Should I get a radar detector?
 

Tonight I received a speeding ticket, for the first time in nine years, on my way back home from HEB, around the corner from home, thinking about dinner, and BAM! 40 MPH in a 25MPH zone...oh well, defensive driving, and I will pay the fine...I'm not a speeder for the most part, third ticket in 17 years driving, all of them similar to this one. Valentine one had mostly good reviews, how does it stack up against others? Are they worth having?

Valentine or Bel / Escort the best radar detectors there is. Of course the better the detector the more you need to understand how radar works. There are some new Bel / Escorts that have gps Sensing of red light cameras and local traffic counters and x band door detections. I have several in my cars. My new Bel is awesome. So good in fact it went off 3 miles before a State Police could see me. Good Luck..

Tickets Suck.:devil:

The best radar detector in the world won't help you if they are using modern instant on radar and you are busy thinking about dinner instead of watching for possible radar trap sites.

Just go back to watching the speed limit. If you intend on speeding be prepared to pay. I go about 5 to 10 over at most, With exceptions. No radar detector IMO.

Should I get a radar detector?
 

This. You have to pay to play if you want to do that **** on the streets.
Especially when in some states they are illegal and even if you are in a state where it is legal, some officer will be far less likely to let you out of a ticket or find a reason to give you a ticket if the notice one in your car.

I had one mounted when I got stopped at a road block in Virginia. I think they were looking for an escaped prisoner. This very tall state trooper walked up to my car and when he saw the radar detector said, "Those are illegal in this state sir." I replied, "I am aware of that officer. That is why it is not plugged in (as I pointed at the power plug)." He smiled and said, "Have a nice day, sir."

Like the other poster commented, I hold it to about 7 over on the highway and less than five over around town. I get where I am going quickly enough and have a lot less stress getting there.

I had a Valintine One for many years and it saved my A more then once. I don't really speed or try not to but sometimes you just get lazy and don't keep a close eye on it then bam! It's true that if you are on a quiet road with no traffic say at night and the cop has instant on yes the dectector won't do much. Where it helps and will work is if a car is say a mile up and he zaps him with instant on a good dectector will pick that up and give you a quick warrning so yes it helps. My friend just picked up a top of the line Wistler can't recall the exact model but it's impressive. Actually think it's better then my 15yo Valintine 1.

I just bought one about two months ago. It was a less expensive unit but it covers all the bands. Even if your not speeding it is nice to know if they are around. My last two tickets the cop was behind me when I decided to pass a car doing under the limit. The instant on thing is a drag but the cop will usually be hitting the cars in front of you. So if the detector goes off once or twice you should probably slow down to the limit if you are speeding.

Got one in all 3 cars....most cops are lazy and just leave the unit on, so it is rare for them to nab you by using instant on.....only with the lasar are you usually caught as that beam is so focused if your detector goes off that means they are focused on you.....but for other types they usually just leave it on and hope someone without the detector is flying by....you usually pick them up long before they see you.

You probably didn't intend it that way but that is an offensive statement. My wife volunteers at our local police station as a crime analyst and we both served as volunteers at the memorial service held when four of our officers were murdered several years ago. Men and women in law enforcement do a very dangerous and usually thankless job and don't deserve disparaging remarks.

I think what he meant to say is most cops are lazy when it comes to traffic enforcement. When it comes to protecting and serving the public, it's typically quite the opposite, and I'm thankful for that!

i live in houston too.. i had valentine one and escort passport, ended up selling it in criaglist. with all the annoyance they give, better just be watchful and look out. most of these days cops hide and use hand pointed guns which these wont catch. so imo stay within speed or +10 n watch out n have some reference vehicle in the front and watch for their brake lights. this has saved more than radar detectors. dont be stupid enough to lead the pack in the highway

Yeah, that approach worked for the past nine years...gonna keep doing it, besides, radar detector won't make this ticket go away

I travel allot in Florida. There are a lot of Long straight flat roads here. Some times 50 miles with out seeing anyone. This is when i need the Radar detector. Most of the time I will get the police flashing there lights and waving but When I am speeding It lets me know. Around town they are a pain unless you have one of the real expensive ones with GPS in them.

won't help with this ticket but It will possibly save you from the next one.

Ordered a valentine one and a scan gauge 2

Best there is. Post a picture of it please. Where are you going to mount it?

I mounted my Valentine 1 on the windshield with the provided suction cups. Works great in that position.

I've had two Cobra's and they always say to mount it as low on the windshield as possible. Why is that?

If you mount it low you will not see the detector from outside the car and you will not see the cables. if mounted low you will have a better chance if a cop shoots the front lic or hood area of picking it up. I mount mine high because I travel on interstates and long highways. It picks it up better from far away. Try both ways and see what works best for you.