Unless you have a bond card, in Illinois they will take your license on any moving violation.

You'll get it back in the mail after you pay, complete traffic school, or have the charges dismissed.

http://www.dmv.com/il/illinois/traffic-tickets

Count yourself lucky you haven't had to experience this

 

I looked up the V1 and Youtube and the device sounds really annoying in action. I'm not sure if can take that kind of sound constantly piercing my eardrums. The Escort 9500ix sounds promising, but is cost $500+, and I'm not sure if it's worth it at the moment since that's cutting into my track/autocross budget.

 

I first learned of IL's "posting bond" for speeding violations while in college here. My roomate was driving and we were pulled over on Lake Cook Rd. Both of us having out of state licenses (which they don't/can't take), the officer wanted a cash bond to be posted on the spot! we didn't have much of any cash on us, though luckily we ended up being let off with a warning. there were a frantic few mintues there...

 

you can adjust the volume.

 

Escort Solo with the visor clip mount (keeps it off the windshield and closer to my ears when the top is down).

 

V1 and 9500ix are both great. As stated before - I have the 9500ix. If you think it cuts into your budget, imagine higher insurance costs or any future tickets...

Either one can pay for themselves after only 1 or 2 saves. Even saying it'll take 3 legit saves to pay for itself is fine as mine has given me that.

 

In my opinion a radar detector is a total waste of money. I think all it does is guarantee you a ticket if you do get pulled over.

I typically drive the standard 5mph over on the street and push it up to 10-15mph over on the freeway and have yet to get a speeding ticket in 10 years and probably 450,000 miles of driving. In my mind they are pretty easy to avoid just by driving smart, and not being a jackass if you do get pulled over.

I am not a cop, I don't know any cops so really this list of pointers is from my own experience and could easily be a load of nonsense.

The first point is that if you are going to do something illegal then you have to be prepared to be caught and punished for it. I get tired of hearing about how people claim to be unfairly ticketed for their illegal tint or their illegal exhaust. It doesn't matter if you think the law is fair or how strictly it is typically enforced. If you break it you can't complain when you are stopped for it.

Anyway, here's my tips for getting away with speeding.

1 - Leave plenty of room between you and the car in front of you. Other than the obvious benefits this gives you plenty of opportunity to scan the road ahead of you for cops.

2 - Scan the road ahead of you for cops. Scan shoulders, turn arounds, on/off ramps and bridges. Assume any stopped car in those places is a cop until you know it is not.

3 - Read the traffic. Watch for brake lights up ahead. If you can't figure out why a car ahead is braking, assume it's for a cop.

4 - Let faster people by you. I have no idea why but it seems drivers in this country hate to be passed on the freeway. I don't see any benefit in keeping myself ahead of someone that wants to go faster than me. In fact letting them by means I have someone to watch for signs of cops.


If you do get stopped:

1 - If possible turn off onto a side road and pull over, take an exit off the freeway and pull over. Something to help the cop not be standing on the side of a busy road.

2 - Be nice. Politeness and a smile go a long way whenever you are dealing with people.

3 - Don't try to justify what you did. If the speed limit is 65mph and you are doing 66mph you are fair game to be pulled over. It doesn't matter if everyone else was doing 100mph. It doesn't matter how many rapists or thieves are out on the streets. You were doing something wrong so you are fair game to be pulled over. Contritely admit your mistake and apologize. You will NOT win an argument with a cop.