I was issued a speeding last night while driving east on 90 near Schaumburg for going 76MPH on a 55MPH zone. My driving habit hasn't changed over the last 15 years and considering this is my first speeding ticket within that timeframe, I have a gut feeling I was targeted because I now drive a sports car (owned for about a year now). My S2K is pretty much a weekend only summer car, and I'd like to be able to drive it around without having to worry about silly citations on empty roads and I was wondering what your thoughts are on a radar detector.

I'm not sure what's legal in Illinois or what the latest technology is, but I hear radar detectors are useless again laser guns, which the authorities are using more often now than radars. Do these detectors work, or is it just another annoying beeping flashing gadget on the dash? Is it legal in Illinois? Is something like the Valentine One worth the cost?

Chris

 

Radar detectors are legal in IL. I believe most people like either the Valentine models or Escort.

They are sort of pointless with Lasers because the second you are hit with a laser its usually too late to do anything about it. Cops using lasers are still pretty uncommon, most still use the radar guns. So a detector is a good investment.

Personally I have an older model Escort Passport 8500 and ZR3 laser shifter. The shifter is suppose to jam/confuse laser detectors by emitting laser beams of it own. Even after all these years of owning it I am still a bit skeptical if it actually works.

There have been at least 3 incidents where I am driving down Lake Shore Drive and gotten tagged by laser and the shifter kicked in. I slowed down right away and was promptly tagged again at which point I deactivate the shifter and mute the detector. I was never pulled over. Coincidence, luck or the shifter? I'm still not sure.

 

My recommendation, Valentine V1. Have one for my car....loved it and the other V1's I've had over the 8 years I've been using them.

The laser detector works great if there's traffic on the road and the cop is targetting others first. The laser detector goes off and alerts me to slow down before I get tagged.

From my experience driving aquatic's car, the laser shifter/jammer works great. I've been tagged late at night with no one on the road, going 20 over. I should have rightfully been pulled over, but got nothing. I'm guessing the Kenosha sheriff didn't get a speed reading on me, and had to let me go (Chicago cop would have made up a number just to give me a ticket).

However, I recently found out that in IL, laser shifters/jammers are illegal to be used by non-peace officers and unlicensed users.

 

I have a Passport 8500 x50. The range has been shown to be slighter better than the V1, and it gives fewer false alerts than the 8500. I LOVE my 8500, and it HAS saved me several times (hell, several times THIS WEEKEND.)

The V1 has directional arrows to show where the "threat" is coming from. It IS nice to have them, but I personally don't believe they are worth $100+ more than you can get an 8500 for. Also, the V1 tends to be "boxier" and are physically larger than the 8500s.

I haven't seen much laser in Illinois (yet) but I have been hit by it once. Had their been more traffic on the road, I might have gotten a reading, but without anyone else to alert me to the trap, I got snagged.

Nothing is foolproof, but defending against radar is viable, and very useful.

 

Chris,

Does it state on your ticket what/how your speed was obtained. Unless it's changed, I think they write on the ticket the band that was used, or laser.

Earlier this year in Cook County courts, laser detection was proven to be of sound use to detect speed, whereas before it just hadn't been proven.

Expect to see laser used more in Cook County, and trickling down to other IL counties.

As a side, I love the bogey counter and the directional arrows on the V1. It allows me to infer quickly if there are some rolling setups that highway patrol use in traffic. Sometimes they situation one car on the shoulder with his radar constant on, while another does directional tagging from behind or an overpass...the arrows point out the number of radars/lasers counted in the general area, and the arrows help show where they may be. This has saved me more than once....especially those times you see a cop that's already got a car pulled over and another cop is nearby...this is widely done in WI, right at the IL/WI border.

 

I used an Escort 8500 for a number of years. I don't use it anymore since 1) I drive a lot less now that I live in the city
2) I don't speed that much anymore (on the streets )

When I did use it, I found that it saved me a few times. It also made me feel more willing to speed and used it as a safety net.

Chris - let me know if you want to buy my Escort 8500. There's one on craigslist for $100...so let's say $75? There's also a $80 trade in program for a new unit http://www.escortradar.com/trade-in-program.php

 

Escort Solo S2 FTW!!!! Its cordless so you can put virtually anywhere on the windshield, which is good if you are one of those guys that gets irritated with a big ole block sitting in the middle of your windshield.

I have never had an issue with the fuzz after buying this radar when driving. You know, besides my ride height, exhaust noise , and some super sweet tokyo drifting in downtown Milwaukee ..

 

[QUOTE=Luder94,May 17 2010, 12:50 PM] As a side, I love the bogey counter and the directional arrows on the V1.

 

Years ago, I wouldn't even leave my driveway without one, but after a few years (and a few tickets) I realized I was driving with my radar more than paying attention to my surroundings. I'm not saying I don't speed daily, but I relied on the radar to protect me, which it didn't on several occasions.

Short story, I gave up on them, Michigan is using more and more laser on the State Trooper cars that patrol around me, so it just isn't worth it to me.

 

I ride a motorcycle and use a radar detector. (So I already have to be paying attention... strange as it may sound, riding has made me a better driver.)

Get one. It's cheaper than fines and legal representation.

If you don't mind coughing up the dough, the V1 is FTMFW.