What is your opinion on radar detectors? I live in NYC and I believe they are illegal. Do they really work? Is it useful?

What happens when you DO get pulled out and the cops sees the radar? Are you suppose to hide it?

Any good radar detectors that I should keep in mind if I wanted to buy one?

 

a lot of misinformation in your post my friend.

- They are legal everywhere except D.C & Virgina.
- They DO works and very useful.
- if you get pull over, and not in those 2 states, the cops will not care.

Now, on the other hand, laser jammer is completely illegal everywhere. Radar detector and laser jammer are two different systems.

Radar detector works by "detects" the frequency from the speed gun that cops use and warn you early enough so you will have the chance to slow down. The difference of a $50 and $500 model is how early do they warn you, how sensitive they are to the frequency and how accurate its detecting the frequency.

I have one of the best radar detector in the market, the Valentine One. It has 4 directional arrows to shows you exactly where is the signal coming from, eliminate you from guessing. Other detectors only beeps, and you will get annoy and ignore it. Then you will get pull over for speeding and you will go on a forum to complain that it doesn't works but in fact it does.

 

I think they're useful for long drives. I used have one installed on my window anytime I drove and but for the last couple of years I drive without it. The only time I use it is for longs drives like from LA to Vegas and back.

 

ive had v1 for close to two decades now... paid itself more than its worth..

 

Their usefulness often depends on the quality of radar detector you buy.

Even if you only drive long distances a few times a year the radar would pay for itself, unless you always drive by the speed limit, which in that case you do not need a radar detector.

Been using a V1 for a couple of years. Totally recommend it.

 

Lots of useful information above! I have a Passport Escort Max and I love it. This thing also warns me as I'm approaching a red light or speed camera as it has built-in GPS. I was very close to getting the Valentine One. As several people said above: you get what you pay for.

 

Chiming in on what everyone else is saying. I live in NYC and have a Passport 8500. It's saved me a number of times (although I never really do more than 10 over anyway). The biggest help is that it detects red light cameras and speed cameras.

It's only worth it if you get a good one. Get a Passport Escort or a V1. Don't but the crappy ones from AutoZone. They won't do anything but instill false confidence.

 

Sorry but laser jammers ARE NOT ILLEGAL IN EVERYSTATE.
*sources*
USA Laser Jammer Laws - Guys of LIDAR
State Radar Detector and Laser Jammer Laws

That being said I personally use Passport. My mother bought her self and I the IQ. Then a year later, I received their 9500ci as a gift. I have not gotten around to installing it on my G37 yet. On my VW the 9500ci it did a fantastic job.

 

I run a Beltronics GX65 in both mine and my wife's cars with hardwire, stealth mute button from safe-n-sound mounted with a Blend Mount. Awesome setup.
GX65 is the same detector as Escort 9500, with GPS and great sensitivity. Has alerted me long before any traps. It gets far fewer false alerts than the old tech, riding on the arrows gimmick Valentine 1 (which I had for a while).
GPS is key, allowing you to lock out known signals, and it auto adjusts sensitivity based on speed.

And yes, you get what you pay for. Skip all Cobra detectors, or really anything under $300.

 

V1; don't leave home without it!

 

State Radar Detector and Laser Jammer Laws

 

V1 for 15 years. It is useless on Lidar but everything is I believe.