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Like they say in some radio insider adverts (about cell site antennas) - it's big, it's ugly (though the V1 is not really ugly), ... but it works! The only thing you have to always remember is to believe it! Nothing worse than getting a warning, ignoring it, and getting a ticket! Wonder how fast I'd have to go to get a $700 ticket ;-) .
David - Still no tickets -
The device was large enough to take a picture of the front of my vehicle, but there was no detection and they were pulling cars over about 1/4 mile away. I did not like the feeling of my detector being totally useless.
BTW my detector has paid for itself many times over in gathering empirical data on the habits of my law enforcement community.
I don't know about any new speed detection device, so I don't know what it might have been.
BTW, first there were radar speed measuring devices. Then there were radar detectors. Then there were radar detector detectors. Then there were radar detector detector detectors (that shut down the radar detector). Then there were radar detector detector detector detectors. Now there are radar detector detector detector detector detectors. I'm not kidding here, though it is hilarious. Spy vs spy stuff.
As for radar detector detectors - higher end radar detectors are supposed to be shielded from those things. I have my doubts about ANY of the high end detectors shielding effectiveness though . . .
BTW the VA police cruise with K band on most of the time. I get them at over a mile away, in general. I have a more problematic lack of measuring efficiency in states where detectors are legal, because I find instant-on KA band and lasers a hindrance to measuring police efficiency at any reliable distance
I was close enough to that" whatever" that if it was laser/ lidar I would have detected it. I drove up to it from a considerable distance to right up to it as it was in a full size van on the side of the road I have detected lasers with my detector. It certainly would have gone off, if this was any kind of laser. .
As to your legal advice, I think you may be technically right, but if your position had been upheld by any State or Federal court, they couldn't even pass laws against the use of detectors. Don't you think if that interpretation of the FCC act of 34 was good law the various manufacturers of detectors wouldn't have banded together and challenged the state of Va and the DC in court? Common sense says that although the act says more or less what you say it says, the state of Va has managed to craft a law that passes constitutional muster and avoids the Federal Preemption doctrine. I don't live there and when I do travel in Va, I have not felt inclined to take the time and trouble to challenge the law, but I bet lots of lawyers have been ticketed for having a detector and have challenged the law prohibiting them many times. The result? The law is still in effect.
As for starting an argument with a police officer who has pulled you over, is asking for it.
§ 46.2-1079. Radar detectors; demerit points not to be awarded.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth when such vehicle is equipped with any device or mechanism, passive or active, to detect or purposefully interfere with or diminish the measurement capabilities of any radar, laser, or other device or mechanism employed by law-enforcement personnel to measure the speed of motor vehicles on the highways of the Commonwealth for law-enforcement purposes. It shall be unlawful to use any such device or mechanism on any such motor vehicle on the highways. It shall be unlawful to sell any such device or mechanism in the Commonwealth. However, provisions of this section shall not apply to any receiver of radio waves utilized for lawful purposes to receive any signal from a frequency lawfully licensed by any state or federal agency.
This section shall not be construed to authorize the forfeiture to the Commonwealth of any such device or mechanism. Any such device or mechanism may be taken by the arresting officer if needed as evidence, and, when no longer needed, shall be returned to the person charged with a violation of this section, or at that person's request, and his expense, mailed to an address specified by him. Any unclaimed devices may be destroyed on court order after six months have elapsed from the final date for filing an appeal.
Except as provided in subsection B of this section, the presence of any such prohibited device or mechanism in or on a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth shall constitute prima facie evidence of the violation of this section. The Commonwealth need not prove that the device or mechanism in question was in an operative condition or being operated.
B. A person shall not be guilty of a violation of this section when the device or mechanism in question, at the time of the alleged offense, had no power source and was not readily accessible for use by the driver or any passenger in the vehicle.
C. This section shall not apply to motor vehicles owned by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and used by law-enforcement officers in their official duties, nor to the sale of any such device or mechanism to law-enforcement agencies for use in their official duties.
D. No demerit points shall be awarded by the Commissioner for violations of this section. Any demerit points awarded by the Commissioner prior to July 1, 1992, for any violation of this section shall be rescinded and the driving record of any person awarded demerit points for a violation of this section shall be amended to reflect such rescission.
I'm no lawyer, but it would seem to me that the Virginia code violates the principle of habeus corpus. I could interpret the code as denying you the right to determine (with some kind of a detector) whether, in fact, the officer actually employed such a device to gather evidence against you.
As it stands, you have only his/her word that such a device was actually turned on. Any lawyers in the group?
tidester
Host
Aftermarket & Accessories
Thanks for taking the time to enlighten us.
As I said, I am not an attorney. I just wonder how, when a "radar case" makes it to court, can anyone know for certain that the officer even had his radar/laser unit turned on or whether he read it correctly.
It seems the burden is on you to prove your innocence and you haven't a clue whether the "evidence" is legitimate.
Officer:I clocked him at 87 mph.
