican restaurant.
 
Selma is a good example of what I said.....the crooked ones will in time be shut down.

Side story.....One day driving to Austin right after a heavy rain. Some dumb ass goes flying by me and the Selma cop who was south bound lights up and u turns in the median...It was so soft he sank so deep he couldnt even open his doors. Cars just went slowly by honking and giving him the bird.....damned funny
 
MM...I love ya man, but this is wrong on so many levels I cant even begin to comment.
I do understand that there have been and still are "speed traps" operated by crooked local officials, but these tend to be shut down in time. City Police and State DPS simply are enforcing the law. To say they are stealing simply is not correct.

oldhorn, with all due respect, if it ain't about the money, then when LE pulls people over for a moving violation and they've "broken the law", then give them a warning/ticket with no fine. Then report it to the state on people's driving record so it counts against them with points, with no fine levied until they reach a certain threshold of points against them on their driving record. Think the cities, counties or state will consider that and forfeit the money to be made from writing up "law breakers"? I'm thinking not, since its all about the money for them.
 
WAZE app is the modern tech version of the CB. Works great on major highways and roads but not so much on less travelled roads as it relies on driver reports.

As for why their are so fewer radar detectors; we raised speed limits back up and most people are quite satisfied with doing 70-75mph after the 55mph era.
 
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MM...I guess we are gonna disagree on this one. I am in favor of increasing all fine amounts for speeding violations. I see it as any time someone is upwards of 90mph, they are putting everyone on the road at risk. I dont buy into the argument that..."I know what I am doing and I am in control"....There are so many damned variables that can happen that make this a pipe dream. The issue I have with those that are certain that they are in control is that this is entirely self assessed

Look around you the next time you are on the highway. All those cars......and you know who is driving them? The correct answer is NOBODY!....Everyone in those cars is just riding along including the person behind the wheel. Every.damned.one of them is texting, watching movies, talking on the phone, putting on makeup, changing clothes, making out,having sex, reading books, fighting with other passengers, or sleeping.
I say fine em all!
 
Waze helps me when driving to and from Austin, San Antonio, Corpus etc.. it works 90% of the time. Also helps with debris in the road and broken down vehicles.
 
The individual officers aren't in it to pad the cities budget. They want to keep the peace by enforcing laws. The cities on the other hand are an extension of big government and their lust for cash is insatiable. If I were an officer, this would be one of my biggest hangups about the job. I wouldn't care so much about using force to restrain would be criminals when they resist.
 
^^^
On top of the municipalities that give officers quotas you've got the present seizure rules that allow law enforcement to keep what they seize adding departmental pressures as well.
 
Keep what they seize?....You mean like in drug busts?...What else do they ever seize?I say bravo!...Let em keep all that stuff.Better the cops have it than the cartels....and dont give me that regular citizen crap....uh...like the friendly neighborhood Meth cook?...Screw all of them too.
 
Keep what they seize?....You mean like in drug busts?...What else do they ever seize?I say bravo!...Let em keep all that stuff.Better the cops have it than the cartels....and dont give me that regular citizen crap....uh...like the friendly neighborhood Meth cook?...Screw all of them too.
"Oh look! There's Bob. Bob lives down by the river and is the neighborhood meth cook. Friendly guy, that Bob....."
 
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Keep what they seize?....You mean like in drug busts?...What else do they ever seize?I say bravo!...Let em keep all that stuff.Better the cops have it than the cartels....and dont give me that regular citizen crap....uh...like the friendly neighborhood Meth cook?...Screw all of them too.
If due process and proving guilt in court were involved I’d have no issue. Mere suspicion as the bar I have huge issues with.
 
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Dude in Rockdale had over 800k in his car. Was drunk and fell asleep, cops got him and his money. Cops ended up keeping around 500k. Don’t think it was drug money, think it was from being a bookey
 
Thing is about law enforcement and moving violations, DWI's, etc., is its all about the money. I call them mobile revenue generating stations. City and county law enforcement doesn't give a damn about "making the roads safer". Its all about generating revenue for the city and county under the guise of "law enforcement". Just a legal way to steal money from people. :rolleyes:
Montana proved that traffic fatalities are higher with speed limits. Once upon a time Los Fresnos had the most well known speed trap in the Valley. Until DOT came to town to tell the citizens they would route the highway around if they didn't stop it.
 
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