I hope this is not too off-topic or hasn't already been hashed over to an infinite degree.

I'll be taking a 2-week trip in my S2000 through the 11 western states soon, and plan to use my Passport 6800 radar detector, although theoretically I shouldn't need its services most of the time. At least until I get on the twisty mountain roads with no traffic.

I just finished driving about 5000 miles through 12 states for the first serious use of this radar detector, and there were no cases where I believe I would have gotten a ticket without it, although I had a bit more peace of mind at times.

It seems that if the police are using instant-on radar properly, you'll get caught anyway if you're going fast enough to get a ticket. There were few cases where it seemed to give a warning that there were police in the area, but if I was already less than 10 mph over the limit (typical) I didn't change my speed.

The only place where it looked like radar detector usage is mandatory is Ohio. I saw more tickets being written there than in all 10 other states I visited between New York and Kansas. I was even able to verify that the laser detection capability works. I feel sorry for those of you who live in Ohio.

In California, the only radar I noticed in moving cars was in the Sierras on I-80. There were no radar traps at all between San Francisco and Salt Lake City, which I drove both directions.

I detected lots of false alarms in the X band from businesses with motion detectors on their doors and such. I have no evidence that police use the X-band anywhere I've driven lately. Both K and Ka were evident, though.

I'm tempted to not even bother with it, but I'm concerned that a bright red S2000 is a bit more noticable than a grey Buick LeSabre or dark green Plymouth Voyager, which I used for the other driving.

Should I be worried about getting a radar speeding ticket while driving the back roads of the western states, if I keep within 10 mph of the speed limit most of the time?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by scottrnelson
[B]

It seems that if the police are using instant-on radar properly, you'll get caught anyway if you're going fast enough to get a ticket.

 

Here in Portugal i can

 

I can only speak for WI, here I keep it locked at 9MPH over the limit when alone on the road and have yet to get a ticket for doing so. I'll even leave it right there when cruising by a "smokey taking pictures" without concern. It's been published in the papers here that (for southeastern WI anyway) that is the typical buffer zone in speed for most sherrifs. Of course ymmv.

 

YMMV, but since our Speedo should be optimistic then you'll be dead-safe at 10 MPH indicated over limit. You DO have stock size tire/wheels eh?

I did get a recent speed-trap ticket for 12 MPH (!) over limit in a company-car (Bonneville SSEI, love that torque). The digital heads-up display was 5 MPH faster (and apparently more correct) than the analog gauge. I was on cruise control and figured I was within 10 MPH (wrong-o!).

 

In Idaho they use X, K, and KA, I've only seen one with laser. In Boise, they use X and K for the city, and state troopers use Ka.

 

Here's something to think about...

...Radar detectors are actually usefull against instant on radar, however; only when there is other traffic. Your unit will detect the on & off usage on traffic ahead. This brings up the social resposiblility issue uf speeding through traffic. (Personally, I dispise those who weave in & out, tailgate, and gerally risk the lives of all around them. Remember, your surrounded by, soccer moms, grandparents, others who are generally people not as attentive to driving as a stook crazed club member wanting to Vtech. They may not be prepared for a 120 mph pass from the right lane. Oh yeah, back to the subject... ..."sorry")

I use a radar detector and find that the Interstates around hear have many people driving 80-90mph in a 65-70 mph speed limit.

Most other people obey the unwritten law (SLOWER TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT) so me and others of my kind can pretty well do our thing @ 80-90 in a safe manner.

DO BEWARE OF THE OPEN ROAD AHEAD. IF YOUR ALL ALONE OR AT THE FRONT OF THE PACK, YOU'RE A SITTING DUCK.

 

Most parts of Ohio, they pick out-state vehicles. Their reasoning is simple; you have two options. The first is that you pay the ticket. the second is to fight it, which requires that you have to come back to the state and show up. How many people that do not live in Ohio would return to fight it. The officer most likely would not show up anyways. For him to show up, they would lose more money in the number of tickets that he could write then you getting off that one he wrote you. This is how Ohio works.

Lance

 

I hate to say it but a CB radio is about the only answer to off/on radar. I hate to listen to the BS but the truck drivers sure know where the rolling cars and traps are. I don't use it in my S2000 just on long trips in my Durango.

 

How does instant-on radar work?