You:I wasn't speeding.
- your word against his with no corroboration on his part.
Thanks again for the insight!
tidester
Host
Aftermarket & accessories
I am convinced that what you say is true. Perhaps it's for reasons of expediency that Virginia bans radar/lidar detectors since that would provide another "defense" by the accused. But, in the end, it still comes down to your word against the police.
Now, on a cynical day, I might suppose that such bans are intended to maintain a valuable source of income for local governments ... but I'm not in a cynical mood today! ;-)
... and thanks for your insights!
tidester
Host
Aftermarket & Accessories
I live in nyc, took a road trip through west virginia once and a state trooper pulled my buddy over, and the 12 of us in the van, because we were in the left lane going 65 in a 70. Not a bit of traffic on either horizon and the cop was anal enough to give him a sumense(spelled correctly?)for holding up "traffic" instead of jut a warning, even though he knew we lived 10 hours away and just wanted to get out of the state and on to the fun stuff.
Isn't extra-marital sex illegal in Virginia? how depraived.
And my friend has a V1 with a remote viewer, it works very well, something like 15 seconds of warning on straight level interstate. The arrow is a nice feature, and it's always right.
BTW why was the driver of the van left lane camping ? I am glad to hear that West Virginia tickets for this. I wish more states did.
I've got a bridge to sell you. It connects Manhattan with Brooklyn.
In other words save your money if you are thinking about a Phazer.
a product that passively jams radar
Passive jammer? Isn't that an oxymoron?
tidester
Host
SUVs
Aftermarket & Accessories
Look at the posts above for opinions as to which is the best for you.
You have to drive alertly, even with a detector. If you are the first to get hit with instant-on Ka band radar, or with a laser, your warning comes as your speed is already read.
For those unwilling to spend $400, the Passport 8500 is a good, solid second choice, giving up some detection range to the Valentine One. The Passort does a better job of filtering out annoying false alarms, however.
I checked the C&D website, but the radar detector comparison test isn't on it yet. I imagine it will be available online soon.
-- Don
But I have no argument with your point. Just explaining why it's worth it to me. I also do a lot of long distance traveling, and I like being able to cruise 85-90 in relative peace of mind, when conditions permit it to be done safely.
And, heck, I'll admit it: It's fun. The V1 is a mighty neat gadget. If bottom line costs and practicality were my first consideratation, I'd be driving a 40 mpg economy car instead of a V8 Lincoln. Surely I don't have to explain being a car nut HERE.
With due respect to courtesy, and consideration of the safety of other drivers, to each his own.
BTW, I've had the V1 for a few months now & am thoroughly satisfied with it. Thanks to all on this forum for the good info & advice.
After all, you (I presume you are a cop) and 80 percent of your fellow officers might be reasonable and recognize that someone is safely driving over the limit. But there are cops out there who will gladly hand out tickets for speeding.
-- Don
Truthfully, even though I like to drive fast where conditions permit, the biggest problem with law enforcement on the roads of Colorado is that there isn't enough of it. I commute from Greeley to Longmont every day, and I wouldn't drive I-25 if they gave gasoline away. 85 mph + with someone glued to my rear bumper is not my idea of pleasant high speed travel.
Quite a while ago Car and Driver published "rules" to drive by to avoid problems with the law. Very reasonable and effective.
I was driving on a deserted straightaway when I was passed by a Mounty going the other way. I didn't have my unit switched on.
After he passed me I reached up and turned the thing on so I would be ready for the next one.
I saw in my mirror the Mounty make a U-turn. He gave me a ticket and took my detector. The ticket was for using the detector
I never paid the fine. Six months later I received a letter stating a warrant was issued for my arrest.
I haven't been back.
For the money, Escort 8500 seems like the better choice.
This way, you have layered protection.
TB
You've got to be careful about the tests published out there though because there are some bias issues. I know Valentine always rips any review by Craig Peterson because he 'consults' for companies that compete with Valentine. But then Valentine has Patrick Bedard, Sr. Editor of Car and Driver, as a 'consultant' on their payroll and thus you have to take their test results with a grain of salt. And of course all Car magazines get advertising dollars from the folks whose products they are testing, so impartiality is always in question.
Too bad Consumers Report is so left-wing that they wouldn't test radar detectors. CR doesn't take money from any commercial interests at all.
jb
And in that sense, one could probably throw in the price performance calculation. In your case since you already owned the V1 at 400 bucks, the real question was: was it worth the depreciation to switch to the passport 8500 at 300 bucks? The next comparison would be buy each detector and keep the one that fit you the best. I would also say that if you had a Passport 8500 and tried out a V1, you would also have the same concern, is it worth the depreciation to switch? I am glad you are happy with the V1.
Too bad Consumers Report is so left-wing that they wouldn't test radar detectors
I am curious - why would testing radar detectors split along left-right political lines?
tidester
Host
SUVs
Just my opinion, based on many years of reading their magazine.